Segway in the Parks - Am I wrong?

[joviacdan]

I wanted to ask some of you, the true Disney fanatics, how you felt about this...

I have (or had) a friend that has never been to Disney World. Has no interest. He's one of those "it's just for kids or families" people.

Anyways- He sent me the article a while back about Disney not allowing use of Segways in the parks anymore. His reasoning was because he think Disney was bitter about not making any money. Doesn't think they would be difficult to navigate through the crowds and no injuries would occur.

I beg to differ. I think a few reasons are..

1.It would create a lot of traffic. Wheelchairs are one things, but if anyone could rent a segway, you'd have teenagers zipping through the park and whatnot.

2.Disney may be afraid of a lawsuit. We've all been to Disney when it gets crowded (Magic Kingdom) in particular. Can you imagine a bunch of people riding those things through Fantasyland in the middle of April at lunchtime?

3.Maybe no serious injuries would occur, but they certainly could. I can't imagine people not getting run into, or having their feet run over, etc. It would just anger a lot of people.

So, I ask you, the people who truly know Disney World, was I wrong in defending Disney and understanding why they won't allow Segway use in the parks?

 

[Nansafan]

If you rent the Segway, you're making money right. I don't understand your friend's logic. I agree. Trying to navigate Fantasyland mid-afternoon especially near IASW is difficult on foot. The stroller parking alone takes up so much room. Now you would have to have a Segway parking area. The insurance liablity with people falling off, getting hit by a Segway would have to be enormous. America is such a litigious country, even signing a waiver, people still sue even when they are at fault. I'm disappointed I won't be able to rent one but that's life. I'll get over it, and since they aren't renting to anybody, I won't get run over by it. I get enough accidental bumping by strollers and wheel chairs, adding another vehicle into the mix would leave me with bruises up and down both legs.

 

[Lee]

I agree. There is no reaon to allow people to zip around the parks on Segways.
Wheelchairs, strollers, scooters....it's already a minor traffic jam, so why add an expensive, untested, unfamilliar, potentially dangerous vehicle into the mix. A gang of unruly teenagers on Segways could hurt quite a few people.

If a guest just HAS to ride a Segway, they can call WDW-TOUR. Cost them 80 bucks.

 

[Disney2002]

There was a huge discussion about this not long ago when that article came out.

Disney has blacklisted individuals who are unsafe with their driving of electric wheelchairs... why would they let more unsafe mechanical zooming.

 

[pilka214]

i kno right now u can take a tour on a segway at epcot before the park opens.

but i think the main reason for not allowing during park hours whould be because of injury, because i know there were complaints about segwaYS BATTERY DIES IT JUST stops and the ppl whould fall over it and i dont disney whould want any lawsuites

 

[Testtrack321]

Segways are not allowed in the parks for one reason: they are not medical devices that help people around. They have not been tested by the FDA (I hope it's them who do medical supplies). That's what the ban is about, people who ride Segways in parks for medical reasons. Personally, I don't think Segways should be in the parks, other than the World Showcase tour and other tours.

 

[JackSkellington]

Disney takes very good care of handicapped people.

 

[se8472]

I have already had my share of being hit my careless people in ECV's. Why would anyone want anything more?!?!?!

Segways are fun. I got to ride on during the Cast Celebration at MK....but letting guest on them in the parks would be a nightmare that no CM or guest should have to put up with!

 

[DMC-12]

Originally posted by pilka214
i kno right now u can take a tour on a segway at epcot before the park opens.

but i think the main reason for not allowing during park hours whould be because of injury, because i know there were complaints about segwaYS BATTERY DIES IT JUST stops and the ppl whould fall over it and i dont disney whould want any lawsuites

Yes... that was a minor software glitch, but has been fixed...

When the battery was down to zero percent... it had a tendancy to lurch forward and knock the person off... but that issue has been resolved. :wave:

 

[WDWcouple]

Well that, and then you have the problem of SUI (Segwaying Under the Influence) I for one love to enjoy a coool beverage at the World Showcase, but then again I know better. What is to stop some goofball from grabbing a some drinks and then zipping along on their Segway.

 

[zapper]

October 1994, going to WDW for the first time with my Wife and Son.

20 minutes after entering the Magic Kingdom on the first day of our week long vacation a zoned out senior in a wheelchair knocked me down. Fracture of the femur, 24 stitches in my calf, a concussion and three days in an Orlando Hospital. My vacation was ruined. Disney did pay all the hospital bills, and gave us another week for free the following year all expenses paid (I never sued, it wasn’t Disney’s fault)

The same accident if a Segway was involved would have killed me. Safety first in the parks.

 

[Pioneer Hall]

Until the Segways are approved by the FDA as a mobility device I don't think Disney should let people use them. I don't think this has anything to do with money, it has to do with safety. Those things can probably be dangerous is handled improperly and Disney doesn't want to have to deal with the problems that could occur.

 

[cherrynegra]

Segways? Yeah, that's all I need. Spending the day trying to avoid getting hit by strollers, run down by senior citizens in their carts, and dodging segway traffic.:lol:

 

[Bill]

If you're riding a segway, then how would you get struck down? I say allow segways off season, when there's room for them to roam, but not like over Spring Break or in the Summer. I think that would be a good compromise. Segways need room to roam. Crowds are not the place for Segways. Though, what do you do with a Segway when you go on a ride? They can easilly be lifted off the ground and stolen...

 

[CTXRover]

I actually did the Segway "Around the World" tour at Epcot and had a lot of fun and definetely recommend it for anyone interested in riding one. You get to roam through WS before it officially opens, including going through each pavilion's paths and even the bridges and tiny paths through the gardens in Japan, America, China and France. They are actually incredibly easy to use and rather fun. However, with even just 12 of us roaming through Future World to get to World Showcase (we got WS to ourselves for a full hour once we got through the already open FW) I could see right away why Disney would ban them. Especially in any crowded area. I don't know how to put it into words, but from personal experience they seem like they could be a bigger safety hazard to every walking guest than the slower electrical wheelchairs already are (I don't know how many times someone has ran right into my calves with one of those..).

 

[Testtrack321]

Double post...

 

[Testtrack321]

Originally posted by zapper
October 1994, going to WDW for the first time with my Wife and Son.

20 min the Magic Kingdom on the first day of our week long vacation a zoned out senior in a wheelchair knocked me down. Fracture of the femur, 24 stitches in my calf, a concussion and three days in an Orlando Hospital. My vacation was ruined. Disney did pay all the hospital bills, and gave us another week for free the following year all expenses paid (I never sued, it wasn’t Disney’s fault)

The same accident if a Segway was involved would have killed me. Safety first in the parks.

Ouch. Now, I couldn't resist, but...

Isn't it ironic, don't you think?
A little too iron, I really do think.
It's lieieiek raiaian on your weading day
It's a freeee riiiide when you're already late
It's goooood adviiiice that you just can't take....