Am I Crazy???

[Rebecky]

I've read all about touring plans and understand structure helps make sure you don't miss or have to wait too long for that all important ride. The only time I've been to MK I had one in hand and our group of 10 started out following it for probably the first 2-3 rides and then it went out the window. Why would we walk clear across the park to a different ride and come back for this one when we are here now??? I tried to explain this to the group and was voted down.

Now about to make my second trip to MK this time with a group of 4. Taking a 4 1/2 yr old with us, I'm thinking of just winging it and going with the flow. I know because we were there on the 4th of July the first time that the crowds were really high that day and I feel that I missed seeing a lot of the park. We were just too concerened with finding the next ride.

This time I want to see it all! If I go in with a set plan I would want to follow it and think I might miss things along the way.

Any opinions? Can this work? The little one will have never been there. The other three of us (all adults) were part of the first trip out of the group of 10. I do think that I want to try and plan our lunch and supper places (Peco's Bills and Cosmic Ray's) but other than that...

 

[agame2323]

Just do it as you feel. Forget the planning. Anytime I'm there I just go with the flow

 

[Millermom0606]

I make a list of general must dos and usually try to plan the first o say three hours, to get my bearings in the parks, but after that we pretty much wing it too

 

[lsenquiz]

I use a touring plan but it is one I created. My plan always follows the map if possible so I am not walking from one side of the park and back. The only exception is when one of our group runs across to get a FP or if we are trying to make a show. I think for parks like DHS which consist mostly of shows that are only offered at certain times it is important.

However, even though I enter each park with a plan I am never so attached to it that I can not make a spur of the moment change. If we see an character we will stop for a picture regardless of whether it was on the plan.

Also, my plans are simply an order and do not have times. That way we eat when we want to and we rest when we want to.

The most important thing is to have fun

 

[The 6 J's]

I'm sure you'll get a lot more, and better, advice than this but here's just a few thoughts.
1. 10 is a hard size group to manage and satisfy everyone. Don't let that experience get you down.
2. My way of going "commando" is to research and research until I know everything I can find out about everything at each park. Then go into each day with a rough idea of what to do - maybe 3-4 bulleting points. That way we go with the flow but when decision time comes up I can offer multiple suggestions on what to do next and then (hopefully) efficiently accomplish whatever it is we decide to do. I guess my motto would be "Don't plan it all, just know it all." And as my wife will tell you I AM a know-it-all.

 

[mommystieg]

Our touring strategy for MK divides the park by lands and then we focus on the attractions we want to do in each land rather than criss-crossing around the park - we go in the summer and we usually spend two or three days at MK which may be more time than you plan to spend there. That way, we still manage to see and do everything we want but it allows us flexibility to "go with the flow", too.

 

[MikeandReneePlus5]

I'm sure you'll get a lot more, and better, advice than this but here's just a few thoughts.
1. 10 is a hard size group to manage and satisfy everyone. Don't let that experience get you down.
2. My way of going "commando" is to research and research until I know everything I can find out about everything at each park. Then go into each day with a rough idea of what to do - maybe 3-4 bulleting points. That way we go with the flow but when decision time comes up I can offer multiple suggestions on what to do next and then (hopefully) efficiently accomplish whatever it is we decide to do. I guess my motto would be "Don't plan it all, just know it all." And as my wife will tell you I AM a know-it-all.

Personally, I don't think the OP will get better advice!



(And I also try to NOT sound like a know it all....i.e. not everyone wants or needs to know that the top of the building in Adventureland that is visible from Frontierland is themed with a water buffalo so it could also look like a Texas longhorn from that distance and not confict with the Frontierland theming. )

 

[sharadoc]

We're over 20 trips and I am planning more now than ever, but by "planning", here's what I mean:

Get a subscription to know the least crowded parks for each day we are there. Create a spreadsheet with the best days and plan where and when we will be, and what transportation we will use to get there.

Know which rides are the busiest and know when to hit them. Like Winnie the Pooh is better late in the day when all the kids are asleep.

Plan to eat at off times, so just be aware of where you'll be when.

Other than that, we just walk and stop when we want. I can't imagine having "fun" having a minute-to-minute schedule of what to do when.

But we go every year, usually multiple times a year, so nothing is a priority for us, unless it's something seasonal or limited engagement.

 

[JZCubed]

The back-and-forth Touring Plans typically suggests has everything to do with minimizing wait times on the rides/attractions with the longest waits.

