Only going to WS at EP - better to use back entrance?

[TJDisneymama]

We are going to EP, only for the WS. It will be in August, so HOT. And I'm thinking about that looooooonnnng walk from the buses to the main entrance.....and then the loooooooong walk from the entrance to the WS............ All in the midday August sun. Does it make sense to go from our resort (POR) to BC and then use the Int'l Gateway entrance? I mean, it seems kind of a pain to take the bus to EP, then switch to a bus to BC.....but i know how long that walk is, even without the heat factor. heck, maybe I'll just spring for an Uber from POR to BC? Is that crazy?

 

[TinkLoverSam]

There are no busses to Beach Club from Epcot so your one option to get to IG is to uber to BC (or bus to HS and boat over)

 

[beesly]

I'd uber from POR to BC if that's an option for you. The walk is much shorter that way, and part of it would be through the air conditioned BC lobby (and hallways, if you go to the "secret door" to exit closer to Epcot).

 

[JNPants]

First, yes, I highly suggest the International Gateway entrance if you are only gong for WS. So convenient and far less crowded. Second, there is no bus service from the front of Epcot to BC that I've seen, so if you are using Disney transportation, you'd have to choose another transfer spot. I actually just came back from a weekend down at WDW and found the Uber rates very reasonable. I'm normally a fan of the free buses but for the convenience, a couple Uber trips won't break the budget.

 

[Tozzie]

I see you are staying at port orleans if you don't want the uber option take the boat from Port orleans to Disney spring and then the bus to any of the stops along the swan/dolphin,yacht/beach boardwalk then either walk or take the boat. you have time since WS opens at 11 am

 

[JerseyJanice]

Take a bus from your resort to the Studios, then take the boat to Epcot.

 

[TJDisneymama]

Take a bus from your resort to the Studios, then take the boat to Epcot.

Good idea!

 

[CAS239]

Walking is faster and cooler than taking the boats. If you're trying to avoid the heat, those boats are like ovens. Why they aren't either fully open to allow breeze in, or fully enclosed with A/C running is beyond me.

 

[mustinjourney]

it's a solid 20-25 minute walk from DHS to Epcot. You're talking about doing it in August? If the whole point is to avoid walking -- that walk is way more than front of epcot to world showcase.

By far, the fastest option is uber to BC and go in the IG. My guess is you're talking about a $10 or less uber ride. It would also be way faster than any of the other options.

 

[Accident]

I've actually been curious about this and finally remember to measure how far it really is from the different ways to get into epcot when your headed to world showcase.

Looking at where uber/taxi/lyft would drop you off considering the beach club, boardwalk and front of park. There is under 15 feet of difference between the 3 locations to world showcase. I stopped measuring when you reach the circle walkway around the lake.

- It's within 15 feet of each other to walk to world showcase from a disney bus vs uber/lyft to boardwalk or beachclub.
- Monorail would get you 245 feet closer than an uber to a resort or the front of park (but won't save you time).
- some buses are closer than guest drop off but some aren't. it could be up to 50 feet closer or 100-200 addition feet further depending on where the bus lets you out.
- It really depends where you are headed to first in world showcase and if you want to spend more money to get there, there is no major difference in distance to get to world showcase. (also time, if your rope dropping FEA, front of park is better and shorter distance to norway because of how some of WS does not open until 11).
- the average time I experience waiting for uber or lyft is 15 minutes anywhere on property.. sometimes I get lucky and maybe the larger pricer cars are better but for the cheap ride, it's similar to the wait for a bus.

Other items of note: coming into the epcot resort loop, boardwalk would be a shorter drive so it would save a tiny bit of money and time to use boardwalk instead of beach club for drop off. beach club does have the advantage that you can take the path under the bridge but boardwalk has the advantage of some shade when your walking over. It's under 10 feet difference in distance to international gateway between the 2 resorts.

 

[michelle06]

looooooonnnng walk from the buses to the main entrance.....

