walkway from MGM to Epcot?

[TimeWarp]

Is the direction for this walkway clearly marked? Would you say it's a 15 minute walk?

 

[Ralph&Pam]

The walkway is clearly marked, but you need to understand the components of the walk:

You will depart MGM heading toward the parking lot. Follow the sidewalk along the left hand side until you hit the path. The path runs alongside the canal between the BoardWalk Villas and the Swan. You wiill be on the BWV side of the canal. Follow it to the end, emerging on the BW between JellyRolls and the Atlantic Dance Club. Turn right onto the BW and follow it past the ESPN Club, and continue to the bridge leading to the Epcot International Gateway entrance. This takes you into Epcot between England and France in the World Showcase.

I can do this in 20 minutes at a reasonable pace, unless I stop along the BW for some refreshments (Big River brewpub, Spoodles pizza window, and ESPN Club are good options).

Ralph

 

[TimeWarp]

Thanks Ralph&Pam. I was thinking about walking this at night after a 7:00 Fantasmic if crowds are really backed up at the buses. Does the pathway have lights?

 

[pumpkinboy]

The boat will take roughly the same amount of time, a litlle more perhaps. It makes stops at the Swa/Dolphin dock, BC/YC dock and BW dock before proceeding to Int'l Gateway at EPCOT. We Love the boat at nighttime and it's a nice relaxing way to make the trip from MGM to EPCOT. The walk is also nice in good weather, and you arrive invigorated; it is also probably the fastest way to do it, unless the boat leaves just after you board.

just my 2¢

 

[TimeWarp]

A valuable .02 pumpkin boy. Thanks.

 

[Ralph&Pam]

Originally posted by TimeWarp
Thanks Ralph&Pam. I was thinking about walking this at night after a 7:00 Fantasmic if crowds are really backed up at the buses. Does the pathway have lights?

Well, after Fantasmic, the crowds are almost always really backed up at both buses and the boat dock. It is almost always faster to walk under these circumstances. The path is well lit along the canal and there are usually a good number of people walking back to the Epcot resorts after Fantasmic, just because the boat can be really crowded. Just loading the boats takes more time and will likely be standing room only unless you're near the head of the line. But then if you're at the head of the line, you're likely having to wait for the next boat to arrive, so it ends up taking more time still.

We stay at the BoardWalk Villas, so I do the MGM-BWV walk a lot. The only time I take the boat is when DW is with me. Then we ride in both directions.

Ralph

 

[helenk]

The other year when we stayed at the YC, we walked from MGM to the YC and got there well ahead of the crowds. We were there in December and left after Fantasmic and viewing the Osbourn lights. The line for the boats were extremely long. We were walking along the path as the first boat was leaving, had we waited in line we would not have even gotten on a second boat.
It is a nice walk we really enjoyed it.

 

[jctwizzer]

Just checked this again last Wednesday; and the distance from the Intl Gate at Epcot to the MGM gate is just under one mile. So, however long it takes you to walk a mile would be a good estimate!!! The path is marked most of the walk but when you get to the Boardwalk area you can shortern the distance slightly by cutting thru the BWV pool area

 

[tjmw2727]

Yes its a great walk, esp if there is any kind of line at the boat ramp leaving MGM. Its a bit tricky to find, follow the path to the bus but stay left on the sidewalk and you will see the path to the left toward the water. It almost seems like you have gone to far toward the bus area but just keep doing and bear left.

Even my 6yo prefers the walk to waiting for the friendship boats and even at her pace we usually are faster the than the first boat. (And this is after a day at the parks LOL) We figure we would never have made the the first boat anyway judging by the length of the line.

We also take our time and have a drink or snack at BW - play a carny game. Once the girls got a hair wrap and we still hit Epcot in time for Illuminations.

TJ