Around the World on a Segway / Richard Petty Driving Experience

[irisbud]

Hi everyone! I was wondering if I could get some opinions on the following: (Sorry, my search function NEVER works). I got the information from IPO, now I would like to hear about the actual experiences!

(1) The Around the World on a Segway Tour. Did you enjoy it? Did you feel it was worth the money? If I were to take my Dad (age 60) who has a knee that gives him a "twinge" if he moves it wrong, do you think it would bother him? He really wants to do this, and he can walk fine, I just didn't know if there is a lot of knee movement required to help steer or anything?

(2) The Richard Petty Driving Experience. I would like to hear from those who have done any level of the experience. For those who have done both the ride along and the drive yourself, which did you feel was more enjoyable?

TIA

 

[kimmy kay]

I am also interested in the Richard Petty Driving Experience. My husband would love to drive a racecar.

 

[NJDad18]

DW and I did the segway tour and loved it! It was worth every penny. There is no side to side knee movement needed to steer the segway. To go forward you need to press down with your toes and to stop you press down with your heels. I will tell you that my calves were a little sore after the tour.

I have not done the Richard Petty Experience so I can't help you there.

 

[hiwaygal]

The Segway tour is fabulous! The only "downside" is having to stand on that machine for nearly two hours (sort of like standing in line somewhere! LOL!), but the CM's do try to give you a chance to take a break, and standing on one foot sometimes helps.

The other poster is right, no knee movement required to steer...just lean forward to go forward and lean back to go back. Very easy to do!

 

[DukeStreetKing]

I haven't done either but wouldn't it be cool to combine the two of them somehow? Put the Segways on the race track with the Richard Petty cars and watch all the excitement!

 

[addicted2disney]

My husband and the 2 other dads in our party did the Richard Petty Driving Experience this past January. We made them Christmas gifts for our hubbys. The guys loved it!! The did the cheaper drive yourself package, which I believe was 8 laps. They did training first and the we brought the kids over to the track to watch them drive. Then they had an 'awards ceremony' of sorts at the end. They got their lap times and certificates, etc. They also bought pictures of themselves in their driving suits in the cars. They mount them on plaques. Of course the guys had to buy them!! Next they want to next package up.. more laps and MORE MONEY!!... LOL... we'll see.... But they definately loved the experinece, thought it was worth the money and want to do it again. I have an AP and got a discount on the package. They dont advertise the discount, so be sure to ask them about it if you have one. They also shuttle you to and from the track. You can catch the shuttle over by the dog kennel at the TTC.

 

[m1ckeym0use1]

I had the same (but opposite) thought. Richard Petty cars around the World Showcase loop!

I haven't done either but wouldn't it be cool to combine the two of them somehow? Put the Segways on the race track with the Richard Petty cars and watch all the excitement!

 

[ReninDetroit]

I can't help you with the driving thing, but I did the segway tour around the world, and it was phenominal. I highly recommend it. For sure one of the best things I've ever done at WDW.

There is no side-to-side movement in any way. To turn sideways, there is a knob by one of the handlebars. To move forward and backward, you move your body just so slightly (you are basically a straight line the whole time, your actual body only leans about an inch to trigger the forward). It's a little weird at first because there's no brake, and so to stand still (which no one ever gets perfectly) you just have to balance yourself, or move backwards and then forwards slowly.

If your dad can stand up straight for about 1.5 hours with his knees locked or close to locked, then he will be fine. Your knees don't move. They get into a place and stay there (I will agree with the above poster, though, that my calves were killing me for the rest of that day. It wasn't a huge enough issue to wreck my enjoyment of the parks, and I consider the side effect worth it because the tour was so much fun. Perhaps take some Aleve before getting on?)

Good luck! I think you will love it.

 

[irisbud]

Thanks for the info! It sounds like the Segway tour would be no problem for my Dad! That will make his day.

 

[perdidobay]

DH has done the rookie experience twice (you drive the car-8 laps) and I have done the ride along. DH loves it and plans to do it each year. I loved the ride along, it was fun and I had no desire to drive. Plus I cannot drive a stick shift. You have to be able to do so to drive.

The only drawback is you have to be able to enter the car thru the window, So if you have mobility issues or are very large, you may not be able to get into the car. If you are a AAA member, you get a 20% discount (you have to ask for it) It saved me $80 on the Rookie Experience.

 

[ZoZo]

I have never done the WDW Segway tour, but just did a Segway tour of San Francisco and absolutely loved it!

It's very easy to learn; as other posters said, to move forward, you lean your body forward (very slightly) and to stop you stand up straight. You turn left or right by moving a knob on the handlebar. Within about 20 minutes, I wasn't even aware of thinking, "Lean forward" -- your body just does it automatically. It's a great way to get around (you can cover much more ground than on a walking tour!). I can't wait to do the WDW tour!