Fans of Mickey’s Toontown Fair at Disney’s Magic Kingdom in Orlando beware. The children’s area at the theme park is getting ready to close in February to make way for the under-construction expansion of Fantasyland in the theme park.

Toontown Fair, home to Mickey Mouse and other Disney Character meet-and-greets, among other attractions, is slated to remain open through Feb. 11, 2011.  At that time, the area will be closed off for the next phase of the Fantasyland expansion project that includes a new Little Mermaid themed ride, interactive Disney princess areas and more.

Those looking to visit with Mickey will still have their opportunities as Mickey, Minnie and other Characters will be moved from Toontown to other areas within Magic Kingdom. Eventually, they will have a new permanent home in the building currently known as Town Square Exhibition Hall, located along Main Street, U.S.A.

Fantasyland’s expansion will be opened in phases with most of the new experiences scheduled to be complete by 2013.

For information on Disney’s Magic Kingdom and discount Orlando vacation packages, please feel free to visit www.WestgateReservations.com.

Cruises can be a great vacation option for the entire family. Virtually every cruise line offers plenty of activities to keep kids of all ages happy and entertained.

One of the most popular activities on today’s cruises is the addition of favorite characters from animated films and TV shows produced by Disney, Nickelodeon and others.

Kids delight in on-board experiences with their favorite characters whether it be a passenger meet and greet or a special character dining event.

Disney Cruise Line remains a leader in the character experiences. Mickey Mouse is a popular attraction as he regularly poses for photos in his captain’s uniform while walking on deck or in the ship’s lobby. Kids will also delight in Minnie Mouse who appears in a sailor’s outfit while participating in deck activities.

Every Disney cruise also offers several character meet-and-greet sessions that include additional characters such as Snow White, Cinderella, Goofy, Pluto, Donald Duck, Captain Hook and others. On cruises of 7 nights or longer, Disney also offers a character breakfast and a character tea party.

Disney’s animated films are regularly shown in the ships’ movie theaters and Disney characters also appear on the ships’ stage shows.

Norwegian Cruise Line offers activities and entertainment with popular Nickelodeon characters, as well as a live onboard game show titled “Slime Time LIVE!”

The Nickelodeon fun continues with interactive games by the pool, a Music Party with Dora the Explorer, and even a Breakfast with Nickelodeon where kids can meet Dora, Diego, Spongebob Square Pants, and other favorites.

Royal Caribbean cruises offer up character interactions with characters from Dreamworks Animation such as popular favorites from Shrek, Madagascar, Kung Fu Panda and How to Train Your Dragon.

For information on Orlando discount vacation and cruise packages, go to www.WestgateReservations.com or www.OrlandoThemeParkVacations.com.

The popular spring music concerts continue at Orlando’s big theme parks this weekend. At Disney’s Epcot, the annual International Flower & Garden Festival offers up Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone as this week’s musical guest.The headliner for the Flower Power Concert Series at America Gardens Theatre is yet another popular performer from years gone by as the Hermits bring back their sounds from the mid-60s.

The group performs Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 5:15, 6:30 and 7:45 p.m. and performances are included with regular Epcot admission.

Meanwhile at Universal Studios, Mardi Gras fans can enjoy a double dose of parades and fun. An added Friday night Mardi Gras event features musical guest Sheryl Crow while Flo Rida takes the Mardi Gras stage on Saturday night.

For information on all the Orlando theme parks and concert events, visit http://www.orlandothemeparkvacations.com/ or for discount Orlando family vacation packages, go to http://www.westgatereservations.com/.

The Mardi Gras party keeps on rolling at Universal Studios Florida in Orlando. The popular spring Mardi Gras celebration continues now through mid-April with a variety of rocking musical guests appearing each weekend. This week’s artist is the amazing Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin.

Her list of achievements goes on and on, including a dozen million-selling singles, 20 Number 1 R&B hits, a cover story in Time magazine, the first woman inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, 15 Grammy Awards with a lifetime achievement award in 1995, and a roll in the movie, The Blues Brothers.

Now the legendary singer brings her smooth voice to the big stage at Universal Studios Florida starting at 8:30 pm on Saturday, March 13, 2010.

You can go to http://www.orlandothemeparkvacations.com/ for additional details on Universal Studios, Mardi Gras and the many other Orlando area theme parks and attractions. Or check out the list of discount theme park tickets and money-saving Orlando vacation packages. If you would like information on discount Orlando resort and hotel lodging, you can also visit www.WestgateReservations.com/sweepstakes.cfm.

Major League Baseball is back and better than ever in Central Florida. Orlando might be the theme park capital of the world, but when it comes to Spring Training baseball, there’s no better place to catch all the Grapefruit League action.

A total of 14 different major league teams call Florida their home for spring training. As a result, baseball fans visiting Florida don’t have to look far for the next game throughout the month of March.

The Atlanta Braves and Houston Astros both feature training camps right in the greater Orlando area. The Braves play at Disney’s beautiful ESPN Wide World of Sports complex in Lake Buena Vista while Astros’ fans can catch their team in nearby Kissimmee.

Just a short drive down I-4 from Orlando takes you to into Lakeland, spring training home of the Detroit Tigers. Meanwhile, there is a host of teams situated along the Gulf coast, including the Boston Red Sox and Minnesota Twins in Fort Myers, the New York Yankees in Tampa, the Pittsburgh Pirates in Bradenton, the Baltimore Orioles in Sarasota, the Toronto Blue Jays in Dunedin, the Tampa Bay Rays in Port Charlotte and the Philadelphia Phillies in Clearwater.

