By Laura Wahler
The thought of riding a Segway—a two-wheeled transportation device that relies on the operator’s sense of balance—was more than a little intimidating. As a perpetual klutz who desperately clings to handrails, I tend to trip over pesky obstacles like carpet, parking lots, and on occasion, my two small children.

I couldn’t help but think this would be the best chance I have had to hurt myself in a long time. But the Segway—in all its geeky glory—has always fascinated me, and the chance to give one a test drive at Walt Disney World sealed the deal. Strapping into the “stylish” protective headgear inspired me to rise above my fear. It also led me to question why, exactly, we had to wear helmets while we sat on benches and watched a safety video—but that is beside the point.

During an indoor training session at Segway Central, our group of nine people learned how to handle and, more importantly, how to trust our Segways. In fact, a Segway makes adjustments to balance its rider 100 times per second. “Make no mistake about it,” our instructor Ann said through her thick Rhode Island accent. “This machine is smarter than you are.” Strangely enough, that was quite reassuring. Over and over again I practiced getting on the Segway, one left foot at a time.

Finally, we set out into the park just as the Future World area was opening for the morning. Other guests stopped, stared, pointed, and waved as we traveled in a single-file line to the World Showcase. Were it not for my white-knuckle grip on the handlebars, I gladly would have waved back. Instead I concentrated on my leaning and balance, repeating an internal mantra of “Not too far forward, not too far back.”

Soon, though, I began to feel comfortable on the Segway, and eventually I forgot about my propensity for injuring innocent bystanders. We spent the next hour weaving in and out of the white columns in Italy, around the open buildings in Morocco, and over a narrow bridge in Japan. At each country’s pavilion, we stopped for quick behind-the-scenes information from our tour guides about the country, its history, and how it came to be represented at Walt Disney World.

When we began to make our way back to Segway Central, one curious guest on foot asked me how I liked the tour. Zipping by at 4 miles per hour, I managed to give her an enthusiastic thumbs-up—somehow—without causing serious harm to either one of us.

The Around the World at Epcot tours run four times daily and reservations with a credit card are required. For more information, ask your AAA Travel Consultant or call (407) 939-8687.

TIP: Don’t forget to ask for the AAA Member discount!

Going Places Magazine

• Add Comment