Dessert Buffet - Parking in AM? How About Restaurants?

[DisneyaHolic23]

I tried posting this under the Question section in the Fantasmic Dessert Buffet FAQ post, but figure no one has seen it, since we've all read it, probably no one checks it anymore!

So, here are my questions:
A group of nine of us are driving in from Glendale at the beginning of July, to try for Fantasmic Buffet seats. (We are in town for the National Teacher's convention.)

Here is my question: Will parking be open for us to park? We are planning to get there at about 5:00 AM - it probably won't be early enough, but we can always hope!

Are there any restaurants open in Downtown Disney to kill time AFTER we get our Fantasmic Tickets? (We won't even get early entry, because we can only buy one day passes, and I have an annual pass... )

Thanks for your help!!

 

[lucky1]

I think 5am should be early enough. We were there at 6am last time and got seats for the first show.
I don't know about parking, but there is a Denny's across the street. Several people when there afterwards to get coffee and breakfast.

At DGC, the Storyteller's Cafe opens at 6:30 or 7:00 and you can enjoy a character breakfast and get into the Disney Spirit before attacking the park.