Can a car drop people off at Epcot?

[lovinmgm]

We're meeting a local friend for breakfast at Beach Club, afterward we go to Epcot and our friend drives home. I'm wondering if she can just drive us to the Epcot front gate? Would this than walking or the boat (that takes us to the Intl Gateway -- Space and Soarin would be a hike from there)? Then again, a car dropoff area may be even further....

Thanks!

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

Absolutely! Make sure when you checkin to your resort to get a parking pass, otherwise, I think you'll have to pay for parking to get the car past the front gates. Thinking about it Soarin' and M:S is about equidistant from the front gate and the International gateway. The drive'll probably take the most time.

 

[AngelEyes]

Where are you staying, or rather where are you parking your car for breakfast? If it's at the Beach Club, I would just walk over. Doesn't take long at all, and at the end of the day, no traffic to deal with. We stayed at the Boardwalk one year, and the walk over the EPCOT was on of my favorite parts. If you really want them to drop you off at the front, that wouldn't be a problem either. Again, I just hope you're staying on property so you're friend won't have to pay to get into the parking lot.

 

[NCombs]

Where are you staying, or rather where are you parking your car for breakfast? If it's at the Beach Club, I would just walk over. Doesn't take long at all, and at the end of the day, no traffic to deal with. We stayed at the Boardwalk one year, and the walk over the EPCOT was on of my favorite parts. If you really want them to drop you off at the front, that wouldn't be a problem either. Again, I just hope you're staying on property so you're friend won't have to pay to get into the parking lot.

You wouldn't be able to keep your car at BC all day (if you have one) because I believe you will get a 3 hour parking pass if you are having a meal there.

But, it doesn't sound like you have a car since your friend is going to drop you off with her car.

That is a good question, I don't know if they would let your friend drive up to the Epcot gate or not.

Last year my family took a cab from the BC to the Epcot WS entrance. The cost was less than $10. They let the cab in because they knew it would be leaving. That might be an alternative if they wouldn't let your friend do it.

I hope you get a definite answer and good luck.

 

[lovinmgm]

I'll clarify........


My friend will not be going to the parks with us. She lives in Orlando and is just meeting us at 9 for breakfast at the Beach Club. After breakfast, I had planned to walk from BC to Epcot Intl Gateway.

Grandma is coming so I'm sure the Intl stuff is most of our activity for the day. However, when I remembered my friend would have a car (I will have a parking pass, but I will leave my car at the Dolphin for the day, so I guess my friend can use my parking pass just to get her into the gate? As long as I remember to get it back from her!!) I thought it would be worth a try for her to drop us off at the front gate, instead of walking to the back gate, so we could pass by Soarin to get a FP for my DD and I to use (and get Grandma's, too, so either she can ride or DD can ride 2x!) later in the day. Or for that matter, try to use Grandma's ticket to get DD a FP for M:Space.

Boy, this sounds so confusing.

Thanks for the help!

 

[Traveliz]

Ok I don't get the whole picture but the short answer is even without a parking pass your friend can drop you off at the park - its not right up front - they have a place - but what you do is when you get to the toll gate tell them that you are being dropped off and they will direct you to the drop off area.

I just did it last week with my husband and daughter.

Liz

 

[snyderla]

I think if you are planning to ride Soarin', have your friend drop you off. (Do you happen to be an AP holder? If so, parking is free, so no need to take your parking permit from resort). Otherwise, of course, if you are just staying in the World Showcase area, walking would be quicker and more convenient, JMO. You could go ahead and walk, then have gramma relax while you go & get the FP's for everyone. That's what I would do.

Lori

 

[NCombs]

I think if you are planning to ride Soarin', have your friend drop you off. (Do you happen to be an AP holder? If so, parking is free, so no need to take your parking permit from resort). Otherwise, of course, if you are just staying in the World Showcase area, walking would be quicker and more convenient, JMO. You could go ahead and walk, then have gramma relax while you go & get the FP's for everyone. That's what I would do.

Lori

I agree, if you are going to be in WS most of the time anyway, I would walk from BC to the WS entrance and have your grandma relax while you take the tickets to go get the FP's.

 

[Epcot82Guy]

If it is an issue of time, the front gate is SLIGHTLY closer to Soarin'. If it is more an issue of walking, however, remember that WS Lagoon has the Friendships. Therefore, you could walk to between France and MOrrocco from the IG and ride to Showcase Plaza and simply have to walk from there. It doesn't save a TON of walking, but it is some if that is the concern (and the boat ride across the lagoon is a cool way to see WS!)

 

[Barbday62]

We once took a cab from Beach Club to Front of Epcot (We did a back stage tour and wasnt plannign on using a pass that day so we couldnt cut through the park to get to the front) ANyway. The drive around was so much longer than just walking.

I recomend what others said about letting Grandma rest in WS while you run up and get the fast passes.

By the way because of the distance and time it took to get form Beach club (Behind Epcot) to the Front entrance of Epcot the cab fare was something like $15.

 

[lovinmgm]

Thank you everyone!

Based on your input, we will either walk or take the boat and, like you've suggested, give Grandma the option to start exploring WS with DD while I run and get the FPs if available (surely if there are any left they'll be for much later in the day since it'll already be 11 and it will be holiday weekend).

Expert advise is the best!

 

[NCombs]

By the way because of the distance and time it took to get form Beach club (Behind Epcot) to the Front entrance of Epcot the cab fare was something like $15.

Wow, that's interesting, your cabbie must have taken the long way around. We paid less around $10 last June and it didn't take long at all.