Planning on spending Spring Break in Orlando this year? Check out the latest deals at Westgate Resorts! For more information, visit www.westgatedestinations.com.

Here’s a snapshot of what’s in store:

• Magic Kingdom presents a double helping of pyrotechnics: “Wishes” nighttime spectacular with a holiday overlay at 8:30 p.m. and “Fantasy in the Sky” at 11:51 p.m.

• Epcot‘s “IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth” delights revelers with a salute to the new year at 7 p.m. and 11:42 p.m.

• At Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the 25-minute spectacular “Fantasmic!” that combines water, fire, lights, lasers, fireworks and music will be presented at 6:30 and 8 p.m., with the popular “Lights! Camera! Happy New Year!” fireworks display at midnight.

• At DisneyQuest, located at Downtown Disney,  there is a family-friendly cyber celebration from 8 p.m. -1 a.m. Kids are entertained with a  DJ and dance party, plus unlimited access to all the games and DisneyQuest attractions including Buzz Lightyear’s Astroblasters, Virtual Jungle Cruise and CyberSpace Mountain.  There’s a confetti drop and festive party favors as the clock strikes midnight. Partygoers also get a coupon for a pizza, hot dog, chicken casesar wrap or hamburger, plus chips and soda.  Price is $45 advance purchase –  or $55 day of, including tax. Call 407-934-7639 to reserve tickets.

• At Cirque du Soleil, located at Downtown Disney, all guests attending the Dec. 31 performances will receive a limited-edition Walt Disney World/Cirque trading pin. Shows are at 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. For pricing contact 407/WDW/SEAT

• Registered guests at select Disney resort hotels will be treated to music and entertainment. At Narcoosee’s restaurant (Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa), for instance, there will be a four-course dining experience for $149, plus DJ, balloon artist and special fireworks viewing at 8:30 and 11:51.

• Atlantic Dance Hall at Disney’s Boardwalk Resort offers a special-ticket New Year’s Eve party from 8 p.m.-2 a.m. with video DJ Tony Zapulla.

For specific information about other holiday dining offerings at Disney resort hotels on Dec. 31, call 407/WDW/DINE.

Westgate Lakes Resort & Spa
Westgate Blue Tree Resort
Westgate Leisure Resort
Westgate Palace
Westgate River Ranch
Westgate Towers
Westgate Town Center
Westgate Vacation Villas
Club Orlando
The Seasons
Westgate Branson Woods Resort
Westgate Branson Lakes at Emerald Pointe
Harbour Beach Resort
Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort & Spa
Westgate Flamingo Bay
Westgate Painted Mountain
Westgate South Beach
Westgate Myrtle Beach Oceanfront Resort
Westgate Tunica
Westgate Historic Williamsburg
Westgate Park City Resort & Spa

Based upon availability. Restrictions and blackout dates may apply. You must show your government issued ID proving employment at time of check-in to receive discount.

Branson’s star entertainers and their elaborate holiday productions are set to dazzle visitors during November and December. From “Mr. Christmas” Andy Williams with The Lennon Sisters, to Tony Orlando, The Osmond Brothers, Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers with Debby Boone and the Oak Ridge Boys, there’s a multitude of entertainers that showcase Branson’s Christmas spirit.

Carols and cheer fill the air at Branson’s family music shows like the Baldknobbers, Presleys, Duttons and the Hughes Brothers, and laughter rolls through the aisles at Jim Stafford, Hamner Barber and Paul Harris’ shows.

Silver Dollar City rings in the holiday season with An Old Time Christmas. The 1880s-style theme park transforms into an evening wonderland, featuring the Christmas on Main Street light and sound show, 1,000 decorated Christmas trees, 5-story special effects Christmas Tree, a Holiday Light Parade, the Broadway-style production A Dickens’ Christmas Carol, festive holiday foods and over four million lights – plus thrilling rides, as guests can soar into the night while viewing the awesome lights from above.

