Hi Molly and welcome to planDisney!
How exciting that your Walt Disney World vacation is coming up so quickly! I'm sure you're finalizing all of your plans and starting to pack. Next week will be here before you know it! I love that you're planning to maximize your time at Walt Disney World by getting to the parks early! We are not morning people in my family, so we rarely make it to the parks for rope drop.
I prefer to drive myself when we are heading to the theme parks and love to be in charge of my own transportation.
Parking at the theme parks typically open about 45 minutes to an hour prior to park opening, so I would plan to be there no more than an hour early. Once you park, you can head through security and then wait at the entrance gates for the park to open.
Since you are planning an EPCOT day during your vacation, you can experience the
EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays starting on November 24th! The
Holiday Kitchen menus look fantastic and we always love participating in the
Holiday Cookie Stroll.
Please
stop back by and visit if you have any additional vacation planning questions.
Have a magical day!
Leslie