The EPCOT International Gateway is a second entrance to the park, tucked between the United Kingdom and France pavilions in the World Showcase. Anyone can use it. No special ticket. No resort requirement. Just walk up, tap in, and you’re standing in the middle of the best section of the park.
If you’re staying at a Deluxe resort in the EPCOT area like the Beach Club, Yacht Club, or BoardWalk, this entrance is a big part of what you’re paying a premium for. A five-minute walk from your room directly into World Showcase is genuinely one of the better perks in all of Walt Disney World. Skyliner resorts like Caribbean Beach and Pop Century get it too, which makes those Value and Moderate options a surprisingly smart choice for EPCOT-heavy trips.
Here’s everything you need to know to use it well.
What is the International Gateway?
The International Gateway is EPCOT’s back entrance, positioned between the United Kingdom and France pavilions in the World Showcase. If you’re oriented by the park map, it sits roughly at the 6 o’clock position on the lagoon.
For guests staying at the EPCOT-area Deluxe resorts (Beach Club, Yacht Club, BoardWalk, Swan, Dolphin, Swan Reserve), this is your primary way into the park. There are no buses from those resorts to EPCOT’s front entrance because you don’t need them. The walk from the Beach Club to the International Gateway is about five minutes on a bad day.
Skyliner guests have it nearly as good. The gondola drops you at a dedicated station that sits right outside the International Gateway, making it a legitimate advantage for guests at Caribbean Beach (Moderate), Riviera Resort (Deluxe), Pop Century (Value), and Art of Animation (Value).
If you’re off-site or staying somewhere without direct access, you can still use this entrance. A rideshare to Disney’s Beach Club or BoardWalk Inn gets you close. It’s just not as seamless.
And yes, this entrance opens at the same time as the one at the front of the park.
Getting to Hollywood Studios from the International Gateway
The International Gateway is also your jumping-off point for Hollywood Studios if you’re park hopping. Three options: walk, Skyliner, or take a Friendship Boat.
The walk runs about 20 to 25 minutes along the BoardWalk path, past the resort and along the waterway toward Studios. It’s a pleasant walk when the weather cooperates and genuinely faster than it sounds once you’ve done it.
If we’re looking for a bit of a break, though, the Skyliner is our top choice. You’ll have to take it to Carribean Beach where you’ll transfer to the Hollywood Studios Skyliner, but the ride is generally peaceful and relaxing, and it gives you a chance to just sit for a bit.
Our least favorite way to get over to Hollywood Studios is probably the boats. There isn’t anything WRONG with them, but they always seem to take the longest (even if they really don’t), and sometimes the fumes from engines are a little….strong.
The boats leave from the dock right outside the Gateway and make a few stops, so the actual travel time can vary depending on which stop you board at and how busy the boats are. On crowded days, walking is often faster
Who can use the International Gateway?
Anyone with a valid EPCOT ticket can use the International Gateway. You do not need to be staying at a Disney resort. It functions exactly like the front entrance with the same security screening and tapstiles, just on a smaller scale with fewer lanes.
To get there, you’ll have a couple of options:
The cleanest one is a rideshare to Disney’s Beach Club or BoardWalk Inn, both of which are a short walk from the Gateway. The downside to this, though, is that Disney has cracked down in recent years and you’ll need a dining reservation at one of the nearby resorts or else they may turn you away.
The surefire way, though, is to use a Minnie Van or take a bus from any park (or Disney Springs) to the Beach Club. You don’t need a dining reservation to do one of those.
When it comes to leaving the park, though, things are way simpler: you simply walk out! From there, you can get picked up by RideShare at Beach Club or BoardWalk (no dining reservation needed if you’re leaving!), hop on the Skyliner, or take a stroll around Crescent Lake.
Which Disney World Resorts Use the International Gateway?
EPCOT-area resorts do not have bus service to the park. That’s intentional. The International Gateway is the transportation solution, either by walking or by taking a Friendship Boat from your resort dock.
