Hello to a fellow North Carolinian! Your trip to
Walt Disney World Resort is in less than a week, Erin! I can imagine how excited you must be! You've got packing to do, so let's get to your question!
I am a rope-drop girlie. I like to squeeze every minute of magic that I possibly can out of a park day, so I start early. It sounds like you are staying at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel, so you are already going to be ahead of the game. You get
Early Theme Park Entry, which means the theme parks open 30 minutes early for you! I checked the
calendar for the dates you will be there, and both
Magic Kingdom Park and
Disney's Hollywood Studios are scheduled to open at 9 am, which is actually 8:30 am for you! Hours are always subject to change, of course, so be sure to check back for confirmation. This information can be found on your My Disney Experience App, as well.
Complimentary bus transportation from your resort begins at least
45 minutes before the earliest park opening, and often as early as 60 minutes before. That means you could potentially board a bus at 7:30 or 7:45 am. I like trying to be on that first bus, but it isn't always realistic with a big family. When you arrive at the park entrance, you will see that lots of people use this strategy. Don't worry, though, you all still have an advantage over most of the guests that will be arriving that day. Disney usually opens the park gates early. All guests with a valid admission will be allowed to scan in and enter the park. At this time, you can take some photos and enjoy the atmosphere of the front section of the park (Main Street, U.S.A. for Magic Kingdom or Hollywood Boulevard for Hollywood Studios). Don't get distracted, though, because you want to head for the entrances to the areas that will allow resort guests in for early entry at 8:30 am.
My best advice is to have a plan. Know what attraction you'd like to do first and how to get there. Also, have a backup plan. Disney runs tests on their attractions in the early morning hours before opening, and it is not unusual for an attraction to experience a delayed opening. You don't want to lose valuable time trying to make a new plan, so be prepared to pivot if necessary.
Finally, set realistic expectations. It's easy to get caught up in all the planning and strategizing (it's honestly my favorite part!), but don't forget to have fun! If something doesn't work out or your crew is getting cranky, take a break and get a Mickey Premium Ice Cream Bar (That fixes most of my problems.). Maybe head back to your resort hotel for an afternoon nap or even call it a night early. You can't do it all in one trip, so make the most of the fun you are having!
I hope you and your family have the most magical vacation, Erin! It will be here before you know it! If you have any more questions, please don't hesitate to ask!
Always dreaming -
Elizabeth