International Gateway Entrance lines

[sbeets]

First trip to WDW over Christmas, and scared of the lines to get INTO the parks. We're staying at BC. How are the lines at the international gateway entrance? I'd love to pop into epcot for a quick service meal or snack, but I'm wondering if I need to budget extra time for lines.

 

[Robo]

First trip to WDW over Christmas, and scared of the lines to get INTO the parks. We're staying at BC. How are the lines at the international gateway entrance? I'd love to pop into epcot for a quick service meal or snack, but I'm wondering if I need to budget extra time for lines.

Don't expect lines to stay "long" all day.
If it's after 10AM, or so, I wouldn't think you'd be waiting for over 5-15 minutes, if that.

Like everything else, you're subject to the whim of thousands of guests with ever-changing plans every day.
You may encounter a flurry of activity on one day and time and virtually nobody at that time the next day.

 

[Wood Nymph]

First trip to WDW over Christmas, and scared of the lines to get INTO the parks. We're staying at BC. How are the lines at the international gateway entrance? I'd love to pop into epcot for a quick service meal or snack, but I'm wondering if I need to budget extra time for lines.

You can usually walk from the Beach Club and get through the International Gateway in about 15 minutes or less. I've done it many times when trying to catch Illuminations at the last minute. The only time I have ever seen a long line at the International Gateway was during the Food & Wine Festival last October. One afternoon they had only one CM checking bags and one touch point open, the boat had arrived with a large group, and a long line had formed. Even at that it was still shorter than a line at a regular park entrance would be, maybe a five minute wait. Most of the time the International Gateway has either no line or just a very short wait, like a minute or two, to get into the park.

 

[Wendydagny]

We stayed at Boardwalk over Thanksgiving and popped in and out of Epcot many times. The largest crowd I ever saw at IG at ANY time of day was 10-12 people. Seriously it was the easiest park entrance I've ever experienced.

 

[cluvsdisney]

We stayed at Boardwalk over Thanksgiving and popped in and out of Epcot many times. The largest crowd I ever saw at IG at ANY time of day was 10-12 people. Seriously it was the easiest park entrance I've ever experienced.

This has always been our experience as well.

Have fun!

 

[disnut8]

The only time we've seen the International Gateway jammed packed full was when a full loaded boat from the Studios arrived everyone wanted into Epcot. Once the line started to form, we made a bathroom break (husband and me, separate bathrooms ) and once we were both out, we just breezed through the entrance.

 

[eastendlights]

We stayed at Boardwalk over Thanksgiving and popped in and out of Epcot many times. The largest crowd I ever saw at IG at ANY time of day was 10-12 people. Seriously it was the easiest park entrance I've ever experienced.

Same for us.

 

[pad406]

We were in both the BC and BW last Christmas. Never had any wait of any significance.

Christmas is our favourite time to go, have fun, it's fantastic, albeit crowded.

 

[DebbieB]

I was at BWV last Saturday to yesterday and went through the IG several times, never had a line.

 

[sbeets]

Thanks so much for everyone's advice. I just switched from GF to BC. I think my kids will enjoy it more, but now I'm scrambling to figure out new ADRs and where to go. No more afternoon tea and Park Fare. Epcot here we come.