It seems like you've gotten some good information so do you mind if I ask you about this part of your message? We have always driven in the past and this trip, we were planning on using Disney transportation. Where do the buses drop off? When we drive, we've always been very close to the entrance. Do the buses not drop off at the entrance? Thanks.

 

[TJDisneymama]

Looking at where uber/taxi/lyft would drop you off considering the beach club, boardwalk and front of park. There is under 15 feet of difference between the 3 locations to world showcase. I stopped measuring when you reach the circle walkway around the lake.

- It's within 15 feet of each other to walk to world showcase from a disney bus vs uber/lyft to boardwalk or beachclub.
- Monorail would get you 245 feet closer than an uber to a resort or the front of park (but won't save you time).
- some buses are closer than guest drop off but some aren't. it could be up to 50 feet closer or 100-200 addition feet further depending on where the bus lets you out.
- It really depends where you are headed to first in world showcase and if you want to spend more money to get there, there is no major difference in distance to get to world showcase. (also time, if your rope dropping FEA, front of park is better and shorter distance to norway because of how some of WS does not open until 11).
- the average time I experience waiting for uber or lyft is 15 minutes anywhere on property.. sometimes I get lucky and maybe the larger pricer cars are better but for the cheap ride, it's similar to the wait for a bus.

Other items of note: coming into the epcot resort loop, boardwalk would be a shorter drive so it would save a tiny bit of money and time to use boardwalk instead of beach club for drop off. beach club does have the advantage that you can take the path under the bridge but boardwalk has the advantage of some shade when your walking over. It's under 10 feet difference in distance to international gateway between the 2 resorts.

@Accident so you're saying there's not much difference between resort-IG entrance vs. bus to EP main entrance? Or just not much difference between the 3 resorts to IG?

I just feel like that walk takes fooooreeeevvveer, and it's prety much all in the open sun (unless you duck into shops). I swear every time I just feel like it's the walk that never ends. Maybe I'm just lazier than most people, lol.
Just so happens we are going straight to Rose & Crown upon arrival, so the IG entrance is perfect.

I am not at all opposed to spending a few bucks on Uber. In fact, I have decided that this next trip I will forego the buses a couple times. I never like to do mid-day breaks because i feel like so much time is wasted waiting for and going back and forth on buses, but I have decided with the august heat it will be worth it to take the breaks and utilize Uber to cut down on bus stop time.

 

[JerseyJanice]

Walking is faster and cooler than taking the boats. If you're trying to avoid the heat, those boats are like ovens. Why they aren't either fully open to allow breeze in, or fully enclosed with A/C running is beyond me.

I don't think walking between DHS and Epcot is cooler by a far shot, and as pointed by @mustinjourney, walking to WS from Future World would be shorter.

IMO, the boat between DHS and IG is very pleasant. It's breezy out there on the water plus it's a scenic ride. If you find the cabin stuffy, there is seating outside on the deck.

 

[CAS239]

I don't think walking between DHS and Epcot is cooler by a far shot, and as pointed by @mustinjourney, walking to WS from Future World would be shorter.

IMO, the boat between DHS and IG is very pleasant. It's breezy out there on the water plus it's a scenic ride. If you find the cabin stuffy, there is seating outside on the deck.

We did the boat 1 time and it was 10x hotter than the 5+ times we've made the walk. At least walking you get a breeze and a couple spots with shade.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Take an uber to BC. It will cost $5 - $7 max and cut down your transportation and walking time considerably. To cut your walking time outside, when you enter the BC lobby, take a left and follow the signs to room 1501. There is an exit/entrance there that is closer to the EP entrance than the back lobby exit. Here is a picture:

https://touringplans.com/hotel_maps...[sound]=&filters[balcony]=any&date=2017-05-04

Once you exit BC, take a left and you are steps from IG!

Edited to add: When you click on the link, click on the room on the bottom right corner (room 1501) to see a view of the exit and pathway to IG.

