Frozen Ever After at Rope Drop - Which Entrance?

[mmbrad02]

We are doing a offsite/onsite mixed trip, and our day at Epcot happens to be offsite. We elected to get a Soarin Fastpass, so the plan is to Rope drop Frozen Ever after. It will be myself and my 7 year old daughter. Since we have to Uber anyway, would it make more sense to Uber to an Epcot area resort and enter through International Gateway? Or just enter the front of the park and walk to Norway? Or is it "Six One Way, Half a Dozen the Other" kind of scenario? We are capable of walking, but if it would save us some time to do it one way or the other, I would prefer to go that route. I should also clarify, we are not concerned about riding it multiple times, etc. We just don't want a two hour wait. Thanks!

 

[uncleozzy]

There was a video from Touring Plans that tested this (among other Epcot rope drop strategies). Time from entrance to FEA was about the same from either spot.

 

[AnnMichele]

I've had great luck with going to rope drop from the parking lot. The last two times I went, I walked up to Spaceship Earth around 9:05 or 9:10 a.m. and there was only a 10-15 minute wait for Frozen when I arrived there. Enjoy!

 

[epcotobsessed]

The advantage of the IG entrance is that it will be less crowded. It has gotten more crowded over the years as non-Boardwalk resort guests realize it's a less crowded entrance, but it's still a lot less crowded than the main entrance, on average, so even if it's roughly the same distance to FEA, I find the rope-drop walk to be more pleasant from the IG entrance.

 

[CAS239]

If you're not staying at the boardwalk hotels then there's zero need to Uber over there then walk to the IG entrance. You'll be slightly closer at the main entrance.

It's a very very slight difference

 

[ellynsoh]

And, unless this has changed, you can't walk through France; you have to go around through Canada .

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Personally, I would uber to BC. I find the IG entrance so much less crowded and a more relaxing way to enter EP.

 

[CuteAsMinnie]

Six/ Half a Dozen, arrive a time least 30 minutes prior to park opening, but do watch the Touring Plans video on this topic.

 

[thegales]

And, unless this has changed, you can't walk through France; you have to go around through Canada .

The fact you can't go through France is very important if you enter via IG. I can't imagine folks who enter there, start walking, then have to turn around to go the other way.

Two weeks ago, we were at Rope Drop, arriving about 8:15 am at the main entrance. There were long lines at baggage check as approaching from the bus drop off, and they were telling people to walk to the security on the other side of the monorail (go to the left as you are approaching bag check). There were minimal lines on this side. A definite time saver.

Inside, there were long lines at all the tap points, but we were able to go to the Annual Passholder line. While we were probably 50th in line. By the time we tapped in, the regular lines hardly moved. For us, this was the biggest advantage we had. I think we were 5-10 minutes ahead of people who arrived at the same time as us, but had to go through the regular lines for admissions.

Once through admissions, go as close as you (politely) can to the actual rope. People tended to wait in clumps at the middle of the ropes, but stayed away from where the poles were holding the ropes. We were able to go right up next to one of the poles in the vary center, without invading anyone else's space. Shortly before the true opening, they take all the ropes and poles down.

Once we all were released, we walked to Frozen via Test Track and the Odyssey Building. This helped avoid walking with others who were also going to Frozen. I don't know if it really was any shorter, but we had no one in front of us, until we joined others as we approached Mexico. Once to Frozen, it was pretty much a walk on.

 

[Firepath]

I have found the bag check @ IG to be shorter. We did just what you propose a couple of weeks ago only had our rental car shuttle drop us at Beach Club. By the time we walked over to Frozen we had about a 10-15 min. wait. NO ONE was using the FP+ line at that point. You should be fine either way.

 

[gharter]

I always thought it was shorter from the IG, but have seen several times studies showing it to within a minute of each other from either gate. The real difference may be how early you get to the main gate to get to the turnstile or how long it takes you to get through. In general, I think we can get through the IG quicker.
If you are staying offsite that day, you don't really have any choice by to enter the main gate. Without a resort or dining reservation, they will not let you into the resort parking area.

 

[Robo]