Leaving EPCOT after Illuminations

[evedein]

I'll be taking my Mom for her 1st trip to WDW in October.She'll be using an ECV. I'm trying to let her experience as much of the "magic" as possible. We're having dinner at Rose & Crown since I understand that even if you can't get an outside table, they have a viewing areafor Illuminations. My question is this: how do we avoid the crush of people leaving after Illuminations? My mother is somewhat clautraphobic & I'm worried that being surrounded by so many people while sitting in the ECV will bother her. I've heard that you can leave by ther International Gateway. Can you take an ECV that way. Where does it lead to? If it takes you to another resort, can we go that way if we're not staying at that resort? We're staying at WLV. Can we get a cab from that area to take us back to WL?

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Hi and welcome to disABILTIES!

The easiest thing to do is just stay at R&C for about another 20 minutes after IllumiNations ends. Have another glass of tea (or stout) and by the time you are ready to leave the crowd will have thinned out.

There is a stroller/wheelchair/ECV rental justy inside the International Gateway, so you should be able to return the ECV there. However once through the gateway you would either have to catch a boat to either the Y&B dock or the BW dock, then get through the hotel to the lobby to get a cab. For many people going to the BC from the International Gateway is easily walkable, but with one person who would be using an ECV I would think that use of IG would not be a good idea.

Unless you look into renting an ECV from an off-site company, so it will be available at all times. Note that some of the hotel corridors can be very long.

If you click on where it says "disABILTIES" at the top of this page it will take you to the Index. The third item down is the "disABILTIES FAQ" which will gives lots of useful information, including where people rent ECVs.

 

[evedein]

Sorry, I didn't make it clear, I do plan to rent an ECV from an off site company, so she will have it available for our entire stay.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

OK, I thought you wanted to know if you could drop the Disney rental at the IG.

In that case you can go out the IG and easily get to the BC. Walk right through the lobby to the stret. However, they normally do not have taxis there and would have to call one. Note taxis are very expensive, it would be about $15 to WL as it is about seven miles by road (have to go past the YS, Dolphin and Swan to Buena Vista Drive and then down World Drive and through the MK toll plaza) plus a good tip for the driver and or bell people to disassemble the ECV and put it in the trunk and then remove and reassemble it at WL.

I still think you would be better off staying 15-20 minutes at R&C and then a comfortable walk to the main gate.

 

[evedein]

Thanks for the information Cheshire Figment. Maybe we'll just order dessert after Illuminations & wait for the crowd to thin.