Exiting International Gateway

[DVCHopeful]

So if you exit through the nternatinal Gateway at Epcot, are there busses to take you to other parks or do you have to walk over to the Boardwalk area and catch a bus at one of the resorts. I was looking at Epcot on Google Earth and it looks like they have a bus area, but i'm not sure so any help would be great!

 

[bekkiz]

You would have to walk to Boardwalk to get to Animal Kingdom or MK by bus. You can take the boat over to MGM (or walk).

 

[goofy4tink]

There is an area just as you exit via the IG that was a bus stop but no longer. You might be better off heading to BC and hopping on one of their buses..I think it's a tad closer than the BW bus stop. Just stay to the right as you exit the IG, take the walkway to BC. When you get to BC main back entrance, just cross through, out the front doors and head to the bus stop area to the left of the driveway.

 

[OKW Lover]

There is not a bus stop at the International Gateway. What you are seeing on the Google view is a tram load/unload area that was used in the early 90's when the Yacht & Beach Club hotels first opened. To my knowledge it hasn't been used in about 10 years now.

While you could walk over to the Beach Club or Boardwalk to catch a bus to the other parks, its probably just as fast to go out the front of Epcot and catch the bus there.

 

[Boomer1]

You can catch a bus at one of the resorts just remember that they only go to the parks if you want to get to another resort you will have to change buses at a park.

 

[Robo]

There is not a bus stop at the International Gateway. What you are seeing on the Google view is a tram load/unload area that was used in the early 90's when the Yacht & Beach Club hotels first opened. To my knowledge it hasn't been used in about 10 years now.

Ditto on the TRAM-loading area. We rode that tram from S&D a few times well back before they built the BW.

However, while it is not a "regular" bus stop, you can often see buses loading/unloading at this area.
It is used for transporting private party groups and corporate event guests to/from WS.

It is very surprising to see Disney buses in that space, as most would think there is no good access to the road, but, like all assumptions at Disney, things are not always what they appear to be.

 

[mitros]

They stopped that tram a while back because guests were jumping on and off the things while they were in motion. I recall how the CM on the back of the tram was constantly yelling at these clowns that would hop off when ever they decided that they did not want to ride any more. It was a great way to get from the Swan and Dolpin to the BW, to the Y&BC resorts, then onto Epcot. Damn shame some nitwits had to ruin it for everyone else.

 

[DVCHopeful]

/\ That seems to be an all too comon reality doesn't it

Thanks to everyone

 

[DebbieB]

When they had the tram, did they also have boat service? Or did the boats replace it?

After Boardwalk was built, with the increased number of people on the walkway, it sounds like a tram would be dangerous, especially at night. Everyone would be scrambling to move out of the way. They used to have a tram on the boardwalk in Atlantic City and it was also removed.

 

[Rpsemont]

do you have to walk over to the Boardwalk area and catch a bus at one of the resorts.

You can take a boat to BWV (or BC/YC, S&D) or MGM
If the boat is there as you exit, it takes about the same amount of time to take the boat as it does to walk. Ditto for MGM, brisk walk, about 20-25 minutes, boat ride about 25 mintutes (again, if no waiting for the boat)
For MK and AK, you would go to one of the resorts and catch a bus.

 

[Kick Save]

However, while it is not a "regular" bus stop, you can often see buses loading/unloading at this area.
It is used for transporting private party groups and corporate event guests to/from WS.

We were there one time and saw about 6 or 8 Disney Cruise Line boats there with people waiting to board, luggage and all. Wonder if that was a special Cruise group or something? (I can't imagine they stage ALL the cruise people there.)

 

[maelstrom]

As everyone else has said, there is no bus load at the International Gateway, and what looks like a bus load from above is really the old tram load. I remember riding it in January 1993 when we stayed at the Dolphin for a convention. The tram was pink and teal like the Swan & Dolphin. The boardwalk was built but there was no hotel. And I'm not even sure that the Yacht & Beach Club was built/done yet.

DebbieB: Last time we went to Atlantic City, my mom bought a book with a bunch of old pictures, and there's one of the tram on the boardwalk. It's pretty cool. I'm interested in AC history now.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Here is a good timeline from Lou's Trivia site......

http://www.disneyworldtrivia.com/trivia/timeline.php

 

[Andrew Bichard]

what looks like a bus load from above is really the old tram load. I remember riding it in January 1993 when we stayed at the Dolphin for a convention. The tram was pink and teal like the Swan & Dolphin. The boardwalk was built but there was no hotel.

Andrew

 

[maelstrom]

Andrew

Thanks for the photo. It was definately pink & teal before the Boardwalk opened. I don't know why they decided to add all that advertising to it when the Boardwalk came along.

 

[goofy4tink]

Sorry I used the word 'bus'...should have been more accurate...oops.
But, I love that photo..how great is that to see!!! Thanks!