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

[larryz]

Why would it effect any of these hotels? Yes one of the reason you pay is for the location but the location of these hotels isn't changing. You will still be able to walk to 2 parks. Not one amenity will change due to the Gondolas

No amenities at the hotels change except for convenience of quick access to both Epcot and DHS. Convenience is a large component of "location, location, location."

In the real estate market, when convenience of a location diminishes, prices fall. Anyone who thinks that will happen at WDW, I've got a time share to sell you...

 

[DarthVader]

People will find the path of least resistance so IG is a natual spot where many folks can get into Epcot with less hassle. I don't see Disney accomodating anyone in changing their security. Their first priority is safety even if it inconviences their guests. I don't knock that, but my take away is that they setup security and just move on to another task without revisiting and revising it. Just look at the issue of taking a monorail to Epcot. You have to go through two long checkpoints in a row, its ridiculous

 

[OneofThree]

Why would it effect any of these hotels?

I don't know that it will. Those with concerns suggest here that they may no longer enjoy the same ease of access. I think this is clearly reasonable given the way Disney has been approaching herding crowding in general for some time now. Personally, I prefer MK resorts. But let's be honest here, the Epcot resort people (almost to a man) justify their deluxe premiums in large part by the nature of this access. Any substantial, negative impact would represent yet another resort perk falling by the wayside.

Comparisons with the monorail resorts don't really inform these concerns, as the TTC opened as such with Poly and CR. Guests' experiences were never affected, and nor the value.

 

[eliza61nyc]

No amenities at the hotels change except for convenience of quick access to both Epcot and DHS. Convenience is a large component of "location, location, location."

In the real estate market, when convenience of a location diminishes, prices fall. Anyone who thinks that will happen at WDW, I've got a time share to sell you...

So I have to respectfully disagree. Convenience hasn't changed at all. How could it, the buildings haven't moved? the epcot resorts are still convenient to Epcot and HS. It's the time component that's got folks upset and the resorts never market themselves as quick.

BLT/Contemporary guest all walk to MK. No one in their right mind will ever say it's quick getting back to the resort at the end of the day. are you kidding? it's like the running of the bulls.

I live in center city and mid town manhattan. I am convenient to every thing, I am not "QUICK" to a darn thing. lol walking out my house to grab something to eat while close is not quick. it's easy yes. 8 million people? never quick. and I can tell you real estate has never gone down. don't even get me started on driving.

So I think the primary issue is one that is the on going complaint, Disney is way more crowded and those crowds are slowly but surely finding their way into all the hidden treasures naturally guest experiences are going to change.

These are just my brain thoughts. I have absolutely no insider information, nada, zippo. please don't take me for knowledgable in anything.

 

[eliza61nyc]

I don't know that it will. Those with concerns suggest here that they may no longer enjoy the same ease of access. I think this is clearly reasonable given the way Disney has been approaching herding crowding in general for some time now. Personally, I prefer MK resorts. But let's be honest here, the Epcot resort people (almost to man) justify their deluxe premiums in large part by the nature of this access. Any substantial, negative impact would represent yet another resort perk falling by the wayside.

Comparisons with the monorail resorts don't really inform these concerns, as the TTC opened as such with Poly and CR. Guests' experiences were never affected, and nor the value.

so is the justification for staying there its easy to get into epcot or that you can walk to Epcot and HS. Will this change? Will we now be unable to walk to Epcot?

Nothing has changed about the access except now you may have to wait, what 15 minutes tops? Even with the off loading of the boats, getting through IG has not been long.

So basically it's again the crowd issue. I've stayed at BLT and again one of the "perks" is that you can walk to MK. although it's nice leaving MK and walking back to BLT has never been quick, the massive herds leaving the parks all around prevent a quick jaunt.

Here's a few factors) i don't think rope dropers will use it as WS doesn't open until 11 and its a walk from the front.

 

[OneofThree]

so is the justification for staying there its easy to get into epcot or that you can walk to Epcot and HS.

I think if posts are indicative here and elsewhere, it's both. I'm sure the Epcot area people will be more than happy to clear up any ambiguity on this.

 

[Dutch Inn '76]

I think if posts are indicative here and elsewhere, it's both. I'm sure the Epcot area people will be more than happy to clear up any ambiguity on this. View attachment 280817

When I have stayed at Boardwalk in the past, I stayed there because it's close to the World Showcase, and I like the theming of the Boardwalk hotel. The World Showcase is probably my favorite part of WDW, so staying so close to it is very appealing to me.

