Increased foot traffic at Epcot's International Gate...

[wombat]

Because it is OUR personal entrance!

Cool. How much did it cost?

 

[SeaCastle]

Looks like most of the comments are from people who are treating the International Gateway (IG) as their own personal entrance to Epcot. If your schedule is so packed that you cannot spare a few extra minutes getting through IG, then you need to revisit your schedule. You are on holiday so slow down and enjoy it. Or is it that you don't want to mix with hoi polloi

Because it is OUR personal entrance!

Personal for who, the 378 rooms at Boardwalk, the 800 timeshares at BCV and BWV, the 2,200 guest rooms at the S&D, 1,100 guest rooms at Yacht and Beach, and any number of guests visiting from the Studios or Epcot resort restaurants? It's hardly personal, it's an area open to resort guests as much as any other area is. I don't think you'll find any disagreement that the IG entrance to EPCOT should be expanded because of the gondola but the idea that this area is exclusive in the way that a hotel jacuzzi suite or wine tasting is is hard to believe.

We stay almost exclusively at Epcot Resorts if we can afford it. The IG area is one of my favorite places hands-down anywhere at the Parks. IMO opening this up for more people to enjoy does not devalue the area, or even the other Epcot resorts because they are all deluxes in their own right if you take away the Epcot connection. Let's not forget that this connection isn't just other resorts' connection to EPCOT, but to the Boardwalk district in general. More nightlife, attractions, and visitors at the Boardwalk promenade is a good thing.

It's interesting to see how much general disdain there is for WDW's new gimmicky premium options while folks are so defensive about other perks being offered to the masses. Do we want more exclusive parks and experiences or not? Why does a CBR guest's gain have to be a Y&B Club guest's loss?

 

[DisDadWoz]

While I wish it was my personal entrance, it's not and never felt it was. My concern is the extremely narrow area it is right now with little to no room to actually expand it. While on our recent trip the line was backed up to where the gondola construction actually is by the boat dock so add in the extra traffic when the gondolas actually have people on them then where is everyone going to go? Up the hill toward Beach Club? Maybe Disney has a construction plan set to expand that entrance for the added visitors but I haven't seen/heard of that being out there.

 

[correcaminos]

Looks like most of the comments are from people who are treating the International Gateway (IG) as their own personal entrance to Epcot. If your schedule is so packed that you cannot spare a few extra minutes getting through IG, then you need to revisit your schedule. You are on holiday so slow down and enjoy it. Or is it that you don't want to mix with hoi polloi

I do not think your comment is fair or realistic at all. We are talking a massive increase of people coming into the parks at that entrance and only two tap styles. If you don't see that as an issue I I don't know what to say honestly. It's not like we're trying to keep people away from an entrance, we're just trying to make it not insane to get into which is truthfully what I fear. I do not own at Beach Club or Boardwalk because of this and really it could be that I won't stay there again if it turns out to be bad. And same with the other resorts on the Gondola line

 

[Hockey89]

I do not think your comment is fair or realistic at all. We are talking a massive increase of people coming into the parks at that entrance and only two tap styles. If you don't see that as an issue I I don't know what to say honestly. It's not like we're trying to keep people away from an entrance, we're just trying to make it not insane to get into which is truthfully what I fear. I do not own at beach club or Boardwalk because of this and really it could be that I won't stay there again if it turns out to be bad. And same with the other resorts on the Gondola line

The poster just wanted to call us snobby and tell us how to vacation... Your take is, of course, correct...

 

[matt9112]

It's never going to be the same. The boardwalk area and International gateway is like this big secret that alot of park goers don't know about.

here they come the massive Disney hordes are coming for your rich posh lifestyle....I hope they flood that resort area ok I'm kidding a little.

my money is on separate screening for the gondola guests.

 

[Goofyernmost]

Why would this be considered a problem when before almost everyone came in through one gate, the main one. Is everyone just doing everything they can to invent problems that in all likelihood do not exist? The entries are still going to space themselves out like they always have. I don't think it ever happened in the past that everyone in those resorts showed up at Epcot's entrance at the same time.

