Are Touring Plans really beneficial?

[nanannjen]

Do the touring plans help that much if you are very familiar with the parks? We have been many times, but we've always gone at off times, when the crowds and heat were manageable. Now that the kids are in high school, we have to go in summer - so we'll be there the last two weeks of June. Do the plans really help in terms of minimizing wait times?

 

[lark]

Do the touring plans help that much if you are very familiar with the parks? We have been many times, but we've always gone at off times, when the crowds and heat were manageable. Now that the kids are in high school, we have to go in summer - so we'll be there the last two weeks of June. Do the plans really help in terms of minimizing wait times?

I think familiarity with the parks can actually be counterproductive in busy times of year. Touring guides tend to work because they often give you advice that is exactly the opposite of what you would expect. The basic premise of any good touring guide is that when those who are familiar with the parks are doing X, you should be doing Y.

The bottom line is that many people are familiar with the parks and figure they don't need a touring guide, which is exactly why touring guides work.