The first time we went to DC we got a VIP Cabana. We arrived about 20 minutes before opening so we could get the registration and picture before the morning "rush" got there (they limit the number of visitors, so I doubt they ever have a mad rush with long wait times in the morning). We immediately were shown our cabana and taken to get wetsuits/vests. We were having breakfast shortly after and feeding birds by 30 minutes after park opening. We eventually shut the park down and felt a little bad that the last of my crew was getting out of the shower a few minutes after official park closing, but the staff could not have been nicer and more gracious about it.
You are going to have a BLAST!!!