Despite an abundance of clear skies and sunshine in central Florida, it’s tough to see for miles and miles unless you’re standing on a beach along the Atlantic Ocean or Gulf of Mexico.

You certainly won’t find any high elevations or even many tall office buildings. But there is a handful of attractions that’ll get you high enough to catch a nice, sweeping view of the Florida terrain.

At Disney World’s Downtown Disney shopping and entertainment complex you’ll find “Characters in Flight,” a spectacular tethered helium balloon designed to take guests 400 feet straight up for a 360-degree view of the Walt Disney World  Resort area and beyond.

The bright yellow balloon decorated with Disney characters like Dumbo, Aladdin and Mary Poppins, can be seen from miles around as it soars skyward above the lake at Downtown Disney. Each ride lasts approximately 8-10 minutes. Adult tickets are $18 and children can ride for $12.

Across town at SeaWorld Orlando, you’ll find a similar airborne view aboard the theme park’s 400-foot-tall Sky Tower. The cost to ride to the top of the revolving viewing platform is included with regular theme park admission.

A less expensive view can be found just west of Orlando in nearby Clermont where the city’s Citrus Tower offers a panoramic of the surrounding lakes, rolling hills and developments in Lake County. An elevator takes visitors to the top of the 22-story high tower where there’s a glass enclosed observation area. Admission to the Citrus Tower observation deck is $4 for adults and just $2 for children.

Another spot to get a bird’s-eye-view is from the top of Mount Gushmore at Disney’s Blizzard Beach water park. You can take a ski lift to the top where you’ll find an observation area offering a great view of the surrounding Disney parks and property. And when it’s time to go, you can take the easy way back down or you can choose the faster path down Summit Plummet, a 120-foot water slide. You’ll experience the 12-story water slide drop at speeds of 50-60 miles per hour!

Visit www.westgatereservations.com for information on discount Orlando family vacation packages and theme park tickets.

Orlando’s Discovery Cove theme park is getting ready to open an exciting new attraction in early June. The new million-gallon saltwater reef called Grand Reef” will be the first expansion at the SeaWorld Orlando sister park since its initial opening in 2000.

The 2.5-acre artificial reef will be filled with approximately 125 species of sea life, including fish, rays, sharks and urchins. Guests will be allowed to enter the reef to walk, swim and snorkel amongst the sea life.

The highlight is an underwater walking tour or “SeaVenture.” Guests wearing a 75-pound dive helmet (which weighs just 15 pounds when underwater), can follow a themed trail through the reef, encountering schools of fish.

The SeaVenture experience will be limited to guests age 10 or older and groups of no more than six people at a time. However, the attraction also comes at a cost of $59 per person in addition to regular park admission.

The Grand Reef lagoon will offer an area to view approximately 60 lion fish. The venomous lion fish is native to the Pacific Ocean; however, the Discovery Cove lion fish were collected and removed from the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico where they are considered an invasive species.

Discovery Cove maintains a limited capacity of approximately 1,000 each day, so reservations are recommended. Other park features include pristine beaches, lazy river, snorkeling with rays and tropical fish, a free-flight aviary, and at an added cost, the park’s signature dolphin swim experience. Guests also enjoy lockers, snorkel gear, breakfast, lunch, plus unlimited snacks, drinks and select alcoholic beverages.

For more information on Discovery Cove and discount tickets to Orlando’s other theme parks and attractions, go to www.westgatereservations.com.

Get ready for another Jack Hanna Weekend at SeaWorld® Orlando, April 29 - May 1, 2011.The celebrity animal expert affectionately known as Jungle Jack, makes regular appearances at the Orlando theme park and is recognized worldwide for his knowledge and enthusiasm for wild animals and wildlife conservation.

Hanna will host two shows per day during his long weekend at SeaWorld. He will introduce guests to exotic and endangered animals in his own special way, answer questions and provide exclusive up-close encounters.

Show times will be at 1:15 p.m. and 3:15 p.m. each day in Nautilus Theater at SeaWorld.

