Refused access to the World Showcase entrance to Epcot from Beach Club?

meggiebeth

WDW, DLR & DLP enthusiast
Joined
Aug 1, 2011
Hi all,

Just wondering if anyone had any experience of the confusion we had when leaving Epcot today to return to our resort - we had finished extra magic hours in the evening and started walking back towards the World Showcase exit to walk towards Beach Club when we were told by a cast member that World Showcase had closed and we would have to leave via the front exit to Epcot. We were really confused by this and asked several more cast members on the way out who initially told us that World Showcase would be open to leave from. After we told them that we were refused entry, we were told we would have to either get the monorail to the TTC and then a bus to Beach Club (although Magic Kingdom closed over two hours earlier) or get a bus to Hollywood Studios and then transfer to a boat or walk (which takes half an hour I believe). We went to the Hollywood Studios bus stop with others who had been told the same, but a bus to Hollywood Studios didn’t show up - we found a bus without a listed destination and asked there and the driver kindly drove us back, but otherwise I’m not sure how we would have got back. Does anyone have any experience with the World Showcase exit being closed? A 7 minute walk turned into an hour to get back, and as far as I was aware the back exit should have been available to use. It would be great to know what to do in case it happens again as there didn’t seem to be any buses to Beach Club! :)
 
Hi all,

Just wondering if anyone had any experience of the confusion we had when leaving Epcot today to return to our resort - we had finished extra magic hours in the evening and started walking back towards the World Showcase exit to walk towards Beach Club when we were told by a cast member that World Showcase had closed and we would have to leave via the front exit to Epcot. We were really confused by this and asked several more cast members on the way out who initially told us that World Showcase would be open to leave from. After we told them that we were refused entry, we were told we would have to either get the monorail to the TTC and then a bus to Beach Club (although Magic Kingdom closed over two hours earlier) or get a bus to Hollywood Studios and then transfer to a boat or walk (which takes half an hour I believe). We went to the Hollywood Studios bus stop with others who had been told the same, but a bus to Hollywood Studios didn’t show up - we found a bus without a listed destination and asked there and the driver kindly drove us back, but otherwise I’m not sure how we would have got back. Does anyone have any experience with the World Showcase exit being closed? A 7 minute walk turned into an hour to get back, and as far as I was aware the back exit should have been available to use. It would be great to know what to do in case it happens again as there didn’t seem to be any buses to Beach Club! :)

I have never heard of this before. :confused3
 
We were in Epcot tonight too for EMH but did not need to use the International Gateway. Did notice a lot of new College Program CM's working at the parks though.......just speculation but maybe they were new CM's who didn't realize that people have to access that exit to leave the park when it's closed and not be herded to the main entrance like at the other parks? New CM training doesn't seem to be as extensive as in the past, again no concrete knowledge here, just my impression that new CM's at all the parks are normally eager and helpful but not as familiar with some basic facts than they were some years ago.

Doesn't sound right, have never heard of this before, and it concerns me since you said other people were told that too and you were sent to wait for transportation that did not show up and doesn't make sense to be running after those parks have closed too.

If it were me I would have (nicely) asked for a supervisor to explain to me this apparently new exit rule, or asked politely to please have security escort me to International Gateway so I can get back to my resort and get some sleep.

You pay a premium price for those Epcot resorts because of the location and easy Epcot access. Unless there was an issue outside that entrance/exit (medical emergency, blocked area, accident, etc.) this does not make sense.
 


This is definitely a new occurrence. I have to wonder if this was because of construction in the Gondola area by the international gate.
I would inquire at the front desk of the Beach Club, with a manager at the resort, as to what is going on and if this is going to be a regular occurrence during the length of your trip.

The transportation coordinator at the front of Epcot definitely dropped the ball with getting you home. The CM who told you to take the Monorail to the TTC is in desperate need of re-training.

It sounds like there was no communication between the transportation coordinator at the front of Epcot and the CM's who were closing the international gate. This is bad customer service.

Please keep us posted with this situation and thank you for taking the time to let us know what you experienced.

Definitely talk to a manager at the Beach Club and let them know what happened.

~NM
 
I've also never heard of this before at all.

I'd also inquire at the front desk as to why you were told this. Either there was construction going on that temporarily closed the exit, or the cast member was giving out incorrect advice.
 


I've also never heard of this before at all.

I'd also inquire at the front desk as to why you were told this. Either there was construction going on that temporarily closed the exit, or the cast member was giving out incorrect advice.

Which I can understand if the gondola was being worked on ...........

But if that is the case the hotels owed you written notices at check-in, in your room, and text/email reminders hours before closing. Then they owed you a bus out front direct to hotel. The minute they depend on Park CMs to assist you in getting to your hotel is the minute there is wrong information.

I would go to front desk and complain ... you pay a premium rate to walk back to your hotel. I would have been very upset to have to do what you did ... and you got lucky.

They will never leave you stranded, you did the right thing OR you could look for a Transportation CM on the ground who should have called you all a bus.
 
Um...if I can't walk out the IG at the end of the night, I may as well go stay at a value resort and keep my money in my pocket. The whole point of staying at an Epcot resort is not having to spend an hour getting back to my room after park closing.

Agree with others that someone was giving out incorrect information, and you should definitely bring it to Disney's attention.
 
Either there was construction going on that temporarily closed the exit,

Have they been doing night work on the gondola system? The purpose of night work is for minimal disruption, and working during EMH not allowing guests to exit there would certainly be disruptive. I would also think night work in that area would be noisy for Boardwalk and Beach Club guests.
 
I would definitely speak with a manager at your hotel. Telling you to go all the way to Magic Kingdom to get back to your resort is crazy. The whole point of staying at the Epcot resorts is an easy walk back and not having to deal with Disney transportation
 
I was at Epcot last night for EMH, staying at BWI. Had no problem leaving from IG. I wasn't leaving at the end though, more like about 10:15, so about 45 min before it was over. There was a lot of folks still pouring in to Epcot at that point. OP what time were trying to leave? Wonder how far after 11:00? Is there a point where they do close IG?
 
Have they been doing night work on the gondola system? The purpose of night work is for minimal disruption, and working during EMH not allowing guests to exit there would certainly be disruptive. I would also think night work in that area would be noisy for Boardwalk and Beach Club guests.
Not any work that I've seen or heard
 
A couple years ago we closed down Epcot and Rose and Crown. Got last drinks at park closing and had to drink them and then pay up. We exited through an empty WS and IG to go back to Beach Club. We own DVC at BWV and have stayed there or BCV around 10 times. We always exit through IG.
 

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