I'm not sure if the MK parking lot ever really closes. I know I've parked there as early as 5 AM before. If you get there real early (or late, depending on your point of view), there won't be any booths manned by attendants, and a sign will just say "Please proceed to your destination". (Not that dodging the parking fee is an issue for me, as it's covered on my AP).
Also during my visit to Star Wars Weekends last year, there were Star Wars fans parked all night at the Studios who were trying to be one of the first in line to get FP's for celebrity autographs the next day. I don't know if they made an exception and kept the parking lot open all night for this special case, though. But when I got to the park at around 7 AM (for a 9 AM opening), there were a bunch of people already there and a security guard told me "Many of them have been here all night!"
I do believe that at least the AK parking lot closes at some point though. I remember getting there at around 7 AM for an 8 AM opening and there were cones blocking access past the parking tollbooths. Shortly afterward, the cones were moved, a booth was manned, and the few cars already there were allowed in. Apparently that lot opens at least 1 hour before park opening and they were running a little late that day.
PS. Muse1983 - You have the right idea in wanting to get there by at least 8 AM for a 9 AM opening,
especially at MK, as the MK has one issue not found at the other 3 parks. Transportation to the park itself!
Also, sometimes they stop filling the Minnie lot (the closest!) for some reason after just filling one or 2 rows and start parking Pluto, which is a bit further away. I've seen this happen as early as 8 AM or a few minutes after. So, you already have less time to work with if you are running a little late, and now you are faced with either waiting for the tram or a longer walk just to get to the TTC from your car.
In my experience, everytime I get there nice and early, (one hour before opening, the norm for me) everything goes smoothly with the monorail, and I get to the MK by around 8:30 AM for the 8:48/8:50 AM Welcome Show.
But almost without fail, (call it Murphy's Law), on the odd day I am running a little late, something always seems to be wrong with the monorail that causes me to either almost miss (or occasionally miss) the Welcome Show. Sometimes it's technical difficulties; other times they are late with the safety checks for Express, and the only option is the resort line, which takes longer to get to the MK since it has to stop twice. Further compounding the issue is if you are running late of the ideal 8 AM arrival time, the lines for the monorail can get backed up, especially if there is some sort of issue on their end. There is always more demand for the monorail the closer it gets to opening.
I think the first ferry is supposed to leave for the MK at around 8:30 AM, but I've seen days where it was later than this. The last time I was running later than 8 AM, the entire monorail system was down, but luckilly they were loading buses from the TTC and I walked into the MK turnstyles about 5 seconds before the first notes of the Welcome Show!
