Arriving Sat and Overwhelmed with planning

[SeattleJen]

Hi everyone!

I'm super excited that we are arriving Sat for our stay at WL and my 40th Birthday trip! We have lots of FP booked and ADR's but I'm struggling with making a touring plan in general for our days in the parks.

Last time I went I used the touringplans website and liked it. I was going to use it this time but I'm running into glitches and getting annoyed. It keeps telling me that I don't need FP for the things I already have them for (and want them for) and I just want to punch the computer the longer I look at it!

We are trying to have a somewhat relaxed (hahaha I know!) vacation as we will be taking our 16 month old daughter and don't want to run around like crazy people trying to get in EVERY RIDE like we did last time. I think it's still a good idea to have some type of plan though.

Is there somewhere I haven't thought of looking or some easier site where I can make a plan? General ideas you might have?

Thanks in advance!

 

[LaurenT]

EasyWDW.com

 

[Crystal824]

Our trips are going to overlap. We arrive on Friday and are staying at Art of Animation. You can still use Touring Plans. I am. Just make a personalized touring plan. You just plug in your FP. It arranges it accordingly. On a few it told me it would work best not to use it. Then I tried to get a FP for the time it suggested. Have a great trip.

 

[BellsFam]

I had a touring plan for last week... I threw it out the window!

Most of the FPs I had planned 60 days out I didn't need because lines were that good... (5min walk on to Splash, Thunder and Space)...

I was a bit irritated but went with it and moved FPs on my phone while we walked in the park or during lunches...

 

[ChattaAlley]

I just used MDX and it was flawless.

 

[momof2n2]

I second Josh's easywdw site.

 

[rwdavis2]

The extent of our planning is usually picking a park with predicted low crowds for the day, hit rope drop, and do the headliners first. If you're taking a 16 month old you really don't need a touring plan. As was said previously use the info at easywdw.

 

[IndianaRRT]

My $0.02--it's your 40th birthday trip! Happy birthday to you! Do exactly what you said, relax and enjoy! Just finished up my big 4-0 with Mickey and it was wonderful, so I wish the same thing for you. My advice is check the crowd calendars and make your loose plans, just as long as you plan to be flexible. We had our FP+ and used the MDE app to check wait times. I agree with a PP to get there early and get in line for 1 or 2 things you really want to do that you don't have a FP+ for. After that, hit some of the lower-wait attractions. Depending on your DD's disposition and sleep habits, hang out at WL and rest, then go back in the evenings when wait times drop a little.

Most importantly, enjoy everything! I wish you a magical birthday and trip with your family!

 

[OB1]

Serenity now, serenity now

The good news is that you are going at a somewhat slower time. As others have said, pick a park that is a suggested park. That is probably most important - avoid the busier park. Try to do the headliners early (unless you have FP), then just pick your way to attractions that you enjoy. At most parks, once you get 2-4 headliners done, the rest of the day is easy pickings.

Even more so since you want to take it easier this trip with your daughter. This is a great chance to take the slow road and do more than just ride. Find some neat spots to sit and chill. Make sure you know where the baby centers are in each park as these can be awesome during a baby meltdown. You have some private areas and good changing areas.

Sounds to me like you have done the hard work with your FP and ADRs. Now go have a great time.

 

[Mikie]

Specifically at easyWDW, use the park-specific "cheat sheets". They'll tell you what area of the park to start in, ,move clockwise or counterclockwise, skip XYZ attraction til later in the day, etc, without being a minute-by-minute agenda.

 

[SeattleJen]

Thanks everyone! That is super helpful! I'll be printing the Cheatsheets cause something just feels nice about having papers in my hand to look at!

 

[C.C. Langley]

I too, did what Crystal suggested. I love the touring plans website, but occasionally it was telling me the same type things... It was coming up with a better plan for what I wanted to do, by doing away with some of my FP selections. So I just left my plan the way it was, but then went on the disney site and changed my fast pass times to the time the touring guide said I should go.

 

[mgentry210]

I know exactly what you mean with the touring plans site. It's glitchy on things. That said, I do love it. I'm also a planner. We have a 10 day trip upcoming that I just created our plans. 3-4 of the days it recommended different Fastpasses. They really didn't work with our schedule or plans. On those days, I just used the drag and drop sort and evaluate buttons. What I really like about them the most is when you are in the parks and you and optimize your plans based on current wait times.

My advice, make a plan based on what you want to do and them optimize when you get there and check them off your plan. Especially at the Magic Kingdom. I also tend to find their wait times more accurate than the Disney app. And yes, I do try to start my timer every time I enter and line!