Back on the Atlantic coast side of Florida’s peninsula, you’ll find the spring training homes of the Florida Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals in Jupiter as well as the New York Mets in Port St. Lucie.

There’s no better way to see and interact with your favorite MLB stars up close than at a highly affordable spring training game. You can get spring training schedules of your favorite team, or for any of the Grapefruit League teams, by visiting www.MLB.com.  

For details on discount theme park tickets and discount Orlando vacation package specials, please visit www.OrlandoThemeParkVacations.com. For discount resort or hotel packages, go to www.WestgateReservations.com/sweepstakes.cfm.

The party goes on and on at Universal Studios Florida as the popular Mardi Gras celebration continues through mid-April. This week’s musical guest stara is Akon, the Grammy-nominated singer and songwriter and one of the music industry’s fastest-rising stars.

Akon’s special mix of hip-hop, R&B and rap includes a number of chart-topping hits like Lonely, I Wanna Love You, Don’t Matter and Dangerous. He’s the first artist to accomplish the feat of holding both the number one and two spots simultaneously on the Billboard Hot 100 charts twice.

A frequent guest on TV’s American Idol, Akon brings his act to Universal’s Mardi Gras at 8:30 pm on March 6, 2010.

Go to www.OrlandoThemeParkVacations.com for information on Universal Studios, Mardi Gras and other Orlando area theme parks and attractions, as well as details on discount theme park tickets and Orlando vacation packages. Or visit www.WestgateReservations.com/sweepstakes.cfm for information on discount Orlando resort and hotel lodging.

ESPN’s annual fan-fest continues this weekend (Feb. 26-27-28) at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Orlando, FL.

 With 35 superstar athletes, two dozen sportscasters, live shows, special motorcades, interactive sports zone and more, it’s sure to be a fun-filled weekend for sports fans of all ages.

Don’t miss your chance to get up close and personal with stars from the NBA, NFL, major league baseball, golf and more. Plus look for all of your favorite ESPN personalities.

Of course, you’ll also enjoy a full day of fun at Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park which offers a wide range of thrill rides, shows and other attractions.

For information on Disney’s Hollywood Studios, discount Orlando vacation packages and discount Orlando theme park tickets, visit www.OrlandoThemeParkVacations.com. Or for discount Orlando resort and hotel accommodations, go to www.WestgateReservations.com/sweepstakes.cfm.

Legoland® Florida, slated to open in the fall of 2011 on the site of the former Cypress Gardens theme park, will feature a unique mix of attractions. The largest Legoland park in the world, the Central Florida version will feature more than 50 rides, shows, attractions as well as spectacular LEGO models and other interactive elements for the entire family.

For information about the new park and the LEGOLAND sister park already open in California, please visit www.legolandfloridaresort.com. Or you can visit www.OrlandoThemeParkVacations.com for more information on all the Orlando area theme parks and attractions as well as discount Orlando theme park tickets and discount Orlando hotels and resorts.

Get ready to celebrate. While the official Mardi Gras celebration kicks off in New Orleans, Mardi Gras Universal Studios style has already started in Orlando with a a long list of weekly concerts and parades plus fabulous food and plenty of beads.

The party really gets cranking tonight, Feb. 16, at Pat O’Brien’s within Universal CityWalk where the popular restaurant/club is hosting a Fat Tuesday celebration to kick off the Lenten season. From 4pm til close, you can enjoy a live party band, special drink discounts, New Orleans style food specials, stilt walkers, bead girls and plenty of other fun and entertainment.

Admission is free until 7 p.m.

After 7 p.m., admission is $8 per person or $20 for a VIP ticket offering private balcony access, light appetizers from 4-8 pm and free admission to select CityWalk clubs.

This week’s Mardi Gras concert features the music of Blondie and lead singer Deborah Harry. Ranging from disco and punk to new wave and hip hop, Blondie is best known for hits like Call Me, The Tide is High, One Way or Another, Heart of Glass and Rapture.

For additional information on Mardi Gras events at Universal Orlando or discount Orlando vacation packages and theme park tickets, visit http://www.orlandothemeparkvacations.com/. Or to register for a free resort getaway sweepstakes, go to www.WestgateReservations.com/sweepstakes.cfm.

The Mardi Gras celebration is in full swing at Universal Studios Orlando Resort. With weekly parades and concerts, lots of great food and plenty of beads, there’s a definite taste of New Orleans in the air.The party amps up on Tuesday, Feb. 16 at Pat O’Brien’s within Universal CityWalk. The restaurant/club will be hosting a Fat Tuesday celebration to kick off the Lenten season.From 4pm til close, you can enjoy a live party band, special drink discounts, New Orleans style food specials, stilt walkers, bead girls and plenty of other fun and entertainment.Admission is free until 7 pm. After 7, admission is $8 per person or $20 for a VIP ticket offering private balcony access, light appetizers from 4-8 pm and free admission to select CityWalk clubs.For additional information on Mardi Gras events at Universal Orlando or discount Orlando vacation packages and theme park tickets, visit www.OrlandoThemeParkVacations.com. Or to register for a free resort getaway sweepstakes, go to www.WestgateReservations.com/sweepstakes.cfm.