Cutting through a closed park to get "home".

[DanenRox]

Until what time can Beach Clubbers and Boardwalkers cut through a closed Epcot from the front gates? What time do they close the International Gateway gates?

 

[CarolA]

9 Pm

 

[skelooch]

The only reason I would think that you would consider doing such a thing is if you were returning from MK via the monorail. If that is the case, you would be better off taking the bus back from MK direct to your resort, you'll probably save about an hour at least.

But maybe there's another reason.

There are no gates at the International Gateway entrance, so once inside EPCOT you can leave that way.

 

[DanenRox]

We have been able to return to BCV through the front gates of EPCOT after park closing probably around 10 pm. The fireworks were long over and there were very few people found in EPCOT and World Showcase. Since then I've asked lots of CM's the "what time until" question and have received a variety of answers. The gate at International Gateway, or rather, the gate leading to Boardwalk and Beach Club, must stay open for awhile after Illuminations ends, but what time they close it exactly....I'd love to know.

 

[newholidayx2]

There are no gates at the International Gateway entrance, so once inside EPCOT you can leave that way.

theres gates at the IG -
but I do agree you can leave that way once youre inside EpCot

 

[skelooch]

theres gates at the IG -
but I do agree you can leave that way once youre inside EpCot

Where are the gates? At the top of the hill? or near the turn stiles?
I don't remember seeing any.

 

[DanenRox]

There's a large gate, a single gate. that swings closed. I believe it's just as you start down the hill towards the International Gateway, after the path from the Boardwalk and Beach Club meet. The gate closes at some point at night, and am hoping someone knows what time that happens.

 

[crisi]

We have been able to return to BCV through the front gates of EPCOT after park closing probably around 10 pm. The fireworks were long over and there were very few people found in EPCOT and World Showcase. Since then I've asked lots of CM's the "what time until" question and have received a variety of answers. The gate at International Gateway, or rather, the gate leading to Boardwalk and Beach Club, must stay open for awhile after Illuminations ends, but what time they close it exactly....I'd love to know.

There is probably a point where you get off the monorail and the CMs won't let you through to get home - at which point you'd be calling a cab from the Epcot parking lot.

 

[jco_direwolf]

I've never had to cut though Epcot that direction (front to International), but I have had to cut the other way (IG -> parking lot.) And to be honest as long as there is a CM at the gate, I think they will let you though.

We just explained to them that our car was at the front of the park. They said something to the effect of "the park is totally closed" We said we know we just want to get to our car. And they let us in, opened the gate, told us the turnstiles where off.

johno

 

[ro80]

I'm glad you're on the ball. Keep asking all the questions you want, but make sure you take notes and write them down to pass them on. What a good question!! Is the gate you're talking about where they pass out the EMH bracelets??

 

[MdmMim]

I had a hard time doing this one night. I had taken the monorail from the MK and wanted to enter Epcot to get to the BWV. Illuminations had finished, and it was close to 9:30. The CM really didn't want to let me enter the park, but finally did. I think it's more of a question as to whether or not you'd be allowed to enter a closed park. No guarantees.

 

[dianeschlicht]

WOW, this could be a HUGE security breach loophole! Any terrorist who wants to could just say "I need to get through to BCV or BWV or my car", and they are inside the park after hours with no real knowledge of weather or not they did as they said!! In this day of terrorist threats to places like WDW, the fact that they would do this scars the crap out of me!!!

 

[jco_direwolf]

I had a hard time doing this one night. I had taken the monorail from the MK and wanted to enter Epcot to get to the BWV. Illuminations had finished, and it was close to 9:30. The CM really didn't want to let me enter the park, but finally did. I think it's more of a question as to whether or not you'd be allowed to enter a closed park. No guarantees.

It might be directional. Easier to go from the Boardwalk to the front gate, than the other direction.

johno

 

[jco_direwolf]

WOW, this could be a HUGE security breach loophole! Any terrorist who wants to could just say "I need to get through to BCV or BWV or my car", and they are inside the park after hours with no real knowledge of weather or not they did as they said!! In this day of terrorist threats to places like WDW, the fact that they would do this scars the crap out of me!!!

I don't see why that scares you.

Personally, all the baggage checks and stuff are so cursory I believe them all to be for show. I've yet to see them stop anyone with anything. I find them to be more an inconvenience than real security.

As far as letting people though the gates, again I don't see any problem. I hope they don't use the turnstile count for anything more than stats. The turnstiles I'm sure are off by some percentage every day, I wouldn't be surprised if it's 5% or more (Exits - Entrance should be 0, my guess it never is.) People get into/out of the park bypassing the turnstiles all the time. The only way they get everyone out of the park is to do a "deadman march". Have teams of people clear each securable section then close it off the area. I'm not sure this is how they do it, but if you want people out that is really the only way to do it.

Anyway, the classic end run around this is to "Join the Cleaning Crew". That is often the best way around security, the cleaners are in when the majority of the staff is away, they work alone or in small groups, typically have a large amount of access to the building/grounds and normally the background checks are "less through" than other employees.