If there is Christmas shopping to do, Historic Downtown Branson is a good place to find great gifts, and there are three name-brand outlet malls, boutique shops and Christmas specialty shops throughout town.

For the kid in all of us, there’s a special Holiday Lights Ride the Ducks to see the sights and lights on a sing-along holiday adventure through a lighted forest of twinkling snowflakes, candy canes and holiday ornaments.

At the Sight & Sound Theatre, “The Miracle of Christmas” — which tells the story of the birth of Jesus — comes to life for the season. You’ll be touched to watch how it all unfolds with kings, angels and Mary and Joseph, a simple, faithful couple chosen by God. As a bonus, you’ll have the opportunity to interact with the characters and see the animals up-close from the Nativity story.

And on Sunday, December 4, thousands of people gather in downtown Branson to watch a nighttime Christmas parade with no hint of commercialism. This year marks the 63rd Adoration Parade, an evening event with dozens of high school bands and lighted floats. The theme has always been “Keeping Christ in Christmas.”

Planning a Branson vacation getaway? Visit www.westgatedestinations.com and check out the latest specials at Westgate Branson Woods Resort and Westgate Branson Lakes at Emerald Pointe.

Through this special, limited-time Military Appreciation Offer, U.S. soldiers (and their families) who have served in The War on Terror, Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom can book a complimentary weekday stay in a king studio villa at one of Westgate’s full-service resorts in Orlando, Florida. Minutes away from world-class area attractions including Walt Disney World® Resort & Universal Orlando®, Westgate offers convenient access to exciting entertainment options for a memorable Orlando family vacation. 

“Having served in the armed forces myself, I am extremely proud of the American tradition of service that endures even today,” said David A. Siegel, Westgate Resorts founder and CEO. “I consider it a privilege to provide 1,000 complimentary vacations to our most deserving American heroes.”

The first 1,000 military personnel to call in beginning at 9 a.m. EDT on October 11th will receive the complimentary Orlando resort stay. With over 6,000 villas in Orlando alone, the beautifully decorated king villa studios at Westgate Resorts feature kitchenettes with microwaves and mini refrigerators, queen sleeper sofas, 27-inch color TVs with DVD players, whirlpool tubs, and private balconies or patios. Onsite amenities at most Westgate Resort locations include outdoor pools, hot tubs, restaurants, delis/marketplaces, game rooms and daily children’s activities.

To take advantage of this exclusive Military Appreciation Offer from Westgate Resorts, simply call 1-800-887-9312 on October 11th at 9 a.m. EDT and enjoy an unforgettable vacation getaway courtesy of Westgate Resorts!

About Westgate Resorts
One of the largest resort developers in the United States, Westgate Resorts features luxury resorts in eleven premier travel destinations throughout the United States with over 12,000 units in locations like Orlando, Florida; Park City, Utah; Las Vegas, Nevada; Gatlinburg, Tennessee; Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; Williamsburg, Virginia; Miami, Florida; Branson, Missouri; Mesa, Arizona; and Tunica, Mississippi. Founded in 1982 by David A. Siegel, Westgate Resorts boasts affordable luxury vacation accommodations. For more information about Westgate Resorts, visit www.westgatedestinations.com.

*Terms & Conditions: Offer is for studio only and based on availability. Must stay between Sunday – Thursday only. A credit card is required only to hold the reservation. Offer only available by phone. Must travel by December 20th. Thanksgiving Week not available. Offer good for the first 1,000 active military personnel who served in the campaigns above. Proof of active or retired duty required at check-in.  Limit one per customer. Employees of Central Florida Investments/Westgate Resorts not eligible for this promotion. No resort preview required for the stay. Villa upgrades are also available at a nominal cost. Additional nights can be purchased at the Military Discount of 10% off of the Best Available Rate.

2011 Orlando Home Show
October 7-9, 2011
Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, Florida
Enjoy interesting exhibits, talk to home improvement experts and listen to special guest speakers at the Orlando area’s largest home design and landscaping showcase, which will take place at the Orange County Convention Center.

