Segway Vets, We Just Booked, Any Tips?

[Bill From PA]

We just booked the 8:30 am Segway Tour for March 6, 2007. We're staying at BWV and will be going in through the International Gateway (I guess). Any tips for maximizing our enjoyment would be appreciated. A few specific questions:

Once through the IG, where do we go, and how early can/should we get there?

How much rain does it take to cancel?

I expect to be done before the 11 am opening of WS, will they boot us out or let us stay there?

Will we be going anywhere 'behind the scenes', places not open to normal foot traffic?

Thanks,
Bill From PA

 

[harra]

My wife and I did the Segway Tour around the World Showcase when we went this past September and thoroughly enjoyed it.

I must warn you that it is very, very structured. I also told my wife that it seemed like the tour was more of a giant advertisment of the Segway People Mover than a backstage tour (or any kid of tour).

We did have a couple hidden mickeys pointed out to us, but it was mainly a giant game of "follow the leader" where we did agility moves to show how "awesome" the Segway is. For example, weaving through the columns in Italy and maneuvering through the hedge maze in the UK.

There is no unsupervised time on the Segway in the World Showcase.

In regards to how early to get there, I'm not sure how the Ticketing stating at the International Gateway works, but there was a gate at the main entrance for people who were doing the Character Breakfast in Norway or the tours. You will meet at Guest Relations near Spaceship Earth

 

[Jane E.]

Dh and I took this tour a couple years ago. We had a great time. They start off teaching you just how to stand on the segway and progress from there. Like harra stated it was a very structured tour. When we first went outside on the segway I was a nervous wreck but by the time we finished the tour I had the hang of it. Have fun - you'll love it!

 

[mickeymom55]

My family did the Segway tour last December. You check in at the Visitor's Center to the left (or right as you come from IG) of Spaceship Earth. We were still in the World Showcase when it opened. The 8:30 tour is just about ending and we exited the area while people were entering. No behind the scenes, however, it's unbelievable to have the place to yourselves. You are given a "free" time to go in circles and take pictures. However, it's roped off and controlled. We were lucky enough to have about 6 or 7 characters entering the area while we were touring. It was a fun tour and we plan to do it again when we have a chance to return to the World. Have a wonderful time!

 

[Bashful in TN]

My husband and I did this 2 weeks ago and thought it was a lot of fun.

You will need to check in with Guest Relations at the front of th park about 15 minutes before your tour starts. As already stated, it is a very structured tour and you are not allowed to go off on your own. You will do an hour of training in Innoventions and an hour of following your guide around world showcase. Our guide had us do various obstacles and stopped in a few countries to tell us a little bit of trivia about that pavilion. We did have about 15 minutes of "free" time to take pictures and zoom around in a marked off area across from Italy.

Have fun!

 

[dzneelvr]

Our family (me, DH, DS-18 and DD-16) did the tour this June. It was FABULOUS and we'll definitely do it again next summer. Your tour guide will lead you through most of the countries and point out unique things about each that you don't get anywhere else. You'll have a one-of-a-kind photo opp while on the tour, so don't worry about getting pictures at all. An added bonus was that as the tour ended, the park was getting ready to open so we were first in line to the Character pictures and the EPCOT CM gave us special passes to get our entire family on attractions My advice: pay attention to the guides, especially during the training prior to hitting the park. The quicker your group acquires their skill, the faster you can get out and get moving. Having the park all to yourselves is like nothing else

 

[BunsenH]

To answer some questions and reinforce the opinions of others:

1. Pay attention during the training. "Driving" a Segway is easy, but NOT intuitive.
2. You will be admitted through the IG in time to make it to Guest Relations.
3. The WC portion is fun, but you need to be aware of your surroundings. The maneuvers that you practice in the 'classroom' will be used during the touring.
4. The Segway is the attraction of the tour. You will get some interesting tidbits out of the guide, but their mission is to keep everyone upright!
5. There is a good possibility that you will meet a group of characters as they come out for their first shift of the day. We saw a group of 8-10 near the American Experience. Take advantage of this 'face time' by having your camera ready. CMs will take pictures.
6. Relax and enjoy the tour. It is unique.

 

[MelanieC]

Enjoying the tips. I am doing the tour next summer.

 

[Bill From PA]

Thanks, everyone, this is just the sort of advice we need, especially that part about learning quickly in the classroom in order to get out and going sooner.

Bill From PA

 

[skunkvette]

I don't know if this helps you concerning rain, but we booked two tours in May, one early in our week and one late, just in case one was cancelled due to rain.

Our thought was to cancel the second tour (48 hour notice needed) if we got the first one in, but of course we ended up taking both days!

You will have a blast, WS all to yourself is great, but we enjoyed in more when we were touring through the crowds in England and Canada on the way back in. You really feel like a celebrity!

 

[disnut1149]

Thanks for all the tips. My girlfriend and I (girls only trip) are doing this tour on Dec. 14 at 8:30. I think we're both a little nervous, but can't wait to try it.

 

[tmt martins]

I would suggest to go to segways web-sight and see if they have any places around you to get a quick training ride in.

We have one her in B-more at the Science center but other places offer them as well.DD12 and I did this a few months back and it was a blast.I'm even thinking of getting one for myself to use here in the city.

Even check a day or so earlier at Innoventions as they give a quick demo sometimes.

This way you would be a bit more comfortable during your actual tour.

 

[harra]

Thanks for all the tips. My girlfriend and I (girls only trip) are doing this tour on Dec. 14 at 8:30. I think we're both a little nervous, but can't wait to try it.

