Epcot early entry

[shoslercpa]

We're staying at BWI and planning on doing Epcot on 4/20. I've been reading about RD and the park sometimes opening earlier. I'm worried that if we try to enter through the IG and the front gates open early, we'll be behind the 8-ball.

Does anyone think we'd be better off leaving earlier and getting to the front gate? If so, what do you think is the best way to get there? Bus to TTC and monorail to Epcot or just take a taxi?

 

[cbg1027]

It's possible that you could be a minute behind the front side RD crowd, but I would take my chances - otherwise doesn't going to the front entrance defeat part of the purpose of staying at BWI? You would have to figure in an hour or more in transportation time if you use Disney buses/monorail. Taxi would be pretty quick.

I think the usual protocol, and what I've always observed, is that they let the IG crowd in a bit early so they have time to walk up to the area where the RD show is. So you will be just as close to the attractions when the rope drops as everyone coming in from the front entrance. That has been my experience, but I do not know if that is always the case.

 

[kapoof]

last june they let us walk up to where the fountain is the fountain view ice cream i think its called...the front entrance people where just opposite of us, so we all really had the same distance to cover to go to soarn or test track.

 

[OKW Lover]

last june they let us walk up to where the fountain is the fountain view ice cream i think its called...the front entrance people where just opposite of us, so we all really had the same distance to cover to go to soarn or test track.

This is correct. There is no disadvantage to those entering from international gateway.

 

[shoslercpa]

I don't think I explained myself well enough. I'm not worried about using the IG for regular park opening. But, I've read on here that many times they will let people in BEFORE the scheduled opening time to ride Soarin'. I've seen reports of people being let in at 8:15 for a 9am opening to ride Soarin', especially when the parks are busy.

Since we will be there during Easter week, I am worried that they may let people in before park opening from the front gate, so that by the time IG people are let in, Soarin' has a line/longer FP return time.

I don't mind doing the front gate thing, as my main reason for staying at the BWI was the quick trip back for an afternoon break/return to WS later and its proximity to DHS. We can get up 30-45 min earlier if its worth it to go to the front gate. It will be just my wife and I, no kids.

 

[Robo]

I don't think I explained myself well enough. I'm not worried about using the IG for regular park opening. But, I've read on here that many times they will let people in BEFORE the scheduled opening time to ride Soarin'. I've seen reports of people being let in at 8:15 for a 9am opening to ride Soarin', especially when the parks are busy.

Since we will be there during Easter week, I am worried that they may let people in before park opening from the front gate, so that by the time IG people are let in, Soarin' has a line/longer FP return time.

I don't mind doing the front gate thing, as my main reason for staying at the BWI was the quick trip back for an afternoon break/return to WS later and its proximity to DHS. We can get up 30-45 min earlier if its worth it to go to the front gate. It will be just my wife and I, no kids.

Yup. It's possible.
I'd put it at a 5-8% chance, based on an overall year's time.
But, about a 10-20% chance of happening at the very busiest times. (On or around Easter/Spring Break, Christmas, July 4th.)

If you want to hedge your bet on that, and don't mind all the extra time and hassle for a "just-in-case, might happen" situation...

head for the front gates.

 

[madalex]

I don't think I explained myself well enough. I'm not worried about using the IG for regular park opening. But, I've read on here that many times they will let people in BEFORE the scheduled opening time to ride Soarin'. I've seen reports of people being let in at 8:15 for a 9am opening to ride Soarin', especially when the parks are busy.

Since we will be there during Easter week, I am worried that they may let people in before park opening from the front gate, so that by the time IG people are let in, Soarin' has a line/longer FP return time.

I don't mind doing the front gate thing, as my main reason for staying at the BWI was the quick trip back for an afternoon break/return to WS later and its proximity to DHS. We can get up 30-45 min earlier if its worth it to go to the front gate. It will be just my wife and I, no kids.

We were staying at the YC last year during Easter and there were indeed letting people into the park prior to the official park opening time. However, they also let the guests in from the IG entrance early for the same purpose, so once again, you will be at no disadvantage entering the park from IG if they do the same thing again this year.

 

[shoslercpa]

Yup. It's possible.
I'd put it at a 5-8% chance, based on an overall year's time.
But, about a 10-20% chance of happening at the very busiest times. (On or around Easter/Spring Break, Christmas, July 4th.)

If you want to hedge your bet on that, and don't mind all the extra time and hassle for a "just-in-case, might happen" situation...

head for the front gates.

If I wanted to do this, is a taxi the best way, rather than bus hopping?

