• FREE Universal Express℠: Unlimited ride access via a special line in both theme parks, ALL DAY (normally $89 per person, per day)
• Early Admission to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ one hour before the theme park opens
• Complimentary water taxis, shuttle buses or walking paths to both theme parks and Universal CityWalk®.
• Priority seating at select restaurants throughout both theme parks and CityWalk

• Beloved movies such as Peter Pan, Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, and the first Pirates of the Caribbean film
• Beloved characters, like Mickey Mouse and Chip ‘n’ Dale
• Beloved WDW park attractions, including those that are missed, like EPCOT's Horizons and The Magic Kingdom's Mickey’s Toontown
• WDW firsts, such as the openings of Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Tokyo Disneyland, the launch of The Disney Channel, and the momentous founding of The Walt Disney Company itself

• True Love: Celebrate romance and enchantment throughout Valentine’s Week with special moments and entertainment geared to lovebirds. Disney Princes join their Princesses to meet park guests in special settings, prix fixe menus turn up at select restaurants and Valentine’s collectibles will be offered for the week.

• Independence Week: It’s red, white and blue as Disney Parks salutes America with a 4th of July Fireworks Party — for an entire week, with patriotic lighting bathing the Disney castles on both coasts. Mickey Mouse appears in his patriotic finest and guests will find special USA shirts, Ear Hats and other limited-edition souvenirs.

• Long Lost Friends Week: Lesser-known Disney characters will move from the shadows to the spotlight meet-and-greets on both coasts. Photo opps with characters that could include Flik, Clarabelle Cow, Remy, Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum will surprise and delight guests. And Disney guests even have the chance to vote online for which characters they want to see.

• Pirate Week: Why talk like a pirate one day when you could celebrate these scalawags all week long? The adventures of Jack Sparrow come to life like never before during a bicoastal buccaneer bash in which Disneyland and Walt Disney World become pirate-palooza: pirate bands, pirate meet-and-greets and more.

• Dapper Dans Sing Boy Bands: The Dapper Dans, the iconic quartet from Main Street, U.S.A., will add a special finale to their show, claiming the title of the “Original Boy Band” and delivering a medley of hits from One Direction, *NSYNC and the Backstreet Boys.

• Unleash the Villains: Friday the 13th in September 2013 is a special day, so Disneyland park and Disney’s Hollywood Studios are staying open until the 13th hour (1 a.m.). Maleficent, Captain Hook, Jafar and other Disney Villains host a dance party, complete with limited-edition collectibles and other nighttime mischief.

• Golden Horseshoe Revue: The fabled Frontierland show returns to Disneyland park for one month only, bringing back the corny jokes and enduring songs that were often enjoyed by Walt Disney himself.

• LEGO® Pumpkin Build: Build your own LEGO Pumpkin at the model activity station in the Wells Fargo Fun Town 4D Theatre Plaza
• LEGO® Monster Fighters Haunted Scavenger Hunt: Help the LEGO Monster Fighters capture monsters haunting the cities of Miniland USA in this haunted scavenger hunt.
• Brick-or-Treat Trail: Trick-or-Treat along the Brick-or-Treat trail near the Pirates South Stadium for goodies, tasty treats and other fun surprises
• Dance Party: Join the spooky Dance Party in the Haunted Miniland USA with a live DJ and dance games (Saturdays only)
• Kids Costume Contest: Show off your BOO-tiful costumes in the Kids Costume Contest in the Wells Fargo Fun Town 4D Theatre Plaza to win brick-tastic prizes like LEGO product and tickets to LEGOLAND Florida.
• Children may enter one of 4 specialized categories: Heroes & Villains, LEGO Monster Fighters, LEGO Themed, and most Creative.

There are only two shows this year -- Death Drums and the always-packed Bill and Ted's Excellent Halloween Adventure. Here's the reality: if you want to save time, skip the shows. You'll wait not only to be seated (in a massive cattle-call crowd, no less) but the shows themselves run 45-60 minutes, which is valuable house line time. Fans and HHN regulars will be loathe to miss BIll and Ted's, since it has become iconic for the event, I know, but in my opinion, the show isn't what it used to be (though this year was funnier than the last few). Time is better spent trying to get to the houses.

Most details are still pending, but tickets are already up for sale. This year's even begins September 23 and runs on select nights until Halloween night itself (which WILL sell out, so if you're determined to be there on that particular holiday, buy your tickets -- and your express passes -- NOW). Go earlier in the run for fewer lines and better chances to get into the best houses more than once.

This is THE Central Florida Halloween event. People come from all over the state and the country to experience the houses and shows of Horror Nights. We'll be posting more information as we learned it. For now, play on the official site, plan your evening, and get your tickets!