Catch the beads. Catch the Music. Catch the Spirit. It’s all part of the fun and excitement of the annual Mardi Gras celebration at Universal Studios^® in Orlando!The whole family can join the party as the sights, sounds, and even the tastes of the Big Easy come back to Universal Orlando Resort on Saturdays and select nights from February 11 through April 14, 2012.

On Mardi Gras days, the fun begins every evening as a variety of unique performers take to the streets of Universal Studios. Head over to the French Quarter Courtyard to sample some authentic Cajun food and enjoy live music from bands straight out of New Orleans.

Then get ready for a spectacular parade filled with dazzling floats, colorful costumes and, of course, beads, beads and more beads being tossed from the floats into the crowd.

This year’s parade highlights the wonder and whimsy of planet Earth. A wide variety of floats help take guests on a breathtaking journey to different parts of the world to explore the beauty and diversity of our globe. Float designs include a riverboat, gator, New Orleans, deep blue sea, polar regions, rain forest, bayous & swamps, coral reef and more.

If that’s not enough, there’s also an electrifying concert, featuring some of the biggest names in music. Scheduled performers include:

• Sat, Feb. 11:  The B-52s
• Sat, Feb. 18:  Kelly Clarkson
• Sun, Feb. 19:  Boyz II Men
• Sat, Feb. 25:  Diana Ross
• Sat, March 3: [To be announced]
• Sat, March 10:  Big Time Rush
• Fri, March 16:   J. Cole
• Sat, March 17:  Jill Scott
• Fri, March 23:   Hot Chelle Rae
• Sat, March 24:  B.o.B
• Fri, March 30:  Plain White T’s
• Sat, March 31:  Prince Royce
• Sat: April 7:  Cyndi Lauper
• Sat, April 14:  KC & the Sunshine Band 

Even the littlest ones can enjoy Mardi Gras at Universal Orlando. Children get their own private parade experience at the Little Jester’s Parade Viewing Areas located next to the Terminator 2^®: 3-D attraction.

Children will also love the KidZone Mardi Pardi Krewe, located in Woody Woodpecker’s KidZone. This special party zone features free beads and a live stage show starring their favorite characters. Check out the daily shows at 11 am, 12 pm, 1 pm, 3 pm, 4 pm and 5 pm.

When the excitement dies down at Universal Studios, the party continues on at Universal CityWalk.

On Mardi Gras event nights, guests 21-and-older can use their Universal Studios theme park ticket or Annual Pass to receive free admission to the shopping and entertainment district’s seven unique clubs and bars. That includes admission to Pat O’Brien’s, an exact replica of the famed New Orleans club where it’s Mardi Gras every day of the year. CityWalk is open nightly til 2 am.

Mardi Gras parades and concerts are included in regular admission to Universal Studios. For more information, visit www.universalorlando.com/mardigras. Or go to http://www.westgatereservations.com/ for details on discount Orlando theme park tickets and discount Orlando vacation packages.

Join the fun at Orlando’s Gatorland this weekend (Friday and Saturday, 6 p.m.-9 p.m.) for an after-hours event called Swamp Sunset Celebrations.

Guests can enjoy a train ride, turkey dogs to feed the alligators, a sangria outlet and, of course, plenty of opportunity to see the park’s massive gators up close and personal.

When  you’re not looking into the marsh at the gators, be sure to look overhead as hundreds of egret and other bird nests sit in the trees above the alligator breeding marsh.

For more information about Gatorland and other popular Orlando area theme parks and attractions, visit www.OrlandoThemeParkVacations.com. Or go to www.WestgateReservations for discount Orlando tickets, hotels, resorts and family vacation packages.

There’s a new game in town offering big water fun.

With summer temperatures arriving in Orlando, it’s time to start seeking options to cool off when you need a break from the sun. With four major water parks – Disney’s Blizzard Beach, Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon, Aquatica by SeaWorld and Wet ‘n’ Wild – the options are plentiful. But now there’s a new water park option in Orlando called the CoCo Key Water Resort located near International Drive and I-4 in the midst of the attractions area.  While the colorful water slides and other water attractions are part of the newly remodeled resort, the water fun is also open to those who are not staying at the resort. The watery attractions at CoCo Key offer wet fun for all ages.

The youngest will enjoy Minnow Lagoon, a zero depth entry pool with mushroom style water fountains, soaker cannons and age appropriate slides. The area is also under a canopy, offering youngsters a respite from the hot Florida sun. Parents can watch from the comfort of the Wet Rooster Tiki Bar.  Older kids will appreciate the Coral Reef Cove which offers up water volleyball and the faster paced, Cyclone slide. There’s also a large arcade area filled with games and fun. Nearby is Parrot’s Perch where you’ll find additional slides, water cannons and a giant bucket that dumps 400 gallons of water every 30 minutes.  For the biggest thrills, check out the biggest slides. Over the Falls is a curve-filled body slide while Surfer Splash offers 1- and 2-person tubes. The Boomerango features 2-person tubes that depart from the top of a 60-foot tower.  Free to resort guests, the park is open to non-guests for $19.95 while Florida residents pay just $14.95.  For more information on all of Orlando’s water parks and attractions, go to www.OrlandoThemeParkVacations.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.

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.

Orlando, FL is often referred to as the world’s Theme Park Headquarters. Orlando boasts a dozen major theme parks and water parks, each offering a very unique experience. The most visited theme park of all is Disney’s Magic Kingdom. Kids of all ages love the Magic Kingdom for its ability to bring childhood dreams and memories to life. If you are into faster paced fun and adventure, you might prefer Universal’s Islands of Adventure. If you are an animal lover make sure you visit SeaWorld Orlando or Disney’s Animal Kingdom. With so many options it is wise to purchase Orlando vacation packages which can include a variety of tickets as well as hotels, all at a discount.