Epcot - International Gateway Rope Drop Question

[jmoak]

Hello, we are planning to rope drop Epcot on an upcoming trip. I was thinking we may enter from IG to hit Frozen Ever After first. I was wondering how large the crowd is at RD at this entrance? Do you have to get there as early as the main entrance to have a good spot toward the front of the crowd? What time do you suggest arriving at the IG gate in order to be one of the first to get on FEA?

Thanks in advance for the advice.

jmoak

 

[StacyStrong]

I recently watched a Touring Plans video on Youtube that went over this exactly. They had a guy at each entrance. If I remember correctly, they basically were riding within a minute of eachother. I can't 100% recall, but it was a pretty interesting video if you want to check it out.

It was their Rope Drop at Epcot video

 

[madalex]

Disney is pretty good about controlling the crowds coming from IG and the front of the park to make sure that neither entrance has much of an advantage over the other in getting to rides. If you show up 10 minutes or so before the park opens at IG, there will be people waiting, but not as many as at the front of the park. You will then likely be let through the turnstiles a little before park opening time, but then held at the top of the hill that opens to WS until opening time. After that, the race is on to whatever ride you are trying to get to.

 

[Robo]

The situation can change daily (and often does.)

The IG is supposed to open (nearly) in sync with the front gates, but it often does not.
(After years and years of reading the "what happened on our morning at the IG" posts, I can tell you
it DOES vary.)

Regardless, there will absolutely be a much, much smaller crowd waiting to enter the IG than the front gates,
and, even if the IG is a bit later in opening on that morning, it will generally allow you to get where you are
headed in a quite reasonable amount of time.

 

[jmoak]

Great! Thanks for the replies!!! We will have our sneakers on ready for the run!!

 

[dachsie]

So if get the boat to the IG from HS, at what time do you recommend getting to HS?

 

[gharter]

Entering from the IG doesn't save you much time. When we have come in that entrance, they will not let you go across by France and the US which would be much shorter. You have to go past Canada and around by Mexico and up. So the long way around. The crowd, however is much smaller at the IG. At least until the Gondolas open, then it will become much more crowded.

 

[Robo]

Entering from the IG doesn't save you much time. When we have come in that entrance, they will not let you go across by France and the US which would be much shorter. You have to go past Canada and around by Mexico and up. So the long way around. The crowd, however is much smaller at the IG. At least until the Gondolas open, then it will become much more crowded.

Sorry, but going to Norway from the IG via France > Morocco > Japan > USA > Italy > Germany > Afri-Coke > China > Norway
is not "much shorter" than going from the IG to Norway via UK > Canada > Mexico > Norway.

 

[Robo]

So if get the boat to the IG from HS, at what time do you recommend getting to HS?

If you want to be at the IG by 8:30-ish, you need to be parked at DHS by 7:45-ish.

Know that the boat service between DHS and IG is undergoing refurb and will be closed
for several weeks.

Guests can generally walk that route in under 30 minutes.

 

[ghtx]

I will be doing RD at Epcot IG in a couple weeks (staying at Boardwalk) and heading to Soarin first thing most probably. Hopefully I won't be at much or any of a disadvantage relative to the front entrance crowd.

 

[Nina-Marie]

We just got back from staying at the Boardwalk and did at least three rope drops at Epcot IG - all three times they were different in the same 10 day stay. When we roped dropped Soarin' and Test track we got there later than the main entrance crowd and with Frozen we got there at the same time. We walked at a good pace but NOT speed walked because I refuse to start my day like that. Either way we had less than a 20 min wait to ride and that was fine with me!

 

[hereforthechurros]

To tack on to this thread if you don’t mind: if you’re not staying at an Epcot area resort what’s the best way to get to the IG?

 

[Robo]

To tack on to this thread if you don’t mind: if you’re not staying at an Epcot area resort what’s the best way to get to the IG?

Go to DHS and walk or boat to IG.
(You can take a Disney bus to DHS or drive and park at the DHS lot.)

Closest resort to IG is Boardwalk.

 

[hereforthechurros]

Go to DHS and walk or boat to IG.
(You can take a Disney bus to DHS or drive and park at the DHS lot.)

Closest resort to IG is Boardwalk.

The boat *should* be open for our trip so thanks!

Would taking a Minnie Van to Boardwalk resort and walking over to IG work as well?

 

[Robo]

Would taking a Minnie Van to Boardwalk resort and walking over to IG work as well?

That would work just fine.

 

[Cinderella94]

To tack on to this thread if you don’t mind: if you’re not staying at an Epcot area resort what’s the best way to get to the IG?

IMO, the best way is take an Uber to the Boardwalk and just walk over.

 

[gharter]

To tack on to this thread if you don’t mind: if you’re not staying at an Epcot area resort what’s the best way to get to the IG?

Depends on where you are coming from.
Another park, just take a bus to Boardwalk or Beachclub and walk to the IG.
If from anothe resort, I would take Uber/Lyft to Boardwalk ot Beachclub and walk to the IG.

 

[disneyfreak202]

Another question to add onto this thread: We are dong a split stay at AS Movies and YC. We have our Epcot days one during our AS movies stay and a half morning day during our YC day. Since we are entering from IG on the YC day would FP TT that day and RD Frozen? I am thinking of our plans for that day. We will want to ride Frozen, Soarin, and TT at least once during our trip (TT probably more than once).

 

[MemoryMakers]

I will be doing RD at Epcot IG in a couple weeks (staying at Boardwalk) and heading to Soarin first thing most probably. Hopefully I won't be at much or any of a disadvantage relative to the front entrance crowd.

Did this a couple of times...since the majority of people coming in either entrance are going to Frozen or TT, although you might arrive at Soarin a little after the main entrance guests, you'll likely still end up on the first "flight" at one of the three theaters (assuming all are up and running).

 

[dreamscometrue47]

The situation can change daily (and often does.)

The IG is supposed to open (nearly) in sync with the front gates, but it often does not.
(After years and years of reading the "what happened on our morning at the IG" posts, I can tell you
it DOES vary.)

Regardless, there will absolutely be a much, much smaller crowd waiting to enter the IG than the front gates,
and, even if the IG is a bit later in opening on that morning, it will generally allow you to get where you are
headed in a quite reasonable amount of time.

View attachment 322753

i love this map! Thanks Robo!