How is Epcot park opening handled from the IG during EMH mornings?

[TigerLaw]

Have heard a couple different answers on this.

If we are entering Epcot at 8am for Extra Magic Hour Mornings from the International Gateway entrance, is there a rope drop area or any other special procedure or is it just 8am, park is open, now run to frozen or wherever? Are we at any disadvantage compared to those entering the park from the front gate? Would we be better off just going to the front of the park somehow for the EMH opening there?

Thanks in advance for the help!

 

[WDWFantasmicFan]

Have heard a couple different answers on this.

If we are entering Epcot at 8am for Extra Magic Hour Mornings from the International Gateway entrance, is there a rope drop area or any other special procedure or is it just 8am, park is open, now run to frozen or wherever? Are we at any disadvantage compared to those entering the park from the front gate? Would we be better off just going to the front of the park somehow for the EMH opening there?

Thanks in advance for the help!

There is no official welcome show for EMH at either entrance. You are at no disadvantage coming in from International Gateway. There isn't really much of an opening procedure for normal opening either tbh, just a bit of music, "good morning" in different languages, and thats about it.

 

[wilkeliza]

For EMH days you will be able to go in from International Gateway and either take a left at the top of the entrance and walk through UK, Canada, and Mexico to get to Norway but go no further or walk right to France and enjoy the pastry shop but go no further that direction. If the end game is FEA then go left through UK/Canada/Mexico to get to Norway. It is a slightly longer walk then from the front but if you are staying at an Epcot resort there are no buses to the front of Epcot so the international gateway is your only option.

 

[chris benton]

"Glass half full view:" The IG will probably be less crowded, and if you are staying at one of the Epcot area resorts, (except cbr,) you'll probably be able to leave your room much later than other resorts and saunter to the IG with no real worries about being "late."

 

[Hopefully]

I agree with @wilkeliza, it is a slightly longer walk to Frozen from the IG.
The only other way to get to the front entrance of Epcot will be an Uber/Taxi. There is no bus from there to Epcot. Then you would be behind the masses at the Main Entrance