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

[Sue M]

Hi again everyone - an update on my experience:

Initially, when we finally got back to Beach Club on the bus, we went to speak with concierge at the hotel. They effectively told us that the problem was something we would need to take up with the parks and that it wasn’t a resort issue - they recommended filling in comments when we checked out if we wanted to flag it up. We went away and returned later, asking to speak to a manager the next day. They said they would raise it in the morning - when we never heard back we went back and spoke with another CM who again said she would raise it with the manager. We chased it up today with another CM who went and spoke to the manager and said the CM in Epcot made a mistake not allowing us to pass and that they were sorry. It is good to know that it was a mistake as the back entrance to Epcot was one of the main reasons for us choosing Beach Club. We changed our plans the next day because we ended up getting back after midnight, which was frustrating, but at least we know for next time that we have access.

I would be going into Guest Relations and emailing Guest Relations. That was totally ridiculous. I’m here now and have noticed there seem to be a lot of new CMs that are uninformed. Some barely speak English so when you ask them something they don’t know what you’re talking about. CM training isn’t what it used to be. Or curtesy. We were on CR dock waiting for WL boat today. Small boat pulls up, a couple of boat captains were there, then just walked away with no explanation, leaving boat there. Turned out there was lightening in area somewhere, and they can’t run small launches. Long wait for the big boat. You’d think it would be a matter of curtesy for them to say something to those waiting instead of walking away with no explanation.

 

[dansdad]

I'll be thrilled if it is just confusion and/or bad training.

It is.

 

[bookbunny]

Im glad to read that the matter was cleared up. We will be there in a couple of weeks and would hate to be stopped from going through IG. They really should have an older CM working along side the new ones so this doesn't keep happening.

 

[Best Aunt]

Hi again everyone - an update on my experience:

Initially, when we finally got back to Beach Club on the bus, we went to speak with concierge at the hotel. They effectively told us that the problem was something we would need to take up with the parks and that it wasn’t a resort issue - they recommended filling in comments when we checked out if we wanted to flag it up. We went away and returned later, asking to speak to a manager the next day. They said they would raise it in the morning - when we never heard back we went back and spoke with another CM who again said she would raise it with the manager. We chased it up today with another CM who went and spoke to the manager and said the CM in Epcot made a mistake not allowing us to pass and that they were sorry. It is good to know that it was a mistake as the back entrance to Epcot was one of the main reasons for us choosing Beach Club. We changed our plans the next day because we ended up getting back after midnight, which was frustrating, but at least we know for next time that we have access.

I would screenshot this and save it to my phone.

 

[tbssenterprises]

We were just there last week, staying at The Beach Club and NEVER had an issue.exiting from that area.

 

[Tina1]

We stayed at the Yaht Club a few years ago. We had 8:30 reservations at Akershus. We showed up at the gate at 8am. Gate was closed and no one in site. We gave up and went to the front desk. They were rude and treated us like we were an inconvenience. They had no ideal we we wanted. Manger came out and said someone should be there. We walked back and no one was there. Someone did show up a few min after open. After all that walking to say I was upset was an understatement. The resort lost its charm after that. All that money and this was the one thing we were looking forward to. Honestly it wasn't the walking or no one to let us in that upset me it was how we were treated at the front desk. We were at Disney so I shook it off, I didn't go back and complain because I didn't have the heart to get upset again.

 

[WEDWDW]

It will be interesting to see how late they will run the Gondolas at the IG after PM EMH-I can just "picture" AoA/POP/CBR/DRR Guests who have taken their time getting to the IG after the end of PM EMH finding the Gondolas not running and then going "What do we do now?".

 

[AngiTN]

It will be interesting to see how late they will run the Gondolas at the IG after PM EMH-I can just "picture" AoA/POP/CBR/DRR Guests who have taken their time getting to the IG after the end of PM EMH finding the Gondolas not running and then going "What do we do now?".

I'm going to go with at least an hour after closing like they do boats. But that's just my W.A.G.

 

[CliftonParkGMan]

WOW!

Heard about this on the DIS Daily Fix video and see what happened.

Our family's home DVC resort is BCV and one of the reasons we bought and added on at BCV was the walking access to Epcot and DHS.

I hope this is not some new policy because quite frankly I will raise holy heck. I'd actually refuse to go out the front. EMH is a bonus to all of us staying on property.

In the past Disney staff have been really flexible. I remember a few years ago being on the outside of main entrance after park closing. Talked to security and they let us go in the park to walk through to Int'l Gateway.