On the tour that went right before us, there was a lady that was fast approaching 90. The tour had to go slow so she could keep up (she wasn't comfortable going the full 5 MPH) but she completed all the tasks thrown at her.

When our group heard about that, we said that if a 90 year old lady could do it then anyone who can stand without falling down should be able to do it.

Once you get your mind to forget about falling down, it was super simple. My only problem is that I ride motorcycles so I kept turning the handle thinking it was the accelerator and it was the thing that turns you left and right. It caused a few humorous moments when I meant to go forward and I went left

 

[disnut1149]

On the tour that went right before us, there was a lady that was fast approaching 90. The tour had to go slow so she could keep up (she wasn't comfortable going the full 5 MPH) but she completed all the tasks thrown at her.

When our group heard about that, we said that if a 90 year old lady could do it then anyone who can stand without falling down should be able to do it.

Once you get your mind to forget about falling down, it was super simple. My only problem is that I ride motorcycles so I kept turning the handle thinking it was the accelerator and it was the thing that turns you left and right. It caused a few humorous moments when I meant to go forward and I went left

Thanks!! We're in our 50's so I guess if a 90 year old woman can do this, we can too!!

 

[Hypermommy]

Thanks for all the tips. My girlfriend and I (girls only trip) are doing this tour on Dec. 14 at 8:30. I think we're both a little nervous, but can't wait to try it.

I think we'll be there together! I'm considering the morning of the 14th myself at 8:30. Cool!!!!!

BTW, all.... one other tip I have (and honestly, once I saw disnut's message, I wanted to quote it so haven't read everything else), if you are going to be at Epcot at all before your tour, take the time to go do the "Segway Experience" in Innoventions. All you really learn to do during this one is to stand on the thing, go forward a few feet, turn and go back a few feet. But it's enough to give you a taste of it and any time you spend learning before the actual tour will make you that much more proficient during the tour. Actually, the CM in charge of making sure I didn't fall down the last time (the 2nd time I'd done the Experience) was not that happy with me becuase I was fooling around a bit becuase I felt so comfortable on the thing. Can't wait for the 14th!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[LoveMickey]

DH and I did the early tour during the F&G time. It was great.

I did learn one tip that I'll pass on to everyone. Bend your knees during the touring. You don't want to have stiff knees the entire tour of the WC.

I was very hesitant that I would be able to do this. I'm not that coordinate. But I was fine and I had a blast.

I think it depends on the guide whether they give you any insights to the different countries. Our guide was great and did tell us some things.

We did get some 'free time' near Italy and they take pictures too. They also used our camera to take pics.

We did encounter walking folks in WS - after the bridge in France - and it was great to see them watch us. The WS tour goes Mexico, Norway, China........ and ends up at Canada.

The Segway is very easy to manuver once you have the lessons.

Enjoy

 

[DisMN]

Thanks, everyone, this is just the sort of advice we need, especially that part about learning quickly in the classroom in order to get out and going sooner.

Bill From PA

Bill, just an FYI.....learning quickly won't get out out and going sooner. The 2ish hour tour is set up to be half learning time and half touring time.

I think you had also asked about behind the scenes on this tour and while the usual answer is "no" we had a fun experience. (maybe I'm not supposed to tell about it either but heh, we weren't told we had to keep it a secret LOL)
We've taken the tour several times now and one of those times the lift bridge over by China was stuck in the raised position. We were "forced" to ride back behind China through the area where they load the fireworks barges and other really COOL stuff.......no stopping and no pictures of course, but it was really neat!
We popped out onto the World Showcase by Germany.

I guess you could hope for a similar experience.

 

[NJDad18]

We always stay at BWV and when we did the Segway tour we entered through the IG. I would just make sure that you have your confirmation number with you. I do believe that the guard there had a list of people who were to be let in early, either for the character breakfast in Norway or the Segway tour.

It was a lot of fun. My calf muscles did ache after the tour. You press down with your toes to move forward which stretches your calf muscle. To stop you dig in your heels.

The tour was a lot of fun and I highly recommend it. When we go in June we'll be taking the tour again.

 

[harra]

if you are going to be at Epcot at all before your tour, take the time to go do the "Segway Experience" in Innoventions.

Just my opinion, but I wouldn't suggest that. When I went in September the Segway used in the "Segway Experience" at Innoventions was the latest model on the market. Major advancements have been made to in in comparision to the much older model used for the tour. For example, you steer left and right by moving the handle bars to the left and right. The entire stick moves. In the model you use on the tour it's pretty solid. You turned by twisting a ring on the left handle bar. It could have the opposite affect than desired. I was very profficient from the get go on the Segway used in the tour but looked like an idiot on the newer model because it's much more sensitive to the center of gravity and every time I moved my head, I turned because I apparently was nudging the handlebars which when moved left and right move the device left and right.

I strongly suggest doing the Innoventions "Segway Experience" AFTER doing the tour so you can get a better idea of where the Segway device has come from and where it's going.

 

[Hypermommy]

I did the Experience one time in early September and one time a couple of weeks ago. Actually, one was just before the recall of Segways and the other was after it. Anyway, the first time they used the kind where you tilt the "steering lever" to the side that you wish to move towards. The second time it was the kind where you turn the handle on the handlebars to turn (kind of like the accelerator on a motorbike). I don't know why the switch... maybe it was the newer model that was recalled? Anyway, I see what you're saying, but I would still advise doing the Experience if you get the chance before you go do the tour. If nothing else, you'll be more comfortable on the balancing aspect and then it's just a matter of figuring out which kind of turner you have.