Epcot International Gateway for French Breakfast?

[mjallemand]

My girlfriend wants to get breakfast on our Epcot morning at Les Halles Boulangerie Patisserie back in the France section of World Showcase. I'm up for this, but the trek from the front of the park all the way back to France is a long one, with the trip back up to Future World (since World Showcase isn't operational otherwise until 11) being almost as long.

Considering we're staying at Pop Century, what's the best way to get back to the International Gateway? I'm thinking a bus ride to Hollywood Studios followed by a boat ride from there to Epcot, but if someone has an alternate route, I'm all ears.

 

[Marbel]

Yup, that's what I would do ... boat or walk from HS.

 

[Robo]

If it's less walking you want, the Friendship boat from DHS is the way to go.
Very little walking involved.

The walking path from DHS would definitely not save you any steps compared to the trek from Epcot's front gates.

 

[bc7ate9]

I'd just walk from the main entrance. It's neat seeing the park before it's full of people and it's really not THAT far.

 

[minnie mum]

Or just take a taxi to the Beach Club and walk from there.

 

[WEDWDW]

I'd just walk from the main entrance. It's neat seeing the park before it's full of people and it's really not THAT far.

Especially when you factor in the walk from the POP DHS bus stop to the DHS Friendship Dock and from the IG Dock to the bridge to France.

 

[Robo]

Especially when you factor in the walk from the POP DHS bus stop to the DHS Friendship Dock and from the IG Dock to the bridge to France.

You can't just lay that out and not mention the long walk from the Epcot resort bus stops to the Epcot front gates. (Green line on my map.)

There will be some walking with every choice, but the sustained walk from the Epcot bus stops to the front gates, through Future World, through World Showcase… is a long trek.

 

[Marbel]

It's neat seeing the park before it's full of people .

That's true

 

[GreatLakes]

I have no problem with walks so it wouldn't really bother me but if I had the choice of taking the bus to Epcot and walking through the park or taking the bus to DHS and walking along the canal I'd choose the later. I really like that walk and try to do it at least once per trip.

If you really want to eliminate the walking taking a cab to the boardwalk is really the only good option.

 

[WEDWDW]

That's true

I agree-I love to walk through Canada and United Kingdom before the Showcase opens-so quiet and peaceful.

There is going to be some walking no matter the route-the Friendships don't pick up Guests directly at the DHS POP bus stop and drop them off directly at Les Halles!lol

I just don't think the effort to go to DHS,wait for a Friendship and boat to IG(30-35 minutes) is worth the "steps savings" from the Epcot Maingate route to France.JMHO

 

[MisterPP]

I thought world showcase areas didn't open until 11?

 

[WEDWDW]

I thought world showcase areas didn't open until 11?

Most don't.

The only things open before 11:00 AM are World Traveler,Les Halles Boulangerie Patisserie and adjacent Merch Shop,Akershus and "part' of Puffin's Roost.

Also,"sometimes" the carts in Canada and UK will open before 11:00 AM.

There are ropes between France and Morocco and between China and Norway until 11:00 AM.

 

[sharonabe]

What time do the boats start picking up at HS? My assumption is they start an hour before park opening to take guests TO the park, and would then take you back if you are waiting at the dock. If that's how it works then I would think the best way to do this and still make it to EP for opening would be on an HS early EMH day.

 

[Robo]

Walking through WDW parks can be a marvelous thing.
Sights, music, water features, discovering things as you stroll that you've not noticed before.
Many of us enjoy that as part of a complete Disney experience.
Many guests even like the exercise that walking provides.
Sometimes walking will even beat some forms of powered transportation, if time
is of the essence.

On the other hand...
Some people have physical issues that make it difficult to walk for long distances at one time.
And, some people just don't want to walk any more than they have to.

So, if the question is how to get to Epcot's France pavilion from Pop Century with less walking:
Bus to DHS
Boat to Epcot
Walk across the bridges to France.

Unless you can get a CM to take you there in a golf cart,
I don't see where there's any other route that will even come close to
saving more steps than that.

Next-closest:
Cab to Beach Club
Walk to Epcot
Walk across the bridges to France.

This route costs money (not a big deal, but it does.)
This route will be about 1.5 times to 2 times the walking, give or take, as my DHS suggestion above.

You can't get any closer to France from outside Epcot than the International Gateway.
You can't get any closer to the International Gateway from outside Epcot than a Friendship.
It's all there to see on the maps.

 

[WEDWDW]

What time do the boats start picking up at HS? My assumption is they start an hour before park opening to take guests TO the park, and would then take you back if you are waiting at the dock. If that's how it works then I would think the best way to do this and still make it to EP for opening would be on an HS early EMH day.

I "think" on DHS AM EMH days,the Friendships on Crescent Lake/Lake Hollywood don't start cruising until 30 minutes before AM EMH starts.