Entering the back Enterance of Epcot?

[SGMCO]

Can guest not staying in an Epcot Resort enter from the back enterance?
We will be staying at AKL, not coming at RD but later in the morning and have ADRs at Chef de France about 12:30pm. We won't have a car. Thought we could catch WDW Bus to AK park, bus to Beach Club, then walk to back enterance by WS next to France Pallivon. Can this be done?

 

[jdisnut]

Anybody with a park ticket may utilize in the International Gateway entrance to Epcot. But wouldn't it be quicker to simply take a bus directly to the park's front gate from Animal Kingdom Lodge? Your proposed route seems to require two unnecessary transfers. Is it to avoid the walk from Future World to the restaurant? Even adding that in, you'll still save time using the main entrance.

 

[SGMCO]

Anybody with a park ticket may utilize in the International Gateway entrance to Epcot. But wouldn't it be quicker to simply take a bus directly to the park's front gate from Animal Kingdom Lodge? Your proposed route seems to require two unnecessary transfers. Is it to avoid the walk from Future World to the restaurant? Even adding that in, you'll still save time using the main entrance.

yes, I was trying to avoid the long walk from the main gate.
the enterance at the International Gateway is right next to France.
We will be going in Sept. with high heat and humidity and was hoping not
to be totally overheating by walking so far. I wouldn't call the transfers unnessary if
it saves us from being overheating and loss of appetite to eat lunch right away.

 

[Sugardimples]

Another option is to take the bus from AKL to Disney Studios and then take the boat to EPCOT.

 

[SGMCO]

Another option is to take the bus from AKL to Disney Studios and then take the boat to EPCOT.

Wouldn't the boat take longer than bus to Beach Club?
I guess it depends on how long the walk is from beach club to IGW
as to whether we just bite the bullet and walk from main enterance of Epcot.

 

[ancestry]

Wouldn't the boat take longer than bus to Beach Club?
I guess it depends on how long the walk is from beach club to IGW
as to whether we just bite the bullet and walk from main enterance of Epcot.

It depends how long you have to wait for the bus or boat to arrive. The boat is a relaxing and enjoyable ride in my opinion.

The walk to IGW from the Beach Club is definitely shorter than the walk from the front of the park to France.

 

[pixarmom]

Wouldn't the boat take longer than bus to Beach Club?
I guess it depends on how long the walk is from beach club to IGW
as to whether we just bite the bullet and walk from main enterance of Epcot.

If you take the boat from DHS to EPCOT, the boat stops right at the IG entrance. No need to get off the boat at BC and walk. If you bus to DHS and boat to EPCOT, you'll have very little walking and a pleasant boat ride!

 

[SGMCO]

If you take the boat from DHS to EPCOT, the boat stops right at the IG entrance. No need to get off the boat at BC and walk. If you bus to DHS and boat to EPCOT, you'll have very little walking and a pleasant boat ride!

That's probably what we'll do we'll just add a little extra time to our travel
but if I'm refreshed by the time I have to eat that will be well worth it.
thanks so much.

 

[TDC Nala]

Since you expressed a desire to avoid heat you may want to note that while the boats have air conditioners, they don't work especially well - at least they haven't seemed to in the recent past. The boat windows do not open. If the goal is to be out in the heat as little as possible, I'd do the bus to the Beach Club and walk. Beach Club to IG is about a ten minute walk at most.

 

[CLR4321]

That can be done, however the fastest way for you to get from AKL to Epcot would be to take the bus directly.

 

[TDC Nala]

That can be done, however the fastest way for you to get from AKL to Epcot would be to take the bus directly.

The OP could well take the bus directly from AKL to Epcot, but they would then have to walk through the park to get to France for their meal, and they've said they'd like to avoid walking around outside for that long. They weren't interested in the fastest way to get there, just the way that would involve the least time outside.

The boat ride will be fine - if the air conditioners operate well. A couple of years ago they appear to have changed the AC units in the boats over to less effective units, and at about the same time they did that, they sealed the boat windows so they cannot be opened. I have had some unbelieveably sweltering rides on those boats - one of which several parties ended up abandoning the boat at Boardwalk and walking to Epcot from there. Don't know how the boats are now but I try not to ride them during the day in high summer anymore.

 

[figment_jii]

I noticed that the boats didn't seem to be as air conditioned as before too, so I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one.

Just a note (and I'm sure most people are aware of this), if you're going to take a multiple leg bus trip, be sure a lot plenty of time. Last year when I was there in October the travel times were very variable (one day it would take 30 minutes to go from one place to another and then next day the same route took 50 minutes - most of the variability was due to the speed of loading and unloading passengers).

 

[tlenzendorf]

Also don't forget that the bus ride can be UNBELIEVABLY long when you do the BC/YC/BW/S&D resorts since they all share busses.

 

[TDC Nala]

They don't all share buses all the time now, although sometimes they do. From DTD they do. In the middle of the day, they might. But you really do have to allow plenty of time for any travel that requires a transfer (that is not a direct trip to your destination).

 

[tlenzendorf]

They don't all share buses all the time now, although sometimes they do. From DTD they do. In the middle of the day, they might. But you really do have to allow plenty of time for any travel that requires a transfer (that is not a direct trip to your destination).

Thats good to know! I remember our dreadful hour+ ride from DTD just to check out the BW for a bit. It was horrific and made me never want to stay at any of those resorts

 

[disnut8]

Just to throw out a suggestion no one has made yet. Take a cab from the Animal Kingdom Lodge to the Beach Club and then walk from there.

 

[cigar95]

Just a little raw data -

walk from Epcot bus stop to World Showcase between UK and France - 0.62 miles

walk from Beach Club bus stop to same spot - 0.43 miles

The difference isn't all that great. And the extra transfer may include more time standing in the humidity waiting for a bus.

 

[Pumbaa_]

bus to EPCOT, walk straight through and avoid the temptation to ride Spaceship earth

Fron there to the beginning of WS is pretty short, go by the fountain, then there is htat walkway over the water and you are there

you can take the boat over to Morocco. Right next to France.

No matter what you do, it is September, it is hot. Leave early, take your time, don't rush and enjoy your meal!

 

[SGMCO]

bus to EPCOT, walk straight through and avoid the temptation to ride Spaceship earth

Fron there to the beginning of WS is pretty short, go by the fountain, then there is htat walkway over the water and you are there

you can take the boat over to Morocco. Right next to France.

No matter what you do, it is September, it is hot. Leave early, take your time, don't rush and enjoy your meal!

I forgot about the boat shuttle across the lake.
Thank you.

 

[DaParkers]

Everyone seems to be telling you how to maximize your travel time, but I suggest going in through International gateway for the experience. It's something different. Do it for that reason.