International gateway and soarin

[kirbsam]

We were at wdw last week and stayed at yc. Sunday morning we went to epcot via the international gateway. We were first in line at the rope drop. We went pretty fast, did not run, a few passed us by running. By the time we could see the entrance to soarin, there was already a huge throng of people piling into it that entered by the main entrance. My main purpose for starting this thread is just to let you know that if someone tells you it is a horse apiece, it isnt. The main entrance is way faster to get to soarin. By the time we got to soarin the lines were already quite long. just an fyi.

 

[betterlatethannever]

... We were first in line at the rope drop. ...

Were you able to get through security and through the turnstyles before the rope drop?

Ed

 

[kirbsam]

yes. i forget how far we got in, but we were past the turnstiles already.

 

[betterlatethannever]

yes. i forget how far we got in, but we were past the turnstiles already.

Well, that's an improvement. They used to not even being the security check until park opening time. So you were REALLY well behind the main gate guests.

Ed

 

[WDWguru]

Last time we were there at open, they had the rope across the pathway where it intersects next to the bridge. The bridge to France is on your right and the path through the UK is on the left. So you still have to go all the way through the UK, Canada and cut through the rose garden area, go past the Imagination pavilion and around to the Land. It's not a short trip.

 

[oogieboogie]

the main entrance is always faster to Soarin' because there they let people in as far as the entrance of Spaceship Earth. That in itself is a big advantage. From there you can cut corners even faster by going thru Innoventions instead of the breezeway.

When we went thru the Int'l Gateway, we weren't even allowed to go past security until the actual opening time. Then you have to go thru security, turnstiles, walk past England, Canada, etc etc... it really does take longer.

However, we were still able to grab a fastpass, go on Soarin' with 5 minutes wait, so it really wasn't that bad of a deal.

 

[Claudia Kellenberger]

So when I do the same thing in early December,
I should probably have the mind-set that I am rushing over NOT to get on Soarin', but only to grab a fast pass for Soarin'.
I will be coming from The Boardwalk.

 

[Leota]

I'm glad to hear they changed the policy for Rope Drop at IG - In April, you couldn't even go thru security before 9:00am. That was Soarin' AP/DVC preview time so the lines weren't horrible first thing.

 

[oogieboogie]

So when I do the same thing in early December,
I should probably have the mind-set that I am rushing over NOT to get on Soarin', but only to grab a fast pass for Soarin'.
I will be coming from The Boardwalk.

You should be able to grab a FP and get on Soarin'. Even though there's a rush of people at park opening, the most you'll wait is 10 minutes if you get there right at park opening. We've always done Soarin' at park opening, both from Int'l Gateway and front of the park, and the most we've had to wait was about 5 minutes.

Soarin' is a pretty fast loading ride, especially when they have both concourses open. You figure they have 10 seats across per row, 3 rows, and 3 sections - that's 90 people at one sitting or 180 people if both theaters are open.

We usually get to the Int'l Gateway by 8:50am, park opens at 9:00am, we get to Soarin' by 9:05am at the latest (with pushing a stroller no less). By 10:30am, we're able to get Soarin' done 2x, Living with the Land, and have a quick breakfast at Sunshine Seasons.

 

[Mcmouse]

We've never stayed at an Epcot resort before (we will be at BCV in May) so we've always entered through the front gate. How much behind the masses would we be if heading to MS and TT?

Mike

 

[Robo]

We've never stayed at an Epcot resort before (we will be at BCV in May) so we've always entered through the front gate. How much behind the masses would we be if heading to MS and TT?

Mike

Actually a bit FARTHER, since Soarin' (inside The Land) in Future World is on the "same side" of Epcot as the Int'l Gateway is in World Showcase, you must add the time/distance it will take you to traverse the extra 100 yards or so to reach the "opposite side" of Future World to get to MS and TT.

 

[annameg]

It is so nice to only be waiting with about 30-40 people at the IG entrance rather than hundreds at the main entrance. We loved it.

 

[Eeyore2003]

Thanks so much for the "heads up", I think we'll take the car over and enter at the main gate that day.