Rope drop at International Gateway

[RedDad]

Quick question for anyone who has stayed at any of the Epcot resorts-
We like to be at the parks well before rope drop every morning, but we've never used the IG entrance to Epcot before and are wondering about timing. I would assume the lines and crowds at this entrance are slightly smaller than the regular entrance, but what time should we plan on being there for rope drop?

 

[Tuvalu]

We always plan to be there 10-15 minutes in advance. We have never gotten to enter earlier than the posted opening time using the IG (sometimes the front entrance begins allowing guests in 15 minutes early.) There are far fewer people entering Epcot through IG first thing in the morning than the front entrance.

 

[journ116]

I'd have to concur with the above poster: arrive only 10-15 min. before FW opens.

We recently stayed at the BC during the last weekend of April, and entered thru the IG entrance at 9 a.m. and found no wait times and few guests. There will be CM's scattered along the way, guiding you toward FW (i.e. blocking the bridge between the UK and France). What is really nice about entering thru IG is that you can stop, momentarily, and take pictures in the UK and Canada pavilions with little to no crowds. We took the "meandering" path to the left, next to the restrooms, but before the promenade, to get over to FW. AND, since the Flower & Garden Festival was going on when we went, we stopped at the OZ playground to let our daughters play...us and one other family were the only ones in there for a good 30 min.!

As it gets closer to WS's opening time, you'll find more guests using this entrance. We've entered thru IG at several times throughout the day (9 a.m., 1 p.m., 4 p.m., 8 p.m.), and rarely did we have to wait at the security check point or the turnstiles. Kind of feels like a "hidden entrance!"

 

[dreamfinder]

We recently stayed at the BC during the last weekend of April, and entered thru the IG entrance at 9 a.m. and found no wait times and few guests. There will be CM's scattered along the way, guiding you toward FW (i.e. blocking the bridge between the UK and France). What is really nice about entering thru IG is that you can stop, momentarily, and take pictures in the UK and Canada pavilions with little to no crowds. We took the "meandering" path to the left, next to the restrooms, but before the promenade, to get over to FW. AND, since the Flower & Garden Festival was going on when we went, we stopped at the OZ playground to let our daughters play...us and one other family were the only ones in there for a good 30 min.!

Slightly surprised they weren't letting you go towards France. I thought one of the reasons why they built the new bakery so large was that so they could serve breakfast there in the early AM.

 

[RedDad]

Thanks for the info! I hope during one of our Epcot days we'll be able to slow down and enjoy those few areas of WS before it opens. I have to resist the urge to sprint toward Soarin for a FP...

Slightly surprised they weren't letting you go towards France. I thought one of the reasons why they built the new bakery so large was that so they could serve breakfast there in the early AM.

Now this would make me slow down! I would love to be able to stop there for a coffee and pastry - can anyone else confirm whether this is an option?

 

[Monty]

Thanks for the info! I hope during one of our Epcot days we'll be able to slow down and enjoy those few areas of WS before it opens. I have to resist the urge to sprint toward Soarin for a FP...

Now this would make me slow down! I would love to be able to stop there for a coffee and pastry - can anyone else confirm whether this is an option?

As far as I know there was never any intention to open WS earlier to access the newly improved bakery in France. CMs block access to the UK-France bridge and others block access before Mexico the other way until WS opens.

 

[journ116]

Slightly surprised they weren't letting you go towards France. I thought one of the reasons why they built the new bakery so large was that so they could serve breakfast there in the early AM.

Oooh! I love that idea! The bakery in France has always been a fan favorite for me and my family! But alas, every single time (even in years past), whenever we entered thru the IG turnstiles before WS officially opens, access to the bridge was blocked by CM's.

What will be interesting for my upcoming vacation in early June, we'll be staying at the Boardwalk and will obviously use said entrance to EP...but, which way will we be directed for our 8:05 a.m. ressie at Akershus? The two times we did this early morning experience, we stayed elsewhere and entered in thru the front turnstiles, then were directed toward Mexico (which was also nice, because we meandered a bit and took some uninterrupted photos). I'll be doing a TR when we get back, so I'll let you know what my experiences are here!

