Sorry! 1 more Epcot rope drop question....

[amg35]

Staying at Yacht/Beach Club, how do I manage rope drop? Do I go to the International Gateway and wait there? How do I best manuever myself to be able to ride Soarin'?

Thanks, so excited!!!!

 

[kat3668]

They will let you walk to future world where there will be a rope... You then wait for rope drop. Follow the masses on the other side (those coming through the main entrance and you will be there!).

 

[amg35]

Thanks! I was worried because World Showcase doesn't open until 11, so I wasn't sure if I had to somehow get to the front entrance of Epcot to be able to get in at rope-drop. I'm still a little confused, but I will figure it out when I get there!

 

[lovebug33]

Just some advice from the day I was there. Soarin was CRAZY. We avoided the crazy, went left to Test Track and went right away to get a fast pass and it wasn't bad at all, even though we had to wait until 5:00 to ride the ride. I think it was well worth it not to jam in witht eh crazies!

 

[jlcd]

They will let you walk to future world where there will be a rope... You then wait for rope drop. Follow the masses on the other side (those coming through the main entrance and you will be there!).

This is what we counted on last month but it did not happen. We were there the week before Easter. The park opened at 9:00. We got there early but they did not start letting people through bag check until just before 9. We did another day at EPCOT later in the week but drove over so we could go through the main entrance and this worked much better. I was dissapointed that we had to drive to EPCOT when staying at an EPCOT resort....... Might not be as big of an issue when you are not dealing with Easter week crowds.

 

[MightyGitis]

I do not recommend International Gateway for rope drop at EPCOT.

 

[LoriABil]

I do not recommend International Gateway for rope drop at EPCOT.

We have done this every time, and it works great! We have always made it well before RD, and that's with a 6 or 7 year old in tow.

Unless you have a car or want to taxi, I don't see how you could do it from the BC otherwise. And driving, you'd have to deal with parking, and then getting to the gates - the gates that Everyone is using??? No thanks.

If you want to do Soarin' first, remember that that will be on tge left from your position after entering through the international gateway. Line up toward the left and rapidly walk with the CMs at rope drop. I can't wait to be there! The walk to Epcot from the BC is my favorite thing early in the morning!

 

[RMulieri]

I do not recommend International Gateway for rope drop at EPCOT.

If you are staying at an Epcot resort, you don't have much of a choice..Unless you have a car or want to pay for a cab.There are no busses or direct way to the Main gate of Epcot.
We have had 2 scenarios
1) we were let thru the IG and allowed to walk thru WS to the FW fountain, and held there till the park opens
2) not allowed thru the IG till the park opens..And I whole-heartedly agree that its not really all the fair .If they do that scenario you get to Soarin behind the front gate hoardes.Less busy times of year its not too bad, but during the really busy ones it means a long wait or a later FP return time
No way to know ahead which scenario they are doing that day.I will say more often then not it was option 1

 

[mom2aandj]

I have never, ever had a problem using the IG either. We've used it many times and never had an issue. A few times the CMs even let us go a little early. My DH always head to Soarin to grab us all FPs and the return times have always been some of the earliest, so never had any disadvantage to using IG. I consider it one of the perks of staying at an Epcot resort!!

 

[TisBit]

The problem we had with IG vs the main gate is two fold. First, at IG you have to be screened by security at the turnstiles...not before. They are supposed to open the IG turnstyles at the same time as the main turnstiles...but since you are not prescreened, it can cause a delay. Second, the IG is further away than the main gates, so you have to walk further which equals more of a delay.

I think it is a bigger issue in the less busy times. When Epcot is very busy at the main gate, they usually open the turnstiles earlier, if there is only a light crowd at the main entrance, they don't open until about 15 minutes before rope drop. By the time you get through security and the gate (if there are other people might be 5+ minutes) and walk to the fountain area, you are right at the time of park opening and the Soarin Stampede (as someone on another post put it...LOL)

 

[madalex]

I have never, ever had a problem using the IG either. We've used it many times and never had an issue.

Ditto. We were at BC in early April and did rope drop at Epcot twice. Both times we were let in before the park open time and permitted to proceed to the main rope drop area where the crowds from the front were being held. We then all proceeded to Soarin' in one big group. We experienced no disadvantage to those who entered from the front. To drive or take a taxi to the front gate just to be with the front gate rope drop crownd is a complete waste of time (and money).

 

[madalex]

Just some advice from the day I was there. Soarin was CRAZY. We avoided the crazy, went left to Test Track and went right away to get a fast pass and it wasn't bad at all, even though we had to wait until 5:00 to ride the ride. I think it was well worth it not to jam in witht eh crazies!

I always go with the rope drop crowd (which is generally pretty well behaved, if a bit large) and ride Soarin' right away. That way, I am on and off the ride by 30 or so minutes after park opening. I much prefer that approach to having to hang around at Epcot all day long waiting for my FP time to arrive.

 

[amg35]

Whew! Thanks everyone!

So, I'm definitely not taking a cab to the front entrance, so that's out.

Sooo, I will walk to the International Gateway and either they will let us in a bit early to make it to future world for rope-drop, or they will let me in regular time and then I will walk to Soarin'(going left from international gateway?) after everyone else from the rope-drop is probably already there.

If the latter happens, should I just go straight for the fast pass for Soarin'? Or should I wait in the stand-by line. I won't mind a 30 minute wait that early if you think that's about right....

thanks!