Just booked a Segway tour...a few questions...

[EsmeraldaX]

Hi all,

I just booked a Segway tour!

I have a few questions about it. First, please tell me it's worth the $68 per person I'm paying for it. (I strongly suspect it will be, but some reassurance would be nice) Tell me everything, the good & the bad...

Second, has anyone here ever had a problem using the Segway? I'm scared. I've read through the reviews on All Ears.net but I'm still nervous. I am not very coordinated and I'm worried about running into something and hurting myself or worse, hurting someone's small child or something...

Third, has anyone ever had the second half of their tour canceled due to rain? How bad does it have to be for them to cancel? I know I'm paranoid but I just fear it will get canceled and we'll miss the second half which is the main reason we wanted to go.

Any advice, tips, or personal stories would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you,
Sheri

 

[zurgswife]

Segways are a blast....i've never done the disney tour but I've riden them before and they are fairly easy to get used to....and with an hour of instruction....people must be climbing the walls by the end....

I just booked a group of 10 for OCt...it should be fun...

 

[MsSpinShady]

Hi Sheri,

DH did this in November, and it was well worth the $88 bucks it cost us

He had a great time, said it was very easy to operate because it is designed to follow people's instinctual movements and so almost seemed to know what he was going to do before he did it. He said it really only took a short time to get used to it.

I think you're going to have a blast!

MsSpinShady

 

[EsmeraldaX]

He had a great time, said it was very easy to operate because it is designed to follow people's instinctual movements and so almost seemed to know what he was going to do before he did it. He said it really only took a short time to get used to it.

That's great to hear. I'm kind of a klutz so I just am now having these visions of falling off and breaking every bone in my body so if it's easy to use, that's good...that's what I need to hear.

 

[jimmiej]

EsmeraldaX,

This is the best thing we've ever done at WDW. See pic below. We hope to do it again on our next trip.

The segway won't let you be clumsy or fall off. The key is...relax! Have fun. It only goes 5 mph, top speed. During practice, DW & another lady bumped into the wall. No big deal. The instructors are very patient & understanding.

The only thing I didn't like about it was...two hours wasn't enough! I wanted to keep riding!

Have fun.

 

[caribear]

DH and I just went on the Segway tour 2 weeks ago. I too had wondered if it was worth the cost and I can now say...YES it definitely was!! I think I had a smile on my face for 2 hours straight. You will have a great time!

 

[briarvano]

I'm one of those people who ran their Segway into the wall and it was absolutely no big deal. I was a little embarassed at the time, but now it is kind of funny. The Segway kind of corrects for you so I didn't fall off or anything just bounced back and then kept going. The tour was totally fun and memorable, I'd highly recommend it. I was very nervous at first but you get used to it and then you start zipping around. Have fun.

 

[MiJo]

I think most of the people in our group were probably a little nervous. Afterall, it's almost like driving a car for the first time. There is that little fear of the unknown. However, the instructors are great. They explain everything pretty thoroughly and make everyone comfortable. You will get almost an hour of training on the HT before venturing outside. You will learn how to turn it on; step on and off of the HT; go forward, backward and stop; turn in 360 degree circles (while standing still); maneuver through an obstacle course of cones; and go up and down ramps. Unlike the regular HT's which go 12 mph or so, these go only 5 mph, so you won't be flying around. To make it move you just shift your weight very slightly to your toes or heels. To turn, you rotate a small "knob" on the left handlebar.
The hardest part is getting the feel of it. That takes a few minutes. Once that happens, you learn how to stand on it and control your weight so you don't move when you don't want to. The 2nd toughest part is staying relaxed so you don't stress your legs too much and tire them out. Standing on the HT is like standing on an escalator step with a rubber pad on it or on a conveyor belt. Our legs were tired when we finished but it was worth it.
In addition to the 1 hour training session, you will get 1 hour in the WS. At that time, you will cruise around in single file, moving around and through some of the countries. Back near China, you will get about a 15 minute "free period" when you will be able to ride around on your own, as long as you stay within set boundaries and follow the rules. Take your camera because this is when the CM's will take your photos! At the end of the tour, you will get a very nice pin as a souvenir.
This is well worth the $$$. I only wish it were longer than 2 hours!

 

[disneyjunkie]

Is this tour open to teens?

 

[EsmeraldaX]

Is this tour open to teens?

