The music goes on and on at Universal Orlando. While the extended Mardi Gras celebration has barely ended, the theme park is already gearing up for its annual run of summer music.

Scheduled musical artists for this year’s Summer Concert Series at Universal Studios have been announced. The six-week run of Saturday night concerts at the Universal Studios Music Plaza begins June 11 with the Go-Gos.

Summer Concert Series shows begin at 9 pm and are included with regular theme park admission.

Universal’s 2011 Summer Concert Series

June 11       Go-Gos

June 18       Nelly

June 25       Third Eye Blind

July 2           Trey Songz

July 9           Boys Like Girls

July 16         Drake

NASA’s 30-year-old space shuttle program is ending soon. But one of iconic the shuttles will be staying at Kennedy Space Center for all to see.

NASA announced that four museums will be receiving a space shuttle after shuttle program comes to a halt. More than 20 museums had been hoping to receive one of the retired shuttles.

The program’s launch site - Kennedy Space Center in central Florida, will be home to space shuttle Atlantis. The shuttle will go on display at KSC’s Visitor Center.

The Smithsonian Institution’s National Air and Space Museum will receive space shuttle Discovery, replacing Enterprise, which is currently on display at the museum. Enterprise, a test model that was not built to fly, will be moved from the Smithsonian to to New York City’s Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum.

Meanwhile, the fleet’s other shuttle, Endeavour will be sent to the California Science Center in Los Angeles.

NASA expects that the spaceships could arrive at their new homes within six to nine months after their last flights.

Two space shuttle missions remain on the launch schedule. Endeavour is tentatively slated to launch from Kennedy Space Center at 3:47 pm on April 29, 2011. And the final shuttle launch of Atlantis, STS-135, is tentatively scheduled for 3:40 pm on June 28, 2011.

For additional information on discount tickets to Kennedy Space Center and other Orlando area theme parks, visit http://www.westgatereservations.com/ today.

M-i-c-k-e-y  M-o-u-s-e!

Disney World just made it a little easier for guests to meet its most famous resident! You can now obtain a FastPass to “skip the line” and meet Mickey Mouse at his new meet-and-greet area within Magic Kingdom.

FastPass for Mickey Mouse will work just like the express tickets for other Magic Kingdom attractions like Space Mountain and Splash Mountain. Simply print out a ticket indicating a time frame to come back to the attraction and skip the normal queue line, if you choose.

While Mickey’s previous home in Mickey’s ToonTown Fair has been closed for construction of a new and expanded Fantasyland, you can now find him in the Town Square Theater formerly known as Town Square Exhibition Hall.

The theater, located near the front of the park, features a turn-of-the-century look with posters promoting Mickey as a magician and star attraction.

When it comes to air shows, it’s tough to match the electricity, excitement and awe-inspiring magic of watching the Navy’s precision flying team, the Blue Angels.

The Blue Angels make a rare visit to central Florida this weekend, April 2-3, while headlining the annual SUN ‘n FUN International Fly-In and Expo in Lakeland, FL.

With full performances on Saturday and Sunday, the Blue Angels will be making their first Orlando area appearance since 2008. The team will have practice flights on Friday from 4-5:15 p.m. and shows on Saturday and Sunday from 4-5:15 p.m.

The event, which opens today, also features daily air shows through Sunday with performances by the USAF F-22 Raptor Demo and US Special Ops Command Parachute Team.  The event will host more than 4,000 aircraft, educational forums and workshops, and more than 500 exhibitors.

Friday’s events also feature a Night Air Show with fireworks and a performance by the U.S. Navy Band “Pride.” There will be a hot air balloon launch (weather permitting) on Saturday between 6:30 am and 8 am.

On March 31, the nearby attraction, Fantasy of Flight, hosts its annual Splash-In, where dozens of seaplanes spend the day landing and taking off from Lake Agnes. Sun-’n-Fun attendees can take shuttles to the attraction and get enjoy discount admission.

The Fly-In is being held at the Lakeland Linder Regional Airport. Daily tickets are $35 for adults, $15 for children 11-17. Children 10 and under are free. Daily parking is $5. More ticket packages and event info is available at www.sun-n-fun.org.

Already known for its abundance of world famous theme parks, Central Florida also continues to grow as one of the world’s premier cruise ship ports.

While Orlando, FL remains one of the world’s most popular vacation destinations, nearby Port Canaveral sits just an hour’s drive from the gates of Disney World. And now, the Port has again expanded its lineup of world class cruise ships.

Carnival Cruise Lines has announced the addition of a third ship to its Port Canaveral fleet. The 20-year-old Carnival Ecstasy, currently based in Galveston, TX, will move to Port Canaveral and begin sailing from Central Florida on Nov. 7, 2011.

The 2,052-passenger ship will operate four- and five-day cruises to The Bahamas. Ecstasy will depart Thursdays on four-day ‘long weekend’ cruises visiting Nassau and Half Moon Cay or Freeport. The five-day cruises will depart Mondays and Saturdays offering ports of call at Nassau, Freeport and Half Moon Cay or Key West.

The Ecstasy joins the Carnival Sensation and Carnival Dream at Port Canaveral. The Port also acts as the home base for the Disney Magic and Disney’s extraordinary new ship, Disney Dream. Rounding out the cruise ship lineup in Port Canaveral are two Royal Caribbean ships, the Freedom of the Seas and Monarch of the Seas.

For more information on discount Orlando vacation packages and discount cruises, please go to www.WestgateReservations.com.

Boy Genius fans take note.

On April 1, Universal Orlando® Resort will close the Jimmy Neutron’s Nicktoon Blast attraction at Universal Studios Florida.®

Although Universal will immediately begin work on an all-new theme park experience, the Neutron ride will re-open for limited periods during the spring and summer of 2011. The attraction is scheduled to close permanently on August 11.