Walking distance resorts (5 to 15 minutes depending on where you’re coming from):
- Disney’s Beach Club Resort and Beach Club Villas (Deluxe) — closest resort to EPCOT on property
- Disney’s Yacht Club Resort (Deluxe)
- Disney’s BoardWalk Inn and Villas (Deluxe)
- Walt Disney World Swan (by Marriott)
- Walt Disney World Dolphin (by Marriott)
- Walt Disney World Swan Reserve (by Marriott)
Disney Skyliner resorts:
- Disney’s Riviera Resort (Deluxe)
- Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort (Moderate)
- Disney’s Pop Century Resort (Value)
- Disney’s Art of Animation Resort (Value)
A few things worth knowing before you book. The Beach Club is the closest resort on property to EPCOT, and the walk is genuinely that short. BoardWalk and Yacht Club add a few minutes but are still very easy. The Swan, Dolphin, and Swan Reserve are walkable but run closer to 15 minutes, and they are not officially Disney-operated resorts, which affects some perks like Early Entry timing.
On Skyliner days, the gondola drops you at a station that opens directly into the International Gateway. When the Skyliner is down for weather (which does happen, usually in afternoon storms), Disney runs buses to the front of the park instead. This is the main transportation vulnerability for Skyliner-dependent resorts, so if you’re booking a Skyliner resort specifically for EPCOT access, have a backup plan on stormy afternoons.
What’s Near the International Gateway Inside EPCOT?
In addition to everything the World Showcase has to offer, here are a few other things that are conveniently located near the entrance to the International Gateway:
Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure is the best strategic reason to use the International Gateway for rope drop, especially during Early Entry. The ride sits inside the France pavilion expansion, which is practically steps from where you enter the park through the Gateway. Guests entering from the front of EPCOT have to walk the full length of World Showcase just to get there. You’re already there.
On Early Entry mornings, being at the International Gateway at least 30 to 45 minutes before the park opens puts you in a very strong position to walk onto Remy with little to no wait. It’s one of the better rope drop advantages on property if you’re staying at one of the nearby Deluxe or Skyliner resorts.
France and United Kingdom Pavilions
You enter the World Showcase directly between France and the United Kingdom, which puts you within a two-minute walk of some of the best food and drink in the park.
The Rose and Crown Pub is right there in the UK pavilion. It’s genuinely one of the better bars in all of Walt Disney World, not just EPCOT. The beer garden nearby along the lagoon has one of the nicest views on property and is a strong contender for the best spot in the park to watch Luminous from.
In France, Les Halles Boulangerie-Patisserie opens early and serves actual good pastries. If you’re an early arrival and want something to eat before the park crowds build, this is your move. The croissants are reliable. The quiche is underrated.
Nighttime Fireworks Viewing
The International Gateway is one of the better entries for a fireworks-only visit. Walk in, grab a spot, watch Luminous, and walk back to your resort without ever dealing with the front entrance crowds.
For viewing spots, the stretch of waterfront between Morocco and France is solid, with clean sightlines across the lagoon. The Rose and Crown Beer Garden along the UK fence line is the better option if you want a drink in your hand while you watch. One thing to check when you settle in: look up. The tree canopy in a few spots along that stretch can catch the lower shells and block more than you’d expect. Moving 10 to 15 feet in either direction usually fixes it.
What about strollers, wheelchairs, and scooter rentals?
Stroller, wheelchair, and ECV (scooter) rentals are available at the International Gateway, same as the front entrance. You’ll find them inside the World Traveler shop, which is just past the tapstiles on your left as you walk in.
One practical note: the rental inventory here is smaller than at the front of the park. If you need an ECV and you’re arriving later in the day, the front entrance is the safer bet for availability.
What if I have a question about my ticket?
Guest Services is available at the International Gateway with the same capabilities as the front of the park. Ticket issues, questions, accessibility needs, all of it can be handled right there.
