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You know... the one from Boardwalk & Beach club between UK and France...Is it the maybe called the International Gateway...?? :confused:
Anyway, what time does it open? The world showcase doesn't open until later in the day (11-ish..?) so how does it work with this entrance? Do they have CMs ushering you through to FW until WS opens?
LOL! Does any of this make a bit of sense..?!! :blush:
Thanks in advance...!
I understood what you meant (of course maybe that's becaue I don't make sense most of the time) I can tell you for a fact that it's called the International Gateway.
I think (and not possitive) that it does not open until 11 when the World showcase opens. But I'm sure someone will be along shortly to verify
you know how if you have reservations for cinderellas royal table and MK hasnt opened yet you still kinda walk down an empty main street?
one time befor WS opened we walked threw a very empty UK and Canada. we took pictures of us with the emptyness to fool people into thinking we were seriosly there alone. nothings open but u can walk through. at least i definoutly have
i see what you meen, that would be kinda silly for the people at BW and Y&BC to have to wait until WS opens for them to be able to use their shortcut...
The International Gateway opens at 9am same time as Future World. When you get to England, there is a rope and a cast member preventing you from going toward France into World Showcase. You can walk through England and Canada to get to the paths that lead to Future World. It's really nice and peaceful walking through that little bit of the World Showcase before it is really open. The buildings however are not open.
Well there you go, pardon my ignorance, I learn something new everyday!
I don't know why I thought the Int. Gateway wasn't open until 11 and because I thought that I always avoided it before then (we stayed @ the Swan last year and we took the bus to Epcot first thing in the AM when look at that we could have walked it or taken the friendship after all) Thanks for correcting me
The back door entrance to Epcot is also the best place to conduct business at WDW, like purchasing extra tickets, asking questions, whatever. The lines are never as long as they are at the ticket windows at the front of the parks. Avoid morning rush - between 8:30 and 9:30 AM - then you are good to go. Also, get in line before 8:30 AM, then you will wizz right through security and can hurry over and be one of the first for Sorin and Nemo.
Can you use this entrance even if you are staying off property? If so, is it possible to get there from the Epcot parking lot, as I understand it is no longer possible to park at Epcot resorts if you are not staying there, unless you have meal reservations? Also, what time does the ticket place there open? It seems like a cool way to get into Epcot AND avoid crowds.
A few things to note:
1. International Gateway opens when FW entrance opens - this includes EMH in the mornings.
2. The people coming from FW (front entrance) will always beat you to Soarin' - they have a significantly shorter walk, and are permitted into FW (during busy times all the way to Innoventions) to the "rope drop."
Int'l Gateway members can't even get the rope drop in the UK - it's always on the bridge.
3. It is a much more relaxed entry into the park - there are always people here, but usually less than 100 (at park opening). The countries aren't opened but are serene and beautiful.
4. You won't be allowed to walk any place other than towards FW. They do let you stop, walk liesurely, take pics., etc., but they do direct you towards FW.
Anyone can use the entrance/exit.Quote:
Originally Posted by K8screen
You cannot get to the Int'l Gateway from the EPCOT parking lot (other than walking through the park! ;)). You are not permitted to use Resort Parking in order to get into a park - so you're pretty much out of luck using the Int'l Gateway unless you're staying at one of the EPCOT resorts (at least for AM entrance).Quote:
Originally Posted by K8screen
Like most of the ticket windows, they open (approximately) 30 minutes before the park opens.Quote:
Originally Posted by K8screen
Can I buy Annual Passes at the back door to EPCOT?
Yes you can buy annual passes, unless something has changed, but my sister bought one there.
Yup. Just about anything for sale at the front is available in the back. They even have strollers and ECV's.Quote:
Originally Posted by dteed
Yes, it's a bit of a hike to FW but the EMH morning we went they let us in a few minutes before 8am.
Note: there was a small crowd at the entrance itself by 8am.
When we walked through WC there was a young Chinese CM standing at the entrance to the bridge to France saying, "Ni hao" which usually means "hello" but in this case means, "I'm standing here to keep you from crossing this bridge."
If you're not in a hurry it's a very plesant walk and when we were there the coffee cart at Canada was open - Ha! There were more CMs buying their morning wake up than park guests.
The EMH morning we went we walked VERY briskly from the IG to Soarin' (10 minute wait) then crossed to MS - got an FP for just after the main 9am entrance then TestTrack (20 minute wait then back to MS then HoneyISTA then a leisurely walk back through FW and a stop at that coffee stand. We arrived back at BW before 11 am checkout.....
yuppers its called the international gateway and it opens at whatever time Epcot opens for the day...and you can do pretty much anything you can do at the front of any of the other parks at this entrace!! :mickey: