We are new to BC have been monorail travelers. So I have a few questions.
How does it work to enter EPCOT when it first opens? You enter the IG and then how do you get to the front of the park if it is before opening. Where do you wait for the rope drop?
Do you need to request a room with a daybed and full balcony while making reservations?
Do you rent the tubes/noodles for SAB? Is it crowded in June?
What types of activities does the resort have? We have read about marshmallow roasts, movies and pool volleyball. Any others?
Finally, do you watch Illuminations from BC or go to EPCOT and watch with an easy escape not fighting the crowds heading to the exit?




The entry to EPCOT through the International Gateway has its own separate rope drop in the morning at the same time (or occasionally a little earlier) than the front of the park. Once you go through the turnstiles, you walk through an emply UK and Canada to get to Future World. You can then go wherever you want in FW. You do not need to go to the front of the park, because you have already entered.
We are always about 5 minutes later than rope drop so we don't know exactly where. Is is before you enter UK, or is it after Canada, right before FW?
I believe if you have a party of 5 you will automatically be assigned a room with a daybed.
If you are a party of 4, you may request a daybed, but it is only a request so it will be based upon availability. The full balcony is also a request.
You should decide which of these requests is most important to your family- if there is no room available with both a daybed and full balcony when you check in, then you want to make sure that whichever one you want the most is listed as your top preference.
You can rent floats for $3 per hour or $10 per day. You can bring your own noodles or purchase some in the gift shop. Outside tubes are not permitted unless they fit around a smaller child with an adult within arms length. See first few pages of this thread. Never been in June.
Aside from the marshmallow roast, movies and pool volleyball, there is a whole list of activities going on throughout the day, most of them centered around the pool area. You will receive this list upon checkin.
I like to go into EPCOT and watch Illuminations from the bridge between UK and France, and as you mentioned, it is an easy escape back to your room from there (about 10 minutes). You can also see some of the high fireworks from the pool, the beach and from the bridge to the Boardwalk.