Internationl Gatway Enterance

[rick_ivnik]

When entering Epcot from the International Gateway can you get to the front of the park to see the park opening (The Test-Track car, shake hands with Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, etc?) Thanks in advance.

 

[Robo]

When entering Epcot from the International Gateway can you get to the front of the park to see the park opening (The Test-Track car, shake hands with Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, etc?) Thanks in advance.

Yes. You will be directed past UK and Canada, then to FW.

 

[scubamouse]

Yes you can but plan on at least 10 minutes walk to get to Soarin and TT. DH and I walk/ran at about a 4 mph pace and it took us 12 minutes to get to the Land. We did it faster than anyone else who started with us so we were really bookin!

 

[rick_ivnik]

What time do they open the International Gateway?

 

[Robo]

What time do they open the International Gateway?

It opens basically in sync with the front gates.

 

[bytheblood]

You can walk down International Gateway at anytime. We found that the gates right before EPCOT were opened an hour before the park opened.

 

[Robo]

You can walk down International Gateway at anytime. We found that the gates right before EPCOT were opened an hour before the park opened.

I'm lost.

Was it an Epcot AM EMH day?

 

[mom2aandj]

I'm confused by all these answers--if you are trying to see the opening show at the front of Epcot, then no, you're not going to see it by going through the IG. It opens at the same time as the front entrance, so by the time you walk through the bit of WS and get to FW, the opening show will be done.

 

[jellybeans0607]

I'm confused by all these answers--if you are trying to see the opening show at the front of Epcot, then no, you're not going to see it by going through the IG. It opens at the same time as the front entrance, so by the time you walk through the bit of WS and get to FW, the opening show will be done.

thats what i was thinking, i could be off here, but isnt the opening ceremony only like 10-15 minutes tops? maybe youd get there to see it ending if you really run.

 

[NancyIL]

There's an opening show at the front of Epcot? I always stay at the Swan or Dolphin, so never enter at the front.

 

[Robo]

I'm confused by all these answers--if you are trying to see the opening show at the front of Epcot, then no, you're not going to see it by going through the IG. It opens at the same time as the front entrance, so by the time you walk through the bit of WS and get to FW, the opening show will be done.

thats what i was thinking, i could be off here, but isnt the opening ceremony only like 10-15 minutes tops? maybe youd get there to see it ending if you really run.

There's an opening show at the front of Epcot? I always stay at the Swan or Dolphin, so never enter at the front.

There is no formal "opening show" (Rope Drop Ceremony) at Epcot.

Even when the other parks have them, they only last about 4-7 minutes.

There IS a rope drop AREA at Epcot. Guests from the front gates are held there and sometimes, a few
(non-speaking) characters walk around shaking hands of the guests near the ropes.

 

[jellybeans0607]

There is no formal "opening show" (Rope Drop Ceremony) at Epcot.

Even when the other parks have them, they only last about 4-7 minutes.

There IS a rope drop AREA at Epcot. Guests from the front gates are held there and sometimes, a few
(non-speaking) characters walk around shaking hands of the guests near the ropes.
QUOTE]
ah thank you. this is the only park i havent done the rope drop. this is an evening park for us.
do the characters take pics and sign autographs?

 

[rick_ivnik]

There really is no opening show. They basically have a family drive in a test track car then they have all the characters who will be appearing at the character connection come out and shake hands with people before the rope drop.

We have gotten some great video and pictures and my DDx2 really enjoy it. This will be the first time we will be staying at the beach club so I was hoping we would be able to walk from the IG to the front of the park to see it, but it sounds like we won't. Now I just have to decided if it's worth the extra effort to drive to the front of the park (I'm leaning towards no but we will see what the DW says.)

So those of you who enter from IG, they do they have a "rope processional" like they do from the main gates? It sounds like some people who have entered from IG have made it to Soarin' before everyone else.

Thanks so much for your help everyone

 

[Robo]

So those of you who enter from IG, they do they have a "rope processional" like they do from the main gates? It sounds like some people who have entered from IG have made it to Soarin' before everyone else.

The answer here is simple, "Don't count on that happening."

 

[Robo]

ah thank you. this is the only park i havent done the rope drop. this is an evening park for us.
do the characters take pics and sign autographs?

The characters are not really there for that, they don't arrive very early, and 90% of the guests are not in a position to GET CLOSE to them.

The charactersy stay on the non-guest side of the rope, for the most part.

After the rope drops and 99.9% of the guests dissipate to Soarin' or Test Track...
THEN you might get to meet the characters. (They should be on their way to the Character Connection, anyway.)

 

[jellybeans0607]

The characters are not really there for that, they don't arrive very early, and 90% of the guests are not in a position to GET CLOSE to them.

The charactersy stay on the non-guest side of the rope, for the most part.

After the rope drops and 99.9% of the guests dissipate to Soarin' or Test Track...
THEN you might get to meet the characters. (They should be on their way to the Character Connection, anyway.)

thanks..might be worth going to the rope drop at least once. maybe.

 

[Robo]

thanks..might be worth going to the rope drop at least once. maybe.

The reason to go to rope drop (for ME, anyway) is not to mainly see a little show (which is a nice bonus, I'll admit) but it is to beat a TON of late-sleepers to the park... and ride the "biggies" without so much waiting.

We "open the parks" nearly every day of our trips.

 

[jellybeans0607]

The reason to go to rope drop (for ME, anyway) is not to mainly see a little show (which is a nice bonus, I'll admit) but it is to beat a TON of late-sleepers to the park... and ride the "biggies" without so much waiting.

We "open the parks" nearly every day of our trips.

i guess we're the late sleepers. we take a more lazy approach to the parks. no touring plans for this chick, cant do it. but we find a way. weve never missed anything, infact we usually get on the biggies at least twice.
but the kids sure do like the rope drops, so we try to do 1 a trip.

 

[Robo]

i guess we're the late sleepers. we take a more lazy approach to the parks. no touring plans for this chick, cant do it. but we find a way. weve never missed anything, infact we usually get on the biggies at least twice.
but the kids sure do like the rope drops, so we try to do 1 a trip.

Yes. You are the reason early mornings work so well!

And I am here to thank you and other sleepy-heads at WDW.

Between us, we can fill all of the times that the parks are open!

 

[jellybeans0607]

Yes. You are the reason early mornings work so well!



more than happy to help!