I'm going from the 1st to the 8th - but I never thought of emailing special diets! I sent them off a message and will report back
Soo I got the sort of standard reply from special diets.
"
Thank you for inquiring about how we assist Guests with special dietary requests.
Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Food & Beverage team is committed to offering a wide range of options to accommodate Guests with food allergies or intolerances. When booking your dining reservations, please be sure to advise the Cast Member of your special dietaryrestrictions. If you book online, please make sure you include your dietary restrictions on each reservation. If you have already booked your reservations and you are not sure if you included the restrictions, please contact our Disney Reservation Center at 407-WDW-Dine or
407-939-3463. Guests are also welcome to speak to a Chef or a Manager on duty when arriving at the dining location.
Whether dining at a Table Service or Quick Service restaurant, Guest food allergy or intolerance requirements will be addressed when brought to our attention. Due to the large volume of meals we serve, vendors and suppliers occasionally swap out product. Therefore menu items and preparation is often updated.
Walt Disney Parks and Resorts will use reasonable efforts to prevent the introduction of the allergen of concern into the food through close attention during our sourcing, preparation and handling processes. However, it is ultimately up to the Guest to use his or her individual discretion to make an informed choice regarding whether to order any particular items. Walt Disney Parks and Resorts cannot guarantee that allergens may not have been introduced during another stage of the food chain process or, even inadvertently, during preparation. We do not have separate kitchens to prepare allergen-friendly items or separate dining areas for Guests with allergies or intolerances.
Table Service restaurants that accept reservations at Walt Disney World Resort can accommodate most food allergies or intolerances."
I wouldn't say empty, but the crowd was lighter than when I went in early Oct 2011. There were times when the parade or castle show was going that I was nearly alone. I walked up to several photographers waiting to take my picture. I did the headless horseman magic shot while everyone was watching the castle projection. 2 photographers with no guests.
Here is the order I did my night:
Cinderella (3:30-4:30 FP & saw at 4:30)
Aurora (saw with Cinderella)
Repunzel (4:30-5:30 FP. Walked directly into from previous princesses
Tiana (With Repunzel)
Minnie (regular dress)
Daisy (regular outfit)
7 Dwarfs
Cruella (didn't show until 7:30)
Red Queen & Tweedles
Poison apple magic shot in front of Gaston fountain (no waiting)
Hitch hiking ghost magic shot (during 1st parade. No waiting)
Rode HM (5 min wait)
Jafar (5 min wait)
Jasmine & Genie
Rode POTC (walk on)
Poison apple magic shot on Main Street (projection on castle. no wait)
Headless Horseman magic shot (during projection shoe. No wait)
Gravediggers magic shot (during projection show. No wait)
Halloween Talking Mickey
Gravediggers magic shot (same place, but during fireworks. As trying to match my outfit! Watched fireworks as I walked to Tomorrowland)
Buzz Lightyear (5 min wait)
Lotso (5 min)
Gaston & Belle
Ariel
Rode 7DMT
Donald, Daisy, & Minnie (Halloween costumes
Edit to add: saw the midnight Hocus Pocus castle show
Thank you! I like thinking of new ideas!
Where did you see Minnie in her regular dress? I was hoping to get a picture with her while I'm in costume