Universal states the the replacement attraction will be based on an amazing concept and be a natural fit for Universal Orlando. However, additional details are not yet available.

HGTV personalities will be on hand as guest design and landscape experts at the upcoming Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando. The annual festival begins March 2 and runs through May 15.

As a new sponsor of the Flower and Garden Festival, HGTV will also present Bambi’s Butterfly House located along the Future World Imagination Walkway.

Hosts from the popular HGTV channel will appear in the Festival Center on every Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the festival on the HGTV Stage. The Center is open every day and will feature other presentations Monday through Thursday. Presentations will occur twice daily, at noon and 3 pm.

HGTV celebrity schedule at Epcot:

March 4-6: The Art of Sculpting Space with Genevieve Gorder (”HGTV Design Star” and “Dear Genevieve”)

March 11-13: Design It Yourself: Easy-to-Follow Tips for Designing Your Favorite Room with Lisa LaPorta (”Designed to Sell”)

March 18-20: The 5 DIY Secrets That Can Transform Any Space with Kim Myles (”Myles of Style”)

March 25-27: Mobile Gardens with Brian Patrick Flynn (”Design Happens”)

April 1-3: Adding Value to Your Home Without Breaking the Bank with Taniya Naya (”Designed to Sell” and “Destination Design”)

April 8-10: Life, Love and Landscaping with Ahmed Hassan (”Yard Crashers”)

April 15-17: Gardening with Kids: Fun Seed Starting Projects with Patti Moreno (”Garden Girl”)

April 22-24: When Nature Calls: Creative, Back-to-Basics Style for All Things Natural and Decorative with Michele Beschen (”B. Original”)

April 29-May 1: The Design Process: Curb Appeal Projects from Concept to Construction with John Gidding (”Curb Appeal: The Block”)

May 6-8: Beautiful on a Budget: High Style, Low-Cost Secrets to Bringing Indoor Styling Outside with Frank Fontana (”Design on a Dime”)

May 13-15: Top Design Trends Made Affordable and Accessible with Vern Yip (”HGTV Design Star”)

The blizzard of 2011 is making its way across the plains, Midwest and northeastern states, leaving a relentless trail of ice, massive accumulations of snow, high winds and frigid temperatures.

While much of the nation digs out from the storm, temperatures are still hovering around 80 degrees in Orlando, FL! Long story short, the only sign of snow in Orlando is on the fun-filled slopes of Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park.

Although the groundhog today saw his shadow signaling an early spring, there’s no reason to wait for the spring thaw. In fact, there’s no better time than now to escape to the sunshine and fun times of Orlando.

Put down the shovels and head to Walt Disney World^® Resort. Enjoy a rollicking show in front of Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom^®. Or experience a trip around the world - or at least a trip around World Showcase at Epcot.

Put away the ice scrapers and head down to Universal Orlando^® Resort where you can step inside the awe-inspiring Hogwarts castle at the new Wizarding World of Harry Potter^TM adventure at Islands of Adventure^®. Or join the weekly Mardi Gras party, parade and concert at Universal Studios Florida!

Hang up the winter jackets and get out the swim suits for a trip to Aquatica^® by SeaWorld water park. Or sit in the warm sunshine and watch Shamu put on a water soaking show at SeaWorld^® Orlando.

It’s all part of a winter getaway to Orlando. For more information on Orlando’s many theme parks and attractions, visit http://www.orlandothemeparkvacations.com/. Or for details on discount Orlando accommodations and resorts, go to http://www.westgatereservations.com/.

What could be better than an Orlando vacation? How about an Orlando vacation combined with a fun-filled Caribbean cruise!

The theme park capital of the world, Orlando is conveniently located less than an hour’s drive from Port Canaveral where you’ll find a variety of cruise ships departing regularly.

Imagine a family vacation that starts with a visit to Orlando’s famous theme parks like Disney’s Magic Kingdom and Universal Studios Florida. Then head to the Atlantic coast where you hop aboard a Royal Caribbean cruise to the sun-kissed, white sand beaches and turquoise waters of The Bahamas.

Royal Caribbean’s Monarch of the Seas is one ship that sails regularly to Nassau, Bahamas and the beautiful private island of CocoCay. The state-of-the-art cruise ship carries 2,744 guests and features amenities such as an oversized spa and fitness center, Asian-fusion restaurant, Casino Royale, themed bars and lounges, two outdoor pools, two whirlpools, Adventure Ocean youth facilities, open-air basketball court, make-your-own pizzeria, Broadway style shows and Royal Caribbean’s signature rock-climbing wall.

Cruise passengers can also experience shore and land excursions like scuba diving, shipwreck snorkeling, parasailing, and even swimming with the dolphins. You can follow in the footsteps of legendary pirate Blackbeard, see sharks and barracuda in the Predator Lagoon or feel the rush of a ride aboard the Thriller powerboat adventure.

Nassau offers beautiful beaches as well as charming old world architecture. The Bahamas capitol features ample shopping and dining as well as some of the world’s most extravagant resorts on adjacent Paradise Island.

For more details on how you can experience the delightful relaxation of such a land and sea getaway, go to http://www.westgateownerevents.com/ or http://www.westgatereservations.com/.

Orlando visitors can enjoy a little extra Disney magic during the Christmas holiday season as Walt Disney World Resort offers extended theme park hours.

Disney’s Magic Kingdom will remain open til midnight Dec. 22-24 and til 1 am on Christmas Day.

The park will also be open til midnight on Dec. 26; 1 am on Dec. 27-29; midnight on Dec. 30; and on New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31, the park will be open until 2 am.

On select days during the holidays, the Magic Kingdom will also offer Extra Magic Hours until 3 am for guests staying at select Walt Disney World Resort hotels.