 

[dreamfinder]

As far as I know there was never any intention to open WS earlier to access the newly improved bakery in France. CMs block access to the UK-France bridge and others block access before Mexico the other way until WS opens.

I'm like 99% sure that when I ran through Epcot for the 2013 Marathon (would have been about 9:20ish) they had a sandwich board at the top of the IG entryway, just before the UK/France bridge, saying they were serving breakfast. And according to the DisneyFoodBlog here -> http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2013/01/15/review-epcots-les-halles-bakery/ they were indeed opening at 9 for breakfast. Did they roll this back at some point?

 

[Monty]

I'm like 99% sure that when I ran through Epcot for the 2013 Marathon (would have been about 9:20ish) they had a sandwich board at the top of the IG entryway, just before the UK/France bridge, saying they were serving breakfast. And according to the DisneyFoodBlog here -> http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2013/01/15/review-epcots-les-halles-bakery/ they were indeed opening at 9 for breakfast. Did they roll this back at some point?

I stand corrected.

I Googled and found lots of info that indicates it opens at 9AM [as recently as 13 April]. I was in the World, staying at BC from 18-23 April and when entering via IG I saw the CM standing at the UK-France bridge and a rope across the bridge. I never thought to ask about getting to France for breakfast. There certainly wasn't a sandwich board that I could see to indicate it was possible.

Goes to show the benefits of being a member here... Now I'll know to ask!

 

[dreamfinder]

I Googled and found lots of info that indicates it opens at 9AM [as recently as 13 April]. I was in the World, staying at BC from 18-23 April and when entering via IG I saw the CM standing at the UK-France bridge and a rope across the bridge. I never thought to ask about getting to France for breakfast. There certainly wasn't a sandwich board that I could see to indicate it was possible.

It does seem strange that despite multiple reports of them serving breakfast, that a few people are reporting rope being across the bridge. One would think they would want to make it fairly obvious to help encourage sales.

 

[Zortek]

I wonder if the CMs at the bakery are sitting there all morning wondering why no one ever shows up for breakfast.

 

[Zman-ks]

I wonder if the CMs at the bakery are sitting there all morning wondering why no one ever shows up for breakfast.

lol....

 

[RedDad]

Update: standing at IG this morning waiting to get into Epcot and the CM stated that they are now opening the IG entrance earlier than the main entrance as a result of folks staying in the Epcot resorts writing letters complaining about the longer walk to FW. We'll see what time they actually let us in!

 

[DiSnEyF@n]

We always stay at the EPCOT resorts (wouldn't stay anywhere else in the "world") and I have never waited in line like in the main lines to the other parks when going through the IG. The walk to Future World is breathtaking and is a great way to plan out your day as you scoop up a map to the park. We have many pictures (without anyone in the background) in England and Canada (although nothing is open yet). Enjoy your trip

 

[RedDad]

They started letting us in at 8:45, which seemed about right as we got to Soarin in FW about the same time as the main crowd of folks coming from the front.

 

[RedDad]

It does seem strange that despite multiple reports of them serving breakfast, that a few people are reporting rope being across the bridge. One would think they would want to make it fairly obvious to help encourage sales.

I stand corrected.

I Googled and found lots of info that indicates it opens at 9AM [as recently as 13 April]. I was in the World, staying at BC from 18-23 April and when entering via IG I saw the CM standing at the UK-France bridge and a rope across the bridge. I never thought to ask about getting to France for breakfast. There certainly wasn't a sandwich board that I could see to indicate it was possible.

Goes to show the benefits of being a member here... Now I'll know to ask!

I can confirm that the bakery does open at 9am, as we ate there one morning last week. I don't think many people realize this, as France was completely empty. On this particular day we entered IG around 9:15am, and there was no rope at the bridge to France. I did, however, notice that the bridge to France was roped off when we entered through IG at rope drop on our first park day. I think the reason is that they are now opening IG a few minutes before 9am, and everyone is pouring straight over to FW for FP's anyway. I assume they remove the rope at the France bridge at exactly 9am when the bakery opens.

Oh, and the pastries and coffee there were excellent!