 

[shoslercpa]

We were staying at the YC last year during Easter and there were indeed letting people into the park prior to the official park opening time. However, they also let the guests in from the IG entrance early for the same purpose, so once again, you will be at no disadvantage entering the park from IG if they do the same thing again this year.

That's good to know. Thanks for the info. Now I have a real decision. Do I rely on them doing this again or do I just bite the bullet and get to the front gate?

 

[MaryKatesMom]

If I wanted to do this, is a taxi the best way, rather than bus hopping?

I've taken a taxi when my DH isn't with me to drive.

When Soarin' first opened they were not doing a rope drop at the Fountain or opening the ticket machine's early. Although we were an hour early and the first people in line they let the IG and the front gates through the gates simultaneously. We were the first people to get from the IG to Soarin' behind everyone. This happened twice in one week. This was years ago. If my DH doesn't mind driving and I think the $15 on a taxi worth the money.

I seriously doubt they do this anymore as they've had us in the parks and at the rope drop in front of Soarin' along with the guest from the IG gate but I always ask what they are doing lately.

 

[suemom2kay]

If I wanted to do this, is a taxi the best way, rather than bus hopping?

Yes, absolutely the best way. There are no direct buses to Epcot from the Crescent Lake resorts.

I still think you'll be fine with the IG though.

 

[suemom2kay]

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Thanks MODS!

 

[MaryKatesMom]

Yes, absolutely the best way. There are no direct buses to Epcot from the Crescent Lake resorts.

I still think you'll be fine with the IG though.

They probably will as they are going in a crowded time of year. But they do change it up depending on the season.

 

[cbg1027]

If I wanted to do this, is a taxi the best way, rather than bus hopping?

Taxi will be a lot quicker. I would take my chances and use the IG entrance though.

If you wanted to use the buses, I would get a bus to MK and then get on the monorail. You will have to change to the Epcot monorail at the TTC. This method is going to take a long time. I would allow 90 minutes.

 

[Robo]

Since this thread continues to regenerate,
and there are (not surprisingly) a lot of posters here who don't know what the OP is actually asking...

There is a situation that MIGHT happen at Epcot that most even most frequent guests to WDW don't know about.

On certain early mornings (very, very rare,) the CM's have been known to allow guests waiting at the front gates to enter the gates approx. 30 minutes before the posted opening of the park with the express purpose of riding Soarin', even before the actual Rope Drop has happened.

There is no advance announcement that this will happen.
It might happen during very busy times.
It might happen even earlier than 30 minutes before opening time.
Or, it might not ever happen again, at all.

Since this has never been known to happen at the International Gateway,
the OP is asking about heading to the Epcot front gates.

A cab will do that.

Or, and I don't think that I've read anyone posting this, so far...
Guests can walk to DHS and board the bus that runs to Epcot from there.
I don't know how frequently the Epcot bus runs from there early in the day,
but that's another option on reaching the Epcot front gates.

 

[madalex]

Since this thread continues to regenerate,
and there are (not surprisingly) a lot of posters here who don't know what the OP is actually asking...

There is a situation that MIGHT happen at Epcot that most even most frequent guests to WDW don't know about.

On certain early mornings (very, very rare,) the CM's have been known to allow guests waiting at the front gates to enter the gates approx. 30 minutes before the posted opening of the park with the express purpose of riding Soarin', even before the actual Rope Drop has happened.

There is no advance announcement that this will happen.
It might happen during very busy times.
It might happen even earlier than 30 minutes before opening time.
Or, it might not ever happen again, at all.

Since this has never been known to happen at the International Gateway [bold added],
the OP is asking about heading to the Epcot front gates.

Robo - You must have missed my earlier post. This very thing did happen to us last year around Easter. We were let in at the IG entrance around 8:40 on a 9:00 park open day and permitted to proceed directly to Soarin'. (8:40 is the time we arrived at the gate and they were already letting people in at that time; I don't know what time they actually started doing this, but it is reasonable to expect that they started letting people in at IG at the same time as they let people in from the front entrance.) Based on my experience, taking the trouble to go to the front gate to take advanatage of this opportunity (if it is offered) seems unnecessary.

 

[TisBit]

Robo - You must have missed my earlier post. This very thing did happen to us last year around Easter. We were let in at the IG entrance around 8:40 on a 9:00 park open day and permitted to proceed directly to Soarin'. (8:40 is the time we arrived at the gate and they were already letting people in at that time; I don't know what time they actually started doing this, but it is reasonable to expect that they started letting people in at IG at the same time as they let people in from the front entrance.) Based on my experience, taking the trouble to go to the front gate to take advanatage of this opportunity (if it is offered) seems unnecessary.

