I've been numerous times, and I enjoy it. By far the better party to see IMO. It also has excellent fireworks, and in my opinion the best parade of the year! It used to be a lesser known event, which added to its charm, but unfortunately has become more crowded over the past few years.
I did have a horrible experience in 2013, but I'm hoping that was a fluke. I went closer to Halloween and it was as crowded as New Year's Eve. Plus, the crowd control was terrible, because of the numerous events you found yourself trapped in one section of the park during parades. I'll be there this year, though!
Looking forward to the Hocus Pocus show