January 12, 1990 – The International Gateway Entrance Opened in Epcot
“But by the dawn of the 1990s, with the opening of the ‘Epcot Resort Area’ southwest of the park where two Disney resorts…had become major accommodations, another entrance into Epcot was needed.” – Imagineer Marty Sklar
On January 12, 1990, the International Gateway Entrance leading from the Yacht and Beach Club hotel into Epcot opened. This gateway opened the World Showcase into the hotel areas, and has been expanded to the Swan and Dolphin, and eventually the BoardWalk Inn. This entrance allows more access from these hotels, rather than having guests go all the way around the park to enter. This secondary gate was the first of its kind to exist in a Disney park; a similar secondary entrance was used in Disney’s California Adventure for guests of Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel and Spa.
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