Do you miss out on something walking in through International Gateway?

[pnelson]

We are staying at BCV and wonder if walking in to Epcot via International Gateway maybe does not have the impact of walking into Epcot and seeing the "Big Ball!" Kindof like walking in to the Magic Kingdom and not seeing the castle???

 

[patsal]

I don't think so. I find the "cemetary" in front a big downer, and I want to move past it as quickly as possible!

 

[Ralph&Pam]

I think this is a matter of taste. I especially enjoy the World Showcase, so entering through the International Gateway is just fine. In fact, I like to think of the canal that separates Great Britain from France as playing the role of the English Channel in real life. I like the view of the scaled down Eiffel Tower and the stroll to the Rose and Crown Pub as I walk along the canal.

Ralph

 

[Simba's Mom]

Yes, I guess you could say it's a matter of taste. Lose something? To me, being able to enter through the International Gateway in the morning is one of the things I feel you gain bstaying at BCV. Next trip, I'm just going to bring my morning coffee and a book and sit on a bench in WS. Last time, I just sat on a bench in UK, listening to the music of WS while I leisurely browsed my park map and made notes of what I'd done, and what to do that day.

 

[yesdisneyfool]

Originally posted by pnelson
We are staying at BCV and wonder if walking in to Epcot via International Gateway maybe does not have the impact of walking into Epcot and seeing the "Big Ball!"

It does not have the imact of walking into Epcot and seeing the Big Ball. It has the FABULOUS Impact of walking into Epcot from your private Villa room and seeing the World Showcase which is only steps away. BTW this is our preference to entering Epcot.

 

[Bella2000]

No, I don't think you miss out entering from the International Gateway and then you have the added benefit of departing right there after Illuminations! I don't equate the front entrance of Epcot to be better or worse just different...walking up to it from the International gateway is just as exciting to me. In fact that was my preference even before BCV.

My only caveat would be if you don't feel like walking and you need to get the first fast pass for Test Track...then you have the "don't feel like walking" impact

 

[d-r]

Actually, I think you DO miss something - some of the hassle. Although there is something sort of nice about walking out through future world after illuminations, past the fountain and the little glow things in the sidewalk - especially when they had the laser shapes on the SE - the internation gateway is my preferred way of entering and exiting epcot. Especially entering, I really enjoy the stillness and calm of UK and Canada...but then, we usually sleep in and get there about the time WS is open anyway, so ymmv!

DR

 

[spiceycat]

you can get a Spaceship Earth view at BCV - so yes - the long walk from the buses or the cars! Of course I don't think I really miss that part.

 

[travelbug]

I love staying in the BWV/BCV area, largely because I REALLY love being able to enter Epcot by the International Gateway and avoid the crowds. Even better is the ability to leave by that gate at the end of the day and be only footsteps from my room!

I recently traveled with a friend who had never been to WDW in her life. We stayed at BCV and made lots of use of the Int. Gateway. But one day we were on our way back from MK for an afternoon break. We decided to take the monorail and enter Epcot by the front entrance and stroll through to get back to BCV. That way she could snap a nice picture of Spaceship Earth and get a taste of that entry too.

 

[scootert]

Even before we bought DVC, one of our favorite things is to walk along the canal, enjoy the beautiful flowers, smell the jasmine.... We get our future world fix by riding the monorail into Epcot.

 

[RealMickey]

We love entering through the international gateway! If you walk under the bridge (the design of which is very old world European), just as France comes into view you start hearing the french music. It is very romantic. Even the Freindships have a European look about them. It feels as if you are strolling along the Seine.
It is definetly not the same as walking under Spaceship Earth. The internaltional gateway is much more subtle. More special, in my opinion.

 

[madcoco]

Agree with those above. It seems like a lot less hassle. Love entering and exiting through the Gateway.

 

[Planogirl]

We enjoyed spending part of the day in MGM, eating at Cape May and entering into Epcot via the back way. It's so pretty and peaceful in the area!

Plus I personally don't particularly care for the hand on the side of Spaceship Earth or the stones in front of it. So I don't miss that initial view.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

You certainly do miss something. Crowds and strollers and people who are doing the "me, me, me thing". I love going through the International Gateway. One of the best gift shops is there, and I love going through something familiar to me. If you enjoy seeing the "big golf ball" wend your way to the front and walk from there.

 

[Fantasia Sam]

I love walking through the International Gateway - it's so quiet and you don't have all the hassle - it's so civilised. I go to the geosphere later in the day when the crowds are really quiet down there because everyone has gone to World Showcase and take my pictures then and take in the view so I get the best of both worlds.

 

[susy]

We really love the music at the front entrance. Is is the same at the IG?

 

[tjmw2727]

I agree with the above - its wonderful to walk into Epcot through the gateway. Very relaxing - you can kind of ease your way into the park.

Often times we do enter through the Main Entrance and even from the monorail its much more "stressful".

We like to hit MK early every morning and do so via the bus. Instead of taking the bus back to our resort (usually BC or Dolphin) we take the monorail to Epcot. We stroll through Epcot take a ride on Spaceship Earth and maybe do a few future world things, then we eat a late lunch at WS.

After this its a short walk to the resort for pool time and back out for the evening. We do this almost every day of our trip!

TJ

 

[JulesMom]

The only thing you'll miss is the crowds and the lines

 

[tripletvan]

We love going through as my kids call it "the back way". They have seen he main entrance and now just want to get to the heart of it all!