Getting to World Showcase~avoiding FW?

[mollyseven]

Can anyone tell me do you have to enter through Futureworld in order to get to World Showcase? Not that it's a bad thing but seeing as we have 2 days set aside for epcot I was thinking of keeping World Showcase for the 2nd day and just wondering if there is a short cut to get there?? It looks like it if you are staying at a resort that you can take a boat from but we are staying at POP century.
Any advice.
26 days to go!!

 

[GarrettJD]

Actually, there is a shortcut to World Showcase. There's a second entrance to Epcot called the International Gateway, which goes right into World Showcase between the UK and France.

If you're staying at POP, there's no direct transportation to this entrance. The easiest way to get there would be to take a bus to Disney-MGM, then transfer to a boat that will take you to Epcot and the International Gateway.

Just remember-- if you do this, World Showcase usually doesn't open until 11:00, so if you were planning to be at the park at opening, you might as well go to FW until WS opens. Otherwise, you can just sleep in a little, and get to the International Gateway close to 11:00.

 

[wdwgoofeeee]

You can also walk from the Disney Studios to the Epcot International Gateway. It's about a 25-30 minute walk but not bad if it's not in the heat of the day. The Friendship boat will take the same amount of time to get you there, but it is a nice relaxing ride. The boat dock is to the left as you walk away from the Studios entrance. The boats stop at the Swan/Dolphin, Boardwalk, and Yacht/Beach clubs on the run to Epcot. There are a lot of great places to eat in the Epcot resort area. It's a really great area for a nice quiet breakfast if you plan on going to World Showcase for the 11am opening. Note that the International Gateway has the same operating hours as the main Epcot entrance. Before 11am you cannot cross the bridge into World Showcase as it is roped off with Cast Members directing guests to Future World.

 

[mollyseven]

thanks for the insight. We will probably just walk through the main epcot entrance instead of doing the bus and then boat....probably not much difference I just wondered when looking at a map.
Thanks for your help.