I'd have guessed the opposite. DD6 is now in her 4th year of school (2 years full-day full-week preschool, kindergarten, now in first grade), and this is the first year she hasn't complained nearly every morning that she doesn't want to go to school - it's maybe once a week. I think I just outlasted her.
She likes school, always says she had a great day, has friends, and is academically fine. It's just easier to stay home than it is to suck it up and go to school.
As far as sleep goes, being grumpy when you wake up means an early bedtime that night. Being cheerful when you wake up means you can stay up later that night. This is also the first year DD has been able to suck it up and be cheerful even when she's gotten less sleep than normal. (10.5 - 11 hours is normal for her, but I agree that every kid is different.) We have enough time in the morning for some TV while getting ready, but if she's dawdling, the TV goes off until she's completely finished with her morning routine.
