Building Castles in the Sky - an Oct 2012 PTR *Update 9/20- Day 3 Plans!*

[kansasdisneygal]

I finally had time to read and catch up on your PTR!!! Everything looks fantastic-I really want to go for the F&W festival sometime! We really really really wanted to stay at POR this trip, but the money wasn't there for this trip. So, I'll be excited to see how you like it. Also, I love all your dining reservations!

 

[PixieMama]

Hi, I've really enjoyed your pre-trip report. If you decide not to keep your Boma reservations for breakfast, we really enjoyed Kona Cafe at the Poly for breakfast.

Happy Planning to another Lady Libra!

Thanks, Linda!

I did consider Kona... have never been there and lots of people rave about it. But that night we're going to MNSSHP, and I know this is a bit silly but I didn't want to be in the MK area in the morning only to go back again later that evening.

I finally had time to read and catch up on your PTR!!! Everything looks fantastic-I really want to go for the F&W festival sometime! We really really really wanted to stay at POR this trip, but the money wasn't there for this trip. So, I'll be excited to see how you like it. Also, I love all your dining reservations!

, Jenn! We're really looking forward to F&W... even though this will be our 3rd trip during October, we have never sampled any of the vendors! Crazy, I know.

 

[PixieMama]

This trip is for Shane and I to celebrate our anniversary… but it's really for me. Shane does like going to WDW, but I know he agreed to taking this trip because it's what I wanted, because it's what would make me happy. So I've been trying to think of something I can do for my totally awesome husband while on out trip.

At first I thought I'd surprise him with a gift. The traditional gift for a 15th wedding anniversary is crystal… um, no. I can't think of what my husband would do with a crystal anything. The modern 15th anniversary gift is a watch… which is a lot better than crystal, but Shane just bought a new watch not too long ago (even though he rarely wears one). Then I began to wonder about doing something while we're on our trip.

I know there are several F&W seminars, but I guess there won't be more info on those for a few months yet. We're both really looking to experiencing F&W, so one of the seminars (depending on the time and cost) would be fun.

Another option is the Around the World Segway tour at Epcot! I'm actually leaning towards this over any F&W seminar, because I think Shane would enjoy it more. It looks like fun, and how awesome would it be to zip around the WS before it opens to the public?!

My only concern with doing the tour is the timing. The info I've found about the tour shows the times as 8:30, 9:00, and 9:30… each one lasts 2 hours.

If we did the earliest tour, we'd get in before the park officially opens (so cool!) and we'd finish about the time the WS opens… once the tour ends we could head back over to start our walk around the countries. But you see the downside to this, right? I'm afraid we'd miss out on Soarin' (and possibly Test Track) if we didn't hit those right at rope drop. My original plan was to start on the WS right around 11, but instead we could stay in Future World once the tour ends and ride the attractions we can... then get a later start on touring the WS.

OR... we could do the 9:30 tour, in the hopes of getting in the park at rope drop and over to at least one of those rides before it would be time to check in for the tour. The downside to this option is that we'd miss being in the park prior to opening, although we'd still get over to the WS before it opens.

Thoughts? Has anyone done the Segway tour at Epcot before?

 

[smellyia]

The segway tour sounds like an awesome Anniversary present! HOw fun and unique...great idea

If it were me, I would go for the first one available and head to Soarin' RIGHT AFETR for FPs, but you could also get to EPcot at RD, ride or at least FP soarin' then get to the 9:30 tour (probably only have time to get FP)....if there is another tour after 9:30, you could probs get TT and Soarin' in prior to...

 

[Cinderella's slipper]

If Epcot is anything like the Magic Kingdom and Keys to the Kingdom Tour they let us into the Magic Kingdom early - before it opened to check in for our tour and then we had Main Street almost to ourselves. It was such a nice experience.

 

[teekathepony]

Ohhhh what an awesome anniversary present! I know my DH would love that.

My suggestion would be to get the earliest tour. If it's two hours that puts you at 10:30, if you're spending the day in Epcot that day then I'm sure you can get some Soarin' fastpasses that aren't too late. When I was there in October (early, the 2nd) it wasn't very busy, especially in Future World and we had no problem getting decent fps when we got in the park as late as 1:00.

I'd be too nervous to to RD then Soarin' before a 9:30 tour... what if you got caught in the queue? Perhaps RD, grab a fastpass and then the tour...

 

[ash-n-brensmom]

I think I would do the early one, and then just use FP's for the head liner rides. You get to see the park empty, and you can get on Soarin and Test Track for sure with FP's. I love that idea of the Segway tour..I think my DH would like to try that someday.

 

[Nermel9]

I almost booked the Segway tour for our May trip as an anniversary present, but I didn't want to take up that much time doing it! I think we're going to do it on our Fall trip, it sounds like so much fun! I'd probably want to do the earliest tour they have and then run over to Soarin for some FP's when it's over!

 

[MHTeacher]

I think the Segway tour would be an amazing gift (for both of you)!

I was looking at it earlier for our May trip, but then realized the age requirement was 16, and that would have left one of us out--and my 9 year old doesn't need to be left alone to wander the world while the other four of us were Segway"ing"!

 

[PixieMama]

Well, I did it! I called earlier this afternoon and booked the Around the World Segway tour for Shane and I to do on our Epcot day… and I was able to get a 20% discount by using my Disney Visa!

