Hi Deborah,
Welcome to planDisney! The International Gateway entrance is my favorite way to enter EPCOT in the morning because it is conveniently located near some of the best breakfast options at Disney World.
If you are trying to get to the theme parks super early in the morning, I find the best way to arrive without delay is by using a rideshare service like Uber or Lyft. Disney World has partnered with Lyft to offer the
Minnie Van Service to guests while they are on the property. This service is nice because Disney World dropoffs can sometimes be more difficult for rideshare drivers to navigate. Minnie Van drivers are official cast members with first-hand knowledge of Disney World so they tend to know where they are going and are a little bit quicker about it.
Rideshare drivers will not be able to drop you off at the International Gateway entrance, but there are a few locations close enough to walk over. Disney Yacht and Beach Club are within walking distance of the entrance, but they typically do not allow dropoffs unless you have a dining reservation at the Resort hotel. Disney's Swan and Dolphin Resorts are less strict about rideshare dropoffs, so they may be a better option. The walk from here is around 10 minutes at a leisurely pace.
If that does not work for you or if walking is especially difficult, another option is to have the rideshare driver drop you off at Disney's Hollywood Studios and hop on the
Disney Skyliner, which is a direct shot over to the International Gateway Entrance of EPCOT. This will take a little more time because the Skyliner will not officially open until, at the earliest, 7:45 AM. When factoring in the time it takes the Skyliner to travel to EPCOT, it likely will get you there after your required time of 8 AM, but it will save you some steps.
The
posted Early Entry time for the day you mentioned is 8:30 AM, so unless you have an early dining reservation, you will not be allowed to enter through the International Gateway entrance until that time. If you have an early dining reservation, be sure to look for a cast member who is checking in guests with early reservations at the entrance. They will let you in and get you on your way to a magical breakfast or Enchanting Extra reservation.
Happy Planning,
Jenna