I think the bedtime adjustment depends on reasons for early waking. If you think she is overtired because she has lost sleep over a period and is waking in the night etc or because of short naps etc then a few days of early to bed should correct the probelm.
If she normally sleeps 11 hours at night (which seems quite good to me) with a reasonable nap, then you are right an early bedtime will just make her wake up earlier (in my experience anyway!)
Harrison is put to bed early say 7pm if he is recovering from a bug, or has got overtired, this gets him back on track. Once he is "sleeped up" then if I put him to bed early he will wake max 10.5hours later regardless as that is the most he ever sleeps, so then I gradually push bedtimes back over a couple of days. Having said that it is a juggle, as he is a predominantly early riser, so too late to bed and he will still wake at 6am, then we are back to square one.
You have my sympathy. Get an early night yourself - it is amazing how much less stressful everything then seems! They also often seem to get themselves sorted out regardless of what we do!
Justine