Booking your next Westgate Resorts reservation is now faster and simpler than ever before thanks to an exciting new online booking process. In fact, it’s as easy as 1-2-3.It’s all part of the newly designed Web site, http://www.westgatereservations.com/. In addition to finding a wealth of resort information and a variety of exciting discount vacation package specials, visitors can now book a Westgate vacation online, 24-hour a day. Of course, visitors to the site will also continue to enjoy the option of calling a vacation specialist to book their trip.

To utilize the new online booking tool, visitors can simply 1) select their travel dates 2) check the date availability and 3) personalize their package with any additional ticket options.

The online booking tool provides a variety of available room types along with the accompanying rental price as well as a discounted price available with a resort preview.

Prior to checking out, visitors are provided with an option to purchase additional tickets not included in their package, as well as optional travel insurance. Qualified online purchases can be completed with a valid VISA, MasterCard, Discover or American Express card.

See for yourself how fast and easy it is to schedule and book a Westgate Resorts getaway online. Visit http://www.westgatereservations.com/ today.

Branson may be best known for reeling in visitors to Silver Dollar City theme park and the area’s many theatres and live entertainment venues. Yet it’s the Branson area’s spectacular lakes that continue to capture outdoor enthusiasts by hook, line and sinker. In fact, the Branson Lakes provide some of the very best trout fishing in the world.The popular Branson Landing shopping and dining attraction in historic Branson sits on the lakefront of scenic Lake Taneycomo. You’ll also find lake excursions and boat rentals along a mile-long lighted boardwalk. But get away from the boardwalk and you’ll also find more than 2,000 acres of lake surface and over 40 miles of shoreline.

The lake is actually a section of the White River. The lake was formed back in 1913 with the completion of the Powersite Dam. But when the Table Rock Dam was completed at Taneycomo’s headwaters in 1958, the entire nature of the lake changed.  The lake’s water now comes directly from the bottom of Table Rock Lake, making it a cold water lake, perfect for trout anglers.

The cold, clear water offers an average water temperature of 58 degrees and is stocked each year with 750,000 10″-12″ rainbow and brown trout. The upper portion of the lake is reserved for artificial lures only and the area is perfect for fly fishing. Flies that imitate freshwater shrimp as well as drifting salmon eggs or angleworms offer the best options for catching the trout.

Lower Lake Taneycomo, on the other hand, offers a downstream area closer to Powersite that has considerably warmer water and different species of fish.

For more information on Branson’s lakes and outdoor recreation or the theme parks and shows, go to http://www.ticket2branson.com/. Or visit http://www.westgatereservations.com/ if you’d like information on discount Branson family vacation packages and lodging, including the Westgate Branson Woods Resort.

The 9^th Annual Gatlinburg Ribfest & Wings celebration on April 22 is sure to be a tasty celebration of food and fun.

This highly anticipated event in the Great Smoky Mountains area features live entertainment, children’s activities, eating contests and a chance to sample a wide variety of delicious barbecued ribs and wings.  Ribfest runs from 5-9 pm with food sampling from 6-9 pm or until the wings run out. Afterward, the Gatlinburg Parkway turns into a giant street fair.

Live entertainment at Ribfest includes the classic tunes of the Beat Daddys and their soulful rock ‘n roll blues as well as the musical group Soulfinger, offering up some neo-classic soul.

A panel will judge and award prizes for the best ribs or wings in seven different categories. In addition, all of the participating vendors will vie for the “People’s Choice Award” as chosen by popular vote.

Hot wing eating contests sponsored by All Sauced Up will feature wings prepared in sauces such as “Blazing Bomb,” “Treacherous Tongue,” “Fire Pit Hell,” “Scorching Screaming” and “Next Day Disaster.” Prizes will be awarded to the “Hot Wing Eating Contest Champion of the Year.”

An armband for Ribfest & Wings may be purchased for $12 ($5 for kids).

For more information about activities, lodging and discount vacation packages in Gatlinburg and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, visit www.GatlinburgVacationStore.com. For discount hotel and resort packages, including Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort and Wild Bear Falls indoor water park, visit www.WestgateReservations.com.

September 25 — November 8, 2009

Your taste buds will be more than tempted at the 2009 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival. Disney’s annual event returns Sept. 25 thru Nov. 8, 2009, bringing with it many of the world’s tastiest regional foods and drinks. Of course, that’s only the beginning as guests will also enjoy rockin’ concerts, fabulous shopping, fun-filled seminars and demonstrations, taste-testing other special programs.

Tantalizing new additions to this year’s menus include the robust and exotic flavors of Rio de Janeiro and Bangkok as well as world-class performers like Richard Marx, Billy Ocean and Vanessa Carlton, who will all take the stage at the Festival for the very first time.

A convenient Disney Gift Card offers a fast, easy and secure way to carry your money on your wrist while enjoying the Festival. Just load or reload the card with any amount you desire, swipe — and you’re spared the trouble of getting out your credit card or cash any time you want to pay for food or merchandise at the Festival.

This year’s marketplace and promenade includes 25 international kiosks are serving up delicious, tapas-sized portions from countries on 6 continents.

Eat to the Beat! Concert Series
Musical entertainment includes the Eat to the Beat Concert Series which offers up an equally tempting variety of classic rock, soul, R&B, jazz and funk with artists ranging from Boyz II Men to Big Bad Voodoo Daddy.

Book Your Disney Vacations with Westgate Reservations!

Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights Ripped from the Silver Screen

Book your Orlando Discount Vacation Package!

Step inside living cinematic terror at Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights® as the most demented films of all time come to life. Torn from their upcoming films, The Wolfman and Saw join with Chucky to descend upon you, with a host of terrifying horrors close behind.

On select nights in September and October, Universal Studios Florida® theme park is transformed into the nation’s premier Halloween event. Venture into a nightmarish maze of horrid Haunted Houses, lurid Live Shows, and shocking Scare Zones while an army of mutants, monsters and maniacs roam the darkened studio streets.

Now in its 19th year, Halloween Horror Nights annually draws hundreds of thousands of horror fans from around the globe to this one-of-a-kind event. Tony Timpone, Editor of Fangoria Magazine, said, “After visiting scream parks all across the US for the last 20 years, I can easily say that Universal’s is the best in the business… Halloween Horror Nights is the ultimate Halloween experience.”

It’s the greatest exhibition of pure terror ever unleashed anywhere, and you can experience it all, LIVE, only at Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights.

Select Nights
• September 25-26
• October 1-4, 8-11, 15-19, 21-25, 28-31

WARNING! EVENT MAY BE TOO INTENSE FOR YOUNG CHILDREN AND IS NOT RECOMMENDED FOR CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 13. NO COSTUMES OR MASKS ALLOWED.

SAW – © 2004 Saw Productions, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Universal elements and all related indicia TM & © 2009 Universal Studios. © 2009 Universal Orlando. All rights reserved