retiredkid
<font color=blue>Your shots make me want to try ag
- Joined
- Apr 29, 2007
- Messages
- 784
After another good night’s sleep, I was up at 5:30 (typical for me) and DH up at 7:00. I have been looking forward to today. I have booked the Segway tour at Fort Wilderness at 11:30 this morning. However, the Weather Channel says there is a Tornado Watch in the near area and that Thunderstorms are expected throughout the area, beginning around Noon. Timing will be important. He still doesn’t know the plans. We had breakfast in the food court again, I had oatmeal with raisins and brown sugar. It was just fine. DH had a blueberry muffin, which was also good, and we brough a banana bread muffin back to the room to snack on later. After brekkie, I found Rick at Guest Services. I asked him if he had sent the balloon. He told me that it was Addie’s idea, but that he made it happen. Thanks to both of you. It was a good laugh to see DH wrestle with it. And he loved the pic. Back at the room, the Weather Channel confirmed two tornado touchdowns, east (I think) of Orlando. We still haven't had a call that the Segway tour was cancelled. The skies are very overcast, it is quite warm, but very windy. Keeping fingers crossed. So, we decided to make our way there. Lorne now knows what we are doing and is also excited. I should have waited until we were at FW, but I suck at keeping secrets. We took the bus to MK, then the boat to FW. We walked around there a bit until we found the Segway starting point.
There was to be a group of 8, and 7 of us were already there @ 11:00. (We were told to be ready at 11:15 at the latest.) At twenty past, one of the instructors told us he would go looking for the last person. A few minutes later, he came back with the fellow just strolling slowly, without a care in the world. Turns out, he knew how to ride these things already. Our two instructors,
Wess
and Robert
were a couple of real jokesters. Made the entire experience fun. We had a ½ hr training session, and learned a bit about the machines.
They each cost $5800. They apparently are powered by 5 gyroscopes, which is more than double those on the lunar landing module. The most difficult part is the mount and dismount. However,they were very easy to manouvre. They have no breaks or accelerator. All speed control is with the shifting of your weight. I found it difficult when dismounting. The trick is to keep it totaly upright. Well, I have these short, stumpy legs (read tree trunks) so that when my first foot went on the ground, my arms pulled the (so-called) handles back so that the *&^* machine road up my shins OUCH!!! Notwithstanding………………We were ready for our Wilderness Back Trail Adventure!!! For the next 1½ hrs we were on pathways of concrete, sand, dirt, mulch. We went through FW campsite & also behind Wilderness Lodge. They pointed out various plants and flowers. Sometimes, they see deer and other wildlife, but we didn’t see any on our trip. We paused for a few minutes at a lake (Bay Lake?) for some pics.
As you can plainly see, we both have giant heads
We were both wearing the largest helmets....even then
We, ourselves were not allowed to take photos from the Segways. For obvious safety reasons. We then stopped at the stables where we saw Cinderella’s ponies as well as horses that are used in the parades.
Thoughts on the tour….. Something different. Worth the money. My feet were KILLING me the first half hour or so. I think my toes were in a death grip. After a while, I relaxed and it was much easier. The top speed of our Segways was 6 mph, while the instructors could go 9 mph. At the end of the tour, we each got a really neat pin.
I imagine not too many people have these. We took the boat back to Wilderness Lodge and walked up to WCC and had no trouble getting a table. Chestnut was our server, and she was pretty good. DH had the Angus burger, and I tried the Buffalo burger. I found it bland, which surprised me. We had been chatting to the people at the next table, so when they asked Chestnut to take their photo, we each made ‘rabbit ears’ to the kids near us. She gave them back the camera, and walked passed us, whispering….naughty, naughty. 
We eventually did tell them what we did, though. And offered to take another shot. They laughed and wanted to keep it the way it was. That’s Disney for you!!!
We took the bus back to MK and another to ASMO. In the room, we had a little nap. I woke up first, so I snuck out and took some typical photos around the resort. Back in the room, we split the banana bread muffin (MMMMMMMM) and believe it or not, Part 2 of According to Jim was on and showed them on Castaway Cay.
