Crowds are crazy right now!

[DividedSky]

Averages aren't much use to you if you show up when Space Mountain is 60 minutes, versus back when it was 5 minutes.

Both EasyWDW and touring plans predicted Epcot to be the least crowded day.

only touringplans admits the day after they were wrong. Epcot turned out to be a 3, and MK was a 3.

no one sight will be 100% acurate, but the site that is upfront about it gets my positive feedback.

but back on point, any park yesterday would of been a good day to visit. when crowd levels are at a 3, you really can't go wrong. So touring plans recommendations to worry less about which park to visit on a low crowd day turned out to be more precise and useful.

 

[Magpie]

Both EasyWDW and touring plans predicted Epcot to be the least crowded day.

only touringplans admits the day after they were wrong. Epcot turned out to be a 3, and MK was a 3.

no one sight will be 100% acurate, but the site that is upfront about it gets my positive feedback.

but back on point, any park yesterday would of been a good day to visit. when crowd levels are at a 3, you really can't go wrong. So touring plans recommendations to worry less about which park to visit on a low crowd day turned out to be more precise and useful.

So... you're saying the OP is either sadly mistaken or a liar?

We usually travel low-ish season. In my experience, Disney crowds do not distribute themselves evenly throughout all four parks. We have park hoppers and have seen with our own eyes what Josh is talking about when he says a park is not recommended, versus one that is recommended. Of course, we still sometimes brave the crowds, if we want to see something like the MSEP.

 

[DividedSky]

EasyWDW has MK as not recommended today - it sounds like he's right.

actually he was wrong. He recommended Epcot, which turned out to be a 3 as well.

 

[DividedSky]

So... you're saying the OP is either sadly mistaken or a liar?

I prefer people don't put words in my mouth.

If they actually think the stand by lines were the same as new years eve, they were mistaken.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

I use both Touring Plans and EasyWDW on every trip. Both sites have something to add in my analysis each day. I make my own best guess about which parks I should avoid on a given day, looking at all of the data, and work from there. I have found that using them both together has rarely resulted in my being unprepared. I have had more spotty luck when using just one or the other, but if I had to trust only one, it would be Josh's site (EasyWDW).

As for a "3" crowd day being light - not in my book. A "3" crowd is moderate for us. Tolerable, but still moderate. Only when crowds drop to 1 or 2 do we just wing it and ignore park recommendations.

 

[ToyStory3]

I cannot believe how badly people on these boards are treated sometimes. The replies are so negative and snarky. People can't even express an opinion without having it analyzed and ripped apart. It never takes long for the rude and mean spirited responses to start.

 

[DividedSky]

I cannot believe how badly people on these boards are treated sometimes. The replies are so negative and snarky. People can't even express an opinion without having it analyzed and ripped apart. It never takes long for the rude and mean spirited responses to start.

I certainly do agree. I find myself having to bite my lip constantly when replying to things said to me or others. like implying someone might of lied. I have never and will never question someones intentions in such a maner. people make mistakes, or their expectations of a light day are simply off. all kinds of reasons to not assume someone lied.

 

[Love Tink]

actually he was wrong. He recommended Epcot, which turned out to be a 3 as well.

When Josh says "3" he is referring to overall crowd level for the whole WDW resort. He doesn't break it down by park. (And no decimal points either, which is soooo disappointing.)

You'll notice that nobody who was at Epcot yesterday has come here and started a thread about how it feels as crowded as New Years Eve.

 

[LilyWDW]

I used to use Tour Guide Mike, but we all know how that has turned out.

Then I used Touring Plans because I LOVED the Unofficial Guide. I thought they were pretty good.

Then EasyWDW came out and has flat out blown Touring Plans out of the water. I have found EasyWDW to be MUCH more accurate then Touring Plans when it comes to best days and I find Josh's reasoning to be right on every time. His explanations are great, his information is amazing, and his writing style is hilarious.

 

[DividedSky]

When Josh says "3" he is referring to overall crowd level for the whole WDW resort. He doesn't break it down by park. (And no decimal points either, which is soooo disappointing.)

I know he doesn't break it down.

which is why I don't put much stock into people claiming it is so much better.

