Segway Tour of EPCOT?

[Toadi]

I was very anxious and worried on the first Segway tour; even told the trainers they could fail me after the training portion, but the trainers were awesome and instructed us that it was ok to choose not to do some of the "challenges" if we didn't feel comfortable. I was nicknamed the "pokey puppy" and stayed at the end of the group; did not do the extra maneuvers if I didn't feel comfortable. Still had a wonderful time! Have done several Segway tours since and am very confident and no longer the "pokey puppy"!

 

[SunDial]

I iwould like to try that. How long are the tours? it has been a few years since i have bn there.

 

[Koda Bear]

It is so totally awesome!!! Did it last April in Epcot - the early morning one - actually was the first person thru the turnstiles in Epcot this morning. I love the countries especially during the flower festivel and to be able to zoom around the countries without the crowds was so much fun. The guide would stop in each country and tell us interesting facts about the country. When we rode up to Japan there was a graduation cermony going on for the new cast members - they were all dressed in graduation robes and Mickey too - and when they saw us they started taking pictues of us.

The early morning one is great too if you are worried about running into the crowds because you won't until you get around the gateway and by then you will be very comfortable on the segway.

 

[PatMcDuck]

We did it Jan 1st, I think it was, this year. Me and DH, both if abut 50 years old.

We LOVED it. They said a few people can't seem to "get it" once in awhile, and I was worried that would be one of us. But, we did fine. Our whole group was fine, the guide had to yell at one guy a few times, he kept going backwards (not allowed).

The only problem we sort of had, was that is was FREEZING cold, so early in the morning in January, during a cold snap. So bring gloves and a warm hat you can wear under a bike helmet, if you take this tour in the winter. We all had gloves, except one guy, and he was in pain by the end.

I want to take the Segway Tour again!

 

[LSUmom4kids]

I did the tour yesterday & LOVED it! Don't forget to get the 20% discount with your Disney Visa! I learned quickly & would live to do the Fort Wilderness tour, but they only do it on certain days & I couldn't fit it in this trip! Save your money for this tour!

 

[tchescat]

I'm going to try the 5 min ride and see how that goes. Can't wait!

 

[mrobin023]

We have this tour booked for our trip in March 2011. For those of you who have done it, I have a few questions. They told us to check in at Guest Services at the front of the park...is that the one inside the park to the left of Spaceship Earth? Do they allow you to carry a camera with you...I can't imagine not getting any photos of us during the tour!

 

[LSUmom4kids]

We have this tour booked for our trip in March 2011. For those of you who have done it, I have a few questions. They told us to check in at Guest Services at the front of the park...is that the one inside the park to the left of Spaceship Earth? Do they allow you to carry a camera with you...I can't imagine not getting any photos of us during the tour!

You wait outside the gate with people waiting with their ADR's for breakfast. They will let you get in early after they check your name off their list. I tried to walk past the fountain to see if fastpasses were available, but a CM quickly steered me back to Guest Services!

You can bring your camera and store it in your pocket or in the compartment in front of the Segway. They will stop in Epcot and you can take photos in "America"; they will even take use your camera to take a picture. It was a blast!

 

[kabirabarbosa]

It 'was amazing. Both thought it was the highlight of the trip. We spent time at home, practicing riding a Segway, and turning and up and down the ramps, the time that we were competent when we got outside, "real" world.

 

[ashenbiez]

I'm 100% sold on this idea!
Especially after reading about the 20% visa discount as we just got approved for one! yay!

how hard is it to get the hang of? i'm pretty... well... downright clumsy... hehe

 

[aubriee]

I've done it twice and loved it both times. The first time, there was a young man turned away. They had asked for ID's and this kid was not going to be 16 y/o until a few days later. Both parents had signed up for the tour and it was supposed to be part of his birthday gift. They kept arguing that he'd be 16 y/o in just three days and didn't think it would matter since he was so close and they'd sign a waiver for him. The CM's were not budging though and said he could not do the tour until he was 16 y/o. The parents got really mad and all three stomped out, so we had only like nine people in our group.

