Hi, Jennifer! If there is one way I like to start my Disney Day, it is with a rope drop at Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park! "Rope drop" is the term guests often use for park opening, and I can tell you there is nothing like rope drop at that park and heading to Pandora - the World of Avatar attractions.
I sometimes do tell friends to grab a pre-park opening
Advance Dining Reservation with hopes of enjoying some attractions with little wait afterwards. However, this is definitely not something I recommend if Avatar Flight of Passage is your goal. Tusker House Restaurant is one of our favorite in-park character meals. If you booked this reservation, I know you will definitely have to skip meeting several characters and you will not be able to fully enjoy the terrific buffet there. That certainly would make for a super-rushed morning!
In my experience, Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park has opened earlier than the posted time. It has sometimes been just 10 minutes, but sometimes it has been 30 or more minutes early. There is no way for you to know this if you are dining inside Tusker House Restaurant, so you may miss the early morning rush and will be far back in quite a queue to climb aboard your banshee.
So Jennifer, how to best experience Avatar Flight of Passsage with little wait? I know, it's vacation and you want to rest, but get up early. Set your alarm clock with plans to arrive at the park at least 45-60 minutes early. When the parks opens, walk with purpose and keep everyone together! No hanging back to check out birds or funny plants. Make even teenagers hold your hand! Your banshee is calling and you can see the birds later! Seriously, I speak from experience and my teen thankfully knows the drill now after that one selfie incident.
I hope you have an adventurous day in the parks and please let us know if you have any other questions!
Brandy