Should we go through International Gateway...

[Lynn CC]

entrance if DH & I plan to spend an afternoon in the World Showcase? We are coming from POR, so I"m not sure how to get there exactly. I don't think there is a bus? I think it will be a more pleasant experience for DH to go in that way than to rush through the main entrance to our ADR at Biergarten. It's his first time to Disney World so these first couple of days are crucial to try to make DH see that Disney isn't just for kids. I have 2 days to do adult things before we meet my son and 3grandsons....then it's all about kid things!
Ill put up my itinerary for review if I can figure out where to post it, so many places here compared to 14 years ago.

 

[kaytieeldr]

There is no bus.
You can take a bus to DHS, then take the boat (later this year) or walk to the IG.
You can take Über/Lyft/taxi to the Beach Club, then walk.
You could drive, if you have a car, to any of the Epcot resorts, pay for valet parking, then walk or boat to IG.
You could take a bus to MK/AKL, then bus to one of those resorts, then walk/boat to IG.

 

[Lynn CC]

The lyft sounds great, maybe a Minnie lyft that I've been reading about! I'm not sure how that works but sounds fun
If we get dropped off at the beach club will they let us walk through to go to the Gateweay Entrance? 14 years ago we couldn't do this, you had to be staying there in order to go through, we got turned away by the gate guard.

 

[FCDub]

Yes, you can be dropped off and walk through the IG. You said you're coming in the afternoon, but note that in case your plans change, World Showcase does NOT open with the rest of the park – with the exception of Norway.

 

[Best Aunt]

Or just take a bus from POR to the front entrance of EPCOT and walk through to World Showcase.

 

[writerguyfl]

I think it's worth noting that the distance from the buses at the Epcot main entrance to Biergarten is roughly the same as the distance from Disney's Beach Club to Biergarten.

Buses by Main Entrance to Biergarten: 4,483 feet (1,366 meters)

Disney's Beach Club to Biergarten: 4,451 feet (1,357 meters)

Calculations and Images Courtesy Bing Maps: https://binged.it/2J0Vu3z

With the exception of right when the park opens, I've not heard that the Main Entrance is particularly crowded. I've never experienced any craziness when I've visited Epcot via the Main Entrance in the afternoon/evening. Although it only happened once, I recall having to wait about 15 minutes to enter the park via the International Gateway Entrance because I had the misfortune of arriving just after a large group.

Chances are good that you won't have delays entering the park from either entrance. Personally, I wouldn't spend money just to enter from the International Gateway.

 

[paults]

The lyft sounds great, maybe a Minnie lyft that I've been reading about! I'm not sure how that works but sounds fun
If we get dropped off at the beach club will they let us walk through to go to the Gateweay Entrance? 14 years ago we couldn't do this, you had to be staying there in order to go through, we got turned away by the gate guard.

Not sure in (bold print above) what you mean about turned away. We've been member for 17 years and never been turned away. Did you have park tickets to enter the park?

 

[bumbershoot]

With the exception of right when the park opens, I've not heard that the Main Entrance is particularly crowded. I've never experienced any craziness when I've visited Epcot via the Main Entrance in the afternoon/evening. Although it only happened once, I recall having to wait about 15 minutes to enter the park via the International Gateway Entrance because I had the misfortune of arriving just after a large group.

Chances are good that you won't have delays entering the park from either entrance. Personally, I wouldn't spend money just to enter from the International Gateway.

Agreed. I would just take the nice simple bus from POR, get on it with tons of time so even IF people are rushing around you, you guys can be relaxed and calm and enjoy the sights as you stroll to the restaurant.