Hi Emily! Happy New Year!
Dopey is only two days away! I'm so excited for you!
On Sunday, the day of the
Walt Disney World Marathon,
Disney's Animal Kingdom Park will open at the regularly stated 9 a.m. time (subject to change, check park schedules). Since you will be running through the park before that, there will be Cast Members cheering you on inside the park, but no Guests will be admitted early. I get through that park before it opens, too, and it's actually one of my favorite parts of the race. The Cast Members are awesome and the park has a lot to look at while running.
If your parents want to catch you at Animal Kingdom, they can line up outside the park around the perimeter of the parking lot. It's a great and popular viewing area and I often have family/friends meet me there with a drink that I like to give me an energy boost! They won't need a ticket for viewing you there.
I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions and best wishes on a great Dopey weekend!