How to avoid Future World in EPCOT

[rachael95]

We've got a toddler and really only want to do World Showcase when we go to EPCOT. In the past, we've usually just walked through FW, but that's a pretty good hike when pushing a stroller. We will have a car. Is there another way to get into EPCOT that just brings you to WS? I was thinking there were boats or something, but it's been so many years since I've been that I can't remember. Thanks!

 

[Itinkso]

We've got a toddler and really only want to do World Showcase when we go to EPCOT. In the past, we've usually just walked through FW, but that's a pretty good hike when pushing a stroller. We will have a car. Is there another way to get into EPCOT that just brings you to WS? I was thinking there were boats or something, but it's been so many years since I've been that I can't remember. Thanks!

If you valet park at BWI or BC/YC, you can walk over and enter through the International Gateway. That way you enter between England and France and never have to venture to Future World.

 

[Swim Spence]

If you are staying at Beach Club, Yacht Club, Boardwalk, Swan, or Dolphin, you can walk or take a boat to International Gateway, which enters you to Epcot near UK and France.

 

[agavegirl1]

I guess you could drive to DHS and take the boat over to the World Showcase entrance. I don't think that would save much in terms of walking however.

 

[BlueGiraffe]

Another option is to park at Hollywood Studios and get the boat via one of the Epcot area hotels. Don't know if that would be cheaper or more expensive than valet parking.

 

[rachael95]

Sorry if it's a double post, using iPad.

Thanks for the fast responses! We won't have hoppers so do you have to go into HS to get to the boat? Can you valet park at BWI or BC/YC if you're not staying there? I'd be willing to pay extra for valet parking to avoid FW.

 

[Disworldluv]

Hoppers are not required from HS to take a boat to Epcot. Park at HS, at the entrance, walk over to the boat area and board.

 

[helenb]

The Friendship Boats are just outside the entrance to DHS, so no, you don't need to go into the park to get them.

IIRC, you can park at a resort for a limited time (3 hours?) if you have 'business' there, such as a meal reservation.

You could also take a Disney bus to the Boardwalk or Beach Club hotels.

 

[disnut8]

Sorry if it's a double post, using iPad.

Thanks for the fast responses! We won't have hoppers so do you have to go into HS to get to the boat? Can you valet park at BWI or BC/YC if you're not staying there? I'd be willing to pay extra for valet parking to avoid FW.

You can pay to valet park at the Boardwalk or the Beach Club if not staying there. However, you would then have to push your stroller through either one of those resorts and then over to the International Gateway plus pay the $22 plus tip for valet parking.

This is my feeling only but I think the walking is going to be pretty much close either way and the valet parking will cost you $22.

 

[Marthasor]

Closest bet would be to valet park at BC and walk over. Still a little walk, but certainly not as far as walking through FW.

 

[Itinkso]

You can get on the Friendship Boat at BWI and ride the boat to the IG entrance if you don't want to walk as there is a slight incline when walking.

 

[Princess Melody]

Any reason why you want to skip future world? Most of my toddler's favorite things at Epcot are in that part-the aquarium and Nemo ride, the living with the land boat ride, character spot, the ride in the big ball and stuff at the end, the play area at the end of mission space, and the firetruck and fake house by it in innoventions.
Depending on how busy the parks are and time of day we've had a looooong wait for a boat from HS or the resorts to the world showcase gate. We've ended up walking a few times because of that and it's a lot longer of a walk from whichever parking lot our car is at to the gate than just walking through future world from the Epcot parking lot!

 

[msb578]

and then over to the International Gateway plus pay the $22 plus tip for valet parking.

This is my feeling only but I think the walking is going to be pretty much close either way and the valet parking will cost you $22.

$20 plus tip, I thought. Although, your point is still a good one either way!

 

[delmar411]

Sorry if it's a double post, using iPad.

Thanks for the fast responses! We won't have hoppers so do you have to go into HS to get to the boat? Can you valet park at BWI or BC/YC if you're not staying there? I'd be willing to pay extra for valet parking to avoid FW.

It is the same distance either way. Why go through all that trouble?? Especially since going to WDW = walking. Just seems extremely weird to pay to walk just as far to WS just to walk the 1mile loop of WS in order to avoid future world.

 

[sbtrfly74]

How long until your going?

Get into shape now....do something!

I prepared 6 months in advanced for our 10 day hike through WDW/ Universal and a 3 day cruise.

If I can do it with MS than you can get through a day of Epcot... its not that big.

 

[Wendybird55]

Actually you can't avoid the long walk...I think the best is to valet park at one of the EPCOT resorts and take boat or walk to EPCOT. If you park at DHS. when you get off the tram you will have to walk past the entrance over to the boat dock - the boat will take you to EPCOT International Gateway entrance. You will be making stops at resorts before you get there. What's nice about the boat is you don't have to fold up stroller you can wheel it right on.

International Gateway is by France / England. So you will probably walk from one end to the other of WS and then you will have to get back to the other side again to exit through International Gateway to get back to boat launch to go back to the resort or DHS.

 

[MycatlovesEeyore]

If you are staying on site just go the Boardwalk and tell the you are there to enjoy the Boardwalk itself and self park. No need to valet if you already have a parking pass. We are DVC and do it that way sometimes.

 

[daisy_77]

It truly is not that bad of a walk. The distance is relatively short. The worst part is the slight incline by Spaceship Earth, but even that is not that bad. If you feel like you are getting too tired, take a break. There are loads of benches.

 

[Love Tink]

If you are staying on site just go the Boardwalk and tell the you are there to enjoy the Boardwalk itself and self park. No need to valet if you already have a parking pass. We are DVC and do it that way sometimes.

You've been a member of the Dis for 14 years and you don't realize you aren't supposed to suggest that people lie to get free parking they aren't entitled to?

 

[okw4us]

Unless you park at one of the EPCOT resorts and take a boat to the World Showcase entrance, you're not saving yourself any walking. If you park at the studios, I don't think you'd do any less walking than if you parked in the EPCOT parking lot and walked through Future World. I go to EPCOT all the time and, in my opinion, the walk through Future World to World Showcase is not that much of a trek.