Epcot entry from YC/BC/BWI

[leebee]

Being as there are no busses from the Epcot resorts to the front entrance of Epcot, do they let you in through the International Gateway in the morning for park opening? Do they ask if you are staying at an Epcot/Boardwalk resort? Do they let you in a little earlier than rope drop? It seems like a huge disadvantage to get "in" at rope drop and then have to walk around World Showcase to get to Soarin' or TestTrak, KWIM??

 

[madalex]

Being as there are no busses from the Epcot resorts to the front entrance of Epcot, do they let you in through the International Gateway in the morning for park opening? Do they ask if you are staying at an Epcot/Boardwalk resort? Do they let you in a little earlier than rope drop? It seems like a huge disadvantage to get "in" at rope drop and then have to walk around World Showcase to get to Soarin' or TestTrak, KWIM??

IG is open for morning entrance to the park. Generally, guests are let in at IG a few minutes before official park open and are pemitted to proceed to an area by the fountain to wait for rope drop. This puts such guests at no disadvantage to those entering from the front.

If it is an extra magic hour morning, guests will have to show that they are staying at an Epcot resort. Otherwise, no one checks or asks.

 

[DebbieB]

Being as there are no busses from the Epcot resorts to the front entrance of Epcot, do they let you in through the International Gateway in the morning for park opening? Do they ask if you are staying at an Epcot/Boardwalk resort? Do they let you in a little earlier than rope drop? It seems like a huge disadvantage to get "in" at rope drop and then have to walk around World Showcase to get to Soarin' or TestTrak, KWIM??

Yes, they usually open the IG a little early so that you can get up to the rope drop area near Innoventions. They don't ask where you are staying. You don't have to walk "around" the World Showcase, you just turn left and past UK and Canada. Probably a 5 minute walk to the rope drop.

 

[leebee]

Oh, cool, thank you

 

[WDWLODGE]

IG is open for morning entrance to the park. Generally, guests are let in at IG a few minutes before official park open and are pemitted to proceed to an area by the fountain to wait for rope drop. This puts such guests at no disadvantage to those entering from the front.

About what time do the IG turnstiles open?

 

[goofy4tink]

IG is open for morning entrance to the park. Generally, guests are let in at IG a few minutes before official park open and are pemitted to proceed to an area by the fountain to wait for rope drop. This puts such guests at no disadvantage to those entering from the front.

About what time do the IG turnstiles open?

Depends. If a CM is there and ready to open them a few minutes early, they open. But, sometimes you get CMs who aren't in much of a hurry to allow IG guests have the same perks those entering from the front of the park have.
The turnstiles are open no later than 9am (or 8am on EMHs)

 

[LisaCM614]

We were very lucky and the CM opened IG at 8:45 when we were at Epcot the last week of June. We walked, took pics of the kids in the UK (at the cottage door, red phone booths) and were at the rope to see the opening show. DH then followed the CM to Soarin to pick up our FPs while I kept the kids out of the Soarin rush and walked casually.

 

[cvjw]

We did this last month, and the CM's opened the gate early at the IG, and we arrived in time to see the opening show. We walked right up to the rope, and were first in line when Soarin' opened - we were in the first showing.

 

[Pooh&OurHunny]

I have an 8:05 breakfast ADR for Akershus, how would I get there if the Epcot entry from YC/BC/BWI is not open yet? any advice

 

[Lisa Anne Colling]

We were there last week and were not let into until just a little before 9 (about 10 to). We walked right over and by that time everyone was in and heading towards soaring. I do like going in through IG though, much less hectic and nice walking through WS with no one around! We got FP's for Soarin and walked over to TT and walked right on it, so it worked out well!
Loved wlking to EpCOT and not having to worry about waiting for the buses!

 

[GrtWtNorth]

I have an 8:05 breakfast ADR for Akershus, how would I get there if the Epcot entry from YC/BC/BWI is not open yet? any advice

I think that any pre-opening ADRs or Segway Tours require arriving at the main gate. Your best bet is likely to take a taxi from your hotel. By bus, you will have to travel to another location (AK, DTD, TTC?, NOT DHS), then double back to Epcot.

 

[siskaren]

I seriously doubt that this would be the case since it would be extremely inconvenient to anyone staying at an Epcot resort. I would assume that the CMs at the IG entrance have a list of people who have early ADRs and Segway Tour reservations, and that all you'd have to do is check in with them to be let in.

 

[GrtWtNorth]

I seriously doubt that this would be the case since it would be extremely inconvenient to anyone staying at an Epcot resort. I would assume that the CMs at the IG entrance have a list of people who have early ADRs and Segway Tour reservations, and that all you'd have to do is check in with them to be let in.

I agree that it is extremely inconvenient. The 2008 Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World (the most recent edition I own) warned about exactly this kind of problem -- guests need to find their own way to the front entrance of the park to be allowed early entry for ADRs or tours. This policy may have changed, but to date, I have not heard any first-hand accounts of International Gateway staff allowing early entry for guests with ADRs or tour reservations.

 

[siskaren]

Well, I'll admit that I don't have any first-hand experience with trying to get into Epcot via the IG for an early ADR or tour, but was just trying to employ common sense. All I can say is that I hope that the Unofficial Guide is wrong, or that it has changed since 2008, because in my opinion expecting Epcot resort guests to try to get to the front entrance for an early ADR or tour is ridiculous.

 

[bearbear]

When we went and stayed at BWV we had adrs for norway for breakfast, we just went to the IG and were told where to walk to Norway. No problem at all and that was in 2008. They had a list of adrs at the turnstiles

 

[Robo]

When we went and stayed at BWV we had adrs for norway for breakfast, we just went to the IG and were told where to walk to Norway. No problem at all and that was in 2008. They had a list of adrs at the turnstiles

Agreed.

 

[Pooh&OurHunny]

When we went and stayed at BWV we had adrs for norway for breakfast, we just went to the IG and were told where to walk to Norway. No problem at all and that was in 2008. They had a list of adrs at the turnstiles

Agreed.

Thank you

 

[goofy4prez]

Depends. If a CM is there and ready to open them a few minutes early, they open. But, sometimes you get CMs who aren't in much of a hurry to allow IG guests have the same perks those entering from the front of the park have.
The turnstiles are open no later than 9am (or 8am on EMHs)

This was exactly our experience when we stayed at the YC. Not one single day were we allowed to enter the turnstiles even 1 minute before opening. I personally felt (and still do) that it is unfair and even an insult to guests who pay top dollar to stay at a deluxe Epcot resort (not trying to be a snoot) and not receive the same benefits as every other guest in every other resort enjoy. And I won't even get into the same bus serving all 5 resorts at Epcot. Don't get me wrong, I love Disney, I love the Epcot resorts, but I will never spend premium $$$ to stay at an Epcot area deluxe resort again because of the major transportation issues I experienced and the IG situation

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I agree that based on their cost those guests staying at the Boardwalk, Yacht Club, Beach Club, Swan & Dolphin should be allowed to enter at least 5 -10 minues at the International Gateway, because their location to Epcot must be a major reason why people choose to stay at those resorts. So I don't see the harm letting them in before those guests at the Future World entrance for the rope drop when Epcot opens at 9:00 AM because in the end everyone still has to walk behind the Cast Members when going to Soarin and etc. So next month when my family and I are staying at Boardwalk it will be intresting to see how this process works.