All TP is trying to do is suggest the best way that allows you to see everything that is most popular AND do it with the least amount of wait.

I follow their flow, but shorten my list.

 

[BrerNashville]

I would definitely have an idea of the order of the lands you wanted to visit. With the 4.5 year old, I would start in FantasyLand, then move to Frontierland if the adults want to ride the two mountains over there, and Adventureland if they are not. If you got to Frontierland early enough, you may not need to use FPs over there, and you could use your FPs for Tomorrowland. I'd send a runner to get Space Mountain FPs first thing, then have that person meet you back in Fantasyland. At some point during the day, send him back to get Buzz FPs. With Space Mountain and Buzz FPs in hand, you can pretty much do Tomorrowland whenever you want without worrying about the crowds. Toontown being closed really isolates Tomorrowland, b/c you can't get there by train now (is that still the case?).

Enough of a plan so you guys aren't standing around saying "I don't care, what do you want to do?" is still key.

 

[dskib]

You're not crazy, but a plan is very helpful.

As long as I:
1. Pick the least crowded parks on the right days
2. Avoid EMHs
3. Have a FP plan for things like Soarin, Space Mountain and hit Dumbo first
4. Get there at rope drop.

Then it's not really necessary for us to do the criss cross TP plans. We also go in off peak times.

What you DONT want to do is waltz into MK at 11:00am on a morning EMH day and expect to see anything without a big crowd and a long line. Be smart about where and when you go to each park.

 

[Cat0727]

I always make a plan because I like doing it. When are you going exactly? If it's before the summer crowds you'll have a better chance of winging it and going with the flow.

 

[CurlyJo224]

I'm sure you'll get a lot more, and better, advice than this but here's just a few thoughts.
1. 10 is a hard size group to manage and satisfy everyone. Don't let that experience get you down.
2. My way of going "commando" is to research and research until I know everything I can find out about everything at each park. Then go into each day with a rough idea of what to do - maybe 3-4 bulleting points. That way we go with the flow but when decision time comes up I can offer multiple suggestions on what to do next and then (hopefully) efficiently accomplish whatever it is we decide to do. I guess my motto would be "Don't plan it all, just know it all." And as my wife will tell you I AM a know-it-all.

This is similar to the way DH and i do it. Do your research, make a loose plan, and be flexible.

DH and I usually plan out where to hit first thing in the morning, and approximately where to be around mealtimes so we don't have to run halfway across the park to get to where we want to eat. Then we wing it from there.

 

[michelle06]

I think you are getting really good suggestions. I will just add one thing, and that it Ridemax. They help you create a plan doing the rides that you want to do and you can set it so that you minimize both time in line and criss-crossing the park. We used it last summer and used those parameters and had a great time. My husband thanked me because we were able to do more than we wanted, were not really rushed, had a great time despite the heat.

I have been places much smaller than WDW without a plan and spent half the day debating and wondering what to do next. Waiting til you get there to decide and figure out a map, etc kills lots of time at WDW. And when you are with others, it just really helps to know what you're going into! Without a plan and the research I did, we would have spent lots more time in line and in the heat and would have had a much different (and more miserable) experience.

So, I recommend ridemax.com

Michelle

 

[dragonfly08]

My "touring plan" is be there early (we made rope drop two of our three days on the last visit, the third we were up that early but decided to go to breakfast at Kona Cafe first). After that, do whatever my kids want to do, when they want to do it. I tend to follow a loose circle around whatever park we're in simply because it's easier, but if they want to skip ahead to a ride or show and then backtrack later, that's what we do. We do what we can before 3/4PM when the girls peter out, then we head back to the resort for the day to relax, swim, and grab dinner somewhere outside of the parks.

I'll admit it's made easier by the fact that other than SM and BTMRR, which are appropriate only for DH and myself as our girls aren't big/old enough yet, I don't have to worry about FPs and standby times for the bigger and more popular thrill rides since I won't go on them. I was able to do SM last trip as we had FPs and my sister stayed with all of the kids while my dad, BIL, niece and I rode. But had it not worked out that would have been ok, too.

We had 9 people in our group on the last trip. It was hard to coordinate, so we agreed to split up at times based on what people preferred to do. My sisters' family sleeps in, my girls are up at the crack of dawn. So we did rope drop, they did fireworks, and we spent time together in the middle. We didn't all try to do the same attractions - my girls have NO interest in American Idol, so while those who did went to the show, we made a trip to Starring Rolls for cupcakes. It worked out really well for all of us to be flexible.

