Best exit strategy with kids (Pop)

Hello! We will be heading in a few days to Disney (traveling with a 3 and 6 yo). It’s our first trip and may not be back for a while so we want to see the fireworks closer to the castle to see the projections. We are staying on pop century and will be using the bus system. Would it be best to join the crowd and leave right away? Or wait for the crowd to die down and do some shopping or one more ride? Will the latter strategy get us to the hotel around the same time as the first option? Thank you!!