Crowd Calender - better use

[Nana2Callie]

We just returned from our annual trip with a larger crowd than usual. I checked the calendars, but I'm not sure that I really got the most benefit from them. Please tell me how you use to crowd indicators to better plan your trip and which ones you find the most accurate.

 

[StraightToDumbo]

I no longer rely on them. If it's a busy time at WDW, ALL the parks will be crowded to the point that the levels are indistinguishable between parks. Same goes for less crowded times. What I do is just stay away from EMH parks and look for early closure days. I think those two things drive a lot of who is in what parks. Also, the old standby of "Monday Mayhem" at MK is a little overdone by now.

 

[Nana2Callie]

We certainly learned that Saturday is the worst day for MK or so it seemed to us. But, certainly are going to try and plan better.

 

[StraightToDumbo]

We certainly learned that Saturday is the worst day for MK or so it seemed to us. But, certainly are going to try and plan better.

But honestly, EVERY park is crowded on Saturday. It's "locals" day. The best bet for vacationers is to make that a resort day.

 

[ariel_fan76]

I have been wondering how accurate the crowd calendars I have seen are? It's so hard planning my first trip!!

 

[StraightToDumbo]

I have been wondering how accurate the crowd calendars I have seen are? It's so hard planning my first trip!!

The difference in parks on a day is barely noticeable because of park hopper. Slight increase for EMH...slight decrease on early closing days. Pick a park, tour the crap out of it, and just stay ahead of the crowd and be smart with FP's.

 

[westah]

Does anyone have a recommended crowd calendar they use? Ive seen a few and they vary ALOT. A few years ago we used one with great success but his site has since been shut down!

 

[StraightToDumbo]

Does anyone have a recommended crowd calendar they use? Ive seen a few and they vary ALOT. A few years ago we used one with great success but his site has since been shut down!

You're most likely talking about TourGuideMike. You don't need his calendars, all you need is his methodology.

1) Stay away from Extra Magic Hours
2) Hard ticket party days at MK are fairly light
3) When nighttime shows are only on select nights, show days will be more crowded
4) Saturdays and Mondays at MK are always red
5) Sundays and Tuesdays at EPCOT are always red
6) Wednesday and Thursday are sub-optimal for AK and DHS

All this to say that a lot has changed since TGM started offering this advice. The parks are more crowded, there are more things going on during "slower" times, but we still use this advice to plan our days.

 

[westah]

I think most have that g

You're most likely talking about TourGuideMike. You don't need his calendars, all you need is his methodology.

1) Stay away from Extra Magic Hours
2) Hard ticket party days at MK are fairly light
3) When nighttime shows are only on select nights, show days will be more crowded
4) Saturdays and Mondays at MK are always red
5) Sundays and Tuesdays at EPCOT are always red
6) Wednesday and Thursday are sub-optimal for AK and DHS

All this to say that a lot has changed since TGM started offering this advice. The parks are more crowded, there are more things going on during "slower" times, but we still use this advice to plan our days.

I think those were his primary principals. However, now some crowd calender's seem to contradict these theories

 

[StraightToDumbo]

I think most have that g

I think those were his primary principals. However, now some crowd calender's seem to contradict these theories

There are many different theories out there. Generally, though, now a days the busy week is busy all over. With park hopper people can skew the numbers in a matter of minutes. I wouldn't worry too much, just get a good touring plan together and ride the wave. I can guarantee going to another park because one is crowded isn't going to help as much as people think.

 

[westah]

There are many different theories out there. Generally, though, now a days the busy week is busy all over. With park hopper people can skew the numbers in a matter of minutes. I wouldn't worry too much, just get a good touring plan together and ride the wave. I can guarantee going to another park because one is crowded isn't going to help as much as people think.

THANKS!

 

[Yassdvclb]

I use the crowd calendar from Kenny the pirate but I'm beginning to think the only time that crowds are lighter is when it rains.

 

[ashnicole]

I've used crowd calendars for my trips and haven't found them too helpful. I've really only used them to plan the time of year I go, but even then I'm not so sure about them if you know the basics (4th of July week is crowded, Christmas and New Years is crowded, etc.). I went over Columbus Day weekend two years ago and didn't wait more than 20 minutes for a ride and maybe 30 minutes for parades and fireworks, but I was scared after I booked it and saw it was supposed to be packed. I went last year in mid-late June and experienced very minimal crowds with the exception of MK. I think it completely depends and like others have said, park hoppers can change it.

 

[anneboleyn]

I wonder if crowd calenders ended up being their own worst enemy. Of course people will want to go during the slowest times if they are able, so when you have mass amounts of people seeing what the supposed slow periods are, they will plan their trips for those times. The problem is that everyone else is thinking the same thing, so you have a mass amount of confused people sardined in the parks wondering why the place is so crowded lol

 

[jeremeyp]

I've been using Touring Plans for years and have found them to be pretty accurate.

 

[jeremeyp]

I wonder if crowd calenders ended up being their own worst enemy. Of course people will want to go during the slowest times if they are able, so when you have mass amounts of people seeing what the supposed slow periods are, they will plan their trips for those times. The problem is that everyone else is thinking the same thing, so you have a mass amount of confused people sardined in the parks wondering why the place is so crowded lol

I think it's still a very small percentage of people who use different crowd calendars. Most people just show up to the parks and go, giving those of us with a plan a slight advantage.

 

[anneboleyn]

I think it's still a very small percentage of people who use different crowd calendars. Most people just show up to the parks and go, giving those of us with a plan a slight advantage.

You could be right! I just always assumed people would do their research before embarking on a vacation...but then again, I have encountered enough clueless people in the parks that I should know better than to assume anything at this point haha

 

[jeremeyp]

You could be right! I just always assumed people would do their research before embarking on a vacation...but then again, I have encountered enough clueless people in the parks that I should know better than to assume anything at this point haha

I've met so many people who have gone to Disney then came back and said they didn't like it. After I talk to them, they literally did no planning at all. I've talked to some who had no plan for the parks and no ADRs. You don't have to plan every minute, but you have to do SOME planning.