Do you follow the crowd plan recommendations when deciding which parks to visit

[Love Tink]

Some people prefer to wake up at the buttcrack of dawn. NOT ME!!!! It's vacation, and I intend to treat it as such.

Why does every single thread, on every single topic, eventually end up with someone making some snarky comment that exaggeratedly insults anyone who doesn't prioritize sleep?

 

[LaurenT]

Why does every single thread, on every single topic, eventually end up with someone making some snarky comment that exaggeratedly insults anyone who doesn't prioritize sleep?

Well, I wouldn't take it personally. It's her honest opinion I'm sure.
I'm naturally an early riser and prefer not to sleep through the time I paid so much money for. If I want to sleep my vacation away, I'll stay home and save my money....

 

[Bonniec]

Do you follow the crowd plan recommendations when deciding which park to go to a given day ? How accurate are the predictions ?

Didn't read through the thread my but my opinions...

Over the last 1-2 years, not accurate at all. I think things have greatly changed and the crowd predictors are struggling to keep up. I think the most value they can give is a very broad generalization of what things you can expect making the parks busier, i.e. holidays , summer, weekends, EMH, special events, etc.

I'm actually really liking the Disney app once I am in the parks. I can't always get it to connect to their wifi if I am at the outer edges of certain parks. But as a rule, I will look at the crowd predictors and see which parks are lighter and pick one. Then I will drive over and once I can connect to their wifi and app, I'll do a ride time check. If things are really busy, I will check wait times in other parks. If it's lighter elsewhere (often it is, AGAINST what the crowd predictors say), I will hitch a ride over.

Then again, I live here so don't make touring plans or worry too much about what we miss in transit. I'm more concerned with how long I have to wait in line. I'm too spoiled to wait more than 20 minutes in stand by or grab a fast pass that's over 2 hours, lol. I'll just commute elsewhere.

 

[msmama]

I do use EasyWDW but only because I feel like I need to start somewhere, lol! Otherwise I'd never be able to figure out where I'm going what day!

Plus, a lot of the reasonings do make sense if you read them. That said, I don't always follow them and for the times I go, the difference is probably pretty minimal.

I think having a park strategy - and by that, I mean knowing how the parks work (ie, if you want to not wait hours for ETWB, go there first apparently) - is more important.

 

[wdw71]

I subscribe to Touring Plans and I use their best/worst park recommendations and I have never had a crowded park. We go in less busy times (except our next trip in 4 weeks) But even on our next trip I am using TP's best park days to decide what park we go to.

We do the same and usually travel in June. TP has never let us down. We don't do rigid touring we just follow the recommend order for the first few rides and then we wing it.

 

[RedfromNL]

Sort of

We have a loose plan partly based on EasyWDW's predictions. But we are early risers and really like early EMH. Plus we always take midday breaks and will have hoppers.

So I planned based on what we want to do, the predictions but those mixed with our travelstyle. When it might get busy but not really until after 11 or 12 we're fine. By then we'll have done our fill of rides anyway!

I do take into account special events like the maraton at AK or star wars days at HS etc etc.

Check which are not-recommended and why. It might not affect you at all.

 

[Alby]

I've always been in moderate crowds, and I followed TP to begin with, and EasyWDW afterwards.
It seems to me they work, I've never been in a crowded park.

 

[Blackbeltdisneygirl]

Why does every single thread, on every single topic, eventually end up with someone making some snarky comment that exaggeratedly insults anyone who doesn't prioritize sleep?

YOWZA!!!!! I never thought someone would be offended that I say I like to sleep in! I am sorry you felt that it was in some way "snarky" as that was never my intention. I really have never had anyone be offended by that. I am just surprised is all...

I am not a morning person. Period. Never have been, never will be. I wish I were someone who can get up early. I have several severe sleep disorders that prevent me from being able to handle it physically. That does not mean it is a bad thing for those who choose to get up early if I choose to sleep in. I am not sure why someone would be sensitive to how someone else does their vacation. I am not AGAINST getting up early, in fact, if I could, I would!

