I have visited Disney World hundreds of times, but only recently did I realize I had been making one BIG mistake at EPCOT.

EPCOT Bus

Confession time: I thought I had Disney World transportation figured out. I’ve ridden the buses, boats, and Skyliner gondolas more times than I can count. But with a transportation system this big, it’s easy to fall into a habit that’s not actually saving you any time. And it turns out I’ve been taking the WRONG bus to EPCOT for years.

Most people are familiar with EPCOT’s front entrance, right by Spaceship Earth. If you drive to EPCOT, take the monorail, or hop on a Disney bus headed to EPCOT, that’s where you’ll be dropped off.

EPCOT Bus Depot

Now, don’t get us wrong, walking in under Spaceship Earth is a great way to build excitement for the day. But the front of the park is a long way from World Showcase, certain attractions, and lots of festival booths. That’s where EPCOT’s second entrance, the International Gateway, comes in. It’s tucked in World Showcase between the France and United Kingdom Pavilions.

International Gateway

So, how do you get there? There are a few options. The easiest is staying at an EPCOT-area hotel like the Walt Disney World Swan, Dolphin, or Swan Reserve, the BoardWalk Inn, or the Yacht and Beach Club. You can walk right up to the gate! If you’d rather not walk, you can take a Friendship Boat from one of these resorts to EPCOT. The Friendship Boats even have a route to Hollywood Studios!

International Gateway

Here’s the trick I wish I’d known years ago. If you’re coming from another park, skip the bus to EPCOT (which drops you at the front) and take a bus to an EPCOT resort instead, like the BoardWalk Inn, Yacht Club, or Beach Club. If Disney buses are your main way of getting around, this can save you SO much time. Once you’re dropped off, it’s just a short walk to the International Gateway.

Walking path from Beach Club to EPCOT

NOTE: If you choose this method, your shortest walk to the International Gateway is from the Beach Club Resort, roughly 7 minutes. That might not sound like a big deal, but when you’re trying to rope drop or hop in a line as quickly as possible, every advantage helps.

Disney’s Beach Club Resort

If you’re staying at a Skyliner hotel like Pop Century Resort, Art of Animation Resort, the Riviera Resort, or Caribbean Beach Resort, you’re in luck: EPCOT’s Skyliner station is right at the International Gateway. (Pop Century and Art of Animation guests will switch gondolas at the Caribbean Beach station on the way.)

Skyliner

If you’re at Hollywood Studios, you can take the walking path to the International Gateway. It takes about 20 minutes, but on a nice day it’s not too bad, especially when the Skyliner line is long. It works the other way, too, if you’re heading from EPCOT to Hollywood Studios.

EPCOT Skyliner

Walking from your EPCOT resort or riding the Skyliner in the morning can give you a real edge when rope dropping Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure in the France Pavilion. Instead of trekking from the front of the park all the way to the back, you’ll be steps away and can be among the first people in line. If you’re staying at a Disney Resort hotel, you can also take advantage of Early Theme Park Entry, which gives you an extra 30 minutes in the park, and the International Gateway is open for that, too.

Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure

The International Gateway is also much closer to a lot of food booths. If you’re planning a day at the EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival, which runs through November 21, 2026, entering through the back puts you right in the middle of the action. Same goes for the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays, which kicks off November 27.

2026 EPCOT Food and Wine Festival

And don’t forget about the end of the night! When the nighttime spectacular wraps up, thousands of guests head toward the front entrance at the same time, which means crowded walkways, packed monorails, and long bus lines. If you’re staying at an EPCOT-area resort or a Skyliner hotel, exiting through the International Gateway can help you avoid a big chunk of that crush. Even if you’re not, a stroll over to the BoardWalk for a late-night treat can be a fun way to let the crowds thin out.

EPCOT

This tip works well for park hopping, too. Spending the morning at Hollywood Studios and the evening in World Showcase? Hop on the Skyliner or a Friendship Boat, and you’ll land right at the International Gateway, no bus required. It’s one of the easiest ways to string together a two-park day without wasting precious vacation time in transit.

It’s so crowded!

The next time you visit EPCOT, plan your travel to fit your party’s needs, and consider using this “secret” second entrance instead. For more Disney tips, keep following along with the Disney Food Blog!

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Did you know about the International Gateway entrance? Let us know in the comments!