Walk to Soaring when the rope drops

[TyGuy]

I'm wondering which walk is quicker at Epcot when the rope drops; the main entrance or the International gateway? I haven't been since Soaring opened but from what I am reading it should be the first stop at opening.

Thanks

 

[DisneyFan06]

Main Entrance.

On October 28, 2006 I was the first on the ride! So you better take my plan...

 

[tmt martins]

DF06 has it right Main is the fastest

 

[Robo]

I'm wondering which walk is quicker at Epcot when the rope drops; the main entrance or the International gateway? I haven't been since Soaring opened but from what I am reading it should be the first stop at opening.

Front Gate.
And that's because the "rope drop" is not AT the front gates.
The drop is usually held near the "call board" at the front edge of the Fountain & Innoventions Plaza.

Then guests either head left (to M:S or Test Track) or right (to Soarin') along with a CM or two as "no running, please" escorts.

Using the Int'l. Gateway approach, those guests are usually held at a "rope" at the entrance to FW from WS.
That makes it a bit longer walk from there to the entrance of Soarin' or Test Track.

 

[saschab]

Using the Int'l. Gateway approach, those guests are usually held at a "rope" at the entrance to FW from WS.
That makes it a bit longer walk from there to the entrance of Soarin' or Test Track.

Any idea on how "late" you get there from IG? We're staying at an Epcot resort and decided not to take a taxi to the front gate. ]

Any ideas on how far out the FastPasses might be for us entrance challenged folk?

 

[AmyBWV99]

Any idea on how "late" you get there from IG? We're staying at an Epcot resort and decided not to take a taxi to the front gate. ]

Any ideas on how far out the FastPasses might be for us entrance challenged folk?

If you head over straight away, you shouldn't have much of a wait and fastpass retrun should be an hour from when you get them.

Typically, if you rush to a ride at opening, the standby line isn't bad - for any ride (exept during really crowded times).

 

[Robo]

Any idea on how "late" you get there from IG? We're staying at an Epcot resort and decided not to take a taxi to the front gate. ]

Any ideas on how far out the FastPasses might be for us entrance challenged folk?

I totally agree with AmyBWV99.

Even if you are a bit behind the "front gate" folks, you won't be VERY far behind.

Anytime you go before the gate-opening time (about 20-30 minutes is a good rule of thumb) you will beat THOUSANDS of guests who simply will NOT get up EARLY on vacation.

So whichever gate you choose... get there 20-30 minutes early, be a part of the "head" of the crowd, walk briskly, and know which direction you are going...
You'll be able to ride ANY attraction that is open in the morning (likely more than once) and get a FP for it or another attraction and ride any other attraction or two (or more) long before the "sleepy-heads" have staggered into the gates.

This especially applies to EMH mornings, but its true of virtually any gate-opening time.

 

[Tink-n-Belle]

We did this in February and it took about 11 minutes from the IG to TT. I had my 2 kids 6&8 with me and we didn't run. My DH went and got FP's to Soarin and we rode TT twice and then used our FP's for Soarin right after.

 

[TyGuy]

We did this in February and it took about 11 minutes from the IG to TT. I had my 2 kids 6&8 with me and we didn't run. My DH went and got FP's to Soarin and we rode TT twice and then used our FP's for Soarin right after.

That sounds like a good plan although my kids are 13 and 16 so I may make them go get the FP's while the DW and I walk to TT.

 

[boBQuincy]

It depends.
If the ropes are dropped simultaneously it may be a wash. I entered at International Gateway one morning when the CMs were on the radio with the front gate CMs, so the ropes should have dropped at the same time.

I made it almost to the final turn before The Land, just as a few thousand of my best friends came through the walkway from the main entrance.

Pick your entrance, it probably doesn't matter by more than a few seconds.