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Fall has arrived in Orlando. And while the central Florida summer heat is gone, things are definitely heating up at Epcot where the 15^th Annual International Food & Wine Festival is officially underway at Walt Disney World Resort!

This special event runs now through Nov. 14, 2010 as the festival turns Epcot theme park into a food and wine lover’s paradise. You’ll find a wealth of specialty food items, unique culinary events, sophisticated parties and live music.

Enjoy delicious regional foods or sample wines and beers from around the world. Get tips from renowned chefs and winemakers at special programs and demonstrations. There is plenty to do at Epcot in addition to the usual array of rides and attractions!

The Eat to the Beat Concert Series also offers up plenty of great music. Check the dates below for a varied lineup of musical entertainers. It’s all waiting for you at the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival.

For more information on Epcot or any of the other Disney World theme parks and attractions, visit www.Orlandothemeparkvacations.com or go to www.WestgateReservations.com.

Eat to the Beat Concert Series:

Concerts are included with regular Epcot admission and will be held at the American Gardens Theater stage nightly at 5:15 pm, 6:30 pm and 7:45 pm.

10/4-10/5 - Kool & The Gang

10/6-10/8 - Sugar Ray

10/9-10/10 - Taylor Hicks

10/11-10/12 - Air Supply

10/13-10/15 - Sister Hazel

10/16-10/17 - Howard Jones

10/18-10/19 - Exposé

10/20-10/21 - 38 Special

10/22-10/24 - Night Ranger

10/25-10/27 - Billy Ocean

10/28-10/31 - Starship starring Mickey Thomas

11/1 - 11/3 - Boyz II Men

11/4-11/5 - Roger Hodgson (formerly of Supertramp)

11/6-11/7 - Jon Secada

11/8-11/9 - Hanson

11/10-11/11 - Rick Springfield

11/12-11/14 - Big Bad Voodoo Daddy

While the new Wizarding World of Harry Potter is stealing all the headlines, there’s another world renowned show also ready to grab your attention at Universal Orlando Resort.

So while the crowds are squeezing into Hogwarts castle and sipping on Butter Beer, now is a great time to sit back, relax and enjoy the antics of Blue Man Group. The show is full of live music, side-splitting humor, audience interaction, original musical instruments, multimedia theatrics and paint; lots and lots of paint!

Every minute of the show is packed with the Blue Man Group’s unique entertainment, providing a totally outrageous experience for all not to mention a fun-filled party atmosphere.

After experiencing the Blue Man Group, you can also enjoy free admission to select Universal CityWalk® venues with the presentation of your Blue Man Group ticket stub.

For more information on Universal Orlando Resort and discount ticket options, visit www.OrlandoThemeParkVacations.com.

Some of the most special Disney moments don’t necessarily come within Orlando’s famous Disney World theme parks. Rather, some special moment occur at Disney’s wonderful character meals.

Cinderella’s Happily Ever After Dinner at Disney’s spectacular Grand Floridian Resort is one such event that is sure to bring smiles and memories to your little princess.

The delicious meal features Cinderella, Prince Charming, Lady Tremaine, Anastasia and Drizella all making their rounds to greet dinner guests. While the mean stepmother and her daughters stay in character while meeting the kids in attendance, they offer a lot of laughs. Meanwhile, Cinderella also comes out several times to dance with Prince Charming. The dashing and handsome prince also finds time to dance with many of the little guest princesses.

The restaurant is beautifully decorated with an old-time amusement park theme that includes statues of carousel animals. The centerpiece is Big Bertha, a turn-of-the-century, fancifully designed organ from France that gives concerts while you dine. The instrument simultaneously plays pipes, drums, bells, cymbals, castanets and a xylophone.

While the character meals are as much about the experience as the dining, the food is delightful, plentiful and varied, with offerings ranging from prime rib to strawberry soup.

Cinderella’s Happily Ever After Dinner costs $35.99 plus tax for adults and $17.99 plus tax for children ages 3 to 9. For more information about Walt Disney World Resort and discount Orlando family vacation packages, visit www.OrlandoThemeParkVacations.com.

Get ready to grab your lightsaber! Droids, alien creatures, Darth Vader, Sith Lords, and Jedi warriors are all coming to Orlando.

There’s no need to travel to a galaxy far, far away because Star Wars Weekends return to Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park in Orlando on select days from May 21 thru June 13.

Star Wars Weekends include: May 21 - 23, May 28 - 30, June 4 - 6, June 11 - 13.

The annual Star Wars special event celebrates the epic space fantasy series as well as the animated new television series, Clone Wars. Your regular admission allows you to join Star Wars celebrities for special shows, presentations and Star Wars memorabilia.

