| There are four Segway experiences at Walt Disney | | | | designs incorporated into Epcot® pavilions and |
| World including: Around the World at Epcot, Simply | | | | attractions. Glide over California on Soarin', tour |
| Segway at Epcot, the Wilderness Back Trail | | | | the greenhouses at The Land pavilion, explore The |
| Adventure at Fort Wilderness and the Nature | | | | Seas with Nemo & Friends® and visit Life Support |
| Inspired Design Segway Tour. | | | | scientists to learn how technology helps us maintain a |
| Around the World at Epcot is $99 per person (all | | | | better balance with nature. |
| prices listed in this article are subject to change), with | | | | After completing a required product overview and |
| several start times for the two-hour tour beginning | | | | training, you will be equipped with a helmet and a |
| at 7:45 am (also 8:30, 9:00 and 9:30 am). Epcot opens | | | | Segway® Personal Transporter X-2 to experience |
| at 9:00 am, so with a reservation your name will be | | | | this unique off-road tour. Epcot® Cast Member |
| on the list to be let into the Park early, at the main | | | | scientists share how their work environments are |
| gate not the International Gateway. | | | | inspired by nature's own design and how they use |
| Park Admission is required, plus it's an outdoor event | | | | evolving technologies to maintain a balance with the |
| so weather could change your plans. You will wear a | | | | world around them. After experiencing "air, land and |
| helmet of course. And although a Segway can travel | | | | sea" you will have the opportunity to ride your |
| more than 10 mph, the machines have regulators that | | | | Segway® X-2 in a designated off-road backstage |
| limit you to about 5 mph on Disney property. The | | | | area at Epcot®. |
| limit per class is 10, and normally two cast members | | | | This program starts are 8:15 am, and runs on |
| accompany you, one to guide and the other to | | | | different days depending on the season, so in the |
| watch you and run interference (traffic control). | | | | spring or summer it could three or fours days a |
| You must be at least 16 years old and weigh | | | | week and in the fall only two. The cost today is $124 |
| between 100-250 pounds. You should get there at | | | | per person. |
| least 15 minutes early. There are two parts to the | | | | There are clear differences between the Epcot and |
| tour, first some instruction on riding the Segway PT. | | | | Fort Wilderness rides. First, of course, there is |
| You learn to stand, move forward, back, stop, go | | | | difference in terrains. There aren't as many |
| uphill, downhill and turn around. Once you get going, | | | | obstructions as in Epcot and the roadways/sidewalks |
| you take a trip around Epcot World Showcase. | | | | at Fort Wilderness are less traveled. There is also a |
| Traveling single file along the Promenade, you will get | | | | difference in vehicles, with the Segway X2 used in |
| see and travel around several of the international | | | | Fort Wilderness having wider wheels and greater |
| pavilions along the way. You do get to stop for a | | | | stabilization that might be expected when riding |
| rest, riding around and photos; and you will use a | | | | off-road. It's also a longer experience on the Segway |
| headset. | | | | at Fort Wilderness, because the training period is |
| It's not as hard to navigate a Segway as you might | | | | much shorter, even for the inexperienced rider. This |
| think; it is actually pretty easy once you become | | | | is likely because of the wide open spaces and there |
| familiar with it and adjust to the slight movement | | | | is less of a chance you can run into somebody or |
| that reacts instantaneously. Lean in and go forward, | | | | something (literally) as opposed to Epcot. Also as a |
| lean back to go backwards, and straighten up to | | | | result, you do seem to (if not really) travel faster at |
| stop. The handle bars or "LeanSteer Frame" work as | | | | Fort Wilderness. |
| you expect, taking you left and right. It's just that | | | | How it works: The Segway Human Transporter |
| you need to control your body, not easy for the first | | | | works through technology called dynamic stabilization |
| few minutes. But it does feel natural, safe and | | | | that is similar to a person's own sense of balance. |
| instinctive after a while. Simply, you will love it and | | | | People use their inner ear, eyes, muscles, and a brain |
| want to ride more. | | | | to keep their body balanced. The Segway uses |
| There is also a Simply Segway experience offered at | | | | solid-state gyroscopes, tilt sensors, high-speed |
| Epcot and it is designed for those guests who may | | | | microprocessors (10 on board, equal to three times |
