Hiya, Laura! Welcome back to planDisney!
I see that my fellow planDisney Marylander,
Betsy S., has already given you one of her amazing,
expert-level responses about accessing the International Gateway entrance from the EPCOT area resorts, so let me add my two cents.
As she mentioned, the resort parking lots are generally reserved for hotel Guests or Guests with dining reservations, so ride-share drivers may not be allowed to drop off unless the Guest can show proof of either. If you’re not planning to make a dining reservation at
Disney’s Beach Club Cape May Cafe or
Ale & Compass Restaurant at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, you could try getting dropped off at
Disney’s BoardWalk Inn. That way, you can grab something to go from the BoardWalk Deli or
Carousel Coffee. The ability to drop off for grab-and-go food will be at the discretion of the Cast Member, but it's worth a shot (of double espresso in the Carousel Coffee’s Shakerato)!
Looking for other options? You could always take the
complimentary transportation from your
Disney Resorts Collection hotel to
Disney’s Hollywood Studios and hop on the
Disney Skyliner. You will need to switch gondolas at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, but you’ll eventually be dropped off at the International Gateway entrance of EPCOT. Would you rather arrive by water than by air? Hop on a
FriendShip Boat! Depending on the timing, you can ride from Hollywood Studios to the International Gateway entrance, making stops at Disney’s Swan and Dolphin Hotels, Disney’s BoardWalk Inn, and Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts, or hop off at one of the stops and finish your journey on foot. Speaking of feet, don’t forget the option to "beat feet" after arriving at Hollywood Studios by using the walking path. My family and I love staying at the EPCOT area resorts because of this walking path! We enjoy morning strolls with our coffee and getting a jump start on our daily steps, so we don’t feel so guilty indulging in all the Disney treats! From Hollywood Studios to the International Gateway entrance, I would plan on a 20–25-minute walk.
Laura, I hope this helps point you in the right direction. If you have any more questions about your upcoming Walt Disney World vacation,
please let me know!
TTFN,
Brent