 

[DisDadWoz]

Why would this be considered a problem when before almost everyone came in through one gate, the main one. Is everyone just doing everything they can to invent problems that in all likelihood do not exist? The entries are still going to space themselves out like they always have. I don't think it ever happened in the past that everyone in those resorts showed up at Epcot's entrance at the same time.

The concern is not invented. The concern is there already with a small narrow entrance that currently backs up without the additional gondola traffic that is coming. The concern is that there doesn't seem to be a plan in place for more foot traffic at the entrance.

 

[Goofyernmost]

The concern is not invented. The concern is there already with a small narrow entrance that currently backs up without the additional gondola traffic that is coming. The concern is that there doesn't seem to be a plan in place for more foot traffic at the entrance.

Perhaps we should wait until it is done and then see if we have a problem or not. I'm sure that the concern has been voiced by someone, sometime so really it is still a make believe problem until it is an actual one. If what we have to say on a message board had any pull with anyone in Disney a whole lot of thing things would be different.

 

[OneofThree]

Almost invariably, people who prefer the Epcot resort area cite access through IG as an enormous factor in their preference. Concern over a significant alteration to that experience is certainly warranted, whether one agrees or not. The substantially higher premium guests pay to stay at YC, BC, or BWI is only justified if there is a certain amount of exclusivity. Increasingly, some of this sort of exclusivity is eroding at WDW resorts (ie IG access, parking, FP+, etc.). This isn't a matter of snobbery, it's a matter of value for dollar, IMO.

 

[Bronson55]

Don't think some people get it and are a tad envious of those that can afford a deluxe resort. No one is in a panic. What many are saying is that that gate was never designed for guests arriving directly from THREE more resorts plus a THEME park in addition to the traffic that has always been there and that perhaps some concerns are valid for ALL who arrive at that gate.
For those that feel boardwalk area guests are treating this as their own private entrance , that is silly. What they may be feeling is that the proximity of that small entrance was just one of the amenities that made the decision to shelling out the big bucks attractive in the first place. Otherwise, why not bank all that money and stay at a value resort.
Yes I stay at the Beach Club in recent years but like some on these boards, for more years than I can count I stayed at the Golden Link motel on route 192 for $39 a night until I could afford better accommodations.
Just read the official Disney hotel overviews. There is absolutely an expectation for relaxed casual elegance and easy walking distance to Epcot. Then read the overview for the value and moderate resorts. No such expectation is implied. For all those that are annoyed ,amused or perplexed at the concerns relax, no one will know who you are as you approach our secret entrance. ( attempt at humor )

 

[SeaCastle]

Almost invariably, people who prefer the Epcot resort area cite access through IG as an enormous factor in their preference. Concern over a significant alteration to that experience is certainly warranted, whether one agrees or not. The substantially higher premium guests pay to stay at YC, BC, or BWI is only justified if there is a certain amount of exclusivity. Increasingly, some of this sort of exclusivity is eroding at WDW resorts (ie IG access, parking, FP+, etc.). This isn't a matter of snobbery, it's a matter of value for dollar, IMO.

Don't think some people get it and are a tad envious of those that can afford a deluxe resort. No one is in a panic. What many are saying is that that gate was never designed for guests arriving directly from THREE more resorts plus a THEME park in addition to the traffic that has always been there and that perhaps some concerns are valid for ALL who arrive at that gate.
For those that feel boardwalk area guests are treating this as their own private entrance , that is silly. What they may be feeling is that the proximity of that small entrance was just one of the amenities that made the decision to shelling out the big bucks attractive in the first place. Otherwise, why not bank all that money and stay at a value resort.
Yes I stay at the Beach Club in recent years but like some on these boards, for more years than I can count I stayed at the Golden Link motel on route 192 for $39 a night until I could afford better accommodations.
Just read the official Disney hotel overviews. There is absolutely an expectation for relaxed casual elegance and easy walking distance to Epcot. Then read the overview for the value and moderate resorts. No such expectation is implied. For all those that are annoyed ,amused or perplexed at the concerns relax, no one will know who you are as you approach our secret entrance. ( attempt at humor )

