Back from my trip and just wanted to thank everyone in this thread for all the tips and advice! We accomplished everything we wanted and more during our party on 9/15. It definitely felt really crowded compared to how empty it was when we arrived at 2. But this was my first Halloween party so I can’t speak to if the crowds were above or below average. Here is what we were able to accomplish, which was almost exactly how I planned it except for the Moana meet and greet which I was not expecting to be able to do.
2: Festival of Fantasy from Main Street at the end of the route. Ariel recognized me in costume from atop her float and one of her street dancers came up and said he thought I was supposed to be on top of the float! Favorite parade moment for sure!
2:30-3:30: after hiding out in the shops on Main Street while a huge storm passed, Buzz FP, Peoplemover, and Space Mountain
3:30-4:30: Met Ariel at her Grotto, Under the Sea, and SDMT FP, picked up our wristbands and treat bags at Fantasy Faire
4:30-5:30: Had an hour before our HM FP so we went back to the front of the park for the bypass photopass spots and did some shopping
5:30-7:00: HM FP, walked by the Moana meet and greet and saw the line was short, waited maybe 15-20 mins but then a huge storm came so we hid out until it passed in the exit of her meet and greet then did Pirates (without overlay, wasn’t interested in the live actors), did some more shopping
7-8: Stopped by Sleepy Hollow for the Mickey waffle sundae (so yummy!), ToT in Frontierland and Liberty Square, saw the Cadever Dans
8-9: Teacups, Ariel and Eric meet and greet
9:00-9:30: Space Mountain and Monsters ToT
9:30-10: Cruella’s Hideaway
10:00-10:30: Fireworks from the top of Main Street, Photopass with the pumpkin towers in the flag tower circle
10:30-11:30: Cruella’s Hideaway
11:30-12:00: Boo to You, Hocus Pocus show
My husband and I both felt Cruella’s was worth it even though we didn’t love any of the food. It was just nice to have a spot in the AC to sit and relax and drink instead of having to fight crowds and stake out a parade spot.