Quick comments regarding our visit last night:
After getting in at 4, grabbing SotMK card, getting photos by castle, and using our 2 prebooked FPs, we split the adults and put one each in Moana and 7d lines at 5:15. Saw Moana 6:20, dwarfs 7:00. Our line holder in 7D did let 2-3 groups ahead of him because he got to a spot towards the front where there was a big corner and he wanted to make sure that when we met up with him we'd have room to fit in the line (not what I would have done, but whatever). If he hadn't done that, we'd have been out more like 6:50 as we wouldn't have had to wait through the first break.
ToT after 7D because that's what the kids really wanted to do and we weren't sure how late they'd stay up. As everyone else has said, if you can possibly hold of on ToT until later in the evening, do it! Lines were long, but quick moving. Probably 5-10 minutes per location.
Did WtP (7:40, 15 minute wait) and IASM (8:11 walk on). Was surprised to see that the small world line was backed up the ramp past the first turn when we got off. However, we also got stuck in the last room of the ride for an extra couple of minutes, so something must have gone awry.
Philharmagic ToT at 8:46 was a much faster line than our earlier ones. Still lots of people, but everyone was able to walk quickly though the line, compared to the slow march earlier in the night.
Tea Cups 9:05 for 10 minute wait. Cosmic Rays ToT total walk through, did it twice.
Kids wanted to do Speedway but line looked bad. Backed up over the bridge and down into the twists by the entrance. Convinced them to do party things tonight and Speedway on our next MK day.
Monsters Inc ToT no wait at 9:36. Sat to watch the show for a couple minutes.
9:45 I left hubby and kids in Tomorrowland and got our fireworks spot. There about 9:50 for this view.
Not too packed at all. People left some elbow room between groups and a couple feet of space in front of our strollers so the kids could actually see. Great view of Jack, fireworks, projections. I had to go back to the bathrooms by Casey's (kid had to pee at 10:07, come on!) and I'd say the crowds were actually tighter farther back. Maybe we just got lucky and had a group around us who valued personal space?
While I was waiting for fireworks, family did CoP ToT and hubby said he's pretty sure our kids were the only ones excited for applesauce. Tables were deserted.
After fireworks, we easily grabbed front row for 2nd parade in front of country bears (10:40). Could have waited a bit longer to grab spot but we needed room for two strollers so we weren't chancing it. Filled in around and across from us closer to 11. While Hubby stated with strollers, saw Cadaver Dans, ToT at Country Bears twice (walk straight through), then enjoyed an awesome view of the parade. Kids were miraculously still awake, so used the Adventureland cut through to try to see if we could get Jasmine and Genie. Line was already cut at 11:36 but woman at front of line heard us explaining to the girls it was closed and offered us her spot. Her kid had crashed while waiting. Took advantage of that awesome pixie dust, ToT at Diamond Horseshoe 11:44 (surprisingly not empty, although we were able to walk quickly with the crowd).
Decided to see if we could get hitchhiking ghosts before 12am Hocus Pocus. I didn't know exactly where this shot was because I thought there was no way the kids would be awake to do it. Went up towards HM, saw them cut off the lantern shot about 11:45. Found a CM to ask about hitchhiking ghosts and they sent me back down the hill behind Christmas shop. We doubled back but I figured there was no way we'd get it since they were already cutting off long magic shot lines. Turned behind shop to see CM with no one there. I told her how shocked I was that she had no line and she said the waits had been way shorter since she got moved back here. Did shot with whole family and again with just kids. No one came over the whole time we were doing them.
11:55 grabbed this spot for Villains show.
Could have pushed up further but we wanted to be back near the statue to take advantage of the slope. Again, lots of elbow room, no one camped directly in front of our kids.
2/3 managed to stay awake through the full show, but then they crashed on the walk out of the park. Headless horseman shoot looked like a long line but the 3 PP photographers were moving quickly. Maybe a 5 minute wait.
We had such an amazing time! I thought the kids were falling asleep waiting for fireworks (they crash once they can sit and rest, usually) so everything after that felt like awesome bonus time.
It definitely felt crowded to us (the WtP, speedway waits surprised me) but it was our first party so we have no point of reference for normal party crowds. Thanks to the awesome advice of this thread, we came in with a plan and had an amazing night!
