Early or late Segway tour?

[MickeyMouseGal]

What's the better one to go on? The first or second Segway tour of the day? Is there any difference?

 

[buddy&wooz]

What's the better one to go on? The first or second Segway tour of the day? Is there any difference?

We took the later one and by the time we were leaving World Showcase it was after 11 and open to guests, so we had to finish riding single file for "safety of the other guests." It was much more fun when we had the run of the place ourselves before other guests showed up, so since the earlier tour ends before WS opens, I'd recommend that one.

 

[dgaston]

Ditto, from us.

 

[MickeyMouseGal]

We took the later one and by the time we were leaving World Showcase it was after 11 and open to guests, so we had to finish riding single file for "safety of the other guests." It was much more fun when we had the run of the place ourselves before other guests showed up, so since the earlier tour ends before WS opens, I'd recommend that one.

Ok, that's what I thought. I'm just not sure how to figure out our breakfast reservations around the early one.
Does anyone know what time Kona Cafe opens? Any websites with restaurant hours?

 

[Luv4Disney]

We did the early one this past time and definitely preferred it. As it was, on the way back, we needed to stay single file going through the UK and Canada. Imagine what it would be like totally open?

 

[marypopfan]

I have to say the same thing, go to the early one. It was hard going through the people coming in the WS.

 

[SeaSpray]

DH and I did the early one in July, and are booked on the late one, in a few weeks. Hmm.... maybe I should rethink this.

The reasons I chose to do the later one this time was so that we wouldn't have to stand in line behind people checking in for the early character breakfasts at Epcot. Last time, we were late for our Segway Tour because we were behind a group of non-English speaking people who had more in their group than they had reservations for. It was the ONLY line for people to get into the park before opening time, so we were stuck waiting. Very frustrating.

Also, I like the idea of having an extra hour in the morning to sleep and eat, before the tour.

We also had a problem finding transportation to Epcot that early, and this was from the Polynesian! We were told to take the "early bus" from the Polynesian, but when we stood out front, the bus driver told us there was no early bus. We were then told to go inside and get on the monorail to TTC, then take the Epcot monorail over. So.... that's what we ended up doing. This time however, there will be regular transportation operating by the time we have to leave the resort.

Reason #4: Since we've already done the tour, I know we'll feel comfortable "dodging" other guests as we tour World Showcase. So that aspect doesn't bother us. At the end of our early tour we encountered guests too, and it was not an issue.

Still not sure if I should try and switch us to the early tour or not.



P.S. Just this morning I finally added our Segway pictures to my web site! LOL The link is below.

 

[antmaril]

We took the later tour in February and enjoyed it very much. When the guests started arriving in the World Showcase, we were quite a novelty. Everyone was looking at us and commenting - we felt pretty "special". We thought it was fun!

 

[BunsenH]

Is the International Gateway entrance open early enough to get in for the early Segway tour? We'll be staying at the YC and want to take the tour.

 

[Jacket93]

We took the Early tour in Aug an liked that we did not have to ride single file once we got to worl showcase.

We stayed at the Poly and we picked up Coffe and Muffins at the Coffee stand out side of Kona Cafe then we walked to The TTC and rode the First Monorail to Epcot. and had 15 minutes to spare before they even let us into the park. We were the first ones in the park from the front gate that morning.

 

[PKK/MJK]

We took the later tour and really didn't find the people entering World Showcase to be a problem at all. By the time people were around us , we knew how to ride/maneuver the Segways and could manage nicely, Also, it was fun to smile at people as we rode by--everyone was VERY interested in what we were doing so, as someone else mentioned, we felt 'special'!! LOL!! . As a 'night' person, I was more nervous about doing the earlier tour for fear I'd be half asleep! LOL!!

 

[hiwaygal]

Is the International Gateway entrance open early enough to get in for the early Segway tour? We'll be staying at the YC and want to take the tour.

No...you must go to the front entrance of Epcot for both tours. In fact, you might want to check to make sure there is even a bus from the YC to Epcot...I figured that's what we would take when we were at the Boardwalk. Turns out (I guess because of the proximity of the International Gateway) there is no bus from the Boardwalk to Epcot!! We took a cab!

Also remember that even if there is a bus, you want to make sure it's running early enough to get you to the front gate by 8:15 am or so...

