EE at Epcot thru International Gateway

[MaryKatesMom]

It has been mentioned before on the boards before but since we did it last Wednesday I can report first hand - it didn't go well.

We were the fourth family in line and when a second security officer showed up at 10 minutes to 8 a large group rushed to the right and started a second line. They cut right around us.

They don't start checking bags until after the turnstiles open and the turnstiles opened at about 5 past 8. The people at the back of the line were yelling "It's 8 O'clock!!"

My AP wouldn't work (didn't happen anywhere else) and a CM had to overide it and the people behind me were grumbling and sighing.

People were running to Mission Space and Test Track, not possible with a stroller.

By the time we made it over to Test Track there was a line and I looked at my watch when we boarded and it was 8:28. Half of the EMH was gone.

The next time we are at an Epcot resort and do Epcot EE, I'll spare myself some aggravation and take a Taxi to Epcot's main entrance. It would be worth the $10.

 

[tar heel]

We've done ee through the International Gateway a number of times and have not had that experience, except for the part about running to rides. We've found that people make quick tracks to the hot attractions at all the parks. I hope your experience was a fluke since we've always been let in and all the way to a rope drop in Britain before ee started.

We've had nonworking APs at a couple parks, too. That can happen at any entrance.

 

[SnowWitch]

The one and only time we did EE at Epcot was a few years ago and they didn't allow us through the turnstiles until 0800. Which meant by the time we arrived in FW there were lines. We haven't done early entry at Epcot since. We own at the BWV's and generally stay there every trip and we just decided not to do that again. We just assumed that was the way they did it, didn't make any sense. Waste of time!!!

 

[Micca]

Seems like getting into and out of Epcot is always a hike(except exiting through the IG to an Epcot resort) How many times have we all been at Illuminations and walked through WS and FW, and then through the parking lot after a long exhausting day I think the next Epcot attraction should be a transporter from WS to the car

 

[WDSearcher]

Well it kind of stands to reason that if you're entering at International Gateway with a batch of other folks, and then hiking through World Showcase to Future World, that by the time you get there, all the people who entered at the main turnstiles will already be in line for the popular rides. I mean ... isn't that logical? It's well documented that the park opens an hour early for EE -- if someone chooses to enter at International Gateway, they need to understand that they're putting themselves at a disadvantage if their main goal is getting on Test Track early.

As far as the AP not working ... that's just as likely at the front turnstiles as it is at International Gateway. Just a technology glitch that happened at an inconvenient time.

 

[vicb]

THis was not our experience last Feb. We were allowed in 5 min. before park opening. We were "escorted" by a CM on a segway thru WS, as we entered FW there was a huge throng being escorted by another segway to MS and TT, we were able to just squeeze in ahead of them for fast passes and to get on TT. It went smoothly for us that day.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

Originally posted by WDSearcher
Well it kind of stands to reason that if you're entering at International Gateway with a batch of other folks, and then hiking through World Showcase to Future World, that by the time you get there, all the people who entered at the main turnstiles will already be in line for the popular rides. I mean ... isn't that logical? It's well documented that the park opens an hour early for EE -- if someone chooses to enter at International Gateway, they need to understand that they're putting themselves at a disadvantage if their main goal is getting on Test Track early.

1)They used to open the turnstiles early and let people up to a rope drop in UK.

2) What is reasonable about not checking our bags before getting to the turnstiles? They don't line up before bag check at the main entrance. They are lined up right at the turnstiles.

3) Is it logical to open the turnstiles after 8AM? That doesn't happen at the front gate either.

4) Why did the security office let people go around us like that?

I've been to EPCOT many times so I knew when I chose to walk over I'd be behind (duh) but I was trying to warn others you end up FAR, FAR behind others. Much more than I thought was reasonable.

We're staying at the BC in Dec. and if I do EE at EPCOT, I'll save myself the added aggravation and take a cab.