You'll notice that nobody who was at Epcot yesterday has come here and started a thread about how it feels as crowded as New Years Eve.

we don't need them to. Disney, and touring plans lets us know reported wait times throughout the day. using these numbers, we can see Epcot was not a better plan afterall. Both sites turned out to be incorrect, but only one of them admits it.

touringplans operates like the scientific community operates. they publish a hypothesis, then go back and evaluate it. I really appreciate that model of operation.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

I know he doesn't break it down.

which is why I don't put much stock into people claiming it is so much better.

They are just opinions. Neither they nor you are "right".

Both sites turned out to be incorrect, but only one of them admits it.

One site charges money and has a staff to do backwards analysis, the other is free and only looks forward. If posting mistakes is important to you after the fact, then Touring Plans is the obvious choice.

But there is no need to tear one down in order to lift your favorite up. Really, it just makes you look bad, not EasyWDW. Same applies to those tearing down Touring Plans in order to praise EasyWDW.

 

[DividedSky]

They are just opinions. Neither they nor you are "right".

they are predictions. using hindsight, predictions can be determined to be right or wrong.

But there is no need to tear one down in order to lift your favorite up. Really, it just makes you look bad, not EasyWDW.

a forum centered around strategy is the best one to determine if a prediction sight is better. If you take offense to that on a forum such as this, I personally feel it is you looking bad.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

I personally feel it is you looking bad.

Bless your heart.

 

[DividedSky]

Bless your heart.

lol.

posting about the better ride is an opinion.

using the benefit of hindsight to evaulate predictions doesn't belong in the realm of opinion. you do understand that, right?

pointing out that one site allows us to actually do this is something that belongs on this board. I don't think your reply above really fits however.

So I'm sorry you took offense, but I think you need to reflect on what is being said and ease up a bit.

 

[Magpie]

lol.

posting about the better ride is an opinion.

using the benefit of hindsight to evaulate predictions doesn't belong in the realm of opinion. you do understand that, right?

pointing out that one site allows us to actually do this is something that belongs on this board. I don't think your reply above really fits however.

So I'm sorry you took offense, but I think you need to reflect on what is being said and ease up a bit.

Getting the last word in is really, really, really important.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

using the benefit of hindsight to evaulate predictions doesn't belong in the realm of opinion. you do understand that, right?

Not when others have also used both and come to the opposite conclusion. Or is their ability to evaluate in some way inferior to yours?

You lack empirical evidence that demonstrates your point - that one site is better than the other. You only note that one site admits to making mistakes. That does not make its forecasts any better this week, while I am in the parks. Maybe it will help them make better forecasts down the road - maybe not. Without comparative data, we are guessing and making subjective judgments.

In short, it is your opinion, not fact.

 

[DividedSky]

Not when others have also used both and come to the opposite conclusion.

I have tried to understand how they came to such conclusions however.

were they in two parks at the same time? how do you evaluate both sites using anecdotal evidence?

I can use the reported wait times sitting at home, and I have been doing so to get a better feel of the accuracy, and I find the site with employees and revenue is winning hindsight evaluation, but once I'm in the park, my ability to evaluate using anecdotal evidence is of little use.

 

[DividedSky]

Getting the last word in is really, really, really important.

trolling about things that have nothing to do with strategies is important to others.

 

[DividedSky]

In short, it is your opinion, not fact.

again, it isn't opinion.

an opinion is formed without regard to facts or knowledge. Both sites are using facts, and knowledge of historical trend, it is more then opinion, it is prediction.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

I have tried to understand how they came to such conclusions however.

It doesn't matter - they have arrived at their conclusions, you have arrived at yours. Neither has empiracal evidence to prove that one is better than another over a period of time.

I can use the reported wait times sitting at home, and I have been doing so to get a better fell of the accuracy, and I find the site with employees and revenue is winning hindsight evaluation, but once I'm in the park, my ability to evaluate using anecdotal evidence is of little use.

Again - I use both sites. I am a WDW vet. I have no skin in this game. I trust them both to a point and find that they both have uses. But if I could only use one, I would use EasyWDW. Not knocking Touring Plans as there isn't enough difference to warrant that - just my opinion.