They usually let people at turnstiles into the park between 8 and 8:30 depending on how long the line is. Then you can line up at entrances to Seuss or Marvel to rope drop at park open. So, an hour prior to opening is probably the earliest I would show up.
But waiting an hour before the park opens plus 15 to ride is still about the same amount of time
@Antlers was quoting for 10am to noon anyway when you think about it.
First off, love all the reporting you've done about this ride
@Alicia!
As far as line times go, it depends on what you want to do that day. If you want to do many rides, it is definitely beneficial to rope drop. This goes for any popular ride at any park (looking at you, FOP).
If it takes 2 hours to wait, for example, you want to put as much as that time as you can before the park opens. That way, you have more park time but, more importantly, more wait times at other rides will be shorter so you get get much more in.
Two examples will illustrate this:
1) Show up at AK at 8:30 for a 9:00 opening, wait 110 minutes to ride; then NRJ at a 40 min wait; then Safari @ a 40 min wait. Then FPs, etc. Big 3 done by 11:40,
2) Show up at at 7:30 for a 9:00 opening, get out of the ride @ 9:04 with a 130 min wait after you (not kidding, see
my trip report). River Journey 2x and Safari before burning a FP.
That hour before the park opens is more valuable than you know.