Entrance to Parks

[Kingzoo]

My family will be making our maiden voyage to the Beach Club in February....I have questions about entering EPCOT and MGM. Is there boat transportation to EPCOT? and to MGM? from the Beach Club On all the maps it appears as though there are boats moving from within EPCOT to the Boardwalk area. Also, any thoughts on special activities - we will have two birthdays (DW-40 & DD-11) and in-laws anivarsary?
Thanks

 

[lsutigger2]

There is boat service from BCV to Epcot, but the walk is so short you may want to walk. You can also ride the boat to MGM. There is a walkway which goes by BW and back to BCV. The is kindof long, but not too bad. We rode the boat and walked it. Either way is good.

 

[PamOKW]

On all the maps it appears as though there are boats moving from within EPCOT to the Boardwalk area.

The boats that run on the World Showcase are not the same ones that go to the resorts (although they are the same type of craft). There is a dock just outside the International Gateway where the boats from BW/Y&B/S&D dock. To get the boat from the BCV, you walk to the pier with the lighthouse on the end....it's about halfway between the "Yacht Club" and the "Beach Club".....it's in most pictures of the resort. As lsutigger2 suggested, by the time you walk to the dock and then from the docking point at Epcot to the entrance, you might as well just walk from your villa at BCV.

 

[kem330]

You will find walking to epcot much easier than the boat. The villas are on the epcot side of BC and the boat launch is on the YC side- I'd venture to say its about as far to walk to the dock as it is to Epcot + you have to wait for the boat. To MGM it is easier on the legs to take the boat but if you are a walker- you will probably beat the boat as well.

 

[Kingzoo]

Is there an entrance to EPCOT at the International Gateway?

 

[Caskbill]

Originally posted by Kingzoo
Is there an entrance to EPCOT at the International Gateway?

Yes, the International Gateway is the primary entrance into Epcot for guests staying at the Epcot area resorts.

You may enter through this gate any time after Epcot has opened. However, keep in mind that World Showcase opens later than the rest of the park. If you enter before the World Showcase section is open, you are to walk thru World Showcase past England and Canada to get to the park.

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

Yes.

EPCOT is five minutes from the corner of BCV. If you have an AP it makes a wonderful short cut to pick up transportation to all points (cutting through from the International Gateway to the front entrance).

If you take the boat you have to make the five minute walk to the end of the dock, wait 20 minutes for a boat, ride it, then walk 2 minutes to the entrance from the boat dock.

MGM...you want to use the boat dock unless you want a nice stroll. And yes...strolling would be faster unless you hit the boat just right.

 

[colleen costello]

We did the Epcot walk a bunch of times from Beach Club. We walked around back by the quiet pool and it was a straight shot right down to the gate. One night we took the boat just for fun. Beware, though -- it is a long walk for little kid legs. My son was pooped since you have to drop off any rental stroller at the gate. I am sure he could not have walked all the way to the front of Epcot -- that was a hike even for dh and I!

Being able to walk to a park is REALLY cool. Not having to wait for a bus or even a boat or monorail is really nice.