Crowd Calendars Comparison ?

[catne]

So I don't usually have to pay a lot of attention to crowd calendars since we always go during weeks we know are relatively empty. However, we have friends that really want to meet us at Disney for a park day in February. Checked both the paid subscription crowd calendar and the popular free crowd calendar...BIG difference. The subscription version is showing 9, 8, and 7s for the days we are looking at...the free calendar is showing 6,5,4,5 for the same days.

Question is this: anyone who pays close attention to the crowd calendars...which calendar is more accurate lately, the paid touring plans or the easy wdw version?

I have very low expectations of getting much done anyway...these folks are NOT planners, at all. We probably won't meet up until 11 or noon, just guessing from what I know of these friends. And they probably will not buy tickets in advance, so no booking fastpasses for them ahead of time. Even on a slow day the better fastpasses will be long gone by the time we stroll in mid-day. Not a big deal for us, we go all the time--and have annual passes-- so whether we ride anything makes no difference to us at all.

However, I still would prefer to steer them to go on the slowest day, to the lowest-crowd park because I'm in a scooter and that is NOT fun trying to get through any crowd of 7 or more.

Help me! Thanks in advance...

 

[serene56]

I read the reasoning behind the free site. But if I am going to pay good money for the other site-- i will follow that advice. Used it for my last few visits and have not been wrong

 

[Alesia]

I find easywdw to be the most accurate. I used to swear by touringplans, but something changed a few years ago that really affected their accuracy.

 

[Took]

Am at WDW this week. Used undercovertourist.com and looked at one or two other free calendars. All predicted light to medium crowds. Inaccurate. Crowds are heavier than I've ever seen them during this week!

 

[FirstDown]

It's always crowded now.

 

[PatsGirl]

OMG, Good luck to you, just reading that made me shake a little. I truly hope they aren't the kind that decide they hate Disney because its overcrowded and they had to eat really bad chicken fingers all week lol.

 

[senadler]

I definitely prefer easywdw. However, I pay more attention to which parks to go to on which day of my vacation as opposed to whether the day is a 4, 5, or 6. I think it is pretty clear which times of the year our busier, holidays, school breaks, etc., but I think there is very little difference between a 4 and a 5 for example. I would decide which park you want to go to and pick the best day of the week for that park. For doing this, the logic on easywdw makes sense to me and I have found it to be pretty accurate.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

It's always crowded now.

I wish people would stop posting this. It is just not true. My wife and I have been to WDW three times in the last 6 months and seen many very low crowd days. The entire week after Labor Day saw super low crowds. We are here through the 14th this month and expect crowds to drop a little each day through that period.

 

[kohlby]

I prefer easywdw- but it's not as simple as looking at the number. I look at the number and read the explanations and then decide how it relates to my family and how we tour. Sometimes, I'll go against a recommendation if my plans aren't typical.

 

[Accident]

easywdw has been the closest the last year, go with those numbers for a rough idea of what crowds might be. keep in mind people love going to closing day of something and there's a lot of things closing the next couple months. there has been blog posts by at least one of them that they are trying to sort out why their numbers have been off lately..

 

[FirstDown]

I wish people would stop posting this. It is just not true. My wife and I have been to WDW three times in the last 6 months and seen many very low crowd days. The entire week after Labor Day saw super low crowds. We are here through the 14th this month and expect crowds to drop a little each day through that period.

It's called DATA. Everyone "expects" lower crowds when predicted then comes on here to complain.

 

[Malestrom Troll]

If you are going in Feb, I would definitely avoid the Princess Half Marathon weekend. This year its during the 19th-21st. Those might be the days that are the 7,8,9s.

 

[Wish_upon_a_cat]

We are here now and both major sites were off yesterday and the day before. Yesterday predicted crowds at MK were 3 (non subscription) & 6 (subscription) if I remember correctly, but actual was 10. I think early starts and/or late nights along with strategic timing for FP+ is essential for a decent day. If crowds are lighter, consider it a bonus.

 

[Dizznee Freak]

My take on this is simple: Everyone has a different interpretation of what crowded is. We have been several times and our version of crowded is waay different that first time or infrequent visitors. We also do not go the parks with any expectations and use FP or if we are going to standby we hit the rides during feeding times(LOL) or parades. Personally the crowds add to the Magic.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

It's called DATA. Everyone "expects" lower crowds when predicted then comes on here to complain.

Yep. Last earnings report from the Disney company itself said attendance is up 7 percent or so over last year. Other sites have been quoted that said WDW is having historically high crowds.

For years the first full week after the Thanksgiving break had crowd levels of 1-2 but the last few years that hasn't been so. Free dining has been cut back because it is no longer necessary to attract crowds.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

It's called DATA. Everyone "expects" lower crowds when predicted then comes on here to complain.

Data is only helpful when accurate. It is not accurate to say that WDW is always crowded now. I know this for a fact because I am here almost every month and have experienced several crowd level 1-2 days (even weeks) in the last 6 months.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

Data is only helpful when accurate. It is not accurate to say that WDW is always crowded now. I know this for a fact because I am here almost every month and have experienced several crowd level 1-2 days (even weeks) in the last 6 months.

Anecdotal evidence is not accurate. If you have the freedom to dodge the busy times of the month good for you. But we went every Easter Break for years, but 2014 was wall to wall people everywhere more than we had seen in the past. We also did the first full week in December until my oldest got into high school and again, every ride had been a walk on for years until the economy recovered.

 

[serene56]

The crowds have exceeded expectations-- even this week which is a reported low crowded week is VERY crowded. The data is from last year the same time period

 

[BuckeyeBama]

The crowds have exceeded expectations-- even this week which is a reported low crowded week is VERY crowded. The data is from last year the same time period

Today all rides were essentially walk on all day at AK. The sky is not falling.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

Today all rides were essentially walk on all day at AK. The sky is not falling.

Ahhhh. So it is the "Chicken Little's" who are disseminating false information because you walked on AK all day?