Well Hatter, I can tell you officially after this Friday, but aside from the opinions on here...I was sold on trying it for a number of reasons.
1. We love Halloween. On the first official day of fall, I start playing Halloween music and let the kids start watching things like The Great Pumpkin. On October 1st, I decorate my yard...not nearly as elaborate as my Christmas and Hanukkah décor, but it's pretty bold...huge inflatable cat, graveyard, pumpkin patch, flying ghost, hanging skeleton, webs with faux spiders, shrub shakers, black light, and string + rope lights. By mid month- we'll go to a pumpkin patch, even if it's 90 degrees out and usually attend at least one adult Halloween party.
2. I love costumes so much that I usually buy them no later than August...so to have an event where we can dress up...even if it's a conceptual costume...= high marks in my book.
3. The party isn't your every day experience...so, why not try something- at least once - that you can't get every day of the year?
4. The music for the parade and the fireworks is pretty awesome...better than the MVMCP/holiday stuff IMO.
5. Special characters and trick or treating also sounds very fun.