Depends on your opening time for Epcot and the day of week. We were there from 10/7-16/20 and went to EPCOT on 4 different days. Our arrival time (11:00 a.m. opening) was 9:45 - 10:00 a.m. Three of the four days that placed us near the front of the queue waiting for screening and bag check. On the 4th day (a Friday) the queue was all the way over the bridge between BC and BWI. Granted it moved quickly BUT being that far back would not place you in a good location to hit up the rides without a lengthy wait. Our experiences found that they began screening around 10:15 a.m. and we were on our way through the tapstiles by 10:30 a.m. give or take 5 minutes and depending upon the crowd size. On the Friday, however, it opened closer to 10:00 a.m. and, again, guessing that was due to the huge queue.
Our strategy for rides worked every 3 of the 4 days we were there and we did not wait to ride. In fact, we were first in the queue and on TT but then it was also our first evacuation--the ride went down just as we went into the second "test". Evac was interesting and we were given a FP which we used that night. Two other days we rope dropped Soarin' and, again, in the first group to ride.
What I have found interesting this trip is that the International Gateway people are getting to the rides before those coming in the front. Since we didn't enter from the front--I have no idea why those guests were not arriving at the rides more quickly than the International Gate folks and I have to guess that they were not admitted as early as the IG entrance.