2011 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival
September 30 – November 13, 2011
Epcot, Walt Disney World Resort, Lake Buena Vista, Florida
Take an eclectic tour of the world at the 2011 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival as you sample delicious foods and fine wines during this international culinary celebration, which also offers nightly Eat to the Beat! concerts, celebrity-che cooking demonstrations, children’s activities and the talents of street performers from acrobats to musicians.

2011 Halloween Horror Nights
Select Nights Between September 23 & October 31, 2011
Universal Orlando Resort, Orlando, Florida
Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights is the largest Halloween event in the United States and spread out over both Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Islands of Adventure. Events at the month-long fright fest include specialty designed haunted houses and mazes, inescapable scare zones, a Halloween parade, thrilling shows and live music, as well as an assortment of wandering ghouls, zombies, demons, werewolves, ghosts, goblins and vampires.

2011 Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party
Select Nights September through November 2011
Universal Orlando Resort, Orlando, Florida
This after-hours extravaganza at Disney’s Magic Kingdom allows guests to dress up in Halloween costumes and also features the “Boo-to-You” Halloween Parade and the “Happy HalloWishes” fireworks spectacular. There’s trick-or-treating as well and also the opportunity to enjoy rides and attractions from 7 PM to midnight.

2011 SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular
TBA, 2011
SeaWorld Orlando, Orlando, Florida
Halloween meets the sea at SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular, carving an underwater “fantasea” where children can dance with an ice DJ, learn from a school of fish and play with a sea fairy. SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular uniquely brings children’s “fantaseas” to life with enchanted pathways and charming sea creatures, providing the utmost in family-friendly trick-or-treating.

2011 Children’s Miracle Network Classic
October 17-23, 2011
Walt Disney World Resort, Lake Buena Vista, Florida
One of the most popular events on the PGA Tour, the Children’s Miracle Network Classic at Walt Disney World Resort has served as an annual tradition since 1971, the same year Disney World opened its doors. The Children’s Miracle Network Classic, takes place at Disney’s championship Palm and Magnolia courses.

2011 Festival of the Masters
November 11-13, 2011
Downtown Disney, Walt Disney World Resort, Lake Buena Vista, Florida
Festival of the Masters at Walt Disney World Resort is simply one of the most acclaimed open-air art festivals in the United States. Approximately 150 award-winning artists display their diverse wares at this immense outdoor showcase at Downtown Disney that also includes live entertainment, culinary offerings and children’s activities, as well as the House of Blues Folk Art Festival.

Good sources for more information on upcoming Orlando festivals and events include the “Orlando Seasonal Events” section of the Orlando, Florida Guide, as well as the Friday entertainment sections of the Orlando Sentinel and the Orlando Weekly, a weekly arts and entertainment publication.

Seeking spacious and affordable accommodations during your Orlando vacation getaway this fall? Look no farther than Westgate Resorts, which offers spacious suites, abundant amenities and convenient access to Disney World, Universal Orlando and SeaWorld Orlando theme parks, as well as other Orlando area attractions. Choose from Westgate Resorts properties such as Westgate Blue Tree Resort, Westgate Lakes Resort & Spa, Westgate Leisure Resort, Westgate Palace, Westgate Towers, Westgate Town Center and Westgate Vacation Villas. For more information about Westgate Resorts, visit www.westgatedestinations.com.

The ideal vacation destination, Westgate Lakes Resort & Spa in Orlando, Florida, offers all the comforts of a fully furnished home with accommodations ranging from comfortable studios to spacious four-bedroom villas with full kitchen, living/dining area, flat-screen TVs, washer/dryer, and patio or balcony. Onsite amenities include seven pools, award-winning Westgate Smokehouse Grill, world-class Serenity Spa, and theme park and shopping transportation. For more information, visit www.wglakes.com.