You’ve always been able to head over to Orlando’s Gatorland theme park to get up close and personal with hundreds of alligators, crocodiles and other wildlife. But now you can check out an entirely new viewpoint of the park’s star creatures. 

It’s all part of the new Screamin’ Gator Zip Line Adventure. Just clip in and you can zip off on a thrilling ride that offers a tantalizing and unique bird’s eye view of the giant alligators.

Sail across 1,200 feet of heart racing zip line offering multilevel launch pads that stand more than seven stories high. Enjoy breathtaking views from directly above the park’s giant Cuban and Nile crocodiles and an imposing Alligator Breeding Marsh filled with 138 alligators.

On the Screamin’ Gator, you can launch from heights up to 65 feet and fly along five intense zip lines ranging in length from 230 to 500 feet at speeds near 30 miles per hour. Participants can also cross a swinging bridge over the park’s main walkway.

The 2-hour zip line experience starts off with a brief orientation and safety  session. Each adventure is led by a highly trained guide ready to share stories and myths about the Gatorland inhabitants. The Zip Line adventure includes all day admission to the park.

For more on Orlando area theme parks and attractions including discount tickets and Orlando vacation packages, visit http://www.westgatereservations.com/.

Earth, wind, water and fire! Those are the key elements to the 2011 version of Universal Studio’s annual Mardi Gras celebration. Yes, the party is set to begin!

Beads by the handful will soon be tossed from 12 specially decorated Mardi Gras floats in Universal’s Mardi Gras parade. While the floats are nothing less than spectacular, the costumes and street entertainers are also sure to be every bit as elaborate and intriguing as found in the famed Mardi Gras party in New Orleans.

It’s all part of Universal’s 11-weekend party filled with fun, entertainment and live music. While the floats receive new decorations each year based on the theme, there are also some new floats. For example, the fiery red-colored “fire” float features bursts of flame.

Of course, following the Mardi Gras parade, you can also kick back and enjoy some equally red hot live music. For a complete list of Mardi Gras dates and concert lineups, go to www.UniversalOrlando.com. The event runs Saturdays from Feb. 19 through April 23, plus Feb. 20, Mar. 18, Mar. 25, and Apr. 1.

Mardi Gras is included with regular Universal Studios Florida theme park admission. For ticket discounts and Orlando accommodations and vacation packages, visit www.westgatereservations.com or 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.

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.

Walt Disney World in Orlando is one of the most visited destinations in the country. It has a lot of fun activities for the entire family. Disney World in Orlando offers a variety of theme park options, including Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Epcot. Each of these theme parks offer a different experience and each is big enough that you can spend a full day or more to cover it completely. So, it makes sense to buy your Disney vacation packages which covers multiple park options. You can get packages online to save a lot time that you would otherwise spend waiting in the long lines at the ticket counter.

Orlando offers a lot of attractions and activities designed for the entire family. In fact, there are so many things for you and your family to do, it can be overwhelming at times. With so many sites to see and so many theme parks to choose from, it’s virtually impossible to do it all. Therefore, it is recommended that you consider buying one of the popular Orlando vacation packages that are available online. These packages typically include hotels and tickets to the theme parks of your choice. You will also have an opportunity to talk to someone who knows the area well and can offer you advice on activities that best fit with your own family’s particular interests.