Advice needed: touring plan vs no touring plan

[Mal6586]

I sort of have one foot in and out of the touring plan boat. I like to have a rough idea of how the day is going to go, and I usually make myself an index card for each day of my trip with our FP+ times, dining reservations, any show/parade times, and a loose touring plan. Sometimes we follow it, and sometimes we don't. The only exception to that for us was for Epcot during the Holidays Around the World. I made a very detailed touring plan for that because we wanted to hit as many holiday storytellers as possible, and they do not plan the times for them such that you could start at one end of World Showcase and work your way around. Plus we were working in our coveted Frozen Ever After FP+ and the Candlelight Processional with the dining package. So if you are planning to do any of that during your trip, I would suggest even if you don't make a plan for anything else, to get a rough list of which storytellers are must-do's for you and your family and see how to most efficiently get to them. It was definitely like putting together a puzzle for us, but I was SO GLAD that I did it ahead of time, because with a few minor adjustments, I basically would pull out my index card and say, "Alright, next up is France", etc. It made our day super easy, and we made all the storytellers we had on our wish list and had an easy breezy stress-free day.

 

[JenniKleims]

I sort of have one foot in and out of the touring plan boat. I like to have a rough idea of how the day is going to go, and I usually make myself an index card for each day of my trip with our FP+ times, dining reservations, any show/parade times, and a loose touring plan. Sometimes we follow it, and sometimes we don't. The only exception to that for us was for Epcot during the Holidays Around the World. I made a very detailed touring plan for that because we wanted to hit as many holiday storytellers as possible, and they do not plan the times for them such that you could start at one end of World Showcase and work your way around. Plus we were working in our coveted Frozen Ever After FP+ and the Candlelight Processional with the dining package. So if you are planning to do any of that during your trip, I would suggest even if you don't make a plan for anything else, to get a rough list of which storytellers are must-do's for you and your family and see how to most efficiently get to them. It was definitely like putting together a puzzle for us, but I was SO GLAD that I did it ahead of time, because with a few minor adjustments, I basically would pull out my index card and say, "Alright, next up is France", etc. It made our day super easy, and we made all the storytellers we had on our wish list and had an easy breezy stress-free day.

I just recently found out about "Holidays Around the World" and we will be at Epcot and hope to experience it...so I guess it has made its way on to my "learn about it and figure it out" list.

 

[Mal6586]

I just recently found out about "Holidays Around the World" and we will be at Epcot and hope to experience it...so I guess it has made its way on to my "learn about it and figure it out" list.

I really enjoyed it! Some of the storytellers are better than others, and of the 11 available, we saw 7. Just make sure you definitely catch Norway and Italy. Those were my absolute favorites of the ones we saw.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

That's right after Thanksgiving. We actually found the crowds to be quite management right after Thanksgiving.

We still created a plan, though.

 

[bumbershoot]

I was wondering what thoughts would be on making a touring plan vs winging it and not doing a touring plan

You mean just a plan to tour, not using Touring Plan the website yes?

We hope to do that (learn the FP+ and understand the ins and outs) we got a book on WDW (with kids) and I'm making headway through it (for a second time - first time I focused on the dining portion, this time I am focusing on the parks, the rides, etc...)

Just reading a good book gets you ahead of the game.

 

[JenniKleims]

Just reading a good book gets you ahead of the game.

Actually I'm finding out more from these boards than the book...loving it! (so much Disney expertise!)

 

[JenniKleims]

I really enjoyed it! Some of the storytellers are better than others, and of the 11 available, we saw 7. Just make sure you definitely catch Norway and Italy. Those were my absolute favorites of the ones we saw.

Thanks! good to know!
I need a day off *cough cough* to spend a day reading, and planning (I think I'm feeling a bit under the weather LOL)

 

[JenniKleims]

You mean just a plan to tour, not using Touring Plan the website yes?

I was thinking of using the touring plan website - but I don't have it in my budget to pay for it...unless the dollar gets better (fingers crossed)
So I may just put something together (loosely planned) and go from there

 

[dreiwhit]

My wife and I are planners by nature, and we do have touring plans while at WDW.

We've found that we have to have a plan if we want to do and see everything that we want to. We also try to minimize having to walk back and forth across the parks each day, so we plan out where we are going to minimize walking. We also plan around our FPs.

It works for us, and we don't find that we "resent" having to follow the plan.

 

[KittyKitty]

I have been planning my next trip with newbies,all adults, and kept this in mind for them.
1. Are they early risers? If not, then go to parks without EMH mornings.
2. WDW is BIG! So plan meals close to the park(or in the parks) we are visiting that day. Keep sit down meals to 1 a day. Don't know it that works for your group. Going from place to place can eat up a lot of time.
3. Keep it simple. With only 5 days(my group), we are not doing any extra $$ stuff. Travel back to airport day, we are not going to a park, but touring the monorail resorts. Tho I might change my mind and get dessert party for MK fireworks, as I want to make sure I see the castle.
4. We are doing 2 days at MK, 2 days at Epcot, 1 day at AK. Not taking them to HS. Tho I will be going there for myself after they leave.
5. I went to see the Holiday Storytellers a few years ago. Their schedule overlapped, so took 2 days to see them all. But they were great.
6. Do not have park hoppers. If we decide to get them, same price no matter how many days left on ticket.
7. Have a wonderful trip!!