Meeting time for Epcot Segway Tour?

[TartanFan]

Can anyone tell me what the meeting time is for the 8.30am Epcot Segway Tour? I want to book this as a surprise for DH on our Aug trip and am planning to make an ADR at Cape May Cafe for DD and I while DH is having fun but I need to time it so that he has enough time to drop us off at BC, drive to Epcot, park and make the tour!

DD and I will walk to the IG after breakfast and meet up with him.

TIA for any info.

 

[Twende]

We were told to be there at 8 AM for the 8:30 tour.

Our problem was we were staying at the BC and had been told we could ener at the International Gate at 7:30 so we could take the long walk to the meeting area. But the IG would not allow us to enter before 8 AM. So we had to sit there and wait. We ran/jogged/fast walked to the tour, getting lost numerous times on our way. We arrived late, flustered and out of breathe.

If I ever have to do it again I would drive to the Epcot main gate and enter from there.

 

[Skylarr29]

I had the same problem.. THEY DO NOT LET YOU IN THE PARKING LOT UNTIL 8AM!!!! so we had it even worse as we had to park after that etc... we were the last to arrive. Take the monorail from the ticket and transportation center so you can get there and IN at the right time!!!!



PS. I was sooo mad because they tell you to arrive early and the tour almost left without us and I was stuck waiting to get in the parking lot from 7:30.

 

[Epcot242]

I did the early one also and was also staying at the BCV. My dad, sister, and I went to IG around 7:55 or 8:00. CMs were there so we told them about the tour, but since I was younger I needed my dad to sign the permission slip, so he had to come with me. We had our park tickets and everything, so they called to Guest Relations (at least, I think that's who they called - if not, they made a phone call of some sort). After a few minutes they let us put our park tickets through and head to Guest Relations. I would call the WDW Tour number and ask them about it to make sure. Good luck.

 

[SueM in MN]

We were told to be there by 8:15. We took the bus from OKW and walked from the bus area. One of our party was too slow to make the first bus that came along (and we were just across from the bus stop, so it wasn't like she had a long walk).
From the front of the park entrance, look for the "Princess Breakfast" sign. That's the only gate you can enter thru early. They have a list of people who belong in the park early for that and for the Segway tour. We made it to Guest Relations about 8:20 and they were waiting for us (but we had 8 out the 10 spots on the tour).
You might want to do the later tour; that way you won't have to worry about the time for getting into the park or the parking lot.

 

[TartanFan]

Many thanks for sharing your experiences - looks like my simple, foolproof plan isn't quite so simple or foolproof after all! Back to the drawing board!

 

[tjmouse]

Wow, glad I just happened to book this tour on an Epcot morning EMH day! Sounds like that will be a lot easier. Thanks!

 

[subtchr]

There is also now a 9:00 tour (in addition to the 8:30 and 9:30). I recently changed the time of my family's tour from 9:30 to 9:00, and I was told to be there by 8:45 at the latest.

 

[dznyacct]

We did the 8:30 tour a few weeks ago (absolutely incredible experience, by the way ~ my 16 yo son was in heaven ). Our bus from OKW took a bit longer than I thought and it was EMH at Epcot. We arrived at ~ 8 am The crowds to enter the park were HUGE!!! I was a little paniced and asked at a ticket window about how to get in for our tour, wondering if we had to wait in the very long lines. A very friendly CM personally escorted us to the front of the security line and got us to our tour location in plenty of time. I wanted to do the early tour so that we would have World Showcase to ourselves (which we did). DS has been hinting that a Segway would be a great mode of transportation for when he goes to college in a few years ! We were given a hint that they may be designing an "off-road" Segway tour in the future. I know who will be signing up for that !

 

[ReninDetroit]

We were told 8:15 at the international relations booth. We barely made it because the main gates at Epcot don't open to non-Disney traffic (we took a taxi, long story) until 8:00.

The group did not leave until about 8:25 though because we waited on a couple. The groups don't get larger than 10 so they'll wait a few minutes for you if you're running late.