Anyone DISLIKE the Segway Tour at Epcot?

[wildernesslodgelover]

Planning our anniversary, grown ups only trip to WDW in May!

Trying to think of some stuff to do that we would not be able to if DD was along with us. I would like to do a tour and since we are staying at the Dolphin, would like to do something at Epcot. I have seen nothing but glowing reviews of the Segway Tour. But before I shell out the $128 (we get a Disney Visa Discount) for the two of us, I would like to know if there are any negatives (besides the sore feet/ankles I have heard about!)

I told DH I would like to do the tour and he did not seem to enthused, but then again, he was not thrilled with paying $250 for PftS a few years ago and now we made it an annual event and he tells everyone he sees about it.

Thanks for any info, tips etc!

 

[TR Denise]

DH and I did the segway tour in October. We loved it we were pleasantly suprised because it was not just about learning the segway but was informative as well. Everyone on the tour seemed to really enjoy it. We were both nervous about how we would be able to ride the segways but were comfortable right away. We are now waiting for a new segway tour to do it again. I would really recomend it we liked it so much better than the KTTK tour we did the year before. Have a great time.
Denise

 

[nanlou]

I sent my DH on this tour last week as a Christmas gift (while I stayed with the kids). He had no clue what a Segway was before I told him about the tour (when I described what it was, he asked if he got to keep it and take it home with him after the tour ). As you can tell, he is not a technology-geek ... nor is he a total-Disney-phile. Despite this, he had a really good time on the tour and thought it was fun and worthwhile.

 

[mickeymule]

I loved it, loved it, loved it. I want a job as a tour leader I loved it so much. But I will say this, be prepared for your legs to get tired, as much as it replaces walking, you are still standing in one place (technically) for a long period of time. When we got to the midway point in the World Showcase where they let you free ride in a designated area, I decided to park my segway and walk around a bit. That is the only downside I saw.

Oh, and point of note, I was lucky that this did not happen, almost did, but if you do the tour and it is raining out, they said that you still do the indoor training only and they would refund half of the cost of the tour.

Just food for thought

 

[Kimberly815]

We went in October 2005 and all 4 of us LOVED IT! I highly recommend it!!

 

[BYC]

My husband and two sons did it last Thursday morning, and they LOVED it! I think it was my son's favorite thing they did. I would have gone, too, but my daughter was one month too young. Do it early, so there is no one in the World Showcase!

 

[DisneyWorldWisher]

I watched a terrible video on YouTube of a Segway falling over.

I never want to ride one now.

 

[White as Snow]

My Mom is looking into this tour for my Dad's Christmas gift. He has problems with his knees, though, are there enough breaks from standing where he will be able to rest his knees?

 

[Terk-1]

My sister & I tried it for the first time on our recent trip and had a blast!! The first hour is spent getting on & off the Segway and just getting used to it. We had a couple of people who were really having a hard time and ended up not joining us on the outside portion. Once you go outside, they stop for a few minutes across from the Imagination pavilion for people to use the restroom, then it's off to World Showcase. My legs were fine, but my feet kept cramping up. Our guide was great and she told us some info on the different lands that, after 16 trips, I did not know. Bring your camera, as the guide will take a photo of you on your Segway. We did the 7:45am tour on a non-morning EMH and it was great to see the park completely empty.

The only negative I would say was miscommunication from WDW-TOUR in regards to transportation to the park PRIOR to park opening. Be advised that WDW buses do not start running to EPCOT until 7:45am on non-EMH mornings. We found this out the hard way, as we were told by WDW-TOUR that the buses would be running that early and in fact they don't. We ended taking a cab, which cost us about $8, plus tip.

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

Wow...I am amazed I have not heard anything too negative. This makes me VERY happy and excited. I see the tours are offered daily...at 3 different times in the morning (can't remember exactly, something like 8:45, 9 and 9:15) so I think I will call and book one! Thanks for all your comments. If anyone wants to post something negative, I would still love to hear it, I like to hear all the different opinions.

Terk-We will be at the Dolphin and were planning to walk over...but will the WS entrance be open? I wonder...hmmmm. AND, that is an awfully long walk to the front gates. But that's ok, we will figure it out. Thanks for the tip, though!

 

[StrikersMom]

Just one other note about the tour. I took it for the first time in Oct. and although Disney tells you of a weight limit, I learned the Segways are also difficult for anyone under 110 pounds to operate. The tour guides actually had to have me stand on mine differently to manuever it better - too bad we only figured that out after we got half-way around the world! Other than that, I had a blast.

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

I wish that being under 110 was a concern for me...but I am far from that! But definitely good to know. This tour sounds really great. I am getting excited now!

 

[Scottish-Helen]

Terk-We will be at the Dolphin and were planning to walk over...but will the WS entrance be open? I wonder...hmmmm. AND, that is an awfully long walk to the front gates.

The International Gateway will not be open if you are on the early tour. You would need to get a cab round to the front.

The Segway tour is great fun, you will love it

 

[sherry]

My dh and I did this tour. My dh loved it and rides a segway any time he can. I gave him a segway tour of Philadelphia as a gift and he loved that too. Me, on the other hand, will never get on one again. During the training, as I was coming down the ramp, I hit the side and fell off of the segway. This scared me pretty bad and I shouldn't have continued outside and maybe they should have suggested I didn't continue. I didn't want to disappoint my dh (this was his birthday gift) so I went on and was very nervous and tense the whole time. I got pretty badly bruised too. I think it's a great tour, just not for me.

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

Thanks helen...I will have to figure something out. We will have a cra...just seems like such a shame when such a short walk from Dolphin!

Oooh, Sherry! I gotta say, I am not the most coordinated gal around...I hope I don't have the same experience. Sorry that happened to you!

 

[sherry]

Thank you, my dh is not very coordinated either and he loves it. My sister took the Philadelphia tour with him and I watched her go off of the pavement onto the grass and I had the worst flashback, I was so scared for her. She got better at it and enjoyed the tour. Have fun with whatever you decide to do.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Thanks helen...I will have to figure something out. We will have a cra...just seems like such a shame when such a short walk from Dolphin!

Oooh, Sherry! I gotta say, I am not the most coordinated gal around...I hope I don't have the same experience. Sorry that happened to you!

Don't worry, no one is more uncoordinated than me, I swear! Honestly, I fell, tripping over a crack in the sidewalk at Epcot once. However, I tried the brief Segway tour in Innoventions and I loved it! I'm looking forward to the full tour now. I think the fact that you don't walk, just keep your feet flat on the floor helped.

 

[foxfire]

No negatives here! I have nothing but great memories of doing the Segway Tour last year. In fact, when we were there last week and kept seeing CMs scooting around on them, I realized I really want to do it again on our next trip. It was so much fun and we still talk about it as one of our favorite things we've done that was really different from just going to the parks.

 

[cigar95]

The International Gateway will not be open if you are on the early tour. You would need to get a cab round to the front.

The Segway tour is great fun, you will love it

My experience was different - we were on the 8am tour, and we were allowed in once we gave the name of the tour and they found our names on the list. This was about a year ago, so things may well have changed.

Since the princess breakfast begins early at Akershus, I would be very surprised if the IG is not open early. The place to check to be sure is Epcot Guest Services.

 

[jimmiej]

The International Gateway will not be open if you are on the early tour. You would need to get a cab round to the front.

The Segway tour is great fun, you will love it

We stayed at BCV in July '06 & had no problem getting in the IG for the Segway Tour (early one) or the Undiscovered Future World Tour (same time, different day). Just tell the CMs at the gate.

DW & I have done the Segway Tour twice & loved it both times. We'll probably do it again. Have fun!