Dining only at EPCOT- pass needed?

[batt01]

I recently heard (from a friend of a friend) that you can get into EPCOT for several hours in the evening to shop or dine w/o having to have a park pass. Is this true? It would be so wonderful to be able to have a special dinner one night of our vacation but not on our EPCOT Day (we are not hopping).

We will be there during the Food and Wine festival...do they offer any similar deal during this time?

Thanks

 

[Bob P]

Hi,

I'm afraid your friend of a friend is not correct. You need a park pass to get into any WDW theme park, even if you do not plan to see any attractions.

Bob

 

[kabbie]

When I lived in FL, there was a Florida Resident Season Pass for Epcot which was under $80 for admission after 4pm. I think they may have done away with it. I have not heard about a free pass to get in for a few hours.

 

[Magickndm]

They've talked about doing this but don't believe they do as of right now.
There used to be a "Shopping Pass"...you'd leave your CC # with them, have 2 or 3 hours to shop. If you took longer they'd apply the amount of a ticket to your CC. I have no idea if they still do this.

 

[Seahunt]

Allears still shows this available for Fl Res:

Epcot After 4 Pass - Florida Residents only - Unlimited admission to Epcot after 4pm. Proof of Florida residency required. This is an annual pass, not a one day ticket. Guests 10 and over $124.61 including tax; guests 3-9, $109.70

 

[bicker]

The 3 hour shopping pass is one of those services that Disney had to curtail due to abuse.

 

[Lewisc]

Universal has, or at least had, that policy. You could get a pass to eat at Mythos for example without paying park admission.

Whenever I make a reservation for a theme park restaurant the CM always says park admission is required.

 

[Magickndm]

The 3 hour shopping pass is one of those services that Disney had to curtail due to abuse.

I'm not surprised.

 

[Andrew Bichard]

I recently heard (from a friend of a friend) that you can get into EPCOT for several hours in the evening to shop or dine w/o having to have a park pass. Is this true?

We will be there during the Food and Wine festival...do they offer any similar deal during this time?

Thanks

If you book one of the 'Exquisite Evenings' dinners during Food & Wine, you are escorted backstage from Epcot's main entrance or the International Gateway and driven to the dinner location. (last year the pavillion just behind the Off Kilter stage). No park admission is required. But the dinner is very, very expensive. I think that's the only way to to get in without paying.

Andrew

 

[Spaceship Earthfan]

Allears still shows this available for Fl Res:

Epcot After 4 Pass - Florida Residents only - Unlimited admission to Epcot after 4pm. Proof of Florida residency required. This is an annual pass, not a one day ticket. Guests 10 and over $124.61 including tax; guests 3-9, $109.70

Hmm, doesn't really seem worth it, seeing as how a true AP isn't too much more, and it's good for all day at any park.

 

[makinorlando]

Hmm, doesn't really seem worth it, seeing as how a true AP isn't too much more, and it's good for all day at any park.

You would be surprised at the number of local folks that I know that are "over" Disney as far as visiting the parks/amusements, but do enjoy dining at EPCOT, so in cases like those it is a substantial saving. Most of these are couples with older children.

FL Res Annual Pass :Adult ticket is $325 and Child is $285

 

[Lancer]

I recently heard (from a friend of a friend) that you can get into EPCOT for several hours in the evening to shop or dine w/o having to have a park pass. Is this true? It would be so wonderful to be able to have a special dinner one night of our vacation but not on our EPCOT Day (we are not hopping).

We will be there during the Food and Wine festival...do they offer any similar deal during this time?

Thanks

One other option open to you is to eat somewhere on the boardwalk adjacent to epcot. There are many good restaurants there. If you have a car you can drive and park at the BW or yaht club and enter the boardwalk there. If you are at MGM, there may be a boat that can take you as well.

 

[wdwgoofeeee]

One other option open to you is to eat somewhere on the boardwalk adjacent to epcot. There are many good restaurants there. If you have a car you can drive and park at the BW or yaht club and enter the boardwalk there. If you are at MGM, there may be a boat that can take you as well.

This is a great suggestion. There are a lot of restaurants in the Epcot resort area. Go over to allearsnet.com....dining....menus....for the Boardwalk, Beach Club, Yacht Club, Swan and Dolphin.
You can either walk (15 minutes or so) from the Disney Studios or take the Friendship boat over. The boats run from the Studios to the Epcot International Gateway throughout the day. They stop at the Boardwalk, Yacht/Beach clubs, and Swan/Dolphin along the route.
You do not have to enter the Studios to take the boat.