Hiya Heidi! Welcome to planDisney!
Hearing that you have a magical vacation planned this summer has me smiling from Mickey ear to Mickey ear! Sometimes, like Aladdin, you need to escape the hustle and bustle of Agrabah, hop on a magic carpet, and enjoy a little time in Walt Disney World! Visiting EPCOT is a GREAT choice! With attractions like
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Remy's Ratatouille Adventure, and the iconic Spaceship Earth, EPCOT is one of my favorite parks!
Standard self-parking at a Disney Resort hotel is complimentary for registered Guests. Other visitors are welcome to park for free if they have a confirmed dining reservation or have another specific reason for visiting the hotel, subject to availability. However, this type of parking is generally limited to just a few hours. When you enter a Resort hotel parking lot, a friendly security team member will confirm the reason for your visit. Guests without a Resort reservation may be issued a paper pass to display on their dashboard for limited parking. Unfortunately, you will not be able to park at a Disney Resort hotel for the day when heading to a park. You would need to park in the EPCOT parking lot.
I know that wasn't the answer you were hoping for, but if entering the International Gateway is important to you for rope drop, you could always start your day as early as the lot opens at
Hollywood Studios, and from there, either walk, take a
FriendShip Boat, or
Skyliner to the entrance at the International Gateway. Unfortunately, that may be your only option of starting your day at that entrance.
One thing I am sure of is that you're going to have a magical time in EPCOT! Of all the restaurants in Walt Disney World,
Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria is my absolute favorite. I hope you'll have time to experience their pizza-YUM!
Please stop by anytime with your questions. We are Guests just like you, and we're here to help you plan out your perfect days!
Magical memories,
Shonette