I just don't go into each thread saying: " I have narcolepsy, sleep apnea, and RLS, so I am not able to get up early every morning. I have to do late night EMH because my body just won't allow me to sleep at night, so I have to sleep when I can, and that is usually in the early morning hours. I usually can't sleep until about 3 AM, so I can't wake up at 7 AM to get to the parks early bc then my narcolepsy will act up all day." That's my reality, but instead I say I don't get up at the buttcrack of dawn bc it doesn't work for me. People don't need to know all the other details.

So...no intention of being "snarky". It is just how I do things. Have fun getting up early! I would love to, but until I can sleep without issue, I will stick to late night EMH. Honestly, I really wish I could be a morning person instead of a night owl. It is very frustrating.

Well, I wouldn't take it personally. It's her honest opinion I'm sure.
I'm naturally an early riser and prefer not to sleep through the time I paid so much money for. If I want to sleep my vacation away, I'll stay home and save my money....

Thanks for the first part. It really was intended to just show the way someone else does the parks. Some people say getting up early is the ONLY way to avoid lines. I present another viewpoint. We never wait in lines, so it really was just another viewpoint on what might work for someone who doesn't normally get up early.

I don't look at it as sleeping my vacation away. I am still usually up at 8 or 9 (I prefer 9, but force myself up as early as I can manage), and I get ready and am usually at the parks by 10. Sometimes I have to nap. That depends on how early I got up, and how late I will be up. My body rebels if I do not get enough sleep. In 2011 I went all park commando for 8 days. Day 9 I got so sick I missed a park day. I forced myself up and went to EPCOT bc we had reservations and it was our last full day, so I wanted to do it for the kids. DH had to push me around WS in a wheelchair bc I was so weak and sick. The next day when we got off the plane, I went straight to the ER.

I have just found that I can't go at that pace or I get sick. Now I take care of myself (since I can't sleep normally like most people) and nap when it is necessary, and sleep in a bit on most days. I have recognized my limitations, and as long as I take care of my body I stay healthy. My husband can get up at 5 AM and go all day, then crash at night. I just can't. I really do have to look at it as a disability and work around it. I don't ask for sympathy or make anyone stay at the resort until I can get up. If they want to leave early, they do. Most of the time they stick with me.


Anyway, thank you for understanding my opinion on it. I never meant to or thought someone would be offended by the way I do things. It is just what I have to do for my health. Plus...I love nighttime in the parks. It really is wonderful.

 

[LaurenT]

YOWZA!!!!! I never thought someone would be offended that I say I like to sleep in! I am sorry you felt that it was in some way "snarky" as that was never my intention. I really have never had anyone be offended by that.

I am not a morning person. Period. Never have been, never will be. I wish I were someone who can get up early. I have several severe sleep disorders that prevent me from being able to handle if physically. That does not mean it is a bad thing for those who choose to get up early if I choose to sleep in. I am not sure why someone would be sensitive to how someone else does their vacation. I am not AGAINST getting up early, in fact, if I could, I would!

I just don't go into each thread saying: " I have narcolepsy, sleep apnea, and RLS, so I am not able to get up early every morning. I have to do late night EMH because my body just won't allow me to sleep at night, so I have to sleep when I can, and that is usually in the early morning hours. I usually can't sleep until about 3 AM, so I can't wake up at 7 AM to get to the parks early bc then my narcolepsy will act up all day." That's my reality, but instead I say I don't get up at the buttcrack of dawn bc it doesn't work for me. People don't need to know all the other details.

So...no intention of being "snarky". It is just how I do things. Have fun getting up early. I would love to, but until I can sleep without issue, I will stick to late night EMH.

Thanks for the first part. It really was intended to just show the way someone else does the parks. Some people say getting up early is the ONLY way to avoid lines. I present another viewpoint. We never wait in lines, so it really was just another viewpoint on what might work for someone who doesn't normally get up early.

