That's a case in point where he knows what he wants to do musically and can go back and re-edit to the music. That's a great situation if you can get it. Editors are not very musical sometimes, let's just say that. They may take a piece out, but it may not be a whole beat. Sometimes the music may not be what they're most sensitive to.
Every film is a collaboration between director and composer, and to some extent the editor.
Mostly they say if you need a few more frames, you can have it, but by the time you've said you really need a few more frames they might be off doing another picture. You've just got to wait, and you're out for the rest of the cue. So one usually just finds a way to work around it. Home Alone 3 changed a great deal in the editing stages and was a very detailed score. They would come out with a new reel, and I'd have to do some serious surgery to make the music work for the new picture.