Having just returned from WDW, my comments are:
1. Disney is still figuring it all out, they have a ride that can literally not handle all the parks guests in one day, that virtually all want to go on. It is also in ways out of their hands. They can not let safety become an issue. On 12/5 they weren't letting people into the parking lot until about 4:30, but the walk overs from boardwalk forced their hand. and they just extended park hours.
2. You are probably better off getting there by 6. I got there by 6 on 12/6 and 12/7 and things worked out fine. If you have to wait an hour for the touch points to start going, you will still be better off. They will open other parts of the park, and those rides will have very little lines. on 12/6, I rode slink dog and midway mania twice each before by BG was called at like 7:30. Next day RnRC and midway mania.
BGs are barely making it to actual park opening, and on most days not even to official park opening.
Getting back to my first point, with an attraction this popular and literally unable to handle all the guests on a given day, I think there is going to be a line before park opens for a long time to come. And if that is the case, they have to consider the safety of the guests, and they will be opening before the official open for a while, however, I have been wrong before.
If you are staying on property, and they have buses running to HWS, get yourselves on over there. Leaving Wilderness Lodge on 12/7 there was a bus for HWS pulling out at about 5:45
Hope this helps some.