We are not too happy Disney is bringing the new Skyliner traffic to the Int'l Gateway which is a small entrance already. Now they will funnel traffic from the value resorts which have very high room and guest counts. This is also going to cause capacity issues with the Boats to DHS as thousands of new guests experiencing the Int'l gateway will see and subsequently use the boats to go from Epcot to DHS. This will end up having no room on the boat by the time it reaches the dock at YC and BC. Trust me these non Epcot resort guests will not take the Skyliner back to CB station then transfer to DHS - they will use the boats.

People pay more to stay at the Epcot Resorts and DVC member pay for transportation as part of our dues. We chose to buy at BCV and to add on points because of the ease of access to the 2 parks. During this time of year people pay a premium to stay at the Epcot Resorts specifically for Food and Wine. Being able to stumble back to our rooms after drinking around the world is pretty standard.

My advice to you and to any guest who experienced this to contact Disney by phone, e-mail or snail mail. They need to know that it is ludicrous to make people go out the main entrance if they are staying at BC, YC, BW or Swan / Dolphin. You paid a lot of money to stay at these resorts.

 

[partigus]

dont assume the cast member you are speaking to knows whats going on...on year we had a "program" that required us at the main entrance to epcot an hour before opening- they were not yet running busses from the BCV, - night before I had to talk to three different people to get an idea that we would be able to come in through the world showcase

 

[CliftonParkGMan]

My two children (in their 20's) stayed for EMH in Epcot on 8/28/18, we were staying at the Dolphin. They had the same experience when trying to leave via the International Gateway. They left through the front entrance and asked a bus driver to drop them because they had no other way to get back to the Dolphin (other than paying for a ride share). They were lucky that a kind bus driver, assigned to another route, took pity on them and drove them back.

I find this to be unacceptable. Someone at WDW needs to get their head out of their ____ and realize that Epcot Resorts guests pay for the convenience of the IG.

 

[CliftonParkGMan]

I've had this happen a couple years ago. We closed EPCOT during EMH and then walked to the front to see the decorations at the gate. When we got to World Showcase (about 12:30) we were told the same thing. We explained that we were staying at the beach club and they scanned a band and then told us we could go through and they radioed back that there were 5 for the beach club heading back and security was waiting for us at the IG. We actually felt kinda special. I would say it's the same, someone not being told about the other exit.

This is exactly how it should be handled.

We stayed last year at SSR and I was in a requested close to Disney Springs path. Watched a movie at AMC that ended well after DS had closed. Security allowed us to go through and escorted us to walking path.

 

[WEDWDW]

I hope this is not some new policy .

It is not-just ask for a Manager if ever faced with this situation.

 

[AngiTN]

WOW!

Heard about this on the DIS Daily Fix video and see what happened.

Our family's home DVC resort is BCV and one of the reasons we bought and added on at BCV was the walking access to Epcot and DHS.

I hope this is not some new policy because quite frankly I will raise holy heck. I'd actually refuse to go out the front. EMH is a bonus to all of us staying on property.

In the past Disney staff have been really flexible. I remember a few years ago being on the outside of main entrance after park closing. Talked to security and they let us go in the park to walk through to Int'l Gateway.

We are not too happy Disney is bringing the new Skyliner traffic to the Int'l Gateway which is a small entrance already. Now they will funnel traffic from the value resorts which have very high room and guest counts. This is also going to cause capacity issues with the Boats to DHS as thousands of new guests experiencing the Int'l gateway will see and subsequently use the boats to go from Epcot to DHS. This will end up having no room on the boat by the time it reaches the dock at YC and BC. Trust me these non Epcot resort guests will not take the Skyliner back to CB station then transfer to DHS - they will use the boats.

People pay more to stay at the Epcot Resorts and DVC member pay for transportation as part of our dues. We chose to buy at BCV and to add on points because of the ease of access to the 2 parks. During this time of year people pay a premium to stay at the Epcot Resorts specifically for Food and Wine. Being able to stumble back to our rooms after drinking around the world is pretty standard.

My advice to you and to any guest who experienced this to contact Disney by phone, e-mail or snail mail. They need to know that it is ludicrous to make people go out the main entrance if they are staying at BC, YC, BW or Swan / Dolphin. You paid a lot of money to stay at these resorts.

