Time it'll take to walk from YC to Soarin'

[minoh]

I'm trying to figure out if a 7:30 breakfast at Captain's Grille will allow us to get to Soarin' when Epcot opens at 9. I know YC is within walking distance but how long a walk can we count on? Is it better to take the boat or to walk? If the latter is quicker, how often does the boat come?

Thanks for your help! This is our only EP day so we want to maximize our time.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

The walk from YC to EP IG is about 5 - 7 minutes. I would not take the boat as it will take significantly longer. Personally, I would try to head out of Capt. Grille at about 8:30 am.

 

[Cinderella94]

It is not a long walk and if you can walk at a good pace, the boat is slower. We have beaten the boat from Hollywood Studios to Beach Club before. I would suggest definitely walking. And we don't do out of park breakfasts on a park day because I don't want to have to rush through breakfast in order to get to Epcot early enough to do bag check, get into the park, etc. I'm not sure - I think you could technically make it but it would be too rushed for me. I like to be at the park gate (even the International Gateway) plenty early.

However, since you mention Soarin' specifically, all reports I've read here indicate that the wait for Soarin' isn't nearly as bad as it used to be because of the 3rd theater addition (and I imagine most people are still heading to Frozen at rope drop)

 

[minoh]

Yes, we were hoping to start our EP day at Soarin'. Initially, I'd booked an 8:45 ADR at Garden Grill but then realised that that would put us in line for Soarin' later than I'd like (though if wait times have gone down, maybe it would be ok). I was thinking that an earlier ADR at CG would allow us to get there in time for opening, but just am not sure of the walk time involved. Is Soarin' a long walk from IG? How early can we show up for our CG reservation and possibly be seated?

 

[DOOM1001]

If walking to Epcot I see no point in taking the boat from either Y&B club or the Boardwalk,only reason I would take the boat is if I see it arriving as I walk near the dock.From DHS or the Swan and Dolphin its far enough to make it worth to take the boat.From the Yacht club even if its hot outside you can pretty much stay indoors all the way to the end of the Beach club and then you're about a 4 minute walk away from Epcot.

 

[Cinderella94]

Yes, we were hoping to start our EP day at Soarin'. Initially, I'd booked an 8:45 ADR at Garden Grill but then realised that that would put us in line for Soarin' later than I'd like (though if wait times have gone down, maybe it would be ok). I was thinking that an earlier ADR at CG would allow us to get there in time for opening, but just am not sure of the walk time involved. Is Soarin' a long walk from IG? How early can we show up for our CG reservation and possibly be seated?

Since CG opens for the day at 7:30, I wouldn't plan to get seated any earlier than that. I haven't dined there but wouldn't imagine they'll be open. If those two breakfasts are your options, I would definitely keep the CG one and not go 8:45 at Garden Grill. An 8:45 breakfast is a waste of prime no-lines time - people will probably start being let through the gates around then or 8:50. Soarin is another 5 or so minute walk from the IG, I would guess. We are fast walkers.

 

[minoh]

Since CG opens for the day at 7:30, I wouldn't plan to get seated any earlier than that. I haven't dined there but wouldn't imagine they'll be open. If those two breakfasts are your options, I would definitely keep the CG one and not go 8:45 at Garden Grill. An 8:45 breakfast is a waste of prime no-lines time - people will probably start being let through the gates around then or 8:50. Soarin is another 5 or so minute walk from the IG, I would guess. We are fast walkers.

Thanks, that's very helpful advice. I really couldn't guess the distance from IG to Soarin' so 5-10 min is totally not a big deal (I had been thinking upwards of 20min, but just because we've never been to EP so it was a wild guess). I'm going to keep trying for an earlier GG time, but chances are it won't happen and the CG menu looks really nice, so I think that will work out ok.

 

[Cinderella94]

Thanks, that's very helpful advice. I really couldn't guess the distance from IG to Soarin' so 5-10 min is totally not a big deal (I had been thinking upwards of 20min, but just because we've never been to EP so it was a wild guess). I'm going to keep trying for an earlier GG time, but chances are it won't happen and the CG menu looks really nice, so I think that will work out ok.

Definitely keep checking - the day or two before could be when a lot of cancellations happen because people are finalizing their plans and don't want to be charged a no-show fee.

 

[Robo]

You can see the relative positions of the all of places in discussion on the map below.
The ENTRANCE to Soarin' is located in the pavilion I've labeled "Land" in Epcot.

For additional maps with closer views, use the "WDW Maps" link in my signature.

 

[Pluto80]

When we were at the YC in the summer, I timed the walk from our room to the international gateway. It took exactly four and a half minutes. It won't take more than another five or so to walk to Soarin from there I'd think. I guess it really depends on how long the queue is at the gateway.

 

[minoh]

Thanks for the map, Robo, and those times, Pluto80. It's hard to judge the actual time to walk somewhere looking at the map. I know Epcot is big so having those approx times helps.

I hadn't thought about the time in the queue at IG--good point! Is that pretty busy first thing? How early do they let people in there?

 

[Kkb0517]

Yes, we were hoping to start our EP day at Soarin'. Initially, I'd booked an 8:45 ADR at Garden Grill but then realised that that would put us in line for Soarin' later than I'd like (though if wait times have gone down, maybe it would be ok). I was thinking that an earlier ADR at CG would allow us to get there in time for opening, but just am not sure of the walk time involved. Is Soarin' a long walk from IG? How early can we show up for our CG reservation and possibly be seated?

At least in my experience captains grille is never busy at breakfast and you can get in and out relatively quickly. I don't know if that will change with the refurb.

You menitioned garden grill, makes me think you are interested in characters. At the beach club there is a buffet character breakfast at cape mays. That is even a little closer than the yacht club and is also quick. Because it's a buffet (and a good one in my opinion) you can take as little or as long as you want. Numerous times we've done 7:30 breakfast there seen two rounds of characters (because it usually isn't that crowded), stopped back in our room at the yacht club, and walked to Hollywood studios (much further) before park open at 9. I'll be it it was just my husband and I, no kids, but since Epcot is way closer I would think you'd have plenty of time.

 

[emilymad]

Thanks for the map, Robo, and those times, Pluto80. It's hard to judge the actual time to walk somewhere looking at the map. I know Epcot is big so having those approx times helps.

I hadn't thought about the time in the queue at IG--good point! Is that pretty busy first thing? How early do they let people in there?

It also seems at IG they make more people go through the scanners at bag check. Not a big deal but it can add another few minutes.

Can you get a GG reservation for later? Like 9:30 so you can eat after Soarin?

 

[DOOM1001]

It also seems at IG they make more people go through the scanners at bag check. Not a big deal but it can add another few minutes.

Can you get a GG reservation for later? Like 9:30 so you can eat after Soarin?

Last couple of visits to Epcot everyone going in from the front gate has had to go through the metal detector.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

The food is so much better at CG than GG. It also will not be crowded at 7:30 am. You can reasonably expect to be out of there by 8:15 - 8:30 am and be at IG by 8:30 - 8:45 am at the latest. That is plenty of time to get in line at IG and walk to Soarin'. The line at IG (even with the metal detectors) is so much more civilized than the line to get into the FW entrance! If you really want to eat at GG and get on Soarin' around RD time, I would try for an ADR no later than 8 am, but I really think you'll be fine with the CG reservation you have.