THE BIGGEST PROBLEM AT WDW RIGHT NOW is overcrowding in the Magic Kingdom. While not everyone will agree with that statement, I think that everyone would have it in their top 3. It looks to me that The Mouse is trying to alleviate overcrowding in the MK by spreading guests out to the underutilized parts of their property. Why did they build Star Wars at HS? ...to move crowds there. Why build Pandora at AK? To make it a full-day park, moving crowds there. Why build the gondolas? To give them yet another amenity over Universal and to more efficiently move guests. But why have the gondolas drop off at the IG of Epcot instead of the front gate? ...to bring crowds to what I think might be the most underutilized area of the whole resort, Crescent Lake - and to reduce the crowd at the Epcot front gate.

Perhaps this move will lessen the CRUSH of people in the MK and move some of them to the WS and Crescent Lake. If so, that's good. ...or maybe it will just bring enough foot traffic to the Boardwalk to keep it humming throughout the day. I for one, am excited about the prospect of all of that.

 

[eliza61nyc]

I think if posts are indicative here and elsewhere, it's both. I'm sure the Epcot area people will be more than happy to clear up any ambiguity on this. View attachment 280817

lol. probably @OneofThree,

So my home resort is Beach club villas and I will say one of the reasons why we stay there is the ability to walk to Epcot, as that's our favorite park but it's only one. I love the resort because of the theming, the pool and the ample food options. My vacations luckily have morphed where I can avoid most major crowd crushes. I don't do rope drop anymore and I know to "linger" in the parks at close to let the first hoard go by. Now I will admit that DVC'ers have a very different take on many things for the simple fact that we know we'll be back again and many of us have flexibility in our schedules.

But I will say, that for most folks I know, they will say it is the ability to walk to the park. Will my enjoyment of that perk decrease if I know have to wait 15 minutes to get through security? I don't think so, If there is a bottle neck, that's where it will be, once you get past that, the space opens up and even if folks from these resorts decide to venture over, I'm thinking they will bang a left and go toward the Boardwalk which is usually slow as molasses and never packed. (again, I'm just visualizing this in my head)

This is one area though where I do think we maybe overestimating the effect, IF and this is a big IF, they recongfigure the current security check I'm thinking it will be negligable at worst. But again, I'm coming from the persepctive of now where it takes 4-5 minutes to get through to adding an extra 10 minutes.

 

[correcaminos]

so is the justification for staying there its easy to get into epcot or that you can walk to Epcot and HS. Will this change? Will we now be unable to walk to Epcot?

Nothing has changed about the access except now you may have to wait, what 15 minutes tops? Even with the off loading of the boats, getting through IG has not been long.

So basically it's again the crowd issue. I've stayed at BLT and again one of the "perks" is that you can walk to MK. although it's nice leaving MK and walking back to BLT has never been quick, the massive herds leaving the parks all around prevent a quick jaunt.

Here's a few factors) i don't think rope dropers will use it as WS doesn't open until 11 and its a walk from the front.

You realize that it opens at 9 am for guests just like the front, right? How else are those going to Epcot supposed to get in then? There is no transporation from those resorts to front of Epcot so they have to use it at rope drop

 

[eliza61nyc]

You realize that it opens at 9 am for guests just like the front, right? How else are those going to Epcot supposed to get in then? There is no transporation from those resorts to front of Epcot so they have to use it at rope drop

you mean once the gandolas are built those resorts will not longer have buses to epcot? I know BC doesn't have a bus to Epcot. so once these are built the only way for the other resorts to get to epcot will be the gandolas?

 

[MisterPenguin]

you mean once the gandolas are built those resorts will not longer have buses to epcot? I know BC doesn't have a bus to Epcot. so once these are built the only way for the other resorts to get to epcot will be the gandolas?

That is very very likely to be the case except for when the Gondolas can't run in very inclement weather, just like with the ferries.

 

[Goofyernmost]

I might be wrong, but, as I read this a thought comes to mind. When everyone expresses their concern of the numbers of people that will be coming from the Gondola Resorts are using the entire population of the resort as a concern in the IG entrance. Has there ever been a time when every person staying in one of those resorts are planning on going to Epcot at the same time on the same day? Aren't there other places that they might want to head for like MK, or DAK or DHS or a water park or golf course or Disney Springs, and never ever get to the IG entrance at the same time? I think many are magnifying the numbers to a point that would be impossible to even accidentally occur. Yet, another reasonably sized mole hill being push up to an Everest size mountain. The likelihood of a back up would be much more possible at closing then any other time of the day.

 

[larryz]

So I have to respectfully disagree. Convenience hasn't changed at all. How could it, the buildings haven't moved? the epcot resorts are still convenient to Epcot and HS. It's the time component that's got folks upset and the resorts never market themselves as quick.

