In January, I did the Liberty Square route, but I "cut the corner" through the marketplace just past the HoP. That put me in front of the CM who had been walking the other guests, which she probably wished I hadn't done.
When I got to Peter Pan, there were other guests already there, but the ones I talked with had already been in the park for breakfast.
I've been planning to do the Sleepy Hollow path when we go back in September, but Robo's map suggests the length is about the same. In fact, even the path through the castle doesn't look a lot shorter, especially when you figure in at least a short delay.