Discrepancy between Tour Mike and Tour Plans Crowd Level..What is right???

[jcemom]

just curious, is there anyone with tgm that can sum up this weekend for me? Just to compare and contrast if I am prepared.


TP gives a

FRI 4
SAT 6
SUN 7
MON 8

I have been over MLK weekend, and while it is more crowded than the rest of the month, it's not horrible. To me that 8 seems high, especially for Monday. We felt that Sunday was the most crowded day of the weekend, and it got better from there. JMO though.

Do you have touring plans? Get there for rope drop, follow your touring plans, at least through the morning hours, use fastpass, and I think you'll be fine.

ETA: I would say go ahead and sign up for TGM. I really do like the advice he gives, as far as the best parks/worst parks go -- and the price is minimal compared to what you spend on the vacation -- but only if you are prepared to rearrange your schedule at this late date. If you're not willing/able to change things around, then it won't do you much good to know you're in the 'wrong' park, lol. He has good solid touring advice as well, but IMO you just don't have a lot of time left to spend digesting it.

ETA #2 -- well heck, it appears that while I was typing all that ETA stuff you already decided to give it a try, lol. I hope it helps you as much as it has helped me.

 

[h0pe]

I am getting my annual pass when I go , so Might as well start early!


THANKS EVERYONE!!!!

 

[Flossbolna]

touringplans explains two things on ther crowd level chart if you scroll down all the way:

1) the crowd level is based on the peak wait time at the mountains of the MK. So of course it will be higher on a day where the MK is rather crowded

2) their recommendations try to offer every park at least once within a 7 day period, so they sometimes pick not the very best park because this still would be the best day to visit it within that 7 day period.

I have used both and never found a huge difference. Most of the time they do recommend the same parks anyway. Since nobody of us can be at two different places at the same time there isn't anyway to say which is better. Also as I said, they use different parameters on how what to recommend anyway. I like touringplans for their scientific method of doing things and I love their touring plans.

And finally as a PP pointed out: having a good touring plan is much more important than picking the right park!!

 

[lllGurulll]

I would be curious to know which site offers the better touring plan. I used TGM in 2008 and am subscribed again this year. I really use him primarily for his recommended days schedule for each park. I found in 2008 that I didn't utilize a lot of his advice on touring though. I am considering signing up for TP but feel kind of stupid for double dipping for what might amount to the same info I already have.

 

[dansamy]

I would be curious to know which site offers the better touring plan. I used TGM in 2008 and am subscribed again this year. I really use him primarily for his recommended days schedule for each park. I found in 2008 that I didn't utilize a lot of his advice on touring though. I am considering signing up for TP but feel kind of stupid for double dipping for what might amount to the same info I already have.

TGM doesn't offer you a touring plan. It teaches you to make your own touring plan. I have: made plans with TGM, used TP.com's pre-made ones and used RideMax's automated plans. Of them all, I like RideMax the best because I am lazy. While knowing the how and the why that TGM teaches you is certainly useful, I don't enjoy making the plan myself. RideMax spits one out after I tell it what I want to ride. If there is something I don't like, I just rearrange stuff until I do like it.

 

[Missus Toad]

TGM hasn't steered me wrong. I've sworn off TP after last May's fiasco. Their much ado about nothing created a lot of unnecessary stress. JMO-- YMMV.

 

[Flossbolna]

I would be curious to know which site offers the better touring plan. I used TGM in 2008 and am subscribed again this year. I really use him primarily for his recommended days schedule for each park. I found in 2008 that I didn't utilize a lot of his advice on touring though. I am considering signing up for TP but feel kind of stupid for double dipping for what might amount to the same info I already have.

On their website they have a few sample touring plans if you want to check them out.

They focus more on getting to see every attraction and less on multiple visits for the headliners. I like to combine their plans as a starting point with some advise from TGM on touring. I think the plans are really good and I would have never believed the MK plan would work until I tried it.

