Epcot Int'l Gateway at Rope Drop?

[deva]

How many of you have used the Int'l Gateway entrance at rope drop? I'm assuming its open, can someone confirm?

Is it crazy there like the main entrance?

Are there a lot of turnstiles? How backed up do they get?

Is it quicker to enter than the main gate?

If your goal is to get to Soarin' first, are you at an advantage? A disadvantage?

Is it syncronized with the main gate to open at the same time?

Anything else I should know about using this entrance first thing in the morning?

Thank you.

 

[daisyduck123]

Last summer, we got there about 10 minutes after park opening & we were just about the only people going thru the turnstiles there....no wait at all for us.

 

[Lauri]

We just used this entrance over the busy president's day weekend. At rope drop, there are about 3 or 4 turnstiles open. You are held at the bridge inside, between France and UK, until rope drop. You are then walked slowly into world showcase, and after a while, everyone's pace picks up/turns into a run.

You are further from soarin' here than you are from the main gate. I'm the fastpass runner in my family, and made it rather quickly, but there was still a long line at the FP machines. However, our FP return time was not much more than an hour away.

In general, we love staying at the Epcot resorts and the ease of walking to both Epcot and DHS. You're at a slight disadvantage compared to the main entrance, but even at a very busy time, it did not make a significant difference (unless you absolutely HAVE to be the first person on a ride.)

Lauri