Soarin DVC tour

[CWTC]

We might try to book this for our May trip as we have never done it. We are DVC members and bringing my MIL (who loves Disney) and who needs an ECV due to arthritis.

A few questions:

1) How easy or hard is it to book this event?
2) Is check in at the front of the park or can we check in at the IG gateway? (I assume front of the park only)
3) Since park transportation won’t be running at that time, what is the best way to get my MIL and her ECV to EPCOT?

thanks in advance!

 

[bianca]

in spite of several attempts, we’ve never been able to book this. Once you pass that hurdle, then you should figure out how to get there. Best of luck!

 

[CWTC]

in spite of several attempts, we’ve never been able to book this. Once you pass that hurdle, then you should figure out how to get there. Best of luck!

Good to know its a challenge to book - fingers crossed I guess and we won’t even mention it to my MIL unless we get it booked.!

 

[gmi3804]

It's a challenge because when your date opens up (at 60 days, I think?), everyone whose dates opened before yours for that particular tour will have filled up all the spots. Ideally, the tour would land towards the end of your stay, much like hard-to-snag ADRs. They don't make that clear on the website.

Perhaps it would be more fair to open the tour date 60 days early, and if you have a qualifying stay booked during that time, you'd be eligible.

 

[Narcoossee11]

It is a tiny group of members, maybe 10.
Don't count on this trip.

 

[CWTC]

It is a tiny group of members, maybe 10.
Don't count on this trip.

Meh. We weren’t dying to do it but more trying to find things my MIL hadn’t done before.

Ideally, the tour would land towards the end of your stay, much like hard-to-snag ADRs.

Does this mean it’s like the 60+10 rule for ADRs? If not, then wouldn’t everyone’s window open at day 60? I think I missed something?

 

[gmi3804]

Does this mean it’s like the 60+10 rule for ADRs? If not, then wouldn’t everyone’s window open at day 60? I think I missed something?

Yes, something like that. You can register 60 days before your check-in date (not the tour date) for the tour that lands during your stay. So people who have a check-in date days before you will have already filled up the spaces.

 

[karen4546]

Meh. We weren’t dying to do it but more trying to find things my MIL hadn’t done before.

Does this mean it’s like the 60+10 rule for ADRs? If not, then wouldn’t everyone’s window open at day 60? I think I missed something?

yes. if my 60 day window opens today and yours opens tomorrow, then I can book a reservation today in theory and it could be the last one... when your 60 day opens "tomorrow" there would be no reservations left.

 

[CraigInPA]

Funny, when I booked this years ago, they didn't look at the 60+10. Back then it was something like 90 days before the date. When the date I originally asked for was unavailable, I asked for the next week (because we would be there at that time as well), and was told I could have it, despite the fact it was outside the 90 day window. Getting to the tour required getting up mighty early and getting to Epcot before it officially opened. I was able to get on the monorail and arrive *just* in time by sprinting from the the monorail to the special early entrance gate and then from there to The Land.

 

[mort1331]

If staying at BWV...can you enter IG??

 

[CarolynFH]

If staying at BWV...can you enter IG??

Yes, definitely. There’s no Disney transportation from any of the Epcot resorts to the front of Epcot. It’s expected that you’ll enter via the IG. It’s a short walk from BWV to the IG, or you can take a Friendship Boat.

And now that the Skyliner is in operation, RIV, CBR, AoA and Pop resort guests enter via the IG as well.

I don’t know whether you can check in for the Soarin’ tour at the IG, though.

 

[gmi3804]

I don’t know whether you can check in for the Soarin’ tour at the IG, though.

Or, as the PP asked, if they’ll let you in to get to the front entrance.

 

[CarolynFH]

Or, as the PP asked, if they’ll let you in to get to the front entrance.

Yes, I guess that depends on what time you have to check in vs. what time they're letting guests in for Early Entry. If Early Entry is 8:30 and checkin for the Soarin' tour is 9:00, it would be easy to enter through the IG and walk to the the checkin area for the tour (I don't know whether that's at Soarin' or at GR at the front of the park).

 

[kes601]

Yes, I guess that depends on what time you have to check in vs. what time they're letting guests in for Early Entry. If Early Entry is 8:30 and checkin for the Soarin' tour is 9:00, it would be easy to enter through the IG and walk to the the checkin area for the tour (I don't know whether that's at Soarin' or at GR at the front of the park).

The tour check in is at 7:00a.

 

[gmi3804]

Yes, I guess that depends on what time you have to check in vs. what time they're letting guests in for Early Entry. If Early Entry is 8:30 and checkin for the Soarin' tour is 9:00, it would be easy to enter through the IG and walk to the the checkin area for the tour (I don't know whether that's at Soarin' or at GR at the front of the park).

The tour gathers at 7:00, at the front of the park, and takes place before park hours, ending around 8:15.

 

[CarolynFH]

The tour gathers at 7:00, at the front of the park, and takes place before park hours, ending around 8:15.

In that case, @mort1331 , you'll need to drive or to take rideshare or taxi from your resort around to the front of Epcot. Even if Early Entry is 8:30, they won't be letting anyone in through the IG early enough to walk through Epcot to meet the tour.

 

[kes601]

In that case, @mort1331 , you'll need to drive or to take rideshare or taxi from your resort around to the front of Epcot. Even if Early Entry is 8:30, they won't be letting anyone in through the IG early enough to walk through Epcot to meet the tour.

We are hoping to do the tour during our June trip and are staying at Riviera for 2 weeks. It's a bummer we can't just take the skyliner for it but will have our car so plan to drive to the front of the park.