International Gateway Questions

[twodancersmom2]

Is the International Gateway a way to get into World Showcase without going through the main gates at Epcot? If so, what is the best way to get there? We will be staying at SOG, but are within walking distance of the Poly, so is there a way to get there easily from there? I'm curious, because on our arrival day, we have an ADR for dinner at Biergarten, but it sure would be nice to just enter at World Showcase, have dinner, then head back to the resort to rest up for the next day.

 

[bangzoom6877]

We are staying at Pop Century, and are planning a full day at Epcot. We also plan to take an afternoon break (small children with us) and return in the evening for our dinner ADR at Biergarten.

Our plan is to park at the Beach Club since we can either walk to Epcot's Int'l Gateway or take the boat if it is there, have dinner, walk around for like 45 min. or so in the WS and then head back. You can park at another resort for up to 3 hours but if not staying on property I believe you may have to pay the daily parking fee? Not too sure about this though. Of course this works if you are driving, which we are doing. From what I understand it is still quite a walk to Germany from Int'l Gateway do get there early!

 

[GuardMusic]

Well, I'd recommend one of the following:

1) From Poly, monorail to MK and bus to BC
2) From Poly, monorail to TTC, change monorails to EPCOT (not mess with International Gateway)

Good luck!

 

[helenk]

Is the International Gateway a way to get into World Showcase without going through the main gates at Epcot? If so, what is the best way to get there? We will be staying at SOG, but are within walking distance of the Poly, so is there a way to get there easily from there? I'm curious, because on our arrival day, we have an ADR for dinner at Biergarten, but it sure would be nice to just enter at World Showcase, have dinner, then head back to the resort to rest up for the next day.

If you go over to the Poly I would take the bus to DHS, from there get off the bus and its is a nice walk over to the International Gateway...or you can take the boat over. The boat stops at the Swan/Dolphin and then the BWI and then the YC/BC (or visa versa) and then goes to Epcot.
I have found that walking is faster, but taking the boat is a nice relaxing way to start your trip.
Unfortunately I am not familar enough with the bus transportation for SOG to tell you a quick way to get back to your resort. I would think that you could walk back over to the BC and take the bus back to the MK, you can then take the monorail over to the TTC and walk back to the Poly and then over to SOG, I think that there is even a bus at the TTC for the SOG...but do not quote me on that because I have not stayed at the SOG. Someone that is more familar with the SOG transportation system may be able to give you more info.

 

[melanie18]

I think you do just as much walking from Epcot's main gate as you would walking from Boardwalk or Beach Club and going through the International Gateway. If you go through the main gate you can always take a friendship boat across the lagoon to get to Germany.

 

[twodancersmom2]

Thanks for the replies! We certainly don't mind walking and will be doing a lot of it during our time in WDW. I was just trying to make the first night easier since everyone will be tired from driving/riding all day.

What is a friendship boat? We were just in Epcot in November 2007, and I never knew there was such a thing!

 

[HockeyMomR]

Actually, from SOG, I would think going to Transportaion and Ticket Center and taking Epcot monorail and walking through FW would be your best bet.

By the time you get to BC / YC or BWI and then walk through the resort and IG and back to Germany your time would be about the same.

The Friendship boats are tranportation from FW > WS > FW within Epcot. Also there is a separate route for Friendship boats from DHS > Swan / Dolphin > YC / BC > BWI > International Gateway and then in reverse. The trip from DHS to IG would probably be 30 minutes or more depending on timing.

 

[Deb & Bill]

We are staying at Pop Century, and are planning a full day at Epcot. We also plan to take an afternoon break (small children with us) and return in the evening for our dinner ADR at Biergarten.

Our plan is to park at the Beach Club since we can either walk to Epcot's Int'l Gateway or take the boat if it is there, have dinner, walk around for like 45 min. or so in the WS and then head back. You can park at another resort for up to 3 hours but if not staying on property I believe you may have to pay the daily parking fee? Not too sure about this though. Of course this works if you are driving, which we are doing. From what I understand it is still quite a walk to Germany from Int'l Gateway do get there early!

You are not supposed to park at a resort you are not staying at to visit a theme park. These resorts do have signs at the guard shack advising you of this fact. Parking at the resorts is for the guests of that resort. Or the guests visiting the resort, not the theme parks.