Testing Guardians of the Galaxy Rope Drop from EPCOT’s International Gateway

Have you ever rope dropped Guardians of the Galaxy from EPCOT’s International Gateway? We tested it today and will share the details and timeline below. Plus, our tester confirmed the new Guardians queue loading process today. Scroll on down for the map and photos.

International Gateway

The back EPCOT gate is the closest entrance for guests staying at the following Disney Resorts: 

• Disney’s BoardWalk: walking path or FriendShip Boat
• Disney’s Beach Club: walking path or FriendShip Boat
• Disney’s Yacht Club: walking path or FriendShip Boat
• Disney’s Riviera Resort: Skyliner
• Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort: Skyliner
• Disney’s Pop Century Resort: Skyliner
• Disney’s Art of Animation Resort: Skyliner
• Walt Disney World Swan, Dolphin, and Swan Reserve: walking path or FriendShip Boat

EPCOT has changed their International Gateway Early Entry Rope Drop procedures in the last week ~ read all about the changes here.

Timeline:

• 7:37 AM – Security and International Gateway taps open. Based on our recent tests, this time can vary by 2 minutes = 7:35 AM to 7:37 AM.
• 7:39 AM – New! Cast Members asked Guests where they were headed & directed them to the appropriate side of the bridge to World Showcase. See the photo below for a visual of the bridge.
• 7:55 AM – Early Entry guests are released from the bridge to their attractions.
• 8:03 AM – Our tester entered the Guardians of the Galaxy queue. The ride was not open at this time, line was forming.
• 8:20 AM – Ten minutes before Early Entry officially started, the ride opened and queue began to move.
• 8:28 AM – Tester started Lines app timer when they stopped walking in the queue for the first time.
• 8:30 AM – Early Entry officially starts
• 8:39 AM – First Pre-show
• 8:43 AM – Second and final Pre-show
• 8:50 AM – The door on the far left opened first. CONFIRMED with two Guardians Cast Members today that the far right and far left doors will rotate opening first.
• 8:52 AM – Actual wait = 25 minutes

Cast Members at the International Gateway are now asking where guests are headed once they tap in. Guests planning to rope drop Remy will be directed to the right of the bridge to World Showcase, as shown in the image above. Guests heading to Guardians of the Galaxy, Frozen Ever After, Soarin’, and Test Track will be directed to the left of the bridge.

Our tester was released from the bridge at 7:55 AM during both testing days where Early Entry started at 8:30 AM.

If you’ve been to EPCOT, you know there are several paths you could take to reach Guardians of the Galaxy. The path above is the one our tester used this morning.

There are Cast Members directing lines near the Guardians courtyard.

There are three doors in the second pre-show room for Guardians. In the past, all three doors would open when the second pre-show was over. Then, Disney changed the process to just the two doors on the ends opening to create space between guests rushing to the queue. The middle door stayed shut and was roped off. Now, the doors on the right and left rotate opening first. Our tester confirmed this with two different Cast Members today.

Our tester had an actual wait time of 25 minutes at 8:52 AM ~ eight minutes before Early Entry was over!

EPCOT was showing a Crowd Level 2 forecast for today. The Guardians of the Galaxy Lightning Lane Single Pass was $18 + tax per person, = $19.71 per person. 

Have you attempted this rope drop? What did you think? Where do you want us to test next?