personally when we have gone at that time of year we always try to be at the rope 1/2 hour before opening..we usually are way up front but that means the crowds of people that arrive early are all behind us! otherwise you are stuck waiting. If I wasn't going to be that early I think I'd wait till maybe 15-20 mins after opening to let all the early birds get in rather than stand around in a line. Unless things have drastically changed you still will have pretty easy touring.