Hi, Martin! Thanks for bringing your question to planDisney!
As a fellow early riser, I think your 1-year-old has the right idea. If you’re going to spend a magical day at the Disney Parks then why not start that day as soon as possible? Get a pastry and coffee (or juice) and enjoy the early morning sun as it shines its gentle rays of light on Cinderella's Castle (or the Tree of Life, or Spaceship Earth, or Hollywood Boulevard). There is no better way to start your day!
Let the Magic Begin at Magic Kingdom is the only “opening ceremony” type show currently at Walt Disney World. It starts about 5 minutes before the official park opening and takes place at the castle. It’s a lot of fun to watch Mickey and friends welcome everyone to the park.
While there aren’t similar shows at the other theme parks, there are still a lot of great early-morning activities your little one will enjoy. At Animal Kingdom, you could see the animals at the
Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail or
Maharajah Jungle Trek, or head over to the
Affection Section petting zoo (it often opens about 60–90 minutes after the park opens to the public). At Hollywood Studios you can
meet characters from Disney Jr. shows soon after park opening, and
Disney Jr. Play and Dance! usually has its first show mid-morning. If you find yourself at EPCOT, then I’d suggest taking a walk through
Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana and checking out all the aquatic critters at
SeaBase Aquarium.
Martin, I hope this info helps keep your little one entertained and helps the rest of your crew get the rest they need. If you have any other questions, just pop back to planDisney and ask away!
Magical travels!
Matt