The second time we did it there was a couple who were probably in their early 60's and the wife was having a really hard time in training. You could tell the CM's were concerned about her, but they did let her go. When we got to the part in China where you duck to go under the tree limb, she panicked and literally dove off and let the Segway fall. The CM's were not happy with her. Then when we were over around Morocco where you weave in and out of the columns, she was exhausted and was having a hard time with her legs hurting so took a short break there while we went in and out of the columns and the CM told us about the mosaics. The main CM happened to be next to me and said that they had almost made the decision to not let her out because of the problems she was having in training and maybe they shouldn't have. The two trailing CM's spent the rest of the time encouraging her, but instead of just the one stop that you usually make in Italy, we had to take a second rest break over in the back side of the UK (by the Beatle's area), so she could get off the Segway and rest for the third time. While she was resting one of the CM's took the rest of us through the maze. As we were coming out of the back of the UK, we were so far behind schedule that we met the Segway tour that started an 1/2 hour after ours. By the time we got back to the Innoventions building she was totally exhausted and her legs were really cramping up bad.

 

[gparr]

I surprised my wife with the Epcot Segway tour when we were there last month.

It was GREAT and will do it again whenever we get back there without our 2 kids. I was probably more nervous than she as the guides in training kept talking to me about my high center of gravity. After the training exercises I was moved to the front of the line for the outdoor tour. We were lucky...only 4 in our tour!!!

I just can't tell you how much fun it was!!!

 

[pampam]

How far ahead do we have to reserve it? I'd like to try it in about a months time.

 

[charliebrown]

Im planning a trip, Im 16 and skateboard, so I am going to try, but my dad is 60, with 2 bum knees and Im worried if he can do it or not.

 

[RandFamily]

The funny thing about riding the SEGWAY is that you need to be able to stay STILL rather than to be skillful with your body in any way. I found that really surprising but not too hard. You only have to shift the weight of your body very slightly to get it to move forward or to stop and turning is another very slight move. So you don't have to be coordinated in the typical sense, more that you need to be able to relax and stand still on top of it and control your body - you can't wiggle around a lot. I totally loved the EPCOT tour, but I have to admit, my legs were tired by the end- in the same way they'd be if you had to stand for 2 hours. I can't wait to do another tour!!

 

[DVCGeek]

did not do the extra maneuvers if I didn't feel comfortable. Still had a wonderful time!

What kind of "extra maneuvers" are there? {Edit: Perhaps the tree branch, columns, and maze aubriee mentioned.. Are there others?}

I tried the mini-demo in Innoventions in 2009 and was a little too jittery for the Segway; it kept thinking I wanted to actually MOVE. However, given more time on it I MIGHT have relaxed and enjoyed it. Unfortunately, some of my family is notably over 250 #s and I'd feel guilty [not to mention may go in the proverbial dog house! ] trying to do a full tour solo so it isn't on the immediate horizon for me...

 

[iggbees]

totally worth the money. my husband still raves about it from our honeymoon this past august. he told me that he wants to do the Fort Wilderness one next time we go. i found it difficult to get my bearings at first, but once i figured out how to balance correctly, it was much easier. one girl on our tour decided to opt out at the very beginning after trying to balance on it during practice. it's not for everyone, but we had a lot of fun!

one piece of advice. wear really comfortable roomy shoes.

 

[aubriee]

one piece of advice. wear really comfortable roomy shoes.

I agree! However, the second time I did it there was a couple that really caught everyone's eye. At first we thought they were a grandaughter and grandfather. Come to find out they were boyfriend/girlfriend. He was in his mid 60's and she was about 21-22. What caught everyone's eye was the way she was dressed. She was wearing very short, frayed Daisy Dukes with her rear end hanging out, a skin tight tank top with a very thin bra, and black stilleto heels that were at least 6" high. When she first walked in the CM's jaws dropped and one told her that they didn't think she'd make the whole tour in those shoes. She said that all she ever wore were heels and she'd be fine. She was the one that we didn't think would make it, but she surprised us and did great. It was the 60 y/o lady in tennis shoes that had problems.

 

[bolikanute]

Husband (63) and I (60) have done 4 Segway tours including the "off road" one. The first time was a bit nerve wracking, I'm not particularly athletic, but after a few moments I was fine. We loved it and came home wishing there was an application to use it at home. But just toddling around the driveway couln't be justified! As a previous poster mentioned, you use muscles to balance that you don't normally use, but I didn't find it tiring. On a couple of tours there have been people that had a bit a difficulty getting the "knack" but most were having a great time by the end of the tour. Becoming too confidant might be the biggest problem. We are signed up for another tour on our next visit in a couple of weeks.

 

[bolikanute]

I just noticed your post. I don't think bad knees would be a problem. You just flex your knees gently in balancing and turning. If your Dad can stand or walk for the length of the tour I think it would be ok. It's not very stressful , just quirky.