How close IS the walk to Epcot from BCV?

[Disney1fan2002]

HI, I was wondering if someone could described how long/short the walk is to Epcot from BCV. We bought in October, and we have our first trip "home" Thanksgiving week.

I have Rhuematiod Arthritis, and if it is super short walk, like less than 5 minutes, then I could probably do it, but if it is any longer than that..it will wipe me out before I even get into the park.

I also like the idea of walking to grab the monorail...so please tell me is is a nice easy SHORT walk!!!!

 

[castleri]

We were there last October and the walk to EPCOT is somewhere between 5 and 10 minutes depending on where your room is locayted. The only way to get to the monorail is to walk all the way through EPCOT to the front entrance. If you have the map you will see that you go into EPCOT by England and then would have to go past Canada and out to the main gate past SSE. You will love the villas. I will be there in October again and am also planning ways to get from one place to another. Good luck and hope you have a great trip.

 

[Granny]

As indicated, the walk to World Showcase is very short. But the walk to the monorail is probably about 15 minutes for an average adult.

WDW is a hard place to go if walking is difficult. You might want to check with them about personal transportation options like those little carts and such. I'm sure this is a common request from WDW visitors.

Good luck!

 

[speedway66]

The BCV is the closest resort to EPCOT, and from the time you hit the main walkway around the lake, you'll be walking up an incline to get to the bridge level (where the boats pass underneath) and then back down to the gates. Once through the gates, you will again be walking uphill to a bridge level between the UK (to your left) and France (across the bridge to your right). You can bypass the first climb since there is a walkway that runs beside the boat channel that goes under the bridge, but once you're inside EPCOT, you're stuck with that second hill.

There is a decent gift shop, plenty of benches, and nice restrooms just inside the gates (those restrooms are great when coming back to the resorts and you just can't quite make it to your room).

And as far as walking through EPCOT to get to the monorail, remember to have your Ultimate Park Hopper with you, since you are entering the park to do this.

It's not a bad walk, and once you get past the bridge, the rest of the World Showcase is pretty flat.

Jim

 

[jel0511]

It's probably a 5-10 minute walk to the International Gateway depending where your room is located. From there it's another 10-15 minute walk to the monorail. You'll also need passes to enter Epcot to ride the monorail, since you actually have to enter the park to get to the monorail. If you have such mobility issues, I'd recommend renting a scooter. It will be a lot easier to navigate around, WDW is a very large place require tons of walking!!!

 

[Terry S]

Just a little hint, if you use the path that goes along the right side of the bridge, it follows along the water and you don't have to go up and down the incline of that bridge.

 

[lenshanem]

We found it to be so close! We messed up, though. The first couple days we went all the way through the lobby to get to the walkway to Epcot. Then we discovered a sidewalk that winds around the villas and lets you out right smack dab next to the bridge. Make sure you look at a map (Maybe the hidden path is on a map somewhere? ) or have someone check it out before you walk around a lot looking for it.
We also preferred taking the path next to the water instead of walking over the bridge.

 

[Terry S]

lenshanem... As of 3 weeks ago, they had the little shortcut path behind the Beach Club Blocked off. I was really bummed. They were doing some painting on that side of the Beach Club and had scaffolding all up and a sign that said hard hat area only. (I know that area really needed painting, but it was a nice shortcut) We ended up cutting through the Beach Club and then the Beach Club Quiet Pool. I am hoping when we go back next month that they are done with that painting.

 

[mbhoxsie]

If the walk gets to be too much... There's always the boat ride to both Epcot and the Studios..

 

[Disney Doll]

The walk to Epcot is about 5 minutes, and you enter through the Inetrnational Gateway and end up between France and England, on the bridge.

The walk to the monorail from the BCV is much farther, as the monorial is on the Futureworld side, so you have to walk all the way through Epcot.