I don't look at it as sleeping my vacation away. I am still usually up at 8 or 9 (I prefer 9, but force myself up as early as I can manage), and I get ready and am usually at the parks by 10. Sometimes I have to nap. That depends on how early I got up, and how late I will be up. My body rebels if I do not get enough sleep. In 2011 I went all park commando for 8 days. Day 9 I got so sick I missed a park day. I forced myself up and went to EPCOT bc we had reservations and it was our last full day, so I wanted to do it for the kids. DH had to push me around WS in a wheelchair bc I was so weak and sick. The next day when we got off the plane, I went straight to the ER.

I have just found that I can't go at that pace or I get sick. Now I take care of myself (since I can't sleep normally like most people) and nap when it is necessary, and sleep in a bit on most days. I have recognized my limitations, and as long as I take care of my body I stay healthy. My husband can get up at 5 AM and go all day, then crash at night. I just can't. I really do have to look at it as a disability and work around it. I don't ask for sympathy or make anyone stay at the resort until I can get up. If they want to leave early, they do. Most of the time they stick with me.

Anyway, thank you for understanding my opinion on it. I nevet meant to or thought someone would be offended by the way I do things. It is just what I have to do for my health. Plus...I love nighttime in the parks. It really is wonderful.

Yeah, I must have a much thicker skin than I ever thought. Some of the things that others get offended by aren't even on my radar. But, I guess there are probably things I take personally that other people would think I'm being silly about.
In the end, we all have to look at all the advice and decide what will work best for our personal style. If everyone showed up at rope drop, I don't think I'd want to do it anymore!

 

[Planogirl]

I have never seen any of the touring plans. We simply avoid the parks that have EMH (unless we decide to attend) and arrive at rope drop. It works for us.

 

[Blackbeltdisneygirl]

Yeah, I must have a much thicker skin than I ever thought. Some of the things that others get offended by aren't even on my radar. But, I guess there are probably things I take personally that other people would think I'm being silly about.
In the end, we all have to look at all the advice and decide what will work best for our personal style. If everyone showed up at rope drop, I don't think I'd want to do it anymore!

Haha! That is true! I have been at rope drop before, and have not enjoyed it much. That is just my personal preference though. I actually made it to my first MK rope drop on our 2012 trip! It was fun, but we were there for Pirate's League, BBB, and lunch at CRT. We went back to our resort after lunch, and while I napped, my husband, mom, dad, brother, and 7 kids went swimming. They came back to the room to lay down for an hour, then we went back to MK until 3 AM. It worked for us, but not everyone could handle being up that late.

Everyone tours differently. I don't care how someone else chooses to do their vacation, but will present an alternative to getting up early in case there are families out there who would do better if they didn't get up early. Like I said, I do get up early sometimes, but I usually don't feel good if I do.

I am not offended easily, but it seems the Disboards are a place where people take things to heart. I am always afraid to say something for fear of a good flaming!!!

 

[katt789]

When I was first planning, it consisted of "we want to do this park first" and then throwing the rest down in whatever order.
The second trip it was "I didn't like doing Epcot near the end, our feet were too tired" and I had a MNSSHP to schedule around, so I used those, plus MK first and went from there.

Now, I will plan according to park hours/emh and compare crowd calandars a bit too. I usually attend AM EMH, so sometimes I'm at a non recommended park because of that, but I've never had a problem!

 

[DisneyFive]

We've used touringplans.com the last three years. I love that fact that it's based on real, measured data for ride wait times, and not just someone's observations.

It is extrememly difficult to determine how accurate anyone's predictions are, whether it's easywdw or touring plans since you would have to visit all four parks at the same time to compare how accurate their ratings were.

I will say that last year, there was one day that was predicted to be higher (6 out of 10) than our other days (which were roughly 2's out of 10's) and it did feel noticeably busier.

Dan

 

[Tbiafore]

Yes. I follow Easy WDW.

Yep...agreed.

--Thor

 

[richmo]

The crowd calendar predictions are about the only thing I do follow, although that's not always my only criteria. (for example, I always go to Epcot on getaway day because its the most predictable drive to the airport). When I plan out a trip, I'll use the crowd calendar to figure out which park, which day, although sometimes i'll also change it on the fly.

 

[Tbiafore]

We've used touringplans.com the last three years. I love that fact that it's based on real, measured data for ride wait times, and not just someone's observations.

