"Massive Epcot Entrance Overhaul Project Begins"

[RaySharpton]

Massive Epcot Entrance Overhaul Project Begins

I saw this info from BlogMickey.

http://blogmickey.com/2019/04/photos-massive-epcot-entrance-overhaul-project-begins/

Disney has started with the first phase of the Epcot entrance overhaul project. We made it out to Epcot today to find that the parking lot tram drop off area has been rerouted. Just like Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios before it, Epcot will now have a temporary drop off area for the parking lot tram. Here’s a look at the area as of this morning.

The parking lot tram no longer drops off at the usual drop off point near bag check. There are now two tram drop off areas.

First, the tram drops off between the Amaze and Journey parking lots services the Journey, Discover, Create, and Amaze lots. Of course, it would be much quicker just to walk from either the Amaze or Journey lots.

The drop off here stops well short of the main entrance.

The walkway from this drop off point goes through a portion of the old handicap lot and towards the East bag check.

Here’s a look at the temporary drop off the area from the monorail.

Here’s a reverse view from the monorail station looking back towards the parking lot. This entire area is considered a construction zone now, including the old monorail drop off area under the station.

Shifting gears to the second temporary drop off area shows that it will service the Imagine, Explore, and Wonder lots. It is located in front of the East bag check as it has been in the past.

This is certainly a massive undertaking like what we’ve seen at Hollywood Studios and the Magic Kingdom more recently. This is the first phase an of a multi-phase project that will eventually lead to the removal of the Leave Legacy monoliths and a facelift for the entire entrance experience.

I know that Disney Hollywood Studio Studios is looking so much better with the new covered bus stops and gondola station. I am curious to see what the EPCOT and TTC refurbishment will look like when finished, too.







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[hedberg1661]

I saw this info from BlogMickey.

http://blogmickey.com/2019/04/photos-massive-epcot-entrance-overhaul-project-begins/

Wow thanks for sharing. Seems like the major impact thus far is to guests who travel by car.

 

[gharter]

Does this impact the bus drop off areas at all or just the tram drop off for cars?

 

[rteetz]

Does this impact the bus drop off areas at all or just the tram drop off for cars?

Buses are not affected.

 

[twoolle]

We have never used the Epcot teams as we are always there early and have decent parking. So if the same is said for our trip in a few weeks, how does the construction affect the walk from the parking lot?

 

[yulilin3]

We have never used the Epcot teams as we are always there early and have decent parking. So if the same is said for our trip in a few weeks, how does the construction affect the walk from the parking lot?

same walk distance

 

[GillianP1301]

Wow thanks for sharing. Seems like the major impact thus far is to guests who travel by car.

Agreed. The only good news is EP is the parking lot I use the tram in the least because I almost always get a parking spot in pretty close walking distance to the entrance. And even with the tram, it's still nowhere near as bad as the fiasco that was the temporary tram/bus location at DHS... now that was a trek!

 

[MrKnight]

This is incredibly exciting news! Epcot is far overdue for some TLC, I expect that Disney management has good plans in place to minimize guest impact during construction, thus far it appears that they do..

 

[DisneyFive]

Thanks for the update. So happy to see this work started. I know I sound like a broken record, but the entrance to Epcot was one of only two things that didn't "feel very Disney" to us on our first visit back in 2010. (the other being the carni area of Dinoland) I've come to loathe the Leave a Legacy stones because they are such an eye sore and an obstruction to the entrance.

The new renderings of the entrance look beautiful, and fitting for an entrance to a park that has such a bold centerpiece as you approach the park (Spaceship Earth)

Dan

 

[firstwdw]

I sure hope they fix the double security that MK area resorts have to go through to get to Epcot (security prior to boarding monorail and then security again at Epcot entrance)

 

[hedberg1661]

I sure hope they fix the double security that MK area resorts have to go through to get to Epcot (security prior to boarding monorail and then security again at Epcot entrance)

I agree. That is really silly. It adds to what is already a hassle to get to EC from a MK resort.