For a complete list of other shows, attractions and events at SeaWorld, please visit http://www.seaworldorlando.com/. Or you can go to http://www.westgateresevations.com/ to find discount SeaWorld tickets and discount Orlando family vacation packages.

SeaWorld Orlando is ready to add a little Latin flavor to its musical lineup as the theme park gets set for its annual Viva la Música celebration.You can join the fiesta across the next four Saturdays as SeaWorld features a variety of Latin award-winning musical acts performing salsa, merengue, reggaeton and more.  You’ll also find the park showcasing an array of traditional Latin foods and specialty drinks. The menu includes creations from three different regions of Latin America, including delicious Arepas made by SeaWorld’s new executive chef, Hector Colon.

The Latin celebration occurs each Saturday with the event area opening at noon and live concert performances beginning at 3 pm. The celebration is included with regular theme park admission. However, you can upgrade and enjoy Viva La Música with reserved seats right in front of the stage when you purchase a VIP package.

Viva la Musica - Scheduled Musical Artists

March 12 - Chino & Nacho

March 19 - Manny Manuel

March 26 - Jerry Rivera

April 2 - Ednita Nazario

Are you ready to rock? With the weekend just around the corner, there’s plenty of musical entertainment on deck throughout Orlando.

Universal Studios Florida kicks off its first weekend of Mardi Gras with an evening of high energy street performers, a festive, bead-throwing parade and the first concert featuring Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. The concert starts at 8:30 pm immediately following the Mardi Gras parade.

Mardi Gras doubles the fun next weekend with a two-day celebration. On Sat. Feb. 19, the concert headliner will be The B-52s followed by a Sunday Mardi Gras party with KC & the Sunshine Band.

Meanwhile, across town at SeaWorld Orlando, the park will be throwing its second of four Bands, Brew and BBQ events. The party features 60 craft beers from 21 breweries, BBQ from local restaurants and a live concert with country icon Willie Nelson. Additional concerts will feature REO Speedwagon on Feb. 26 and Josh Turner on Mar. 5.

SeaWorld concerts will kick off at 4:30 pm. Park hours are 9 am to 7 pm and the event is included with regular park admission.

For more on Orlando area theme parks and concerts as well as discount Orlando vacation packages, go to www.WestgateReservations.com.

SeaWorld Orlando recently announced that its new killer whale show - “One Ocean” - will make its debut at the park in late April. The show will replace the “Believe” show which has been running for nearly five years.

The new show will highlight the acrobatic killer whales in a series of maneuvers in which multiple orcas perform in unison amid giant fountains. As part of the park’s current safety precautions, there will be no in-water interaction between trainers and killer whales. While trainers will work directly from the stage, the new show is designed to highlight the interconnectedness of the whales and trainers.

Another focal point of the “One Ocean” show is a series of images and messages that help convey SeaWorld’s ongoing ocean and environmental conservation theme and the park’s efforts to make a difference.

The show will key in on the unique personalities of SeaWorld’s killer whales and offer some guests with a chance to interact with the animals through the glass wall around the show pool.

The new One Ocean show will also result in substantial changes at Shamu Stadium. The complex will be revamped and construction will include the installation of fountains, new paint color schemes and the replacement of the existing video screens.

SeaWorld Orlando also features a wide variety of other animal shows and animal interaction attractions, plus thrill rides such as Manta the Flying Ray. For additional information on the park, visit www.Seaworldorlando.com. Or go to www.westgatereservations.com or www.orlandothemeparkvacations.com for discount Orlando theme park tickets and accommodations, including complete Orlando vacation packages.

Excitement is brewing at SeaWorld Orlando as the theme park gets ready to kick off its annual food and music fest - Bands, Brew & BBQ!

Over the course of four Saturdays from February 12 to March 5, SeaWorld will kick up the music, heat up the barbecues and offer up a variety of tasty beers, as well.

