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It's still summer, but theme parks are already preparing for Halloween

While people around the country get ready for the Fourth of July, popular theme parks are already getting ready for the next big holiday, Halloween.

Posted Updated
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By
Janine Bowen
, WRAL.com editor

While people around the country get ready for the Fourth of July, popular theme parks are already getting ready for the next big holiday, Halloween.

Although Halloween is still more than three months away, tickets for many theme park special events are already available, with some of the celebrations starting as early as August.

Walt Disney World
Walt Disney World in Orlando will begin celebrating Halloween while many of us are still on summer vacation with the first of several Mickey’s-Not-So-Scary Halloween Parties scheduled for Aug. 17.

The event is a limited-ticket, after hours event, meaning regular guests will be kicked out of the Magic Kingdom by 7 p.m. and only those who have purchased a ticket for the Halloween Party will be allowed to remain in the park.

The event features shows, a parade and fireworks exclusive to the party, as well as shorter lines on some of the park’s most popular rides as a result of limited crowds.

This year’s evet will feature new ride overlays on Pirates of the Caribbean and the popular teacup ride, as well as a new Disney Junior dance party for the little ones.

One of the biggest draws for Disney fans, however, might be the opportunity for meet-and-greets with rare characters who are not present on regular days in the park.

Jack Skellington, from “The Nightmare Before Christmas” and all of Snow White’s Seven Dwarfs are known to make appearances. Last year, Moana, who has not had a consistent presence in the parks despite the popularity of her namesake movie, made an appearance at the event with some waiting in line for more than two hours for the rare photo opportunity.

Tickets for Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween party are available online, and start at $79, with prices increasing for dates closer to Halloween.

Universal Orlando
While Disney’s Halloween event is meant for the whole family, Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights is meant for older audiences who want to be scared.

For the first time in the event’s 28-year history, Halloween Horror Nights will feature 10 haunted houses as well as access to some of the park’s popular rides.

Earlier this year, Universal announced that a haunted house based on the popular Netflix series “Stranger Things” would be coming to the event to take visitors from the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana to the Upside Down. The attraction will be based on events that took place during season one of the series, so those who haven’t yet caught up on season two won’t have to worry about spoilers.

The most recently announced haunted houses will be centered around the films “Chucky” and the cult classic “Killer Klowns from Outer Space.”

The event runs on select nights from Sept. 14 through Nov. 3. Ticket prices start at $62.00 online, but can increase based on what day you attend. The event is not recommended for kids under the age of 13.

Carowinds
Carowinds will transform from a theme park to a “scream park” for Scarowinds, which begins Sept. 14.

The event will feature at least six haunted mazes and scare zones, each with their own individual story.

If the haunted attractions aren’t scary enough, guests can test their courage on some of the park’s most popular thrill rides.

Individual ticket prices for the event have not been released yet, but access is included for those who have a gold season pass.

Busch Gardens
The Howl-O-Scream event at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, Va. will return again this year with some returning favorite attractions and several new ones.

The event will feature seven indoor and outdoor haunted mazes, and the park has been releasing the stories behind the attractions monthly.

Six scare zones will immerse visitors into frightening worlds while several shows will keep the party going all night.

For an extra fee, the event will also feature two escape rooms, where a group of six people must use clues and solve puzzles to get out before time is up.

The event starts at 6 p.m. on select days from Sept. 15 through Oct. 28, and is included with regular park admission. Due to the scary nature of the event, guests with young children are encouraged to use caution if they remain in the park after Howl-O-Scream begins.

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