What is the IG entrance to Epcot like at RD?

[Klayfish]

I posted this in another thread, but it's buried in a deeper discussion, so I wanted to bring it out as its own thread.

My family and I have done RD at Epcot many times. It's a zoo. Wait at the front entrance in massive lines. They usually open the front gates around 8:45ish. Once you navigate that mess of people trying to scan themselves in, you walk past Spaceship Earth and come to another mass of humanity as the ropes are up there. People are pushing and shoving to try to get to the front of that line (my wife and I don't take kindly to people pushing through our kids). Then RD happens and people scramble.

What's the IG entrance like? Never tried it for RD. Is it less of a madhouse? Does the line go really slow because there's only one or two security lines and only a few pass scanners? If we're staying off property and driving in (we're AP holders), what's the best way to get to IG before RD? Thinking maybe we'll try it this year...

 

[Cynister]

I don't believe we were at the gate right at rope drop when we went a few weeks ago but we were within 10 mins or so. The line is nothing like the front entrance but likely everyone will get scanned. The whole thing including bag check took us under 5 mins definitely.

 

[KSL]

Great Question! I am wondering the same thing.

I have heard (though it would be great if anyone who has actually done this could confirm) that it is much quieter at the IG, though I'm interested too whether that entrance goes slowly even with low crowds simply because it is smaller. If I could expand on your questions, I am curious about:

How early before park opening will they let you through the IG entrance?
Where do they stop you for the RD to enter Future World?
Do they typically open from that side at 8:45 as well (for a 9:00 official opening time)?

Thanks for posting about this & I'll be watching for any replies!

 

[maryj11]

I want to know also. We are staying at the Beach Club. My question is when do they let you in with a pre park Garden Grill reservation?

 

[tobikaye]

If we're staying off property and driving in (we're AP holders), what's the best way to get to IG before RD? Thinking maybe we'll try it this year...

I cannot answer on the RD at IG since I have not been there at RD. There is no parking at the IG entrance, it is only accessible by boat or by foot from Beach Club/Yacht Club, Swan/Dolphin, Beach Club, and DHS. So, you could try to valet park at one of the resorts or park at DHS and then walk or boat to Epcot's IG entrance.

You can do a Google Map Earth View and see the area around the IG.

 

[PeasandCarrots]

I have been at IG at rope drop many, many times and only once was there any kind of a wait and it was nothing like the front.

 

[Klayfish]

Yeah, we've never been there for RD either. Used it several times during normal park hours...we went to an event or two at the Beach Club. Did self parking, walked to IG and went in/out that way. Line was always short. I would think the closest parking would be Beach/Yacht

 

[Klayfish]

I have been at IG at rope drop many, many times and only once was there any kind of a wait and it was nothing like the front.

Great!!! Good to know. Now let's keep this our little secret.

 

[Boski]

I have been at IG at rope drop many, many times and only once was there any kind of a wait and it was nothing like the front.

This. Its hard to visualize because of what the main entrance looks like but it really is crazy how little people are there.

 

[amcnj]

The times I have been there it was not real crowded at all. It is a decent walk to the front attractions though, especially if it's a hot, humid time of year.

 

[LisaCM614]

Easter week. 8:45 AM. We were not let in until 8:55AM. Line was short. You can see the short line but it was after 9 by the time we got to Soarin. Many people from the main gate were already through and we had a bit of a wait. I love International Gateway for fewer crowds but I don't think you can beat the front of the park people. We are healthy athletic people with kids in middle school - for your perspective

 

[JimmyV]

 

[LisaCM614]

wow - I have never seen it like that! What time of the AM was that?

 

[k8Davies]

Can I just say how much I love the IG entrance, we always feel it's like our own private little entrance when we stay in one of the hotels round there.

I have never seen it crowded (although I've never been in super high season summer/Christmas) and due to it being less crowded the CM have that extra capacity to be even more helpful than usual..

 

[JimmyV]

wow - I have never seen it like that! What time of the AM was that?

Keep in mind that you are looking at the bag check which always backs up more than the turnstiles. Even though that looks like a "wow", it amounts to no more than a 5 minute wait to get in through a turnstile.

 

[LisaCM614]

Keep in mind that you are looking at the bag check which always backs up more than the turnstiles. Even though that looks like a "wow", it amounts to no more than a 5 minute wait to get in through a turnstile.

Sure totally understand. If you look at my picture you can see we were 5 people back from the turnstiles Easter week when we arrived around 8:40ish. My family laughs at me when I tell them we have to leave the room at 8:30 to get to IG (walking from BC or BWI) just curious how close to 9am your picture was or what time of year it was. If it was only 5 minutes then maybe I can give them a little extra time in the AM!

 

[JimmyV]

Sure totally understand. If you look at my picture you can see we were 5 people back from the turnstiles Easter week when we arrived around 8:40ish. My family laughs at me when I tell them we have to leave the room at 8:30 to get to IG (walking from BC or BWI) just curious how close to 9am your picture was or what time of year it was. If it was only 5 minutes then maybe I can give them a little extra time in the AM!

We usually arrive at 8:40 and get "belly-up" to the turnstile. The photo is showing just before 9:00. But don't be shocked. The number of people that you see is really no more than what a single Friendship boat holds. Once the people from that boat get processed through Ellis Island (which is what we call the security checkpoint at IG), the line dips back to nothing. And then 15-20 minutes later, when the next boat arrives, it builds again.

 

[asta]

The crowd is much smaller than the main gates. I got there very early and thought I was in good shape with five or six people in front of me. It turned out that every one of those people were just place holders for their families who came on a later boat. The five person wait grew to more like 25-30 by the time the gates opened. Still not bad but a little disappointing.

I agree that you can't beat the main gate people to Soarin' from the IG but there will be less of a crowd.

 

[Momtomouselover]

The crowd is much smaller than the main gates. I got there very early and thought I was in good shape with five or six people in front of me. It turned out that every one of those people were just place holders for their families who came on a later boat. The five person wait grew to more like 25-30 by the time the gates opened. Still not bad but a little disappointing.

I agree that you can't beat the main gate people to Soarin' from the IG but there will be less of a crowd.

Can you beat them to TT or FEA in your (or others) opinion?

 

[Shellyb84]

We were at BC last year over July 4th. We were at IG at RD twice, it wasn't crowded at all either time.