 

[JerseyJanice]

We did the boat 1 time and it was 10x hotter than the 5+ times we've made the walk. At least walking you get a breeze and a couple spots with shade.

You must have hit a very sunny and stagnant air day on the water. Usually, there's a breeze, and you can open windows in the cabin. I think the boats are the same ones that run on World Showcase Lagoon.

 

[TJDisneymama]

Take an uber to BC. It will cost $5 - $7 max and cut down your transportation and walking time considerably. To cut your walking time outside, when you enter the BC lobby, take a left and follow the signs to room 1501. There is an exit/entrance there that is closer to the EP entrance than the back lobby exit. Here is a picture:

https://touringplans.com/hotel_maps...[sound]=&filters[balcony]=any&date=2017-05-04

Once you exit BC, take a left and you are steps from IG!

ok, this is the plan. thanks

 

[supersnoop]

I just feel like that walk takes fooooreeeevvveer,

Yes, the distanced from the bus stop to the World Showcase is about the same. You'll be walking the same distance if you catch a bus to a resort.

The idea of taking the bus to DHS and then taking the boat to Epcot would cut down on the distance you'd walk, but it would dramatically increase the duration of your travel. Which is more important: time or distance?

 

[beesly]

You must have hit a very sunny and stagnant air day on the water. Usually, there's a breeze, and you can open windows in the cabin. I think the boats are the same ones that run on World Showcase Lagoon.

I don't recall being able to open the windows on the boats between Epcot and DHS, but maybe some of the boats are different. My DD and I rode one in the fall and it was SOOO hot and stuffy - we almost hopped off at Swan/Dolphin to walk the rest of the way, but my DD preferred to deal with the heat in order to rest her legs (it was a 3-park day for us). I absolutely would have opened a window if it had been an option.

 

[Accident]

@Accident so you're saying there's not much difference between resort-IG entrance vs. bus to EP main entrance? Or just not much difference between the 3 resorts to IG?

If you're just going to world showcase, there is almost no difference between coming in the front or using beach club or boardwalk. by just going I mean your plans are go directly to world showcase and take your time walking around. If you were going to a specific place to eat or country then there is differences between them. There is also differences at rope drop and entering from the front will get you any rides faster than coming in the back. Also there is some bus stops about 300ish feet further away from my starting point.

I just feel like that walk takes fooooreeeevvveer, and it's prety much all in the open sun (unless you duck into shops). I swear every time I just feel like it's the walk that never ends. Maybe I'm just lazier than most people, lol.
Just so happens we are going straight to Rose & Crown upon arrival, so the IG entrance is perfect.

There you have it, you have a destination that would make the international gateway closer. I use boardwalk if I'm taking a lyft to epcot. I baked the first time I tried beach club and there is some shade, not much but more than beach club had coming from boardwalk. It's also a few minutes less in the car that you paying someone by the mile/minute for.

I am not at all opposed to spending a few bucks on Uber. In fact, I have decided that this next trip I will forego the buses a couple times. I never like to do mid-day breaks because i feel like so much time is wasted waiting for and going back and forth on buses, but I have decided with the august heat it will be worth it to take the breaks and utilize Uber to cut down on bus stop time.

Something that started when we were traveling here and not locals was being open about when we were done with the park and ready for something else. This didn't mean we left because 1 person was done but it allowed us to focus on who still wanted to be there and what they wanted to do.. It completely removed some attractions that nobody wanted to do but we all were being polite thinking someone else wanted to do it. It also removed lingering around in the heat miserable when nobody wanted to do anything.. We also started our "skip this trip list" after that. It's amazing how much more relaxed and spontaneous you can be when you know what isn't important.

So I agree with not doing mid day breaks but at the same time, I think some planning or communication to avoid a day where nobody wanted to be at that park most of it really helps find when the resort break, pool time or park hopping works the best... Our trips changed for the better after that moment because we didn't hang around when something else was calling our names..