Full Amenities at the International Gateway
The International Gateway has all the same basic amenities as the front entrance:
- Restrooms
- Lockers
- Park maps and festival guides
- Stroller, wheelchair, and ECV rentals (inside World Traveler)
- Drinks and sunblock available for purchase inside World Traveler
- FuelRod exchange kiosk
- Coin press machines
- Guest Services
One thing the front entrance has that the International Gateway does not: the scale. Fewer lanes, smaller footprint, smaller locker bank. On a very busy morning, security lines here can back up, especially during Early Entry when Deluxe resort guests are all funneling in at the same time. Arrive earlier than you think you need to.
Character meets do pop up just past the tapstiles from time to time, though they’re not guaranteed or scheduled in advance.
How to find the International Gateway
Here’s where to find the International Gateway:
From the front of EPCOT:
The fastest route is through Canada and into the UK pavilion. Once you’re past the Rose and Crown, look for a downhill path on your right before you reach the bridge to France. Follow it around the bend and the International Gateway entrance is right there between the World Traveler shop and the Skyliner station.
Coming from the Mexico side, cross the bridge past France, and take the left fork downhill at the intersection rather than continuing into France. Same destination.
From Outside EPCOT:
If you’re heading to EPCOT, here’s how to find the International Gateway:
Via the Disney Skyliner
- Board the Disney Skyliner from Disney’s Riviera Resort, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, Pop Century, or the Art of Animation Resort.
- Disembark at the EPCOT station, which is right at the International Gateway entrance.
Via Friendship Boat
- Take a Friendship Boat from Disney’s BoardWalk Inn, Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts, or the Swan and Dolphin Hotels.
- The boat docks directly at the International Gateway entrance.
Walking from Your Resort
- From Disney’s BoardWalk Inn, Yacht Club, or Beach Club Resort, or the Disney Swan, Swan Reserve, or Dolphin resorts, walk along the path toward EPCOT.
- Follow the signs to the International Gateway, which is a 5-10 minute walk (for the onsite resorts) and about a 15 minute walk for the Swan and Dolphin.
Bus
- There are no buses that drop off in a convenient location to use the International Gateway.
Via Rideshare and Minnie Van
- If you’re being dropped off by Rideshare or Minnie Van, you can use the same directions as above since you’ll be dropped off at one of the nearby resorts (and not directly at the International Gateway)
Tips for using the International Gateway
- Timing. Get there 45 minutes before the listed park opening on Early Entry mornings, and a full hour before on the most crowded days (think holiday weekends, EPCOT festival weekends). The line at the tapstiles builds faster than most people expect because all the Deluxe resort walkers and Skyliner guests funnel in through a smaller entrance than the front of the park.
- Park Hopping: The Skyliner is the smoothest way to hop between EPCOT and Hollywood Studios. Board right outside the International Gateway, transfer at Caribbean Beach, and you’re at the Hollywood Studios station. Door-to-door, on a normal day, it runs about 25 to 35 minutes. The boats are slower and less predictable. On a day when the Skyliner is operating normally, it’s the right call.
- Dining Strategy: If you’re arriving at rope drop through the International Gateway and want breakfast, Les Halles in France is your best immediate option. For a slightly later morning arrival, the Rose and Crown opens for lunch but the UK pavilion’s quick service options can work earlier. Going the other direction, Morocco and Japan are both within a few minutes walk and offer some of the best quick-service food in World Showcase.
- Security: Same process as the front entrance. Bags through the scanner, walk through yourself. You typically won’t be asked to open your bag unless something flags. Based on a lot of trips through this entrance, holding these items in your hands as you go through the scanner reduces secondary screening significantly: metal water bottles, umbrellas, large external battery packs, eyeglass cases with metal frames, and Altoid tins. It sounds oddly specific. It works.
Tell us what you think!
So there you have it! Tips for finding the International Gateway at EPCOT. Do you ever use the International Gateway? We value your input, even (or especially) when it differs from ours. Plus, we know other readers appreciate varying perspectives, so please take a second to drop your thoughts in the comments!