While we did not have an early opening as the OP is describing, we were at IG and were waiting to be let in. The CM's would not let anyone in the turnstiles until the main gate was letting their guests through the turnstiles (even for regular rope drop). When the management announces at the main gate to open the turnstiles, they call the IG to do the same. So, I also believe they would in fact let you through at the same time.

Now, the issue you would have at IG vs the front gate is the distance. For our rope drop they actually opened the turnstiles a bit later than normal. By the time that you get through security and turnstiles and all the way to the fountain area, the main entrace folks have been in a for 5-10 minutes. Main reason why is that at the main entrance the Security check point is well before the turnstiles and all the guests have already been screened. At the IG security is literally right before the turnstiles and do not screen until they open them. If you have one of the slower, more methodic screeners, it will take a few minutes to get through.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

While we did not have an early opening as the OP is describing, we were at IG and were waiting to be let in. The CM's would not let anyone in the turnstiles until the main gate was letting their guests through the turnstiles (even for regular rope drop). When the management announces at the main gate to open the turnstiles, they call the IG to do the same. So, I also believe they would in fact let you through at the same time.

Now, the issue you would have at IG vs the front gate is the distance. For our rope drop they actually opened the turnstiles a bit later than normal. By the time that you get through security and turnstiles and all the way to the fountain area, the main entrace folks have been in a for 5-10 minutes. Main reason why is that at the main entrance the Security check point is well before the turnstiles and all the guests have already been screened. At the IG security is literally right before the turnstiles and do not screen until they open them. If you have one of the slower, more methodic screeners, it will take a few minutes to get through.

Exactly!

If they open the main gate and the IG at the same time AND you are allowed to go directly to Soarin, you will end up behind everyone at the FG.

If they open the main gate and the IG at the same time but hold you at a rope drop inside you will be fine.

The problem is that you never know what the procedure they will use that day. So if there is a soft opening they are probably opening both gates at the same time and probably allowing them onto Soarin' without a rope drop. In that case they will be behind people at the front gate.

As we are early morning people it is worth the $15 to take the taxi to the front gate if we don't have a car. Since parking is free, if my DH is with me we drive to the front gate. It is NOT worth the 90 minutes on WDW transportation IMHO.

First thing in the morning is the only time I don't use the IG.

 

[goofy4tink]

I don't think I explained myself well enough. I'm not worried about using the IG for regular park opening. But, I've read on here that many times they will let people in BEFORE the scheduled opening time to ride Soarin'. I've seen reports of people being let in at 8:15 for a 9am opening to ride Soarin', especially when the parks are busy.

Since we will be there during Easter week, I am worried that they may let people in before park opening from the front gate, so that by the time IG people are let in, Soarin' has a line/longer FP return time.

I don't mind doing the front gate thing, as my main reason for staying at the BWI was the quick trip back for an afternoon break/return to WS later and its proximity to DHS. We can get up 30-45 min earlier if its worth it to go to the front gate. It will be just my wife and I, no kids.

In all my stays at BW (and this is my home resort), I have never had an issue with being way behind the front gate guests getting to Soarin'. I suppose it could happen if they allowed those front of the park guests in a lot earlier than usual. If you find that this happens, complain at both your resort as well as Guest Relations at Epcot. Easy access to Epcot is one of the perks of staying at these resorts..so if we are denied the same early access that those arriving by bus to the front of the park are getting, we are not getting what we are paying for.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

In all my stays at BW (and this is my home resort), I have never had an issue with being way behind the front gate guests getting to Soarin'. I suppose it could happen if they allowed those front of the park guests in a lot earlier than usual. If you find that this happens, complain at both your resort as well as Guest Relations at Epcot. Easy access to Epcot is one of the perks of staying at these resorts..so if we are denied the same early access that those arriving by bus to the front of the park are getting, we are not getting what we are paying for.

This definately happened to us during the first year Soarin' opened. Twice during the week we were there. I did complain so I feel completely responsible for later years when they started the rope drop by the fountain.

I did have it happen once more during a very slow time of the year. Midweek early December. They let us through the gates at IG but held us at a rope drop at the top of the hill just before getting into the WS between France and the UK. I complained again. I can still see in my head the walking towards the Land and seeing the huge streaming crowd walking into Soarin' ahead of me.

Worth the drive or the $15 to not see it again.