The online subscription isn't that expensive and if you have subscribed to the allears.net newsletter there is usually a discount code in the newsletter for 30% off or so.

 

[TummyGummi]

That's why I hate using UG. They don't give you any reasoning behind their best parks like Mike does.

I think if the discrepancy is with MK or HS it's due to whether Fantasmic or Spectro is there. It will obviously be busier but if you want to see these shows you don't have a choice in attending on the few nights they offer it.

Perhaps reading to the bottom of the page where there is an explanation of how touring plans arrives at the numbers would help? The numbers for touringplans mean things a 6 means to expect 60 minute waits on major attractions at mid-day. With very few exceptions you will find the mid-day waits for major attractions falls with in the prescribed guidelines. All this when tour guide mike is not getting back to dis satisfied customers and tell you how the parks fell "mauve" today.

 

[DisneyFan32WI]

TGM hasn't steered me wrong. I've sworn off TP after last May's fiasco. Their much ado about nothing created a lot of unnecessary stress. JMO-- YMMV.

I am hoping the numbers are wrong for the dates we will be there (Feb. 4-9). 7's and 8's in February, really???

 

[g3pak]

I have used both for their "preferred park" suggestions- I can't say which one is better.

As far as touring plans are concerned...I have a good idea in mind as we start each day, but our family cannot stick to a plan. My 4 year old will say "please, PLEASE let's ride that again" or some other kink will be thrown into the mix, and there goes our plan. I am the type that would be dragging our screaming kids around the park to keep us on a plan, so I have to tell myself in advance that we may not be the most efficient riders, but at least we will enjoy being together. I just have a general idea and a strategy for our Fast Passes and hope for the best. Because of that, the "suggested park" is more important to us.

 

[Coach81]

The wife and I use TGM. I would love for someone to do an experiment on this.. have someone go to a "green park" and then another go on a "red park" walk around the parks and video the crowds and wait times.. then get together and really compare the two and see if the difference is really that noticeable.

I really like TGM, and we do trust his info, but I would really like to put one of his days to the test...

 

[Dan Murphy]

I have used TGM for quite a few trips now, have never used TG. I can only speak for the accuracy and helpfulness of TGM. It has always been right on the mark. I only use it for the low crowd park information. I do not like to vacation commando style.

 

[vicki_c]

The wife and I use TGM. I would love for someone to do an experiment on this.. have someone go to a "green park" and then another go on a "red park" walk around the parks and video the crowds and wait times.. then get together and really compare the two and see if the difference is really that noticeable.

I really like TGM, and we do trust his info, but I would really like to put one of his days to the test...

Look at the bus stops / monorail line-ups in the morning for anecdotal evidence comparing red and green (not comparing TGM with TP, since they're often similar or the same as far as park recommendations).

 

[jcemom]

TGM doesn't offer you a touring plan. It teaches you to make your own touring plan. I have: made plans with TGM, used TP.com's pre-made ones and used RideMax's automated plans. Of them all, I like RideMax the best because I am lazy. While knowing the how and the why that TGM teaches you is certainly useful, I don't enjoy making the plan myself. RideMax spits one out after I tell it what I want to ride. If there is something I don't like, I just rearrange stuff until I do like it.

That's a good way to explain it.

TGM's touring plans, as suggested, aren't the best. But if you want to take the time to customize plans for your specific group, then his touring information is very good. Personally, *I* like doing my own plans, knowing that I am doing exactly what *I* want to do and not what someone else suggests I do, but that's just me. It is more work, though I enjoy it. I can totally understand why many people would not want to do it that way.

Touring Plans has some plans that you can use as is. I have never used them because I always make my own. I have heard others say they work well, but I don't know firsthand. The 'problem' with them is that they are fixed. They provide a set order for a set list of attractions. If you encounter a problem along the way, or want to do attractions other than those in the plan, well, then what?

