Disney Magic Kingdom Theme Park in Orlando

Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween and Very Merry Christmas parties close the park early in the fall and early winter. It often closes at 7:00 to accommodate these events, sometimes 6:00. These are separate ticketed events, so regular park visitors have to leave at closing time. Check the website to make sure your day doesn't get cut short. These two events close the park early on nearly 50% of its operating days between late August through Christmas!

Many people will line up for the parade on Main Street or in the Hub, but the route goes through Frontierland as well. You can usually get a great spot there, and it's much less congested than Main Street.

The shops on Main Street are all connected and by walking through the stores, instead of on the street, you can bypass all of the congestion. This is especially helpful around parade times as Main Street is lined with guests sitting down waiting. Plus, the shops are air conditioned.

Be Our Guest is a restaurant lovingly modeled after the Beast's Castle from Beauty and the Beast. You're going to pay and order upfront and then they bring your food to you. So you find a seat after placing your order. My tip is that you should be sure to not stop in the first dining room. There's three rooms to choose from! I liked this room where you could watch Belle and the Beast spin around to their heart's content for all eternity.

Right when you walk into Magic Kingdom and just to the left, there is a place to get your hair cut called Harmony Barber Shop. This is an old-fashioned kind of place where you can get a quick trim or a full groom. Services at Harmony Barber Shop used to be just available by walking in but they now take appointments.

The lines here are always manageable, due to the ride's high capacity. So, don't waste a FastPass on this one. Also, about half way through the line you'll be given the option of going left or right. We've always chosen left, and we've always boarded faster than those who choose right. Not sure why they set the lines up this way, but it has always worked for us!