Does Epcot Open their Gates to all, @ 9 p.m. before Illuminations?

[bop28]

I read somewhere that Epcot opened their gates right at 9:00pm just when Illuminations starts, and anyone can go in and watch the rest of the show. If this is so, I thought it might be a good idea for something to do on arrival day. Does anyone know about this?

 

[kandmwedding]

Never heard this before...

 

[Aimeedyan]

Where did you hear that?

Sorry, not true... that place would be PACKED if it was!!!

 

[Bracho]

I have to second what kandmwedding as posted and say I have never heard of this either but if you came in the front way, by the time you got to the show area, the show would be over, you'd have to fight the crowd leaving early to avoid the even bigger group to come after the show ends...

If you find out that they do.. please let us know!

 

[goofy4tink]

They didn't in August. We were leaving around 8:45 or so and there were some folks coming in thur the International Gateway. They told the CM at the gate that they were there just for IllumiNations so they didn't need a pass. They were not happy campers as they walked back in the direction they had come from!!! I overheard one of them saying..."Man, you can't believe everything you hear can ya?"

 

[kilee]

There is no free entry into any WDW parks- even at closing time.

 

[Blueberry]

This has been a rumor floating around for a long time..I think it is what you call an "Urban Legend".....they never allow folks to come in free at closing time to watch Illuminations or any other night show...sorry....

 

[shoes99]

A long time ago you could go to the International Gateway gates and they would let you in at 9PM for the fireworks. I did this while I was attending a convention at the Dolphin. This was over 10 years ago. They don't do it now...

 

[kda]

Years ago. I asked about it one year because I'd just read about it on one of the internet sites and wanted to do it -- we were told they had stopped it.

 

[disneylovr1]

Definately not an urban legend, i did it many years ago - probably 1999. They stopped it when it became Illluminations 2000, or sometime around then.

 

[bop28]

I can't remember the current Guidebook that I was reading @ Barnes and Noble, but whichever one it was, recommended a website for interesting WDW information. When I went to this site, I found the information for Epcot under their heading "tips and hints". Since many of you know about this, I assume that this website has outdated info possibly. That's one reason this forum us so helpful! Here is the website:
http://www.solarius.com/dvp/wdw/wdwhints.htm

 

[tjmw2727]

Wow - obviously some very outdated and completely incorrect informaiton on that website. I noticed it was last updated in April of 2003. I would stick with the information here at the Dis as well as Deb's and Mousesavers!!

TJ

 

[JandT'smom]

As a travel agent I was curious about this called Disney help line and asked. The response is no. This is not allowed and hasn't been for many many years.

 

[bop28]

I went back to the book store to find which guidebook I saw this information in. It was the Passporter 2004 Guidebook at the beginning of the book, on page vii, right before the table of contents. I own the 2002 Passporter Book and the link isn't in that one.