I booked the 8:30 tour... but the CM did mention there's a 7:45 tour as well, and now I don't know if I should call back and try for the earlier tour or not. (Sometimes I really dislike being a Libra... my indecisiveness drives me crazy! ) The upside would be getting done with the tour around 9:45 or so (as opposed to 10:30), which means possibly a better chance at riding Soarin' or getting a FP. But, that also means getting up earlier that morning and trying to get to the park by 7:30.

I'll be honest, I'm already a little nervous about learning how to use the Segway. I'm not the most co-ordinated person! But I think it will be fun and can't wait to surprise Shane! Now to figure out how and when to tell him...

 

[Kat in GA]

I am so crazy uncoordinated - so because of that, I'd vote for the 7:45 tour. Because I think there's about 30 minutes of instruction - which means that the only people you'll be dodging are those going to Norway to breakast. Vs if you go to the 8:30, you'll get all the people coming into the park. Not that people will be in the World showcase then - but I think you start out by Innoventions.

And you'd be done earlier.

I still don't think you'll have an issue getting fast passes.

And you are having such a relaxing day the next day, you can sleep in a bit to make up for it! (You could also drive to Epcot on this day too so you don't have to deal with the busses. You'll get a fantastic parking spot!)

 

[PixieMama]

I am so crazy uncoordinated - so because of that, I'd vote for the 7:45 tour. Because I think there's about 30 minutes of instruction - which means that the only people you'll be dodging are those going to Norway to breakast. Vs if you go to the 8:30, you'll get all the people coming into the park. Not that people will be in the World showcase then - but I think you start out by Innoventions.

And you'd be done earlier.

I still don't think you'll have an issue getting fast passes.

And you are having such a relaxing day the next day, you can sleep in a bit to make up for it! (You could also drive to Epcot on this day too so you don't have to deal with the busses. You'll get a fantastic parking spot!)

I did ask about the cancellation policy... specifically, say if someone just can't grasp how to use the Segway even after the hourlong training and decides she can't do the tour But everything I've read about them says the Segways are very easy to master... though I do like your reasoning that there won't be that many people in the park once we get going over to the WS (less people to dodge and potentially embarrass myself in front of...)

I think we'll be ok getting FPs, too... but being finished 45 minutes earlier and having that much more park time is tempting...

What time do the buses start running? Would we be able to take a bus to the park? Or is driving ourselves (or taking a taxi) our only option?

 

[Kat in GA]

I did ask about the cancellation policy... specifically, say if someone just can't grasp how to use the Segway even after the hourlong training and decides she can't do the tour But everything I've read about them says the Segways are very easy to master... though I do like your reasoning that there won't be that many people in the park once we get going over to the WS (less people to dodge and potentially embarrass myself in front of...)

I think we'll be ok getting FPs, too... but being finished 45 minutes earlier and having that much more park time is tempting...

What time do the buses start running? Would we be able to take a bus to the park? Or is driving ourselves (or taking a taxi) our only option?

The buses should start around 7ish - for people with 8am breakfast reservations. I just mentioned driving because I thought it might actually be easier - and you might be able to leave a little later.

 

[Cinderella's slipper]

The Segway Tour sounds like great fun. I am seriously considering this as a shared activity for DH and DS.

 

[Nermel9]

Yay for booking the Segway tour! Haha, I'm nervous about trying to ride one too, that's another reason I keep putting it off, but I've heard they spend a decent amount of time training you and they make sure everyone knows how to do it before the tour starts, so you should be ok! You guys are going to have so much fun!

 

[Joyciemc]

I tried the Segway at Innoventions, and you only ride it for about 5 minutes there. Even in that short time, by the end I could see myself getting it. So I really, really think you'll be fine!

Leave plenty of time to get there in the morning- it seemed to us that the early morning (before park opening) buses are few and far between... but that was also on our trip of many transportation snafus, so maybe it was a fluke!

 

[silverhaze269]

Great PTR And congrats on the weight loss!!

 

[cinderella crazy]

I have always wanted to try the Segway tour! We've never had the opportunity to do it though. What a great anniversary present!

 

[MHTeacher]

YAY for the Segway tour! I'm a little jealous! I'd love to try it some time!

 

[ash-n-brensmom]

Well, I did it! I called earlier this afternoon and booked the Around the World Segway tour for Shane and I to do on our Epcot day… and I was able to get a 20% discount by using my Disney Visa!

I booked the 8:30 tour... but the CM did mention there's a 7:45 tour as well, and now I don't know if I should call back and try for the earlier tour or not. (Sometimes I really dislike being a Libra... my indecisiveness drives me crazy! ) The upside would be getting done with the tour around 9:45 or so (as opposed to 10:30), which means possibly a better chance at riding Soarin' or getting a FP. But, that also means getting up earlier that morning and trying to get to the park by 7:30.

I'll be honest, I'm already a little nervous about learning how to use the Segway. I'm not the most co-ordinated person! But I think it will be fun and can't wait to surprise Shane! Now to figure out how and when to tell him...

YAY!! So, what do you think about that early tour? I think it just might be worth having that extra time alone in the morning and then having more time after to tour FW. Glad you have it booked though!!