BLT/Contemporary guest all walk to MK. No one in their right mind will ever say it's quick getting back to the resort at the end of the day. are you kidding? it's like the running of the bulls.

I live in center city and mid town manhattan. I am convenient to every thing, I am not "QUICK" to a darn thing. lol walking out my house to grab something to eat while close is not quick. it's easy yes. 8 million people? never quick. and I can tell you real estate has never gone down. don't even get me started on driving.

So I think the primary issue is one that is the on going complaint, Disney is way more crowded and those crowds are slowly but surely finding their way into all the hidden treasures naturally guest experiences are going to change.

These are just my brain thoughts. I have absolutely no insider information, nada, zippo. please don't take me for knowledgable in anything.

So, to borrow your NYC analogy, if I may... A large part of the ease of access was that access was essentially limited to YC/BC, Swolphin, and Boardwalk guests. They're adding guests from three more resorts, three VERY LARGE resorts. I'm concerned that additional traffic will turn the IG entry into the equivalent of Times Square on New Years Eve.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Those three resorts, at peak morning hours, sends a bus load of guests to the Epcot front gate once every 20 minutes. If a bus is full at 60 people, that's, on average 9 people per minute. If they all use the Gondola, instead, then that's 9 extra people per minute (at peak) showing up at the IG.

I think a few extra tapstiles/checkpoints can handle that.

AS LONG AS YOU OPEN ALL THE FREAKIN' ZIPPERS ON YOUR FREAKIN' BAGS, PEOPLE!!!!! WHAT PART OF "UNZIP ALL YOUR POCKETS" DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND?!!!!!!!

Carry on.

 

[Dutch Inn '76]

Those three resorts, at peak morning hours, sends a bus load of guests to the Epcot front gate once every 20 minutes. If a bus is full at 60 people, that's, on average 9 people per minute. If they all use the Gondola, instead, then that's 9 extra people per minute (at peak) showing up at the IG.

I haven't thought about that - the gondolas are going to be able to handle more peeps than the busses - and muuuuuch more efficiently. If the gondolas work like they want them to, then we will be seeing more of them.

 

[MisterPenguin]

I haven't thought about that - the gondolas are going to be able to handle more peeps than the busses - and muuuuuch more efficiently. If the gondolas work like they want them to, then we will be seeing more of them.

Moving them more efficiently does mean you can get a bit of a higher peak in drop off at the sweet spot of right before the park opens, however, you're not getting more people overall than you would as if the buses dropped them off at the IG.

 

[eliza61nyc]

Those three resorts, at peak morning hours, sends a bus load of guests to the Epcot front gate once every 20 minutes. If a bus is full at 60 people, that's, on average 9 people per minute. If they all use the Gondola, instead, then that's 9 extra people per minute (at peak) showing up at the IG.

I think a few extra tapstiles/checkpoints can handle that.

AS LONG AS YOU OPEN ALL THE FREAKIN' ZIPPERS ON YOUR FREAKIN' BAGS, PEOPLE!!!!! WHAT PART OF "UNZIP ALL YOUR POCKETS" DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND?!!!!!!!

Carry on.

Lol. I am the kiss of death, I am always behind the person who has 10 bags in a stroller and has to off load every thing.

 

[Willmark]

Or is it that you don't want to mix with hoi polloi

I’ll play along.

And what if that is their reason?

 

[correcaminos]

you mean once the gandolas are built those resorts will not longer have buses to epcot? I know BC doesn't have a bus to Epcot. so once these are built the only way for the other resorts to get to epcot will be the gandolas?

I was talking about the current situation, so the current resorts. I will guess that the gondolas will remove buses from the other resorts, but I cannot say for sure. But I assume it will be the same like at MK resorts for MK and Epcot resorts for Epcot. You simply don't get bus service unless the alternative transport is down.

 

[eliza61nyc]

but at the mk resorts you do have two options. at the 'contemporary you can walk or take the monorail (to mk) at the Grand floridian you can go by boat or the monorail to mk or monorail and bus to Epcot. The only one I'm not sure about is the Poly. Wilderness lodge you can take the Boat to MK or a bus to the TTC.

I will be shocked if they only do gondolas to Epcot, what are they going to do with the hundreds of guest with a fear of heights? with kids that don't want to ride them?

Doesn't specifically have to be buses but I thought most deluxes give you a couple of options to get to the parks. Even the epcot resorts have boats and walking to HS.

Ok I'm changing my opinion to agree with Captain america. If they are going to get rid of the Epcot buses and the only choice for those resorts is going to be the gondolas, they need a plan. I sure as heck would not stay there with only that form of transportation.

animal kingdom is the exception because it's out in the boondocks, lol away from every thing.