It may not quite be summer yet but Universal Orlando is already planning for fall, recently revealing the dates for Halloween Horror Nights 2013.

Now in its 23rd year, the annual scare fest will be haunting guests for longer with 27 nights of fright in total. Halloween Horror Nights 2013 will kick off September 20 and continue on select nights through November 2. The event usually ends on October 31, but with Halloween falling on a Thursday, Universal decided to keep the scares going through that Saturday.

The official Halloween Horror Nights are as follows:

September 20, 21, 26, 27, 28 & 29

October 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, 12, 13, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 30 & 31

November 1 & 2

Other than this posting on Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights Facebook page, "All is being finalized for Halloween Horror Nights 23, and it will be unlike any other year." "Enter if you dare," it added," but you can't say we didn't warn you" no other information, like this year’s themes, haunted mazes, shows, or scare zones have been revealed. But there are, of course already rumors.

While the creative team behind the event in Orlando works once again with Universal Studios Hollywood to develop ideas for their haunts, rumors are already swirling that “The Walking Dead” haunted house, based after the popular TV series will return with a new house themed around season 3’s prison setting. So far there is nothing to back up that rumor but we are hoping there is some truth behind it!

The Halloween Horror Nights Facebook page also notes that the event will once again take place at the Universal Studios Florida theme park, with no mention of expanding to Islands of Adventure this year.
Last year, Halloween Horror Nights tickets went on sale in mid-June, and the theme was announced in late August. We can probably assume that will be the case this year as well.

This news comes just days after Universal Orlando revealed that their newest ride Transformers: The Ride 3D will debut at the park on June 20. The announcement was as dramatic as the ride is sure to be, with a giant image of a Decepticon crashed through a building in Downtown Orlando. Underneath the figure was this phrase, “Prepare for Battle June 20.”
Stay tuned for more details on Halloween Horror Nights and make sure you check out Transformers: The Ride 3D with discounted tickets right here on Best of Orlando.