I think from what I read it says 16 & up.

http://www.allearsnet.com/btp/tours.htm#seg

 

[EsmeraldaX]

Thank you all!

Your Segway photos are great. I feel a lot better knowing that other people have bumped into the walls (because it's pretty much a given that I will ) and not been hurt.

I see what looks like storage bags on the front of the Segways? Is this to hold your stuff like cameras etc?

 

[DVCLiz]

Hi, Sheri - Yes, there's a little storage compartment that holds a camera, etc.

You are just going to love this - I can't wait to read your posts when you come back!!!!! You cannot run over small children because there won't be any in your way while you're learning, and you'll be riding in a straight line with instructors who will clear the way for you when you ride to and through the World Showcase. Plus, WS is closed until 11 so you won't have very much time to mingle with the regular folk - and when you do, they will all be jealous and they will ask you where they can get one of those cool things!!!!

This is the best money I ever spent at WDW.

Yes, teens can ride if they are 16 - my DD16 had her first Segway ride at Christmas. She was supposed to have her form signed by a parent or guardian, but I had dropped her off at the entrance to Epcot and continued to our hotel with younger DD, so she simply signed the form for herself and didn't make a fuss about it. BUT, I think that was a lucky break for her, as they could have said no and then she would have had to call me back to sign the form.

Segways are the coolest...

 

[DMRick]

We loved our ride. So much we went into Celebrations and rented them from a store and went on a tour of Celebrations back side (store doesn't seem to be there anymore and the phone number no longer works). Be sure your camera has it's own padding. A person with us did fall, and their camera got broken. Another gal posted her Pal Mickey didn't make it (although Disney gave her another one). I did have a little accident (me and a pole), but I wasn't hurt, just mortified LOL. All was well though. We thought the lessons were very good, although one person did back out. She missed a lot of fun. Well worth the money. We went to an RV show last month and a Segway dealer was there (tried to talk hubby into buying the floor model, but it was a no go) and said he plans to lease them for the summer. He had my attention, and I kept his brochure!

 

[CharleyUK]

We loved the Segway tour. By the end I wanted to buy one!!!

I've got realy poor hand to eye co-ordination (couldn't play a computer game to save my life) but I was great, if I do say so myself. It's all down to confidence.

The second part of the tour ,when you go outside is the best, but also happens before most of world showcase is even open so not many people are around to run over.

I also liked how the guides get you to do more than just go in staight lines- like around the columns in Italy and over the bumpy road in Germany. Plus they stopped at each country and gave you some information about the country or about the what the buiding mean.

Have fun

 

[dgaston]

Another "yes" vote here. I was sure I would be the one having trouble with the Segway, but picked it up in maybe 2 minutes. Another woman on our tour had a little trouble in Japan (garbage can), and the instructor spent some individual time, with learning quick stops and helping her regain her confidence. I also think we got an AP discount when we toured in Aug 04.

 

[Mister Disney]

Last June we took the Segway tour and had a BLAST. When I get home, I'll drag out the photo of us to share.

We had our tour during the International Flower Show, so it was incredible with the "vinettes" (spelling) they set up.

We're already booked for another Segway tour for this June....so I would definitely say it is worth the trip

 

[Tinkim]

This tour sure sounds like a lot of fun. Has anyone ever done the tour solo? If so what did you think? My DH loves Epcot and we are from NH where the inventor of the Segway lives so we have been seeing it for years on the news, etc and I think he would enjoy this. On our next trip, we have planned to go with friends and there will be a total of 10 of us with 7 kids. I know my DH will become stressed at times and I was thinking about booking the Segway tour so he could have some time alone doing something I truly think he would enjoy. He is definitely not shy and I don't think he would have a problem going there alone and talking to others in the tour group (probably would be thanking me for the time away). Thanks for any input.

EsmereldaX. . . I think you guys will have a great time doing this tour. It sounds like fun!

 

[MiJo]

I think my favorite part, other than the "free time" for cruising, was cruising around Japan because we got to go over the bridge and up and down a couple ramps. That was where most of our training really paid off.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

Thanks everyone. I'm looking forward to it. I'll defiantely have to post a review when I get back.

My only other question is about weather. Does anyone know how bad it has to be for them to cancel?

 

[RAD]

Our group is doing one in May. One question I have that I forgot to ask when I reserved it, where do you go to get the tour???