You know, riding around on the Segway was quite tiring. And we have a cruise to go on tomorrow!!! Another early night.
There was to be a group of 8, and 7 of us were already there @ 11:00. (We were told to be ready at 11:15 at the latest.) At twenty past, one of the instructors told us he would go looking for the last person. A few minutes later, he came back with the fellow just strolling slowly, without a care in the world. Turns out, he knew how to ride these things already. Our two instructors,
Wess
and Robert
were a couple of real jokesters. Made the entire experience fun. We had a ½ hr training session, and learned a bit about the machines.
They each cost $5800. They apparently are powered by 5 gyroscopes, which is more than double those on the lunar landing module. The most difficult part is the mount and dismount. However,they were very easy to manouvre. They have no breaks or accelerator. All speed control is with the shifting of your weight. I found it difficult when dismounting. The trick is to keep it totaly upright. Well, I have these short, stumpy legs (read tree trunks) so that when my first foot went on the ground, my arms pulled the (so-called) handles back so that the *&^* machine road up my shins OUCH!!! Notwithstanding………………We were ready for our Wilderness Back Trail Adventure!!! For the next 1½ hrs we were on pathways of concrete, sand, dirt, mulch. We went through FW campsite & also behind Wilderness Lodge. They pointed out various plants and flowers. Sometimes, they see deer and other wildlife, but we didn’t see any on our trip. We paused for a few minutes at a lake (Bay Lake?) for some pics.
As you can plainly see, we both have giant heads
We were both wearing the largest helmets....even then We, ourselves were not allowed to take photos from the Segways. For obvious safety reasons. We then stopped at the stables where we saw Cinderella’s ponies as well as horses that are used in the parades.
Thoughts on the tour….. Something different. Worth the money. My feet were KILLING me the first half hour or so. I think my toes were in a death grip. After a while, I relaxed and it was much easier. The top speed of our Segways was 6 mph, while the instructors could go 9 mph. At the end of the tour, we each got a really neat pin.
We eventually did tell them what we did, though. And offered to take another shot. They laughed and wanted to keep it the way it was. That’s Disney for you!!!We took the bus back to MK and another to ASMO. In the room, we had a little nap. I woke up first, so I snuck out and took some typical photos around the resort. Back in the room, we split the banana bread muffin (MMMMMMMM) and believe it or not, Part 2 of According to Jim was on and showed them on Castaway Cay.
You know, riding around on the Segway was quite tiring. And we have a cruise to go on tomorrow!!! Another early night.
)
Glad you were able to get a good deal. Sadly, you had to extend your trip! 
Can't wait to hear more!
Oh well, we were too excited to eat anyways, I guess. Anyhoo, back at the room, we packed things up and checked out. Rick from Wheels to Wings met us in a fabulous, spotless, new SUV. I should have taken a proper photo of Rick, cause he was a pretty imposing figure in his black silk morning suit. All I got was this. 
This was when then announced our group number. Im afraid we were rather rude, and said OH THATS TOO BAD thanks very much, Bye!!! We never did find out what would happen to those who missed the boat. Curious, though. 
We checked our watches and our boarding call was at 12:25. Fabulous!! There were two things about this day that I was really looking forward to. 
The announcement of our names, and hearing the Disney horn. It was fun listening to the names being announced, and the crew clapping and cheering
.we were getting close
and ANOTHER family is welcomed board
WOO HOO!! CHEERS!! CLAP CLAP!!
ITS OUR TURN!!!! Here it comes
UMMM. Nothing.. nada
.zippo
zilch..(maybe a cricket chirping) For some reason, the crew is all gathered speaking to Mr. Yadda Yadda, who went just before us. Perhaps he was asking a question? Anyhoo, the silence was deafening. I was sooooooo disappointed 
The girl who was announcing the names noticed though, so she yelled into the mike Yay, hurray, welcome It was still a little disappointing. I will just have to go on another cruise to hear it properly.
maybe 15 mins or so, and then said our goodbyes. We headed back to the room to unpack. HEY! Disneyfaninaz (Wendy) is our next door neighbour! 
Cool!!
