Has Epcot been opening right at 11 here lately?

[SL6827]

Here recently, what has been a common time that they let guest through the gates of Epcot? 10-15 minutes early or right at 11?

 

[OKW Lover]

Got to Epcot 20+ minutes before 11 and the park was open then. This happened both on Friday (1/8) and Monday (1/11).

 

[Tess]

Here recently, what has been a common time that they let guest through the gates of Epcot? 10-15 minutes early or right at 11?

I read on another thread (can't remember where at the moment) that folks who were there within the past week were queued up (prior to 10:00 a.m.) and at 10:00 a.m. and they were moved to the tapstiles after screening. At 10:15 a.m., the tapstiles were open and they were off to their first attraction. This was the same as our experience when we were there in October. We were at EPCOT on five separate days and it was the case each day with the exception of a weekend day--then it was earlier. If you are near the front of the queue (the first two rows or so) you will pass through screening and then moved to the tapstiles. The balance of queue will be held at the screening tents and moved to the tapstiles as the initial group is through or nearly so.

 

[SL6827]

I read on another thread (can't remember where at the moment) that folks who were there within the past week were queued up (prior to 10:00 a.m.) and at 10:00 a.m. and they were moved to the tapstiles after screening. At 10:15 a.m., the tapstiles were open and they were off to their first attraction. This was the same as our experience when we were there in October. We were at EPCOT on five separate days and it was the case each day with the exception of a weekend day--then it was earlier. If you are near the front of the queue (the first two rows or so) you will pass through screening and then moved to the tapstiles. The balance of queue will be held at the screening tents and moved to the tapstiles as the initial group is through or nearly so.

Wow!

 

[Tess]

Wow!

I should have noted that these accounts were from the IG entrance versus the front of the park entrance. We (those of us at IG) arrived at TT well before anyone else--in fact, we were first in line on the day we hoofed it to TT.

 

[jlnten17]

What are the waits like for TT and Soarin' if we arrive at 10 a.m.?

 

[SL6827]

I should have noted that these accounts were from the IG entrance versus the front of the park entrance. We (those of us at IG) arrived at TT well before anyone else--in fact, we were first in line on the day we hoofed it to TT.

Oh really? So people are let in sooner at the IG entrance verses the front of the park?

 

[Tess]

Oh really? So people are let in sooner at the IG entrance verses the front of the park?

I'm not sure, but for the IG folks to arrive at TT prior to those from the front of the park--maybe so. Then again, it could be buses not arriving until just prior to opening and those driving being held at the parking gates until closer to opening.

I feel very strongly that Disney is staggering buses for opening at the various parks, i.e., YC first bus doesn't arrive until 8:20 a.m. for a 9:00 a.m. opening BUT the true opening has already occurred at 8:00 a.m. Those who have been queued at the YC bus stop since 7:00 a.m. (and second family in the queue) KNOW there has been no bus until that 8:20 a.m. bus and still all those waiting (the queue went from the bus depot to the entryway door) are now late for rope dropping. Other resorts had buses arriving and departing as the YC bus arrives at the park (late). Meanwhile, those who were smart, bailed and Ubered/Lyfted were far ahead of us in the ride queues. Yep, that happened to us to while we were there!

 

[Tess]

What are the waits like for TT and Soarin' if we arrive at 10 a.m.?

Depends on how quickly you walk, when you are going and crowd levels. When we were there in October, we waited longer for the two rides to open because we arrived and they weren't yet operating. TT opened about 15 minutes before 11:00 a.m. and we were first in line (and first to be evacuated when the ride went down). When we hit Soarin' we had the same wait, very near the front of the line and waited until 11:00 a.m. when the ride opened--part of the first group to ride.

 

[SL6827]

I'm not sure, but for the IG folks to arrive at TT prior to those from the front of the park--maybe so. Then again, it could be buses not arriving until just prior to opening and those driving being held at the parking gates until closer to opening.

I feel very strongly that Disney is staggering buses for opening at the various parks, i.e., YC first bus doesn't arrive until 8:20 a.m. for a 9:00 a.m. opening BUT the true opening has already occurred at 8:00 a.m. Those who have been queued at the YC bus stop since 7:00 a.m. (and second family in the queue) KNOW there has been no bus until that 8:20 a.m. bus and still all those waiting (the queue went from the bus depot to the entryway door) are now late for rope dropping. Other resorts had buses arriving and departing as the YC bus arrives at the park (late). Meanwhile, those who were smart, bailed and Ubered/Lyfted were far ahead of us in the ride queues. Yep, that happened to us to while we were there!

So they would let people in at 8 am that had been dropped off by Uber? And/or those who were waiting at the IG entrance very early?

 

[SL6827]

Depends on how quickly you walk, when you are going and crowd levels. When we were there in October, we waited longer for the two rides to open because we arrived and they weren't yet operating. TT opened about 15 minutes before 11:00 a.m. and we were first in line (and first to be evacuated when the ride went down). When we hit Soarin' we had the same wait, very near the front of the line and waited until 11:00 a.m. when the ride opened--part of the first group to ride.

So even if they were to open the doors say around 10 am for a posted 11 am opening, that doesn't mean that Soarin and TT will be up and running then?

 

[Tess]

So even if they were to open the doors say around 10 am for a posted 11 am opening, that doesn't mean that Soarin and TT will be up and running then?

Correct. You simply queue up for those attractions and wait until the rides are up and running.

 

[Tess]

So they would let people in at 8 am that had been dropped off by Uber? And/or those who were waiting at the IG entrance very early?

My 8:00 a.m. example was not for EPCOT. In our case, that was for a 9:00 a.m. opening at AK and yes, by the time our bus arrived, the park had been open since 8:00 a.m. and the wait time for FOP was 120 mins. Further, not all attractions were open despite the early opening. From what I am reading, this will be the case with the 30 minutes early opening for all parks in lieu of EMHs.

EPCOT consistently opened around 10:15 a.m. with the queues forming (IG) around 9:30 - 9:45 a.m.