Beach Club morning entrance?

[Luv2trav]

We like to be at the park right at opening. Can you enter through the international gateway before park opens? If so how far do they let you in? I really want to get to Test Track ASAP while my husband goes to Soarin for fast passes. We have always entered through main entrance.

 

[crisi]

No, the IG opens at the same time as the regular gates. The distance to Soarin is about the same, but it is a little farther to Test Track. Now a days everyone is hiking to Soarin, though.

If you want to go through the front, you'll need to drive or catch a cab. There aren't any buses and no way to walk to the front of Epcot from BCV except through Epcot.

 

[Luv2trav]

How far will they let you in the park until it's offically open? I know the main entrance lets you enter and wait by Spaceship Earth. Can you do the same through IG entrance?

Soarin is priority too. We need to get fast passes there ASAP but want to head over to Test TRack to ride while my DH gets the fast passes. Then ride it again if we can...

 

[crisi]

How far will they let you in the park until it's offically open? I know the main entrance lets you enter and wait by Spaceship Earth. Can you do the same through IG entrance?

Soarin is priority too. We need to get fast passes there ASAP but want to head over to Test TRack to ride while my DH gets the fast passes. Then ride it again if we can...

I haven't been to a park in years where they've let anyone through any turnstile before the official opening. We tend not to travel when its too busy.

(I remember trips where they used to let you through to SE or to the end of Mainstreet, but I haven't experienced them in over ten years).

 

[kmermaid]

Last time I did rope drop at IG the rope was hung before you got to the bridge you would take over to France.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Last time I did rope drop at IG the rope was hung before you got to the bridge you would take over to France.

Same here, we waited on the hill by the bridge. France's bridge was to the right.

Bobbi

 

[Luv2trav]

That's a bummer... I was really hoping we would be closer to FW.

 

[aggiemullins]

Last May when we went, they kept us behind the turnstiles at the gateway until about 10 minutes before the park opened. They then let us in, but had a "do not cross" rope at the bridge over to France and then one in between United Kingdom and Canada.

Everything was closed, but UK was the closest they let you get before the official opening. If I remember right, you could hear the opening ceremonies going on up front through the loudspeakers, but couldn't see anything. Once the CMs heard the park was open through the loudspeakers, they dropped the rope at UK and Canada.

If you have a vehicle, I would suggest driving over to the front because you can see the opening ceremonies, which is nice if you have small ones, and it's a little less of a hike. It's probably not worth the cost of a cab though, since DH can probably hit Soarin at the same time as the rest of the crowd if he hustles. As said earlier, this is where the majority of the opening crowd goes.

On the West side of the park you have Test Track and Mission: Space right next to each other so it splits the rest of the crowd that heads that direction. Last year, it probably took close to an hour before there was any sort of line at Mission: Space and Test Track.

We did your same plan, last year, and didn't have any problems, except it took awhile for my brother to get over to us with the fast passes. I suggest riding one (M:S or TT) that DH isn't interested in riding on, or go ahead and ride one of them once before he gets there and have him meet you at the ride entrance and ride it again with him.

It was excruciating standing there at the entrance to TT last year while waiting on my brother to get the Soarin fast passes and meet us. We would have been fine riding it once before he got there.

Good Luck!

 

[Luv2trav]

We definately plan on riding it once before he gets there.

Can we catch a bus from BW? Not sure what we are going to do. We really would like to be at the front just for 1 morning to make the most of our time. We will figure something out.

 

[spiceycat]

there are no buses from any of the epcot resorts to either epcot or studios.

that say there is a epcot bus at studios and studios bus at epcot. it won't help because I don't think it even starts until the park is open.

 

[aggiemullins]

I'm pretty sure you have to catch the bus over to the TTC and then take the monorail over. They don't provide direct bus service to Epcot or MGM, since you can walk or take the ferry.

 

[eva]

I'm pretty sure you have to catch the bus over to the TTC and then take the monorail over. They don't provide direct bus service to Epcot or MGM, since you can walk or take the ferry.

Unfortunately there are no longer buses from the resorts to the TTC. The only way to get from resort to resort anymore is through a park bus or DD. If I were staying at BWV or BCV and really wanted to get to the front of EPCOT before it opens, I would take a taxi. It really doesn't cost that much at all. Then you can relax and wait till closer to opening.