 

[lroger01]

You may want to consider using the "double-loop" touring method.

Plan to start at whatever area has the most popular ride you want to go on.

From there work your way around the park, but only hit the most popular attractions and gather Fast Passes.

At lunch time, head to where you want to eat and take a break (or go back to your resort for a swim/nap).

After lunch/break, make a second loop of the park. On this loop, ride the lesser attractions, use your Fast Passes, shop, watch entertainment, ect - basically just slow down and take your time.

This plan keeps walking reasonable, but ensures you enjoy the biggies before the crowd gets out of hand.

 

[minnie mouse ears]

I bought Touring plans for things like Crowd levels, etc. and to get a general idea. However, since I am going with my pack (4) of kids, I know that I need to be very flexible and not try to crisscross the entire park a million times or my kids will pass out before noon. What we plan on doing is avoiding the most crowded parks, getting there at rope drop, dh or me racing ahead of the rest of us at rope drop to get fast passes to things such as TSM, etc. then the rest of us will catch up. We take cell phones to any park we visit so we can stay in constant contact. I am a huge planner and want to know everything I can but don't want to race commando around the park with 7 people!

I want my kids to experience the overall magic of Disney. Sometimes that can be as simple as just walking down mainstreet, listening to the music, etc.

 

[MomiTo2SwtGuys]

I've read all about touring plans and understand structure helps make sure you don't miss or have to wait too long for that all important ride. The only time I've been to MK I had one in hand and our group of 10 started out following it for probably the first 2-3 rides and then it went out the window. Why would we walk clear across the park to a different ride and come back for this one when we are here now??? I tried to explain this to the group and was voted down.

Now about to make my second trip to MK this time with a group of 4. Taking a 4 1/2 yr old with us, I'm thinking of just winging it and going with the flow. I know because we were there on the 4th of July the first time that the crowds were really high that day and I feel that I missed seeing a lot of the park. We were just too concerened with finding the next ride.

This time I want to see it all! If I go in with a set plan I would want to follow it and think I might miss things along the way.

Any opinions? Can this work? The little one will have never been there. The other three of us (all adults) were part of the first trip out of the group of 10. I do think that I want to try and plan our lunch and supper places (Peco's Bills and Cosmic Ray's) but other than that...

Maybe you could try to let everyone in on the planning and try to go to each attraction as you are going through your list of must-do's. Just make sure everyone has a good time. And maybe part of your group could split up if there are different things that some may want to do that other's don't.

 

[Rebecky]

Thank you everyone for your great suggestions! To answer a few of the questions, we will only be at MK for 1 day, staying off property so will be staying the whole day with no break. We have either Thursday Feb. 9th or Friday Feb. 10th to go before our cruise. We just can't afford two days so the other day will be low key seeing other Florida stuff and maybe DTD. Going at the begining of Feb. I expect the lines/crowds to be much better than when we went on the 4th of July.

I tend to overplan everything and am tryig to do a more go with the flow approach to this trip. Although, I do have 9 more months before we go so might just have every min. planned by then!

 

[Selket]

As much as I've complained about Tour Guide Mike (http://www.tourguidemike.com) - his site is outdated - I think it would help you out here. One thing TGM does NOT do is criss-cross you all over the parks like the Touring Plans do (not sure if they still do). If you take the time to dig into his site, he really does explain the parks quite well - and how to tour them. I think better than anyone here can explain to you at one time, in one place.

The other thing you don't mention is whether the trip is centered on the wishes of your 4.5 year old or whether the others in your party plan to ride all the adult rides also. Does anyone not like thrill rides so you can split up the group - say at rope drop - so the thrill seekers can go one way and the child and adult can go another? Will you have more than one day? Could someone be a fast pass runner to get passes across the park while the rest go to another attraction?

I might be in the minority but if you rarely visit (so the visit is special), you want to maximize the attractions you see, and you aren't so familiar with the parks, I would plan out my day (especially the morning when you will get most things done) and stick with that plan. I would make a plan that includes everyone's favorites and consider the shows and dining times as well. I think otherwise you risk being rudderless - especially if it is a busy time of year.

The best thing is to get the BIG rides (whatever those are for you) out of the way first thing in the morning and use the afternoon/evening to visit the less crowded attractions, shopping, FP'ing the headliners that you didn't get to or want to ride again.