Starting the Epcot Touring Plan from the "Back Door"

[malcontent]

We are staying at the BC, and will be using a touring plan to start an EMH morning at Epcot. Are we at a disadvantage entering through the International Gateway, or would we be better off taking transportation to the front of Epcot?

 

[jack hannah bananah]

You are at a slight disadvantage because they have a rope drop in the back - and you have farther to walk than the people in the front. However, it is not nearly as crowded. I don't think the disadvantage is significant enough to worry about getting yourself to the front of the park.

 

[Shmily1]

I would not call it a disadvantage. Since there are fewer people, when you go in the gate and get to main walkway around the lake, turn left. Head for the land and do Soarin' then straight across to Test Track. That plan always works for us when we stay at BC.

Good luck and enjoy your stay!!!

 

[Robo]

We are staying at the BC, and will be using a touring plan to start an EMH morning at Epcot. Are we at a disadvantage entering through the International Gateway, or would we be better off taking transportation to the front of Epcot?

 

[bamagirl@hrt]

While I would NEVER question the wisdom & guidance of Robo's maps, I would like to make a tiny suggestion. Instead of walking all the way to the bridge that goes from WS to FW, shoot off to the left after Canada & go through the rose gardens. You come out closer to the Land. It can shave a couple of minutes off of your walk time.

 

[NMAmy]

As others have said, it may take a few minutes longer to walk to the headliner rides in the morning but there are not many people at that entrance. That slight disadvantage turns into a huge advantage when leaving the park at closing after Illuminations. As thousands of other people are fighting their way out through Future World, folks staying at the Epcot resort can slip out through the International Gateway and walk back to their hotel before others have even left the park.

 

[Robo]

While I would NEVER question the wisdom & guidance of Robo's maps, I would like to make a tiny suggestion. Instead of walking all the way to the bridge that goes from WS to FW, shoot off to the left after Canada & go through the rose gardens. You come out closer to the Land. It can shave a couple of minutes off of your walk time.

The map is not "attraction specific."

It just shows the routes between the GATES.

Your suggestion is a good one regarding Soarin'

 

[GazerBeam]

We stayed at the swan last (early) december and had two epcot mornings. On the first, we drove to the main gate, on the second, we walked and entered through the IG. There really was no noticeable difference between the two.

During busy times of the year, I'd expect more of a noticeable difference. Weather or not to make the effort to get to the front of the park really depends on the set of problems you're willing to accept.

GB

 

[TLinden16]

You'll be fine going in from the International Gateway. Yes, the walk is a bit longer, but only a few minutes.

Also, there isn't transportation to the front gates of Epcot, so unless you have your own car or take a taxi (which in my opinion, wouldn't be worth doing to save a few minutes), there is really no easy way to get there from the Beach Club.

 

[Dan Murphy]

It really is an enjoyable, peaceful walk in the early AM, coming in from IG.

 

[LadyDulcinea1]

I love entering through International Gateway, during busy times I've definitely found it less crowded

Also if you're heading to Soarin', cutting through the rose garden next to Canada is probably your best bet, its more direct than walking all the way over to the bridge and essentially backtracking.

If you have time and a nice day, the walk from Epcot to the BC is really nice and relaxing!

 

[malcontent]

If I read Robo's map correctly, we might actually be at an advantage if Soarin' is our primary destination. It looks like it is a shorter walk from the International Gateway than from the front entrance.

Is that correct?

 

[Robo]

If I read Robo's map correctly, we might actually be at an advantage if Soarin' is our primary destination. It looks like it is a shorter walk from the International Gateway than from the front entrance.

Is that correct?

Usually, for "rope drop" everyone from the front gates is allowed to enter 10-15 min. early and "re-group" near the Fountain in the center of FW.

So, when the ropes are dropped, they are not very far from The Land, or Mission:SPACE and Test Track.

 

[AppleSister1]

but my recollection is that, since WS doesn't open till after FW, they let us walk through WS to another rope drop nearer the bridge to FW. Anyone else remember this? So actually, we were pretty nearly equi-distant to the attractions as the folks in front, AND we had a much shorter wait to get through the gates and less of a crowd at rope drop.

Am I wrong?

 

[JulieNMM]

If you enter from the International Gateway at 9am and the World Showcase doesn't open until 11am, I thought that there were CMs who made sure you walked straight to Future World and didn't deviate off the beaten path. So can you really cut through the rose gardens to get to Soarin' more quickly?

Thanks for the info, BTW!

JULIE

 

[Robo]

If you enter from the International Gateway at 9am and the World Showcase doesn't open until 11am, I thought that there were CMs who made sure you walked straight to Future World and didn't deviate off the beaten path. So can you really cut through the rose gardens to get to Soarin' more quickly?

The rose garden path only goes directly to FW, anyway, so it shouldn't be a biggie.

 

[jfrosello]

We've stayed at Swan end of Nov-beginning of Dec. and had no problem with the backdoor, enjoy the boat trip and when you´ll get in, at park opening, all this part of the park will be almost desert, so you will cross the various countries almost alone as you are going to Soarin'-> you may have some nice photo op.

 

[xipetotec]

We are staying at the BC, and will be using a touring plan to start an EMH morning at Epcot. Are we at a disadvantage entering through the International Gateway, or would we be better off taking transportation to the front of Epcot?

we stay at the BCV and the ADVANTAGE is not needing to take Disney Transportation. Don't get me wrong, I think DT is a great thing, but I think a 5 minute walk to Epcot is a great thing any day! We spend SO much time in this park as a result ( Dining, shopping, attractions, we love it! ).

 

[TLinden16]

but my recollection is that, since WS doesn't open till after FW, they let us walk through WS to another rope drop nearer the bridge to FW. Anyone else remember this? So actually, we were pretty nearly equi-distant to the attractions as the folks in front, AND we had a much shorter wait to get through the gates and less of a crowd at rope drop.

Am I wrong?

The rope is actually at the top of the incline from the international gateway right at the main pathway around the lagoon. The United Kingdom will be to your left. Once the rope drops at park opening time, you do still have to walk through the United Kingdom and Canada to get to Future World. The folks at the International Gateway are definitely further away.

If you enter from the International Gateway at 9am and the World Showcase doesn't open until 11am, I thought that there were CMs who made sure you walked straight to Future World and didn't deviate off the beaten path. So can you really cut through the rose gardens to get to Soarin' more quickly?

In all the times I've gone in through the IG, the only time I've had cast members push me along is when I've been in the park before official opening time. If it's after opening hours, they don't try to rush you through the UK and Canada, but absolutely nothing is open until 11:00 a.m., so other than to snap pictures without a lot of people in them, there's really no need to stop in these countries at that time in the morning.

 

[AppleSister1]

The rope is actually at the top of the incline from the international gateway right at the main pathway around the lagoon. The United Kingdom will be to your left. Once the rope drops at park opening time, you do still have to walk through the United Kingdom and Canada to get to Future World. The folks at the International Gateway are definitely further away.



In all the times I've gone in through the IG, the only time I've had cast members push me along is when I've been in the park before official opening time. If it's after opening hours, they don't try to rush you through the UK and Canada, but absolutely nothing is open until 11:00 a.m., so other than to snap pictures without a lot of people in them, there's really no need to stop in these countries at that time in the morning.

My mistake. I think I am recalling times we went through International Gateway AFTER rope drop but BEFORE WS was open....

Still, I think there is a big advantage going in the backway...it's MUCH less crowded.