Best planning software?

[Markonefive]

So, I have both Touring Plans (Unofficial Guide to DL) and RideMax for DL, in addition to having used various websites like this one for guidance and advice on how best to approach our one day at DL and one day at DCA Aug 30 and 31. As much as I would like to just be able to adjust and make decisions on the fly, I like to have at least a template to start from, rather than making up my own. Knowing this year can be harder to predict with DL ramping up again and so many changes to the reservation system, early entry now starting and Magic Key, how much can I rely on the accuracy of these tools for their guidelines, which are based on optimization algorithms more than qualitative knowledge. Anyone using these tools this August with any experience as to accuracy of the wait times? Also not helpful that TP doesn't give advice on getting LL, whereas RideMax does (but less flexibility in other ways). I know we'll need to adjust if there are rides going down, or greater than anticipated crowds, but it also sounds like the Disneyland app tends to not be accurate with ride waits for standby and LL either? I've been to DL 2x and WDW using RideMax, worked extremely well, and used the guidelines from Touring Plans for DL Paris, but not certain how well these tools will work this year. Feel like I'm driving myself crazy trying to figure out an optimal ride order, knowing we can't see everything, some waits are inevitable, but not wanting to make a critical error especially early in the day (e.g. getting first LL too soon, missing non-LL rides that were best to do early in the day because their times never get lower after that, etc. And not all web sites agree. Some say Fantasyland first thing, others say avoid first thing due to EE now, some say start stacking LL as soon as arrival, others say wait before using first LL as standby lanes are lower in the first two hours, etc. Pinned threads with 100's of replies going back six months, it can be a bit overwhelming. For us, a DL visit is a rare occurrence years apart, so want to make sure I get it right.

 

[katyringo]

I have never found these sites like ride max our TP helpful. They don't account for the reality of the parks and the things that can go "wrong" or whatever.

What I find most helpful are plans like the ones disneyland daily creates or the threads here on disboards. They help me kinda learn the patterns that disneyland typically follows. Learning which rides run out of LL's the quickest, etc. this helps me make decisions "on the go" while in the parks.

 

[Markonefive]

I have never found these sites like ride max our TP helpful. They don't account for the reality of the parks and the things that can go "wrong" or whatever.

What I find most helpful are plans like the ones disneyland daily creates or the threads here on disboards. They help me kinda learn the patterns that disneyland typically follows. Learning which rides run out of LL's the quickest, etc. this helps me make decisions "on the go" while in the parks.

Thanks for the ressponse. I've found the disneyland daily site helpful, and the pinned threads here also informative. The challenge is in trying to adapt for our group (some have less interest in more extreme rides like hyperspace mountain and Star Tours, so wanting to make sure they get to enjoy the better milder classics like Peter Pan, Pirates, IASW, Alice in Wonderland, trying to avoid park criss crossing, working in some more thrilling rides for others in the party, which ones to prioritize for LL and which ones to accept standby lines instead even though LL is available, etc. Good point you make about making sure not to put off getting LL for ones that might run out or push the return the farthest, or end up with returns during a mid day break. Seems no matter what, there will need to be a trade off that some long waits are inevitable, even with getting to the park for rope drop.

 

[_19disnA]

If you have never been to Disney then likely any type of planning software can give you a sense of where to go and when. However, if you have never been you also won't know which rides/shows you like best and which ones won't interest you. If you have been to Disney multiple times, then you already know where the rides/shows are located you like best. No 3rd party has any secret insight about how crowded the park will be on a specific day in the future, that is a bit like trying to forecast the weather. Typically, the most popular rides will have the longest lines.

Plans that have you zig/zagging all over the part for a ride that MIGHT have a shorter wait time seems like you will get exhausted from all of the extra walking to follow such plans. You just never know when a ride closes due to a maintenance issue or bad weather.

 

[limace]

I am a huge touring plans believer and have successfully used RM in the past-I prefer both of them to just lists of rides like Disneyland Daily because they have the ability to adjust on the fly. I’d probably research a lot to understand strategy and also use TP to build and adapt my day’s plan.

 

[Markonefive]

I am a huge touring plans believer and have successfully used RM in the past-I prefer both of them to just lists of rides like Disneyland Daily because they have the ability to adjust on the fly. I’d probably research a lot to understand strategy and also use TP to build and adapt my day’s plan.

Thanks for the response. I like the flexibility of Touring Plans allowing me to move rides around to see how times change using their "Evaluate" feature, but I don't like that they don't give specific recommendations for times for LL request and use (basically, you are told to use your own guess as to when an LL return time will be). RM does. It's a lot of work, but I've taken an RM plan and inputted it into a TP personalized plan, and found some big discrepancies in their estimated wait times for the same attraction at the same time of day. I like with both I'll be able to adjust on the fly in the park using the apps, but not sure which one will be best for on the ground tracking. any suggestions?

 

[limace]

I’d suggest posting some of this on the TP Disneyland forums-lots of really bright folks there. I haven’t used TP at DL since genie lumbered onto the scene.

 

[milieu_mouse]

Honestly, after spending some time on the tools mentioned above, I ultimately went with a Google Sheets spreadsheet with a tab for each day's (loose-ish) plan, and a tab for food and attractions by land. If desired, I can easily open this on my phone and change things on the fly.