Best way to leave Illuminations?

[rollie]

We are staying at All Star Sports. I was wondering what would be the best way to leave Illuminations to avoid crowds?

 

[Dick]

If you have your own car and you are staying at any of the WDW resorts, park at Boardwalk or Yacht or Beach Club and enter and exit World Showcase through the International Gateway. I have done that many times.

 

[rollie]

Thanks Dick; We were planning on using WDW transportation, but this sounds even better. How long is the walk? Is it as long as leaving from FW?

 

[jfulcer]

Or you can do what we do - find a bench and rest those aching feet. The World Showcase is so peaceful at night and it's just very nice. Once the crowds have thinned out, then walk out - by the time you get up to the bus stop, hopefully the busses will have taken most of the crowd already.

 

[Eeyore1954]

He-he -- jfulcer beat me to the punch. That's what my DW and I do. Rest our aching feet, people watch and then slowly wander out to the bus. 'Cept for last trip when we stayed at BC -- that was terrific -- wait for the crowds to thin out, then casually walk to our hotel!

 

[Dick]

It's about a ten minute walk or you can get on a boat at International Gateway and ride to any one of those three resorts.

 

[DelitefulDory]

Another vote for staying put and letting a lot of people clear out before you go.

 

[rollie]

Thanks for all the helpful hints, but I would like to know which is the shorter walk.

 

[goofy4tink]

We're doing an IllumiNations Cruise from Yacht Club Marina. We're going to just amble on back through WS and then FutureWorld and take the monorail back to the Polynesian. I figure that by the time the boat gets back to YC and we hoof it back to International Gateway, the crowds should have thinned out quite a bit.

 

[mitymott]

I'd vote on Int. gateway being the shorter walk. Not to mention the great places to eat and drink along the BW

 

[goofyernmost]

I have been to illuminations a number of times. I always take my car to the parking lot (once I was even parked in the MK lot). When it is over I just casually walk toward the exit and let the maddening crowd rush like crazy around me. Usually by the time I get to the gate most everyone has gone and it is an easy ride out. Life doesn't have to be stress filled and vacations definately shouldn't be!

 

[jimmytammy]

Relax and enjoy!

 

[S. C.]

Best way to leave Illuminations?


Very...Very... slowly

 

[Dick]

The walk through the International Gateway to one of the three resorts is shorter than walking all the way through Future World then out through the gates to the bus stop. The crowd is much lighter also. Crescent Lake is beautiful at night reflecting all the lights from the Boardwalk. It's a nice relaxing way to end the evening.

 

[rollie]

Thanks Dick, that was just the answer I was looking for. The shorter walk will be eaiser on these old dogs.

 

[Dick]

If your feet are really tired, you can reduce the walk further by getting on the boat at International Gateway and riding to either the Boardwalk or the Yacht/Beach Club dock.

Have a great trip!

 

[Miscrapper]

Is there a time limit for parking at YC/BC or Boardwalk? We have an Illuminations Cruise planned one night, so I am not worried about parking over there then. I have read that they give other resort guests a 3 hour time limit - is this true at Epcot resorts as well?

 

[rollie]

Great question. We'd like to park at YC/BC in the afternoon and walk to Epcot and stay through Illuminations. Is this possible?

 

[Dick]

We always park at Boardwalk and we have never been issued a parking permit. I think they want to encourage people to park there so that they will go to all the Boardwalk clubs and restaurants and spend money. Also, we always have the parking permit from our Disney resort on the dashboard of the car that permits us to park at any of the WDW resorts plus the parks. I do know that you have to get a three hour permit to park at the Contemporary Resort since it is within walking distance of MK. That might be true for YC/BC also because of being so close to World Showcase.

 

[andrabell]

DH and I are staying off property, but will have our own car as we're driving down from the ATL. Will we be able to park at the Boardwalk early in the morning on the day we visit Epcot and enter the park via the International Gateway, that way we can take a stroll out that way after IllumiNations?

Thanks to all of you here for the great ideas!


---Andra
Can't flipping wait!