Here is how EPA works: EVERYONE goes through the turnstiles at the parks (both parks). In USF, we set up a sorting line by Despicable Me; at IOA, it is on the POE side of the Seuss bridge. Room keys, UPRV tickets, Virgin Holidays, photo express passes, and VIP express plus are checked at this point. If you are entitled to EPA, you are allowed through, if not, you wait around either in Hollywood, or in POE.
By the time we go full park at USF, the wait for Gringott's is already about 3-4 hours, at least it was yesterday. Not sure how the HE is working with IOA opening an hour earlier. Not really sure who set the hours for August, but USF really needs to still open at 8. Our attendance hasn't decreased at all from July to August; they only difference is that weekends are slower than weekdays.