Epcot

[buzz1fan]

Can someone explain how Epcot is set up. If we are at HS, and want to go there to eat, is this an easy walk? How about the location of the Monarail from MK, does that leave you off near the places you eat at? From the map, i see the land is in the front, and the countries are around the lake.

 

[Robo]

Can someone explain how Epcot is set up. If we are at HS, and want to go there to eat, is this an easy walk? How about the location of the Monarail from MK, does that leave you off near the places you eat at? From the map, i see the land is in the front, and the countries are around the lake.

 

[mccathy]

Hey - great map - I never even thought about walking - from Hollywood to the Boardwalk - is that doable??? About how long does that usually take? We'd be pushing 2 kids in a stroller - maybe we'd be better off just taking the boat - but wondering if walking is an option?

 

[buzz1fan]

It looks like from this MAP you can take the Boat from HS to Epcot.

 

[Robo]

It looks like from this MAP you can take the Boat from HS to Epcot.

Yes, you can.

The boat trip, once underway, takes about 25-30 minutes including the 3 interim resort stops along the way.

 

[Robo]

Hey - great map - I never even thought about walking - from Hollywood to the Boardwalk - is that doable??? About how long does that usually take? We'd be pushing 2 kids in a stroller - maybe we'd be better off just taking the boat - but wondering if walking is an option?

I traced the colored lines over the various walkways.

 

[Mikailova]

By HS I'm guessing you mean Disney Hollywood Studio. You would have to take a bus to the EPCOT Theme park as they are completely separate parks. You would need park hopper tickets to get in if coming from another park in the same day. There is a boat over that drops you at a back entrance into the world showcase, but it is still considered a separate entry just like at the front gate.

As far as the monorail from MK, it will drop you at the main entrance to EPCOT. It does make a circular sweep through EPCOT as it a approaches, but only stops at the front.

The monorail while and excellent way to get around, only stops at the front entrance of MK, the front entrance of EPCOT, and there is a resort line that drops you at the entrance of several resorts: the Contemporary, the Polynesian, the rest escape me at the moment, but they are only the original MK resorts that were open when the monorail was first built over 20 years ago. There are always rumors that the Monorail will one day go to all the resorts and theme parks on the WDW property but not as of yet. It currently does not go to Disney Hollywood Studios, the Animal Kingdom, nor most of the resorts.

There is no magic walkway that leads from park to park as the park entrances and parking lots are all several miles apart from each other.

While I think that taking a break and heading over to EPCOT for some multicultural dining in your them park day is a great idea, it's not quite like hopping off a ride and walking over to the nearest restaurant. It takes a little planning and preparing.

Also as you said Future World is at the front of EPCOT with World Showcase in the back. If you made say a 2:00 Lunch reservation at a WS restaurant and were coming over the monorail from MK, I'd give myself a good 1hr to 1 1/2 hours to make it there. So you could exit MK between 12:30 and 1PM giving you time to catch the monorail, the ride itself, changing lines at the Ticket and Transportation center from the MK to the EPCOT line, getting off at EPCOT and walking back to the restaurant itself. You might save a little time with the boat that drops you at the back WS entrance, but only 15 - 30 min. with that route.

Also are you familiar with ADRs (Advanced Dining Reservations)? As you will need them to get into some restaurants, especially sit down table service, at EPCOT. A lot of people make theirs more than 6 months out which means a lot of the restaurants are booked full and you can't just walk in a get a table.

 

[Robo]

There is no magic walkway that leads from park to park as the park entrances and parking lots are all several miles apart from each other.

Well, in this case, there absolutely IS a "magical walkway" as these two parks are about a mile apart.

Here's the major part of the "lay of the land," so to speak-

Here's a rather FULL image of the 4 main parks and their area resorts-

 

[Mikailova]

Sorry, I was under the impression that you were completely new to Disney Trip planning and now feel that I was mistaken. I was typing for so long on that reply that I missed what someone else had already posted for you and in a much better answering format.

I apologize, but there doesn't seem to be a delete button where I can just take down a reply once it's posted after I see how long and not necessary it is or other wise I would remove it.

Hope you have a good trip. Good luck with the strollers. Pushing my niece around 6 flags in hers with all the in and out of cars and stuff, makes me really appreciate here ability to walk now, but not so much the run off to look at something shiny leaving me searching and yelling her name.

 

[CharmedLife]

We stayed at the Boardwalk in January and walked over to DHS every time. I'd say about a 10 - 15 minute walk, at my 5-year-old's pace. I think you could spend that much time waiting for a boat.

To get from DHS to the Epcot International Gateway entrance, I'd allow about 20 minutes for two adults. Again, I think this would be pretty close to the amount of time for a boat, if not a little less (depending on your wait) since the boat will make stops at the resorts in-between. If you have young children walking with you, you might go a little slower.

We found it to be a lovely walk, looking forward to it again next week when we're staying at the Beach Club. I didn't see many people walking on the path, I wonder if most people don't realize that it's there...

 

[choirchic]

I frequently take the boats from DHS to Epcot on my trips. It's a nice relaxing ride...every once in a while we stop at Beaches and Cream to gorge ourselves on the Kitchen Sink...but that's another topic all together!

 

[Mikailova]

Well, in this case, there absolutely IS a "magical walkway" as these two parks are about a mile apart.

I guess so. I just don't feel that a 1 mile walk between parks to get to lunch is so "magical", especially after walking several miles inside a park all morning call me lazy, but that's just me. Also I'm a Disney commando tourist, so I try to maximize time in parks while minimizing time between and to and from park.