When the MK opens at 9am (regular opening time and not EMH), they let you in at 8am as people said and have a little show in front of the castle at 855am or so and the ropes drop/walk from the hub spokes to the various lands at 9am. We did this recently in January and we were headed to 7DMT. We lined up right of the castle on the spoke that goes toward the Teacups and the CM's held a rope and walked us up past the Teacups at 9am to the 7 area. Yes there is an hour to shop, get an overpriced coffee, or gawk, and get in line. But they do have a song/dance number between Casey's and the Hub and the Trolley horse drawn etc. running up/down Main Street. I enjoyed it.
When the MK opens for EMH at 8am or earlier, the gates at the train station is the barrier and when 8am or earlier comes, you are let in there and can walk into the rides directly. The train does roll into the station before opening but there is no more song/dance show at the train station.
This is the way the openings were pre-9/11 so while new, it is old again.
Bama Ed