| not want or have time for a longer tour. This | | | | the power of a typical PC), and powerful electric |
| one-hour program includes a Segway product | | | | motors to keep its balance. Working together these |
| overview, training, and indoor riding at Innoventions in | | | | dynamic stabilization components sense the user's |
| Epcot on a pre-determined course Again guest | | | | center of gravity, instantaneously assess the |
| limited, the cost of $35.00 per person for an 11:30 am | | | | information and make adjustments to the Segway at |
| start-time (except Tuesdays). And Park admission is | | | | one hundred times per second. Thus, the Segway |
| required as well. | | | | balances itself whether moving, carrying a heavy |
| Next is the Wilderness Back Trail Adventure that | | | | load, maneuvering in tight spaces, or standing still. |
| some believe is even better than the Epcot program, | | | | The Rules of the Road... Again |
| mostly due to the wide open spaces of Fort | | | | At minimum you must be at least 16 years old and |
| Wilderness. And although the Segway X2 model used | | | | weigh between 100-250 pounds, but there are other |
| here is an off-road vehicle, you still follow a trail and | | | | qualifications such as not allowing pregnant moms or |
| don't get to wonder off too far. If you haven't | | | | some persons with special needs to ride. The whole |
| traveled the full length of Fort Wilderness, make sure | | | | issue of Segway use, particularly by persons with a |
| you ask directions since the map is not enough. | | | | disability has been a subject of lawsuits, but Walt |
| You can tell that the deep treads in the tires and | | | | Disney World has featured the Segway since 2002, |
| higher ground clearance will hold the road better at an | | | | right after it was first introduced publicly. Guests can |
| outdoor park and wooded area that is Fort | | | | call 407/WDW-TOUR for more information or |
| Wilderness. You will likely see some wildlife, but | | | | reservations. And it is highly advisable to make a |
| mostly lots of trees and campsites. There's a long | | | | reservation well in advance for any of the Segway |
| stretch of ride following the shores of Bay Lake | | | | experiences. There is also a Segway display at |
| which is very nice, and you get to stop, rest and | | | | Innoventions includes interactive stations and |
| take some pictures. | | | | demonstrations by cast members on how the |
| The latest information is that Disney offers this | | | | product works. |
| two-hour adventure twice a day from Tuesday to | | | | Be aware that you are standing the full length of the |
| Saturday at 8:30 and 11:30 am, for a cost of $85.00 | | | | tour and your legs could get tired. Even your feet will |
| per person. It is recommended you take the early | | | | feel a little strange after finishing your ride, especially |
| ride during the warm weather. It does get hot and | | | | at Fort Wilderness. If you are under 18, parent |
| humid in Florida. Schedules and prices change, so use | | | | guardian permission is needed. But there is also a |
| the contact information below. | | | | liability release to sign. Plus a reward for making it |
| This is also a two-person led guided tour that hits | | | | through your experience - a special pin, one each for |
| many sites including parts of Wilderness Lodge and | | | | Epcot and Wilderness. |
| the Tri-Circle-D Ranch where you stop to greet the | | | | There are discounts available for travel club, credit |
| horses. It's also a place to take a break, drink some | | | | card or special Disney membership holders. Anyone |
| water and hit the head. The guide is a lot of fun to | | | | can ride (if you meet the minimum qualifications), and |
| listen to, who would tell stories, some even true. You | | | | beginners are welcome. Park Admission is required for |
| get a digital head set, just like with Epcot's | | | | Epcot, plus for the outdoor events weather could |
| adventure, so you can hear what is being said. | | | | change your plans. You will wear a helmet of course. |
| There is also a Nature-Inspired Design Segway Tour. | | | | And although a Segway can travel more than 10 |
| This is from the official announcement: Discover the | | | | mph, the machines have regulators that limit you to |
| wonder of nature-inspired design as you glide through | | | | about 5 mph on Disney property. The limit per class is |
| land, sea and air at Epcot®. This 3-hour backstage | | | | 10, and normally two cast members accompany you, |
| tour allows you to experience the symbiotic | | | | one to guide and the other to watch you and run |
| relationship between nature and the nature-inspired | | | | interference (traffic control). |