In recent years, the EPCOT International Gateway entrance has experienced a surge in usage, thanks to the introduction of the Skyliner, which has led many to discover and take advantage of this secondary entrance located near the World Showcase’s France Pavilion.

International Gateway Friendship Boat

I’ve been visiting EPCOT for 30 years, and for the vast majority of that time, the International Gateway between the France and United Kingdom pavilions in World Showcase has been available to EPCOT guests. First opened in the early 1990s, the secondary entrance was initially meant for guests staying in the EPCOT Resort Area (Yacht & Beach Clubs, Swan & Dolphin, and later the Boardwalk) as well as the then MGM-Studios theme park, each of which is linked to the Gateway via walking paths and Friendship boats. As mentioned above, use of the entrance increased drastically with the opening of the Skyliner gondola system in 2019.

Early Arrival

In recent years, many guests — even those not staying at the EPCOT resorts or on the Skyliner line (Art of Animation/Pop Century, Caribbean Beach Resort, the Riviera Resort) — will enter the park through the International Gateway and begin their EPCOT day in France, especially hotel guests taking advantage of Early Entry offerings.

Chefs de France

These guests will often plan to rope drop the immensely popular Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure attraction, which is located near the International Gateway entrance, giving them an advantage over those entering through the park’s front entrance. These guests may also be heading to early breakfast reservations in the French Pavilion. This can lead to this pavilion being rather overcrowded first thing in the morning, to the point that it may be losing some of its initial charm.

Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure rider entrance

Skyliner Shortcut

Guests heading into EPCOT aren’t the only ones taking advantage of the International Gateway. Despite not technically staying on the Skyliner line, guests staying at the EPCOT resort area hotels — especially the Boardwalk — can head over to the International Gateway and jump on the Skyliner to head to Hollywood Studios. 

Hollywood Studios Skyliner station

Character Appearances

The International Gateway is home to — sometimes unannounced, sometimes listed on the My Disney Experience app — meet & greets with Disney characters, including Daisy Duck, Pluto, and others. Generally, these meet & greets have shorter waits than some of the other scheduled character interactions at the park.

Hey, Pluto!

Keep your eyes peeled because these characters sometimes seem a bit hidden in the International Gateway!

Last Minute Drinks

For those leaving the park through the International Gateway, the area has become a popular spot to finish their final drinks of the day. Since alcoholic beverages can’t be taken outside of the park, guests will often spend some time on the benches and standing areas near the Gateway completing their drinking around the world journey before leaving. This can sometimes lead to a crowded, somewhat hectic environment around the exit, especially as the park moves closer to closing.

Exiting EPCOT

As more guests each year utilize the Walt Disney World Skyliner, usage of the International Gateway and the perceived perks said usage grants will continue to grow. Stay tuned to DFB for more on the resort’s evolution.

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Is the International Gateway your go-to EPCOT entrance? Let us know in the comments below.