I understand the line of thinking here and I think the disagreement is about conflating loss of exclusivity and loss of convenience. The increased volume of traffic at IG is obviously going to be a huge issue and I sincerely hope it is addressed because it's a bottleneck already. My concern, as a CBR guest or Yacht Club, is being inconvenienced by huge crowds at a turnstile facility that can't handle it.
As far as value goes it's hard to disentangle the price of access from other amenities at deluxes as Bronson pointed out especially because almost all of the deluxes have some kind of non-bus access to a park. But if I think about the monorail hotels, does having the Resort Monorail stop at the TTC damage the exclusivity of staying at a monorail resort? I'm only pointing this out to show that having another transportation option to get to a park doesn't necessarily have to make a deluxe resort less exclusive so long as the overall experience isn't made more inconvenient by having undersized entrance facilities.

 

[harryk]

Has Disney ever considered having all Security Checks outside the entrances to the WDW property - this would include all luggage - thereby eliminating all the security checks at the individual parks? There must be some way for them to do this - such as at the airports, prior to you getting onto the Magical Express or the alternate transportation that is provided, or prior to automobiles entering the WDW property. If this is not feasible having security checks at the various resorts prior to you going into the parks for the day and have another entrance for you to use, bypassing park security screening. If guests take water transport have them clear security prior to boarding the boats.

 

[eliza61nyc]

Oy Vey,
We're panicking already?? first, just because folks are aware of the entrance doesn't mean everyone will use it all the time. I'm aware of it and the only time I use that entrance is if I'm staying at an epcot resort. If I'm staying anywhere else I never go back there.

I can't see rope droppers converging because it's not close to the rides that open early in the morning and ws doesn't open until 11.

 

[larryz]

Oy Vey,
We're panicking already?? first, just because folks are aware of the entrance doesn't mean everyone will use it all the time. I'm aware of it and the only time I use that entrance is if I'm staying at an epcot resort. If I'm staying anywhere else I never go back there.

I can't see rope droppers converging because it's not close to the rides that open early in the morning and ws doesn't open until 11.

When the Skyliner becomes the primary mode of transport to Epcot from those 3 resorts, the IG will become the primary entrance for those three resorts. I don't see panic -- I see concern about the lack of transparency on modifying the IG to accommodate the increased traffic at park open.

 

[OneofThree]

When the Skyliner becomes the primary mode of transport to Epcot from those 3 resorts, the IG will become the primary entrance for those three resorts. I don't see panic -- I see concern about the lack of transparency on modifying the IG to accommodate the increased traffic at park open.

Yes. There's no speculation involved because we are already clear on the plans. "Panic"?

I mean, really? Spare me the CNN/FOX type spin. We've got a thread for that.

 

[llrain]

When visiting last week we spoke with the entrance cast members, voicing our displeasure with the bottleneck this little entrance is going to create, they all (at different days) basically said the same thing. That the entrance area will be unrecognizable in the future. "We are tearing it all down and creating a new magical World Showcase entrance that will be better access and of course larger with more turnstiles."

 

[networkpro]

When visiting last week we spoke with the entrance cast members, voicing our displeasure with the bottleneck this little entrance is going to create, they all (at different days) basically said the same thing. That the entrance area will be unrecognizable in the future. "We are tearing it all down and creating a new magical World Showcase entrance that will be better access and of course larger with more turnstiles."

There's a solution to this: Buy Disney and then you can dictate.

 

[eliza61nyc]

Well if more quest will now use the IG that will mean less guest at the front entrance right. So that will be good

 

[eliza61nyc]

When is the skyliner due to open