When You Should Use EPCOT’s ‘Back Door’

Is EPCOT the best park at Disney World?

A lot of people would probably say so! It does have a lot to offer, from traveling around the world to launching into space. EPCOT is a great park to spend the whole day in or to just hang out at for a couple of hours. Either way, you have to GET to the park first. EPCOT has two entrances into the park (the main entrance and the International Gateway), so we’re going to talk about which entrance you should use while you’re at Disney World!

EPCOT Main Entrance

EPCOT’s main entrance is located at the front of the park (duh) and is where you’ll walk up on a view of Spaceship Earth and the renovated fountain area right when you come in.

This area has many entry points and security checkpoints, so it’s good for handling large crowds. You will also find more ticket booths or guest relations Cast Members available to help you with buying tickets or whatever questions you might have.

This is the entrance you will be brought to if you are driving and parking at EPCOT (or using rideshare), take the Monorail from the Transportation and Ticket Center, or take a bus to the park.

So, this entrance is for you if you’re taking any of those modes of transportation to get to EPCOT! If you’re not staying at an EPCOT resort, you will most likely be using one of these options to get to EPCOT. So, this is probably where it’s best for you to enter the park.

Keep in mind that this entrance is usually busier than the International Gateway entrance since it is the main entry point, but it also has a better capability of handling more people.

If you want to talk to a Cast Member at the ticket or guest relations booths, this is also probably a better option for you, since there are more available here. These booths are located just before the entrance gate.

The benefits of this entrance are that you get that nice EPCOT view as soon as you walk in! Spaceship Earth is front and center.

There may be a few construction walls that you come upon this way, but luckily most of the construction in EPCOT is nearly finished. Most of the construction is taking place near CommuniCore Hall and CommuniCore Plaza in World Celebration, which is a little ways in from the entrance.

This entrance is also closer to all of the attractions in EPCOT’s World Celebration, Discovery, and Nature. So, if you’re trying to get to Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind in time for your boarding group, we would use the main entrance at EPCOT!

But, this entrance is further away from the World Showcase, so if you’re trying to rope drop Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, we would say to go in through the International Gateway if you’re able instead.

International Gateway

The International Gateway is located down a pathway between the France and U.K. pavilions in EPCOT’s World Showcase. It is only accessible on foot, by boat, or by using the Skyliner.

This entrance is a lot smaller than the main entrance, but it is also usually not as busy. Just know that if it IS really busy for whatever reason, you could be waiting there for a minute. The same goes for speaking to the Cast Members who help with tickets and other guest relations issues at this entrance — availability is way more limited.

You should use the International Gateway if you’re staying at an EPCOT resort, like Disney’s BoardWalk Resort, Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Resorts, the Walt Disney World Swan, the Walt Disney World Dolphin, or the Swan Reserve. You can walk to the International Gateway from all of these resorts. Keep in mind that you can also walk from Hollywood Studios to the International Gateway (but it’s a bit of a hike!).

If you don’t want to walk, you can take a Friendship Boat! These boats travel between EPCOT and Hollywood Studios, stopping at each resort mentioned above to pick up guests. Do know that this boat ride can take a while if you have a lot of stops in between where you’re trying to go. But, you can hop off at the next stop and walk the rest of the way if you want!

So, if you’re coming from an EPCOT resort or Hollywood Studios on a Friendship Boat, this is the entrance for you, because you will be taken right to it!

The other option is the Disney Skyliner. There is a Skyliner station at the International Gateway that connects Hollywood Studios and several Disney hotels to EPCOT. Hotels with Skyliner access include Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, Disney’s Riviera Resort, Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, and Disney’s Pop Century Resort.

So, if you’re staying at one of these resorts, you can hop on the Skyliner and fly right over to the International Gateway!

You should also consider these modes of transportation to the International Gateway if you’re eating breakfast or visiting one of these hotels. So, if you’re eating breakfast at Topolino’s Terrace at the Riviera, we would then get on the Skyliner to go to EPCOT.

The benefits of this entrance are that it puts you right into the World Showcase without having to weave through any other areas of the park. You can get to visiting countries around the world right away!

This entrance is also typically less crowded than the main entrance, which can save you a lot of time. But remember, it’s also smaller.

If you’re trying to rope drop Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure or Les Halles Boulangerie Patisserie, we would suggest entering from the International Gateway because it puts you right next to the France pavilion.

We’d also suggest using this entrance if you’re trying to get into the park to watch Luminous: The Symphony of Us, the evening fireworks. The show takes place over the World Showcase Lagoon, so you’ll be closer to the view by using this entrance.

However, there is also the chance that you might not be able to use this entrance. If you’re not staying at one of the above resorts or don’t have a dining reservation at one of them, security at the hotels may not allow you to park there and walk, boat, or fly (on the Skyliner) to International Gateway. In these circumstances, it’s best to use the main entrance.

Also, note that both entrances have ECV and stroller rentals available at them, so you don’t have to worry about that being a deciding factor!

Picking an EPCOT entrance totally depends on how you’re getting to EPCOT. For buses, cars, and the Monorail — use the main entrance.  And, for boats, walking, and the Skyliner — use the International Gateway!

It’s important to know that getting to either of these entrances can take longer than you think, so factor that into your park hopping when you’re planning your day at Disney World.

If you want to know more about what’s going on at EPCOT right now, you can check out our info on the big EPCOT transformation, our spoiler-free review of the new Guardians of the Galaxy ride, or our info about the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival!

Stay tuned to All Ears for more Disney World tips, tricks, and info.

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Which entrance do you like better at EPCOT? Tell us in the comments!

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