For a similarly timed flight, we got the 8 am shuttle from the Newport Bay, which is the last stop, and it was right on time. Does that first shuttle definitely go to the preferred hotels too? I would have thought it would just be to the onsite hotels, given the 20 minutes difference between the New York and the Newport Bay.
Which terminal are you using? We flew from T3 and, despite the VEA timetable stating that we would stop at the other terminals first, we sail straight to T3 - which was a help!!!! Mind you there were only about 10 people on the bus and I think most, if not all, wanted T3 - though I don't remember the driver asking us where we wanted to go!!
Perhaps it might be a better idea to take the TGV.