Hi Jennifer,
Welcome back to planDisney! It's always a pleasure to hear from someone who has been a long-time visitor to Walt Disney World and to the panel.
At the end of a long day of fun, even if my energy is flagging and my feet are tired, I usually prefer to take the quickest route back to my resort, even if it means a few more steps. If that's the case for you, then I think walking back to the
Grand Floridian after
Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party will almost certainly get you home fastest.
The monorail that serves the resorts circles Seven Seas Lagoon clockwise. So, enroute to the Grand Floridian, it will stop at the Contemporary, the Transportation and Ticket Center and the Polynesian Village Resort. That can take 30 minutes or more.
If you walk at a moderately brisk pace, you should be able to reach the Grand Floridian in 15 minutes or so. On Christmas night last year, my family walked from the Grand Floridian past Magic Kingdom to the Contemporary, and it took us just over 30 minutes at a fairly leisurely pace. The path is wide, and the lights are lovely, so it feels like a nice way to wind down the evening.
Have a magical time, Jennifer. We will look forward to hearing from you again the next time you plan a Walt Disney World vacation for your family.
Wilma