The number of wildly-anticipated theme park events about to kick off is almost dizzying. So here are our FAVE 3 from Universal, Disney and SeaWorld:

At Universal Orlando Resort, Halloween Horror Nights 26 begins Friday. Here are the know-before-you-go details and fun facts:

  • Universal created nine all-new haunted mazes
  • Three of the mazes are originals, meaning Universal's creative team came up with the storylines (Lunatic Playground 3D - You Won't Stand A Chance; Ghost Town: The Curse of Lightning Gulch; Tomb of the Ancients)
  • The remaining six are based on popular films or TV series (Krampus; Halloween - Hell Comes To Haddonfield; The Exorcist; American Horror Story; The Walking Dead [fan favorite moments and iconic Walkers from all six seasons]; and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre).
  • Inside The Exorcist maze, we've learned that there's pea soup on the wall that you can touch and smell
  • Chainsaw guys and gals will roam - even where you think it's safe
  • Chance is the main icon this year, replacing Jack The Clown
  • 2 spine-chilling shows: Bill and Ted's Excellent Halloween Adventure and Academy of Villains: House of Fear
  • Halloween Horror Nights Scareactor Dining Experience is back by popular demand. Feast upon an all-you-care-to-eat dinner buffet with a twist.
  • We unveiled details about the 5 Scare Zones in August

At Walt Disney World Resort, the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival begins Wednesday:

  • The event is longer than ever - 62 days (ending Nov. 14)
  • At the 2016 festival, 30 global marketplaces likeThe Chew Collective in Future World’s Next Eats festival area and Islands of the Caribbean along the World Showcase Promenade
  • Producers of ABC’s “The Chew” will tape five episodes of the show before five festival guest audiences numbering in the hundreds for each show
  • The 21st festival will feature 32 new marketplace dishes and 49 (as of right now) new cocktails, beers, wines and ciders
  • More than 50 wineries and more than 35 breweries from around the world, including local craft beer operations, will be represented at festival marketplaces
  • The new “The Best of Epcot Festivals 2016” cookbook by Pam Brandon and the Disney Chefs features 75 recipes from the global marketplaces
  • Three Rockin’ Burger Block Parties and six Party for the Senses grand tastings will take place at World Showplace during the festival run. In all, the festival will feature 204 premium events ranging from Signature Dinners and Food & Wine Pairings to Beverage Boot Camps and Festival Events in World Showcase pavilions
  • Guest chefs and Disney chefs numbering 250 will present culinary demonstrations and will cook for festival events
  • Nearly 400 culinary demos, beverage and interactive seminars will take place during the 62-day festival
  • More than 375 hours of scheduled seminars will take place at the Festival Center for the 62 days of the festival. These include culinary demos and beverage seminars, the new Mix It, Make It, Celebrate It! interactive events, plus more
  • 186 Eat to the Beat concerts will be performed; 8 musical acts will appear for the first time at this year’s festival featuring entertainment ranging from rock and soul to funk and blues
  • The Festival Passport (previously called the Marketplace Discovery Passport) was introduced in 2010 for the 15th annual festival; today, the free passport will feature pages with all 30 festival marketplaces
  • 100,000-plus desserts, including the Hard Soda Floats at Desserts & Champagne Marketplace, are expected to be served

At SeaWorld Orlando, friendly-not-frightening fun happens each weekend in October with SeaWorld's Halloween Spooktacular:

  • Meet and Greet with Cookie Monster at SeaWorld's Halloween Spooktacular. Meet Cookie Monster from Sesame Street during SeaWorld Orlando's Halloween Spooktacular. For $19 per person, guests can meet the character at SeaFire Grill and enjoy his favorite treat: a cookie. Plus, every guest receives a printed photo of their meet-and-greet to take home.
  • Mermaid Grotto – Where little ones can experience an underwater “fantasea,” meet sea-themed characters and dress up like whimsical mermaids.
  • Multiple candy and treat stations
  • Up-close animal encounters
  • SeaWorld currently has an offer available for guests - kids FREE. Enjoy one free child admission (ages 3 - 9) with each full paid adult admission to SeaWorld Orlando. Offer ends September 30, 2016 and ticket must be used by October 16, 2016.