Star Wars weekends offer fun for every age. Kids can work on their lightsaber skills at the Jedi Training Academy and prepare to do battle with the dark one himself - Darth Vader.

The Jedi Training Academy offers an excitement filled 30-minute live show featuring music and amazing lightsaber duels. You can train to become a junior Jedi Knight and might even be selected from the audience to put on a brown robe and learn battle skills from a Jedi Master before the dreaded arrival of Darth Vader.

There’s also Star Wars trivia contests, the Star Tours attraction, autograph sessions and motorcades filled with celebrities and visitors from Naboo, Endor and other planets.

Everywhere you look you’ll find Ewoks, Wookiees, Stormtroopers, Jawas and more. Bring your camera and be ready to shoot.

May the Force be with you at Disney’s Hollywood Studios during these four Star Wars Weekends. For more information on these or other special Disney World events, visit www.OrlandoThemeParkVacations.com. Or go to www.WestgateReservations.com for details on Orlando resorts and hotels and discount Orlando family vacation packages.

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 is none other than the incomparable 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 Lady Soul brings her smooth voice to the stage at Universal Studios Florida in Orlando at 8:30 pm on March 13, 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.

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.

Parades, food, music and beads. Lots of beads. It’s all part of the annual Mardi Gras fun and excitement at Universal Studios Florida in Orlando!

This week’s Universal Mardi Gras concert features rising country star Dierks Bentley on Saturday, February 27 at 8:30 pm.

For complete information on Mardi Gras and the soon to open Wizarding World of Harry Potter, visit www.UniversalOrlando.com. For information on discount Orlando theme park tickets and discount Orlando vacation packages including hotel and resort accommodations, go to www.OrlandoThemeParkVacations.com or www.WestgateReservations.com/sweepstakes.cfm.

Mardi Gras at Universal Studios Florida features 13 Nights of fun, music and entertainment: February 6 - April 17, 2010 (11 Saturday nights PLUS Sunday, Feb. 14 and Friday, Apr. 9)

2010 CONCERT LINEUP

February 6 - KC & The Sunshine Band

February 13 - Heart

Sunday, February 14 - Kool & The Gang

February 20 - Blondie

February 27 - Dierks Bentley

March 6 - Akon

March 13 - Aretha Franklin

March 20 - Miranda Lambert

March 27 - 3 Doors Down

April 3 - The Beach Boys

Friday, April 9 - Sheryl Crow

April 10 - Flo Rida

April 17 - Chicago

Visit www.universalorlando.com/mardigras for complete details. Or for additional discount Orlando vacation package information, go to www.OrlandoThemeParkVacations.com and save!

Mardi Gras at Universal Studios Florida

Saturdays & Select Nights • Feb. 6 - Apr. 17

Bring on the music! Bring on the parade! Bring on the party! Celebrate 15 years of Mardi Gras with the most amazing concert line-up ever, featuring some of the biggest names in pop, rock, R&B, country, hip-hop and more. You’re right in the middle of the celebration with outrageous street performers and our most spectacular parade ever, featuring colorful costumes, dazzling floats, and beads by the handful. Plus, the air will be filled with the spicy aroma of authentic Cajun food* and the sweet sounds of real New Orleans musicians playing in the French Quarter Courtyard. Join in 15 years of the biggest party this side of the bayou with Mardi Gras at Universal Studios-and let the good times roll.

Visit www.universalorlando.com/mardigras for details. Or for additional discount Orlando vacation package information, go to www.OrlandoThemeParkVacations.com and save!  

The holiday season is just around the corner and Disney’s Hollywood Studios will soon be lit up with a seasonal display featuring millions of lights all perfectly synchronized to joyful holiday music.

The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights on the Streets of America runs nightly from Nov. 4, 2009 thru Jan. 4 2010 (except on Nov. 22). The spectacle is included with standard admission to the theme park.

What started as an extensive display of lights at the Osborne family home in Arkansas, eventually became so large that in 1995 the family decided to share its extensive and amazingly elaborate assortment of lights with the world.

Today, the collection blankets entire buildings in sheets of multi-colored lights while tens of thousands of additional lights can be seen overhead amidst twirling carousels, heavenly angels and even Santa with his reindeer.

The holiday light spectacular is truly an unbelievable sight and a favorite annual event at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Approximately every 10 minutes, the lights dim momentarily before dramatically springing back to life and seemingly dancing to elegantly choreographed holiday music.

For information about The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights and other Disney holiday events, or for details on discount Orlando vacation packages, please visit www.OrlandoThemeParkVacations.com.