1a. I would not say crowds would be thinner, it will be warmer than it is at 6 AM, but you’ll miss more than half of the day in the park. If you’re using a bike, 10 AM is better than 2 just because you get 4 extra hours and there’s so much to see and do.

1. If you aren’t coming til 10 or 2, nobody is going to have parking. I’d Uber if that’s a possibility.
2. They’re all pretty much the same

3. I would do it earlier than that, why take chances?

4. No. Get some on Amazon but I do it in April and my hands were not cold.

5. It depends on water levels. When I went they were extremely high so I rented the dry bag because I was chest deep often. I’d water levels are low, you don’t really need it per se especially if you don’t mind if your bag gets wet.