Halloween is becoming a big money maker for theme parks around the country. Every year as the temperatures begin to dip, parks explore new ways to chill their patrons. 2011 is proving no different.

While it would be impossible to tell you about every Halloween event taking place this year, we can offer a quick run-down on what’s in store at some of the country’s biggest and best parks:

Universal Studios Florida: Visitors boarding flights to Orlando should prepare to have the
daylights scared out of them. Universal Orlando is sparing no expense for scares this Halloween. The park will host eight themed haunted houses and mazes, two live shows, Hollywood-quality sound stages, sophisticated special effects, gallons of fake blood, and over 1,000 characters devoted to scaring the pants off of visitors.

Universal Studios Hollywood: The Halloween spirit is just as high on the West Coast. Universal Studios Hollywood in Los Angeles will host Halloween Horror Nights 2011 with specially designed mazes based around Alice Cooper’s “Welcome to My Nightmare,” Rob Zombie’s “House of 1000 Corpses” and “The Wolfman.”

Busch Gardens in Tampa: Busch Gardens annual Howl-O-Scream event in Tampa will run for 17 nights in 2011 with seven haunted houses and mazes strewn throughout the park. Zombies will also be on the loose, so watch your back while waiting in line!

Walt Disney World: A more family-oriented affair will take place in Disney World with Mickey’s Not-So-Scary-Halloween Party. The event features trick-or-treating for youngsters, a Boo-To-You parade featuring characters from The Haunted Mansion, and a fireworks display Halloween night.

SeaWorld: SeaWorld parks in Orlando, San Antonio, and San Diego take the scares under the seas with specially themed water shows and trick-or-treating for the kids. A special Sesame Street-themed “Countodwn to Halloween Show” will run up until the big day at all three locations.

Source: AP

Flickr: JeffChristiansen