I agree with pretty much everyone else, we did the early tour and were heading back to the "training center" before the World Showcase even opened...

I don't think we'd do the later tour just for that reason.

 

[BunsenH]

No...you must go to the front entrance of Epcot for both tours. In fact, you might want to check to make sure there is even a bus from the YC to Epcot...I figured that's what we would take when we were at the Boardwalk. Turns out (I guess because of the proximity of the International Gateway) there is no bus from the Boardwalk to Epcot!! We took a cab!

I thought that could be an issue. I'll ask when I make the reservation. Being forced to take a cab seems extreme. is right!!

At what times are the 'early' and 'late' tours?

 

[SeaSpray]

I thought that could be an issue. I'll ask when I make the reservation. Being forced to take a cab seems extreme. is right!!

At what times are the 'early' and 'late' tours?

There's not much difference in the starting times of both tours; earlier tour is 8:30am, but they want you to check in 15 minutes before. Later tour is 9:30am, again they want you to check in 15 minutes before.

The difference is that for the earlier tour, World Showcase is not open at all during your entire tour, although at the end of our 8:30am tour, we did encounter some guests wandering in, near the Internation Gateway.

With the later tour, World Showcase will definitely be open, so you'll encounter more guests at the very end of it.

 

[CarolMN]

[Is the International Gateway entrance open early enough to get in for the early Segway tour? We'll be staying at the YC and want to take the tour.

No...you must go to the front entrance of Epcot for both tours. In fact, you might want to check to make sure there is even a bus from the YC to Epcot...I figured that's what we would take when we were at the Boardwalk. Turns out (I guess because of the proximity of the International Gateway) there is no bus from the Boardwalk to Epcot!! We took a cab!

Also remember that even if there is a bus, you want to make sure it's running early enough to get you to the front gate by 8:15 am or so...

I agree with pretty much everyone else, we did the early tour and were heading back to the "training center" before the World Showcase even opened...

I don't think we'd do the later tour just for that reason.

You have to go to the front entrance of EPCOT for the meeting place, but you can enter through the International Gateway entrance and walk through EPCOT to get there. Just have your confirmation number handy. We'll be doing that for our early Segway Tour becasue we are staying at the BWV. Guests enter through the IG before the park opens all the time for the early princess character breakfasts.

Best wishes -

 

[BunsenH]

You have to go to the front entrance of EPCOT for the meeting place, but you can enter through the International Gateway entrance and walk through EPCOT to get there. Just have your confirmation number handy. We'll be doing that for our early Segway Tour becasue we are staying at the BWV. Guests enter through the IG before the park opens all the time for the early princess character breakfasts.

Best wishes -

Thanks Carol. That is a much more efficient solution.

 

[antmaril]

You have to go to the front entrance of EPCOT for the meeting place, but you can enter through the International Gateway entrance and walk through EPCOT to get there. Just have your confirmation number handy. We'll be doing that for our early Segway Tour becasue we are staying at the BWV. Guests enter through the IG before the park opens all the time for the early princess character breakfasts.

Best wishes -

I agree. You will be able to enter at The International Gateway - definitely. You must then walk to Guest Services at the front entrance. As stated, have your confirmation # with you.

 

[RAD]

DW and I liked the late class. As mentioned it was sort of neat riding your Segway though the folks entering WS.

 

[lonegungirl]

I did the early one when there only seemed to be one choice and it was very fun--I just did the late one because we are not in any way shape or form morning people, and it was very fun as well, but it was more difficult manuevering around the people milling about. In addition, we happened to do ours on the day of the triathalon, so we were almost late because they made us enter from the other side (away from guest services) and practically made us walk to WS before we could cross over! Then the pathways were all cordoned off, and we had to zoom across with the CMs yelling at us to hurry, between runners...so that was a little stressful.

We did get many admiring/jealous comments from the runners, however...

 

[BriarRosie]

We took the later tour in February and enjoyed it very much. When the guests started arriving in the World Showcase, we were quite a novelty. Everyone was looking at us and commenting - we felt pretty "special". We thought it was fun!

That's why I enjoyed the later tour. I felt like part of Segways on Parade!


By the time we had to "dodge" guests, I felt comfortable enough to do so.
But most guests are usually going to get out of the way of a half a dozen
Segway riders ganging in on them. We hope.