It is extrememly difficult to determine how accurate anyone's predictions are, whether it's easywdw or touring plans since you would have to visit all four parks at the same time to compare how accurate their ratings were.

I will say that last year, there was one day that was predicted to be higher (6 out of 10) than our other days (which were roughly 2's out of 10's) and it did feel noticeably busier.

Dan

I hear ya Dan and lived and died by touring plans. They are accurate most of the time, but I think that the historical data thing is actually working against them as Disneys promotions and changing things up so much the last couple years seems to have poisoned some of their data points...I have been burned and stopped using them two years ago. It seems at this point, taking logic and oppion from someone (Josh) that spends countless hours there and pays close attention to the patterns seems to work very well, at least for now.

Just my personal opinion.

--Thor

 

[DisneyFive]

I hear ya Dan and lived and died by touring plans. They are accurate most of the time, but I think that the historical data thing is actually working against them as Disneys promotions and changing things up so much the last couple years seems to have poisoned some of their data points...I have been burned and stopped using them two years ago. It seems at this point, taking logic and oppion from someone (Josh) that spends countless hours there and pays close attention to the patterns seems to work very well, at least for now.

Just my personal opinion.

--Thor

Yeah, when I compare Josh to TP, they are in close agreement most of the time anyway.

It's those few differences that may catch ya, but so far TP has treated us great and we'll continue to use them. I'll still use Josh as a double check.

The only issue I've had with TP is when they've changed/updated their predicted crowd levels after I've made my dining reservations at the 180 day mark. Fortunately the changes weren't significant enough to make a big impact, but I may have chosen a different park schedule had I known the newer predictions before I made my dining reservations.

Dan

 

[Love Tink]

I am not offended easily, but it seems the Disboards are a place where people take things to heart. I am always afraid to say something for fear of a good flaming!!!

Perhaps, if you are concerned with others being offended by what you say, you could consider writing something like,

"I'm not an early riser, especially on vacation."

Instead of,

"Some people prefer to wake up at the buttcrack of dawn. NOT ME!!!! It's vacation, and I intend to treat it as such."

Your phrasing is an obvious criticism of others' touring styles, complete with exaggeration (crack of dawn), and an expressed belief that the way other people do things isn't really a vacation. Own it.

I didn't take what you said "to heart." I just wondered why so many people on the Dis seem inclined to constantly make jabs at people who get up early - one is always seeing negative exaggerations and comments ("crack of dawn," "stampede," "it's a vacation, not a military campaign").

I don't think the early risers give two shakes about the people who don't get up - whatever. But those who sleep in seem to take every opportunity to make comments about how silly and wrong and not really on vacation the rope droppers are.

 

[LaurenT]

Perhaps, if you are concerned with others being offended by what you say, you could consider writing something like,

"I'm not an early riser, especially on vacation."

Instead of,

"Some people prefer to wake up at the buttcrack of dawn. NOT ME!!!! It's vacation, and I intend to treat it as such."

Your phrasing is an obvious criticism of others' touring styles, complete with exaggeration (crack of dawn), and an expressed belief that the way other people do things isn't really a vacation. Own it.

I didn't take what you said "to heart." I just wondered why so many people on the Dis seem inclined to constantly make jabs at people who get up early - one is always seeing negative exaggerations and comments ("crack of dawn," "stampede," "it's a vacation, not a military campaign").

I don't think the early risers give two shakes about the people who don't get up - whatever. But those who sleep in seem to take every opportunity to make comments about how silly and wrong and not really on vacation the rope droppers are.

I don't know Tink.... I'm a rope dropper, and I've described sleeping in as sleeping my vacation away.... Because that's how it would be for me. But I don't intend to insult someone else's choices when I say that.
I've said it in other threads, and I'll say it again.... I think it's a regional thing - just a colorful way of saying things that someone from another area might take the wrong way.
Whatever the real intention, I'm gonna go with "it wasn't intentional".... Life is just rosier that way....

 

[maddiebee]

So EasyWDW seems to be the general preference over TouringPlans? I made my plan before knowing about these sites and like what EasyWDW has to say much better