EPCOT EPCOT testing new morning entry procedure

[DCBaker]

This morning at EPCOT, regular entry Guests are being directed to the left of and past Spaceship Earth and are being held just outside Connections Cafe.




Early Entry Guests are directed to the right of Spaceship Earth.

Cast Members we spoke with say this change is likely permanent and is in anticipation of Cosmic Rewind moving to standby.

 

[meggo819]

Makes sense. I was wondering if they’d have to stop people from cutting through Connections to get to guardians.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

I am interested to see how they handle people coming in from the International Gateway entrance ... are they able to enter and get to a "rope" from that direction or are they just at a big disadvantage to those coming from the main entrance if wanting to rope drop Guardians?

 

[dmc493]

All you non-resort plebeians, line up here and stare at the Starbucks you're not allowed to buy until 9am... More seriously, I'm confused why this helps anything? You're just allowing non-early-entry people to line up a little farther up the sidewalk?

 

[castlecake2.0]

All you non-resort plebeians, line up here and stare at the Starbucks you're not allowed to buy until 9am... More seriously, I'm confused why this helps anything? You're just allowing non-early-entry people to line up a little farther up the sidewalk?

It’s to stop the runners from trying to do crazy things to rope drop guardians.

 

[Jrb1979]

It’s to stop the runners from trying to do crazy things to rope drop guardians.

I say who cares.

 

[WorldExplorer]

All you non-resort plebeians, line up here and stare at the Starbucks you're not allowed to buy until 9am... More seriously, I'm confused why this helps anything? You're just allowing non-early-entry people to line up a little farther up the sidewalk?

Every park does this. I presume it's to make the entrance process easier; it lets them scan hundreds of guests before the official open so they're all ready to go as soon as the clock hits the right time.

 

[dmc493]

They already achieve that by holding people at the fountain. I guess moving them slightly up past spaceship earth will help with the crazy runners

 

[monothingie]

Why run like a pleb to a ride when you can buy a $300 Premium Lightning Lane?

 

[lysM17]

I am interested to see how they handle people coming in from the International Gateway entrance ... are they able to enter and get to a "rope" from that direction or are they just at a big disadvantage to those coming from the main entrance if wanting to rope drop Guardians?

Those coming from International Gateway get to go all the way up that way now. It's apart of the new process. No more line in Canada.

 

[James Alucobond]

I say who cares.

Indeed, who cares about order and safety?

 

[surfsupdon]

Where does the international gateway entrance let you line up?

 

[Cmdr_Crimson]

This morning at EPCOT, regular entry Guests are being directed to the left of and past Spaceship Earth and are being held just outside Connections Cafe.




Early Entry Guests are directed to the right of Spaceship Earth.

Cast Members we spoke with say this change is likely permanent and is in anticipation of Cosmic Rewind moving to standby.

Sooo, they are just bringing back the idea they did in 2003...
Corral the Guests at Innoventions plaza
Bring the character bus out
Rope drops
Done.
This isn't new....

 

[MisterPenguin]

I would presume moving the on-time rope droppers further up...

1. reduces the length of the sprint-track to get to the most popular rides.

2. gets the on-time people out of the way for the resort-early-entrance people to get around the crowd for their early admittance to the rides.

 

[marni1971]

Sooo, they are just bringing back the idea they did in 2003...
Corral the Guests at Innoventions plaza
Bring the character bus out
Rope drops
Done.
This isn't new....

This.

For decades the various parks have pre scanned guests and held them in their respective hubs. Guests think they’re getting value by them “opening early” and ops can better manage demand (it used to be left for Test Track, right for Soarin’)

We used to play spot the deliberately placed security guard or slowly walking manager in the pinch points.

 

[esskay]

Those coming from International Gateway get to go all the way up that way now. It's apart of the new process. No more line in Canada.

A much welcome change. Felt pretty daft that those most likely to take advantage of early entry were being hampered by it!