Bottom line is you can worry about terrorists, and attractions breaking down, and fires and getting hit by cars and every other little bad thing that happens. Or you can say I'm going to live my life to the fullest every day, and hope today is not my day.

johno

 

[dianeschlicht]

I don't see why that scares you.

Personally, all the baggage checks and stuff are so cursory I believe them all to be for show. I've yet to see them stop anyone with anything. I find them to be more an inconvenience than real security.

As far as letting people though the gates, again I don't see any problem. I hope they don't use the turnstile count for anything more than stats. The turnstiles I'm sure are off by some percentage every day, I wouldn't be surprised if it's 5% or more (Exits - Entrance should be 0, my guess it never is.) People get into/out of the park bypassing the turnstiles all the time. The only way they get everyone out of the park is to do a "deadman march". Have teams of people clear each securable section then close it off the area. I'm not sure this is how they do it, but if you want people out that is really the only way to do it.

Anyway, the classic end run around this is to "Join the Cleaning Crew". That is often the best way around security, the cleaners are in when the majority of the staff is away, they work alone or in small groups, typically have a large amount of access to the building/grounds and normally the background checks are "less through" than other employees.

Bottom line is you can worry about terrorists, and attractions breaking down, and fires and getting hit by cars and every other little bad thing that happens. Or you can say I'm going to live my life to the fullest every day, and hope today is not my day.

johno

I agree the bags checks are for show, although they did take an item from my DH once. He forgot his swiss army knife was in his belly bag, and they took it. He had to go back to securtiy when we left to get it back. Did that help....no... The next day he put it in his pocket, and of course, they don't check those! I do think that if a terrorist was going to target WDW, they would NOT be doing anything during park hours, but would try to gain access after hours to "plant" something. Just too many folks around during the day. We have similar situations and concerns here at the MOA. They don't check bags or anything, but they do have lots of security folks watching people as they come in, and there are plenty of people who get pulled aside or detained. Anyone who really WANTS to do something bad is going to do it no matter what the obstacles are in the way. I just found it amazing that they would let folks go through after the turnstiles are closed.

(sorry for the original typo....scares not scars!)

 

[Caskbill]

I agree the bags checks are for show, although they did take an item from my DH once. He forgot his swiss army knife was in his belly bag, and they took it. He had to go back to securtiy when we left to get it back. Did that help....no... The next day he put it in his pocket, and of course, they don't check those! I do think that if a terrorist was going to target WDW, they would NOT be doing anything during park hours, but would try to gain access after hours to "plant" something. Just too many folks around during the day. We have similar situations and concerns here at the MOA. They don't check bags or anything, but they do have lots of security folks watching people as they come in, and there are plenty of people who get pulled aside or detained. Anyone who really WANTS to do something bad is going to do it no matter what the obstacles are in the way. I just found it amazing that they would let folks go through after the turnstiles are closed.

(sorry for the original typo....scares not scars!)

You're correct Diane, it could be a security issue unless the CM letting the person in late also does at least a cursory baggage check.

If not, then someone could have a backpack loaded with explosives and a timer, and plant it as you said. Such a backpack would not get past even the cursory examination during park hours, but if a CM just let someone in to traverse the park, without checking bags, it could be an issue.

I wonder if Disney security has a set procedure to deal with 'late' guests.

(sorry for the original typo....scares not scars!)

Ahh, but Diane, you still missed the error in your original post: You said 'weather' instead of 'whether'......

 

[jco_direwolf]

I just found it amazing that they would let folks go through after the turnstiles are closed.

Well there is closed, where they aren't letting people in but there are still lots of people around in the park, the turnstiles are all set to the "Exit" mode.

There is Closed, where the turnstiles are off and the gates are closed, but there are maintenance people are around. Typical night time activity for the park.

And CLOSED, the park is totally locked down like they do for hurricanes, which I doubt even most employees can get into the park.

johno

 

[zev]

WOW, this could be a HUGE security breach loophole! Any terrorist who wants to could just say "I need to get through to BCV or BWV or my car", and they are inside the park after hours with no real knowledge of weather or not they did as they said!! In this day of terrorist threats to places like WDW, the fact that they would do this scars the crap out of me!!!

The park may be closed to general public but the 3rd shift is on. Still a number of people around but they don't want to take away from the "magic". Takes some effort to get those parks ready for the next day scrubbers, gum cleaners, trash, repairs etc.

 

[DanenRox]

Security Breach! Oh heavens no. Though we were allowed to cut through a closed park, we still had to first speak with security, show our passes (which identified our home resort on "the other side" of World Showcase), our bags were checked, etc. I'm sure our trek was caught on camera as well. While the parks were closed, there were occasional bodies besides ours floating around EPCOT and World Showcase.

 

[Boston5602]

Not that this involves anyone getting into either gate , but I've been in Epcot after Illuminations had ended simply by making the last accepted reservation for dinner . I've sat down to eat at 8:30 before in Japan and when we left it was extremely quiet and we realized there was no one around because it was closed and had been.

They didn't kick us out but they didn't help us stick around either <G> Darn it closing the champagne booth!