RideMax is sort of in between the two, to me. You can create your own custom plan, but you plug things into the program and it sorts them for you. You don't have to do all the work on your own. It's also fun to play around with, moving things to see how the wait times change. You can allow for meals, breaks, schedule in shows, even choose specific show times if you want to.

I still make my own plans because I don't always like where RideMax puts things, or when they use FP vs standby. And really, at this point, I don't usually even NEED plans. They are in my head lol.

I am hoping the numbers are wrong for the dates we will be there (Feb. 4-9). 7's and 8's in February, really???

It won't matter too much. As a PP explained, the Touring Plans numbers are based on the wait times at MK headliners during the peak part of the day. You won't be in those lines if you are using a good touring plan. While there may be more people in the park with you, and you may not be walking onto any attraction you want with no wait at midday, you can still have a great time and not wait long for anything.

 

[U2_rocks!]

That's a good way to explain it.

TGM's touring plans, as suggested, aren't the best. But if you want to take the time to customize plans for your specific group, then his touring information is very good. Personally, *I* like doing my own plans, knowing that I am doing exactly what *I* want to do and not what someone else suggests I do, but that's just me. It is more work, though I enjoy it. I can totally understand why many people would not want to do it that way.

That's why I like TGM. Part of my anticipation and enjoyment before a trip is the time I spend mucking around with itineraries and loose touring plans, so for me it is valuable to learn all the best tips and tricks for designing good plans. I use TGM's best days as a guide, but in the end it depends on many other things like what restaurants we want and when we can get them, how often is Wishes or Fantasmic showing, how our arrival and departure days line up and what we want to do first and last at WDW etc. It helps to know which factors deserve the highest priority, and which things aren't that critical to get "right". TGM teaches all that stuff. I guess lots of experience can teach you the same things, but I was a relative newbie when I joined TGM, and it is incredible how much I know now about navigating WDW!

 

[sharadoc]

I am hoping the numbers are wrong for the dates we will be there (Feb. 4-9). 7's and 8's in February, really???

No - I can't comprehend that - I've been there Jan - Feb at least a dozen times and crowds are nowhere near that high.

BUT - if there are tour groups, the ride wait times could be high, because large groups will get in line all at the same time. That doesn't mean the entire park is crowded, just wait times will be higher.

As long as I'm not shoulder to shoulder with people, I consider it a 6. That's what I'm planning on.

See you there!!

 

[PurpleTurtle]

Well, they're BOTH still wrong for 2/8 & 2/9 and have been for a month now. DHS Evening EMH was moved from the 8th to the 9th, but neither has been updated to show this. Very annoying to actually pay for something and know more than they know

I was wondering why Touring Plans recommends the MK for Mondays. I've always seen that as a bad day for the MK b/c everyone goes there at the beginning of their vacation.

 

[tiki23]

As I posted earlier, TGM has been right on for me, BUT the absolutle best thing anyone can do - no matter what guide you use - is to make it to rope drop. Being there at park opening makes a HUGE difference!

 

[tiki23]

I was wondering why Touring Plans recommends the MK for Mondays. I've always seen that as a bad day for the MK b/c everyone goes there at the beginning of their vacation.

I can never wait to start my vacation on a Monday; I'm packed and ready to go the Friday before!

 

[twinmom319]

The wife and I use TGM. I would love for someone to do an experiment on this.. have someone go to a "green park" and then another go on a "red park" walk around the parks and video the crowds and wait times.. then get together and really compare the two and see if the difference is really that noticeable.

I really like TGM, and we do trust his info, but I would really like to put one of his days to the test...

Our first trip, I discovered TGM after I made our CRT reservation, so we were in the MK on a red day because there was no way I was losing that ressie! It was a may trip and we really noticed the difference in crowds between that day in the MK and all our other days (when we stuck to the green parks). But maybe I was biased because I knew it was supposed to be a red day... we need a scientific, blinded trial!