This is good advice. Head out the DTD exit from GCH and then to the main gates of DCA.
There is a special entrance to DCA from the GCH that is usually faster to DCA - except first thing in the morning when there is a logjam thru security there. You move faster into DCA and onto RSR thru the main gates.
We had huge success this past Friday (black Friday). We were at the gates at 6:40 for a 7:00 EMH. We were the 3rd family in line at one of the gates. We walked towards Carsland. The CMs direct everyone and we stayed on the right side of the mob. It's not as crowded and chaotic as I thought it would be. The CMs do a good job of managing everyone and I never felt crowded, stressed or pushed.
We were done riding by 7:20! Then we went and rode TSMM with about a 5 minute wait. By then it was about 7:45 and I wanted to get into the RSR fastpass line before the park officially opened. My DH took DD on the carousel while I went to get fastpasses.
To my delight, they were distributing fastpasses BEFORE park opening at 8:00! I saw the huge crowd waiting at rope drop. But I walked right to the fastpass machines where CMs were helping distribute the fastpasses. We got a return time of 9:05-10:05.
Our experience that morning was worth the extra money spent to stay on site!