Do what? So you don't want the Value resort guests to use "your Epcot resort guest boat"? Ok........ That's a new one. Never realized it was an "Epcot Resort Guest boat". And I stay in the Epcot resorts most all the time. Never occurred to me to worry about who was using the boat. Pretty sure they already know about the boats by the way

And trust me, Disney knows it's ludicrous to make people go out the main entrance. They aren't doing that. Contact Disney to complain/raise holy heck to train the staff better. They aren't telling them to send guests out the main entrance.

Still, it's been pretty clear this is not a new policy it was a really badly informed CM. I hope the Daily Fix has included that in their video too

 

[Moliphino]

Do what? So you don't want the Value resort guests to use "your Epcot resort guest boat"? Ok........ That's a new one. Never realized it was an "Epcot Resort Guest boat". And I stay in the Epcot resorts most all the time. Never occurred to me to worry about who was using the boat. Pretty sure they already know about the boats by the way

I don't stay at Epcot resorts and I've been using the boats for decades.

Actually I try to avoid the boats because I find them maddeningly slow, and I'm pretty sure the skyliner is going to be faster.

 

[SL6827]

I do like the Epcot resorts and can't imagine being told this after a day at Epcot. What?????????????????????

 

[Marionnette]

Do what? So you don't want the Value resort guests to use "your Epcot resort guest boat"? Ok........ That's a new one. Never realized it was an "Epcot Resort Guest boat". And I stay in the Epcot resorts most all the time. Never occurred to me to worry about who was using the boat. Pretty sure they already know about the boats by the way

And trust me, Disney knows it's ludicrous to make people go out the main entrance. They aren't doing that. Contact Disney to complain/raise holy heck to train the staff better. They aren't telling them to send guests out the main entrance.

Still, it's been pretty clear this is not a new policy it was a really badly informed CM. I hope the Daily Fix has included that in their video too

Not speaking for the PP but I am concerned about the volume of people who will be using the IG once the gondola system opens. There appear to be no plans to expand the gates to accommodate the increase in people who will use that area. The back up to exit when IllumiNations ends will be a nightmare and park opening could also be affected by the sheer number of bodies that the gondolas will bring to the gates. TBH, I don't think that it will affect the boats since the gondolas will also service HS. The only time that I would expect the boats to be overwhelmed would be when the gondola system goes down.

 

[AngiTN]

Not speaking for the PP but I am concerned about the volume of people who will be using the IG once the gondola system opens. There appear to be no plans to expand the gates to accommodate the increase in people who will use that area. The back up to exit when IllumiNations ends will be a nightmare and park opening could also be affected by the sheer number of bodies that the gondolas will bring to the gates. TBH, I don't think that it will affect the boats since the gondolas will also service HS. The only time that I would expect the boats to be overwhelmed would be when the gondola system goes down.

I can't say that I disagree with the gates and potential problems it's current size will create. But I'm not certain that being aware of no plans to expand the gates means there are no plans to expand it. It's just possible that those who do know haven't told everything they know. This does happen, even in this day and age
It was simply the PP's phrase of "non Epcot resort guests" and that their daring to use the boats that came across as oh, I don't know, elitist or something.

 

[Marionnette]

I can't say that I disagree with the gates and potential problems it's current size will create. But I'm not certain that being aware of no plans to expand the gates means there are no plans to expand it. It's just possible that those who do know haven't told everything they know. This does happen, even in this day and age
It was simply the PP's phrase of "non Epcot resort guests" and that their daring to use the boats that came across as oh, I don't know, elitist or something.

Meh! I guess it's all a matter of interpretation. I didn't get an elitist vibe so much as a very real concern for the sheer numbers that will be using the IG to exit Epcot and subsequently the rather smallish boats that service the resorts and HS.

As for the lack of any hard evidence that the gate is or isn't going to be expanded, one would assume that plans would have been filed with the county (and therefore available for public scrutiny) if there are to be any structural changes. So, as I alluded to, there do not appear to be any plans to expand the gate area at this time. That doesn't mean that Disney doesn't have alternate plans (i.e. Security checks at the entrances to the gondola queues in the resorts similar to those on the monorail, and a gate entry point just after guests disembark the gondolas at HS and Epcot). But until we see something that indicates Disney will be addressing crowd flow thru the IG, I consider this to be a valid concern.

 

[snappy]

Love the boats from EPCOT to HS. NEVER used them prior to staying at BWV, in countless trips before that didn’t even know they existed and would not have considered using them anyhow.

The beauty of IG is its smallness (count them 2 turnstiles). The countries area except for the France bakery isn’t even open at park opening. So I hope and pray most guests will enter through the front EPcot turnstiles. And I hope IG remains a sleepy area. I am not counting on it though.