The event is included with regular daily park admission and the fun starts at 4:30 pm. Each event features a relaxing beer garden, some of Orlando’s best BBQ served up by local restaurants and, of course, a rocking concert. Seating capacity for the following concerts is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Feb. 12        Huey Lewis & the News

Feb. 19        Willie Nelson

Feb. 26        REO Speedwagon

Mar. 5         Josh Turner

Although the concert is included with park admission, you can upgrade your daily SeaWorld ticket to a Fun Pass - Pay a day, Come all year. For the cost of one day admission, you can enjoy admission every day through Dec. 31, 2011. There’s no better way to ensure you see all four Bands, Brew & BBQ concerts!

For additional information on SeaWorld Orlando and discount theme park tickets or accommodations, visit www.WestgateReservations.com.

Even while we are busy soaking up the beautiful fall sunshine in Orlando, it’s never too early to start thinking about the Christmas season in central Florida’s theme parks.The attractions continue to announce news about this year’s holiday celebrations, and SeaWorld Orlando has joined the fun by outlining its plans for a new “Sea of Trees.”

The Sea of Trees will feature 74 holiday trees, up to 30 feet tall, set up along the waterfront. The trees will be decorated, lit up and all choreographed to an orchestral soundtrack.

SeaWorld Orlando is also expanding its holiday décor throughout the park. Other holiday events include the return of the Winter Wonderland ice skating show, Shamu Christmas - Miracles, Clyde & Seamore’s Countdown to Christmas and A Sesame Street Christmas.

Another holiday favorite - The Polar Express Experience - also returns as the Wild Arctic attraction receives its annual makeover based on the popular children’s movie, complete with an opportunity to meet Santa Claus.

And at the end of the night, guests can enjoy a fireworks and fountains show. It’s all part of the SeaWorld Christmas Celebration that runs every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from Nov. 26 through Dec. 12 and every night from Dec. 17 through Jan. 2, 2011.

For more on SeaWorld Orlando events and discount tickets, please visit http://www.orlandothemeparkvacations.com/ or http://www.westgatereservations.com/.

 SeaWorld Orlando is ready to put a little more flare into its Independence Day events.

The theme park will add more live music to its SeaWorld AfterDark events in honor of America’s birthday celebration. Prior to the July 4 showing of “Reflections,” a fireworks-and-fountains presentation, the 13th Army Band of the Florida National Guard will perform on the stage at Bayside Stadium. The 40-piece band is expected to provide both classic and contemporary musical selections.

After the music, the park’s traditional fireworks show will be extended for the evening and include a patriotic stretch.

In addition to fireworks, SeaWorld offers lots of other “AfterDark” fun, including the “Shamu Rocks” killer whale show and the comedic “Sea Lions Tonite” show. It’s all part of SeaWorld’s summer fun and it’s all included with regular SeaWorld admission. For more park details, please visit www.seaworldorlando.com.

SeaWorld’s sister park, Tampa’s Busch Gardens, also offers up some Independence Day extras. Fireworks will go up on both July 3 and July 4, and the park will remain open until 10 p.m. See www.buschgardens.com for more information.

Or go to www.OrlandoThemeParkVacations.com for discount theme park tickets and discount Orlando vacation package options.

SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular

Select Weekends – October 2009
October 3-4, 10-11, 17-18, 24-25, 30, and 31
Click Here for Your SeaWorld Vacation

Trick or Treat! Kids of all ages can catch the Halloween spirit by joining the pumpkin fishes, friendly sea witches, sea fairies and more than 30 other fanciful sea creatures during SeaWorld Orlando’s annual Halloween Spooktacular celebration. With more 2 million pieces of sweet treats being distributed, there will be plenty of goodies for everyone!

As an added treat, you can use your Spooktacular map to search for hidden treasures and sweets at more than a dozen different stations throughout the park.

Sesame Street fans will be delighted by The Count and other Sesame Street residents at Count Von Count’s Spooktacular character breakfast. Sing and dance along to the Halloween beats while enjoying a delicious breakfast buffet!

SeaWorld Orlando’s Halloween Spooktacular discount Orlando vacations