 

[cmwade77]

I sure hope they fix the double security that MK area resorts have to go through to get to Epcot (security prior to boarding monorail and then security again at Epcot entrance)

Huh? When I went to EPCOT in January from the Grand Floridian, the monorail exit was within Security, there was no need to go through it a second time, what I am I missing?

 

[jaysmom4285]

I don't recall the monorail exit ever being within security, no matter where you came from . The monorail exit takes you down those long ramps and aims you squarely at the bag check table, and you join up with people who are walking in from the buses and haven't been checked. There's no way around the security check for monorail riders, as far as I know . It has been irritating for people, since you can't even get on the monorail without having gone through security check either at the TTC or a monorail resort. I'm hoping that this new construction of the entry area will take care of that and have a way for monorail riders to go directly to the tapstiles without going through security again.

 

[yulilin3]

Huh? When I went to EPCOT in January from the Grand Floridian, the monorail exit was within Security, there was no need to go through it a second time, what I am I missing?

You might be confused about that. From epcot to mk/mk resorts you're inside the security bubble but coming into epcot you always have had to go through bag check

 

[cmwade77]

You might be confused about that. From epcot to mk/mk resorts you're inside the security bubble but coming into epcot you always have had to go through bag check

No, I came to EPCOT, but I didn't use the ramps as I had an ECV and didn't feel comfortable due to how steep the ramps are, so used the elevator, does that make a difference somehow?

 

[MrKnight]

You might be confused about that. From epcot to mk/mk resorts you're inside the security bubble but coming into epcot you always have had to go through bag check

From my understanding the security pattern was recently changed and the monorail exit ramp at Epcot is now inside the post-security area as security is now cleared at TTC prior to boarding the monorail.

 

[rteetz]

From my understanding the security pattern was recently changed and the monorail exit ramp at Epcot is now inside the post-security area as security is now cleared at TTC prior to boarding the monorail.

Not to my knowledge. If this was changed I think many sites would have said something about it.

 

[MrKnight]

Not to my knowledge. If this was changed I think many sites would have said something about it.

My apologies, perhaps what I read was referring to a future change as part of the re-imagining of the Epcot entrance.

 

[rteetz]

My apologies, perhaps what I read was referring to a future change as part of the re-imagining of the Epcot entrance.

Yes in the future everything will be reconfigured a bit.

 

[RaySharpton]

You are welcome. I'll try and keep this thread updated. I'll be down to WDW next week if you want me to check something out for you. Just ask here on the thread.

We have never used the Epcot teams as we are always there early and have decent parking. So if the same is said for our trip in a few weeks, how does the construction affect the walk from the parking lot?

As answered earlier, I don't think there is any difference when you park your car and walk to get on the tram.

If you are talking about when you get off of the tram, then the walk will be longer since the tram will not be driving under the bridge as shown in the photos during the construction so you will have to walk further.

I have another thread in the Theme Parks forum about the new EPCOT entrance refurbishment, too. Maybe a Moderator can move that thread over to the Transportation forum, too.

From the photos, the EPCOT walking distance looks longer than what the Disney Hollywood Studios refurbishment looks like.

From my understanding the security pattern was recently changed and the monorail exit ramp at Epcot is now inside the post-security area as security is now cleared at TTC prior to boarding the monorail.

I haven't heard about that yet, but I'll check it out next week when I get down there.

Last December 2019, when I used the monorail, I went through a security checkpoint at the Disney Contemporary Resort before getting on the monorail.

And when walking using the sidewalk from the Disney Contemporary Resort to the Magic Kingdom.

I went through a security checkpoint at the Disney Polynesian Resort before getting on the monorail.

I went through a security checkpoint at the Disney Grand Floridian Resort before getting on the monorail.

I went through a security checkpoint at the Disney Magic Kingdom after getting off the Disney Boat from the Disney Wilderness Lodge boat dock.

I didn't go through a security checkpoint when exiting the monorail at EPCOT, but that may be changing or changing during the EPCOT refurbishment. I'll check that out, too, next week.


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