It all depends on the item(s) you are hoping to get....The bigger electronic items I would suggest the earlier the better......If it is toys and small appliances, etc you are after....then you usually do not have to show up extremely earlier....Wal-Mart usually has enough of those items to go around.
Good luck though!!
I am the one the lights up the street and drives around and looks at everyone else's house...
The Hide the Santa sounds so fun.....I wish we hide neighbors like yours....we live by a bunch of Scrooges.....