BWI to MK by Monorail

[jamescanuck2001]

Will be at BWI end of Feb with 2 year old

We have a large stroller and rather than use the bus to get to MK, want to walk through Epcot and take monorail

Read somewhere that Epcot now opens earlier for walking through even though none of the rides or restaurants are yet open?

Can anyone confirm this? We like to be at the parks for ropedrop

 

[Jestocost]

Will be at BWI end of Feb with 2 year old

We have a large stroller and rather than use the bus to get to MK, want to walk through Epcot and take monorail

Read somewhere that Epcot now opens earlier for walking through even though none of the rides or restaurants are yet open?

Can anyone confirm this? We like to be at the parks for ropedrop

I have stayed at BC and BWI multiple times and never have seen the Epcot IG open early for guests to walk through the park to the main gate. Also note that doing so even when the park is open requires a park entry, so if you are going to go this route to the MK you will need to have park hoppers or APs.

It is a pretty long walk from the IG to the main gate and, in addition, you'll have to change from the Epcot monorail to the Express or Resort monorail at the TTC in order to get to the MK. All things considered, IMO, is that going that route is not going to be any easier than taking the bus.

 

[jamescanuck2001]

Thanks Jesto we do have park hoppers and have done this before, we don't mind the extra hassle, it's the only time we would use the monorail too which is something we like (a ride in itself)

Had read somewhere else that Disney is now opening Epcot earlier to allow people to walk through as they wish

 

[patty57]

The IG may open early, but it's early for the World Showcase, which opens at 11:00 (or 11:30). It does not open early enough to get to MK for rope drop unless it is a morning EMH at Epcot. As PP stated, it's a long walk through Epcot to get to the monorail and then a monorail change. You're better off using the bus to get to MK for rope drop.

 

[jamescanuck2001]

maybe just say we have breakfast reservations at akershus... they don't check if you actually have a reservation, they just take your word for it

 

[patty57]

maybe just say we have breakfast reservations at akershus... they don't check if you actually have a reservation, they just take your word for it

I think that Future World will be roped off and you won't be able to walk through until it officially opens. I might be wrong about that, but I don't think so. As far as I know, you can't walk through Epcot before it opens.

 

[Wood Nymph]

Will be at BWI end of Feb with 2 year old

We have a large stroller and rather than use the bus to get to MK, want to walk through Epcot and take monorail

Read somewhere that Epcot now opens earlier for walking through even though none of the rides or restaurants are yet open?

Can anyone confirm this? We like to be at the parks for ropedrop

We've walked through Epcot from the BC to take the monorail to MK before the World Showcase opens many times. We've also walked through Epcot from the monorail after Epcot closes to get to the BC. They let you through. I'm just not sure how early in the morning the IG is open.

 

[patty57]

I've done this as well. I just have doubts that it could be done early enough to get to rope drop at MK.

 

[jamescanuck2001]

thanks patty

i've asked WDW, will share the response

 

[patty57]

I hope that I'm wrong, and it works for you. Let us know what you find out.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Just because you are riding the monorail doesn't mean you will not need to fold up your stroller. We stayed at BLT in October and several times were told by the CMs at the monorail that guests boarding the monorail needed to remove their children from the stroller and fold it before boarding.

 

[my2princessgirls]

When we stayed at the YC in September, they would not let anyone through the turnstiles at the IG until they opened the turnstiles at the main gate. I'm not sure that you will make MK for rope drop if that is important.

Also, they had a list at the IG to check for early morning ADRs. You would need to have an ADR in order to go in prior to park opening. HTH!

 

[jamescanuck2001]

ah things have been tightened up some

last time we had an early morning ADR at crystal palace they let us through the gates without checking anything, just took our word for it

we do have a large stroller that is a pain to fold up.... ugh not sure what to do now

we will be there Feb 25 to march 4, a slow period so maybe they won't care if a large stroller is rolled onto a monorail

anyway thanks for the responses!

 

[Missyrose]

ah things have been tightened up some

last time we had an early morning ADR at crystal palace they let us through the gates without checking anything, just took our word for it

we do have a large stroller that is a pain to fold up.... ugh not sure what to do now

we will be there Feb 25 to march 4, a slow period so maybe they won't care if a large stroller is rolled onto a monorail

anyway thanks for the responses!

Maybe look into bringing a smaller stroller to Disney, it might make life easier.

 

[marmar]

the international gate theoretically opens at the same time as the front gate. There are times when they will let you in and you can walk thru UK and canada and then are held at the future world entry until rope drop. But normally they keep you at the IG.

We normally take 20 - 30 mins to walk from IG to the monorail

If you have early ADR's they check at the gate if you are on the list. Epcot would only have the Akerhaus list. So they won't let you thru to make an adr at Crystal Palace.

At the time you are going the early bus to the MK should not be that crowded. And there is also the option of a taxi. take it to the contemporay and walk to the mk. Cab drivers are very patient about strollers/

 

[spiceycat]

have you consider going to CR instead of BWI.

then you could walk to the MK - ride the monorail to Epcot.

 

[suemom2kay]

It is IMPOSSIBLE to make rope drop at MK via Epcot/Monorail. The earliest they will open IG for you is 8:45. Then you will have to walk to the front gate of Epcot (10-15 mins). Then you will have to board the monorail to TTC (15-20 mins)... Then you will have to switch to MK monorail - take monorail to MK (10-15 mins). Then walk to bag check at MK (5-10 mins). Go through back check (5-10 mins - unless it is crowded which it often is in the morning esp. if you're late for RD)... That would get you to the MK gate at roughly...
8:45 + 10 + 15 + 10 + 5 + 5 (I used fastest times in calc...) = 9:30.

vs...

Depart Room, Head to Bus Stop 7:50

Arrive at bus stop 8:00

Depart Bus stop at 8:10 (buses run pretty frequently in a.m.)
8:30 Arrive at MK

Yes, you'll have to fold your stroller. If your stroller is that difficult to handle, consider renting a stroller for your trip. There are some great rental companies with some good deals. I would not add so much hassle to my morning just to avoid folding a stroller.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

You don't have to fold your stroller on the monorail, if the CM asks, just say you can't. They are allowed on the monorail, they can't force you to fold it like the bus.

 

[a742246]

It is IMPOSSIBLE to make rope drop at MK via Epcot/Monorail. The earliest they will open IG for you is 8:45. Then you will have to walk to the front gate of Epcot (10-15 mins). Then you will have to board the monorail to TTC (15-20 mins)... Then you will have to switch to MK monorail - take monorail to MK (10-15 mins). Then walk to bag check at MK (5-10 mins). Go through back check (5-10 mins - unless it is crowded which it often is in the morning esp. if you're late for RD)... That would get you to the MK gate at roughly...
8:45 + 10 + 15 + 10 + 5 + 5 (I used fastest times in calc...) = 9:30.

vs...

Depart Room, Head to Bus Stop 7:50

Arrive at bus stop 8:00

Depart Bus stop at 8:10 (buses run pretty frequently in a.m.)
8:30 Arrive at MK

Yes, you'll have to fold your stroller. If your stroller is that difficult to handle, consider renting a stroller for your trip. There are some great rental companies with some good deals. I would not add so much hassle to my morning just to avoid folding a stroller.

Good response to this question..... I second this!

 

[Deb & Bill]

You don't have to fold your stroller on the monorail, if the CM asks, just say you can't. They are allowed on the monorail, they can't force you to fold it like the bus.

Yes, they can and they will if the monorail is crowded. I've seen them do that. And there isn't a stroller out there that cannot be folded.