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Inside and All Around Universal Orlando's Halloween Horror Nights 2011

Universal Studios Orlando is in the midst of its annual spooky-fest, Halloween Horror Nights. Each fall crowds converge on the park to experience the transformation; during the day the park welcomes guests of all ages to experience Shrek 4D, ride ET's bike, and hug Curious George while at night—for 15 nights every fall—the park turns itself into a big screen-like horror movie.

Eight writers work year round to come up with the themes and schemes that inhabit Universal's annual Halloween Horror Nights. While the details, both cinematic and thematic, are incredible, you have to wonder if maybe the eight writers got a little too intricate with some of these ideas (Spanish fort run by a mutinous undead crew of Columbus' missing fourth ship—we are looking at you). After all this isn't Lost. However, despite some of the themes being a bit convoluted, some are just downright scary (Saws n' Steam), some are incredibly visually compelling (Nevermore), and some just might be the future of fright (The In Between house).

We toured all eight haunted houses and here's what we think, in order from scariest to not so scary:

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The Best Halloween Theme Parks: Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party

In addition to the decorations at all the parks and ubiquitous pumpkins, October brings Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party to Disney World. This after-hours event takes place at the Magic Kingdom on selected nights this month.

Advance tickets are $43, and it's a good chance to get into the park without paying the usual $70 or so for a one-day admission.

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The Best Halloween Theme Parks: Fright Fest

Unless you live in the middle of nowhere, you're probably within a reasonable drive of a Six Flags park.

But if you're truly dedicated to all things Halloween, then you'll consider making the pilgrimage to Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey. Located between New York City and Philadelphia, it's the country's largest Six Flags park, and it's set to kick off this year's edition of Fright Fest this weekend.

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The Best Halloween Theme Parks: Howl-O-Scream

Busch Gardens Europe in Williamsburg, Virginia is the perfect distraction for those who have given up on the election and are looking for something even more terrifying than preparing Sarah Palin for Thursday's debate.

The Halloween fun got started a couple weeks ago and continues to run every Friday, Saturday and Sunday night through October. Oddly enough, that means that you won't be able to celebrate Howl-O-Scream on All Hallows Eve.

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The Best Halloween Theme Parks: Halloween Horror Nights

Since its inception, Universal Studios Orlando has been celebrating Halloween, and this year is no different, as Halloween Horror Nights: Reflections of Fear comes to the park.

While the frights at Knott's Berry Farm are certainly spooky, Universal Studios' holiday special is for people who want to be uncomfortably terrified during their trip: Bloody Mary and other recreated urban legends are the focus of this year's scare fest.

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The Best Halloween Theme Parks: Knott's Scary Farm

For the last 35 years, Knott's Berry Farm, in Southern California has been celebrating Halloween with its share of spooky decorations and scary attractions. This year will be no different, as the Knott's Scary Farm kicked off September 25.

The park closes to regular visitors at 5:30 pm and then reopens to scare you silly--or at least try to--at 7 pm, Wednesday-Sunday nights.

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