 

[Terry S]

mbhoxsie... The walk to the boat dock for Epcot from BCV is just as long as the walk to Epcot from BCV. You would definatly want to take the boat for MGM though.

 

[CarolMN]

Originally posted by mbhoxsie
If the walk gets to be too much... There's always the boat ride to both Epcot and the Studios..

I consider the boat to the Studios a viable option, but IMHO, the walk to the boat dock from BCV is just as far (if not farther) than the walk to the IG!

 

[Chuck S]

Please don't let pride stand in the way of using a wheelchair or electric cart. If you are in pain you won't be enjoying your trip. WDW is a lot of walking. My mom walks well at home, but MUST use a wheelchair in the parks because of her hip surgeries. If she let "pride" get in the way, we'd never see anything as she'd a) be miserable from the eventual pain as the parks are just too big for her. b) she slows down about 10 am, and then it could take 45 minutes to walk up Main Street.

Wheelchairs and carts are also safer for anyone that is mobility impaired, you don't have the danger of someone accidently bumping you, loosing your balance, falling and injuring yourself.

She gets plenty of exercise wandering around OKW; where is it is less crowded, she can take her time, and lessen the risk of a fall.

 

[mbhoxsie]

Doh....

I was thinking from BWV instead of BCV...

 

[spiceycat]

Call member services and tell them you want a wheelchair added to your reservation (they will say that this is not guaranteed) - when you arrive at the front desk to check in tell them you order a wheelchair - one should be brought to you (no charge for WDW resort guest and that includes DVC).

Okay these are the push type of wheelchair - but I managed alone. I push my mother in one now.

If you want to rent the electric type go check on the Disability Board for rental places that will delivery to WDW - this is much cheaper than renting this type from WDW.

 

[natcam1996]

If you decide to go with a scooter, try these folks:

http://www.walkermobility.com/.

We used them last year when my wife had a broken leg and they were one of the companies Disney recommended. Our travel agent also recommended them. They deliver it to your resort and pick it up the day you leave. This company promises that if you have a problem, even in one of the parks, they will bring a replacement to your location. I don't think Disney alllows many companies to do that. When you get the prices, it may seem steep but if it makes your stay more enjoyable it will be worth it. While my wife could do some walking, we would have been far more limited if she had not used it.

 

[SueM in MN]

To give an idea of distances, the entire walkway that goes around WS in Epcot is 1 mile long. So, by my estimate, to walk from BCV thru the International Gateway, past the UK and Canada to get to WS and then out to the monorail would probably be close to 1 mile.
If you are using the monorail to get to MK, you would need to switch monorails at the TTC. Once you get to MK, there is a very steep ramp to get from monorail station level (about 2nd floor hright) to ground level. You would probably be better off riding the bus to MK. When DH and I stayed at YC over New Years, we found the bus to MK to be convenient and hardly anyone was on it. YC shares a bus with BC (or at least did then). The BC stop was pretty close to the BCVs.
For renting a manual (push) wheelchair or scooter (ecv), these are the places that DIS posters have used and recommend:
Care Medical:
http://www.caremedicalequipment.com/

Walker Mobility:
1-888-726-6837
www.walkermobility.com

RANDY'S Mobility is in Kissimmee 407-892-4777
http://randysmobility.com/

Colonial Medical
http://www.colonialmed.com/about_cms.html

They will rent ecvs to anyone over 18, but none of them rent power wheelchairs unless you are already an experienced power wheelchair user.
You can request a wheelchair from the resort as was mentioned, but even if you plan to do that, I would still take the contact info for these places along. Some people have posted that the wheelchair that was available (they are first come, first serve) was an extra large when they needed a narrow one (or vise versa).
For navigating Epcot, there is a large hill between the UK and France. It's a little better (IMHO) to come from France to the UK rather than going from UK to France. Other than that (and the walkway to the International Walkway that was mentioned), WS is pretty flat. There are wicked hills to get up the Land Pavilion and to get up to the Wonders of Life.