Do touring plans leave enough time?

[mshanson3121]

I'm playing around with our touring plans (as if you couldn't tell based on my recent questions, lol), and I'm curious, sometimes it only leaves a few minutes of waiting. Ex. at HS, it has us arriving at the show 5 minutes before the start time. Is that actually enough time if you have a FP+, or should I be reworking that?

 

[ruthies12]

Bumping your thread because I'm wondering the same thing! I've never used touring plans before and just finished mapping out our days, the plan is showing short waits and quick walking times even though I set it at the lowest speed. I'm wondering if it really takes into account the bottlenecks that can happen in MK and from all I've heard the first week of December when I'm going is no longer a "slow time", so I'm concerned about their wait predictions.

 

[ruthies12]

I'm also wondering if they take into account stuff that starts at certain times, for example at HS it has me arriving at 4:33 and waiting 6 minutes. Wouldn't the next drawing class be at 5? I thought I read that they started every half hour.

 

[astronautmom]

I'm following. Where are you getting the touring plans?
I'd also like to know if we can do a decent job of the main attractions if we plan on 2 days MK, 2 days Epcot and a day each of AK and HS. Looking at a medium crowd week. (late August)

 

[ellie05]

I'm playing around with our touring plans (as if you couldn't tell based on my recent questions, lol), and I'm curious, sometimes it only leaves a few minutes of waiting. Ex. at HS, it has us arriving at the show 5 minutes before the start time. Is that actually enough time if you have a FP+, or should I be reworking that?

FP+ for shows has their own window. Does it have you 5 min before the end of the fp+ window or the star of the show?

I'm following. Where are you getting the touring plans?
I'd also like to know if we can do a decent job of the main attractions if we plan on 2 days MK, 2 days Epcot and a day each of AK and HS. Looking at a medium crowd week. (late August)

I am thinking she is getting her plans from touring plans or easywdw. You should be able to see main attractions.

 

[SmithSmith]

Unfortunately, I don't have answers to your questions but I can commiserate because we did try to map out our recent trip with TP and there were so many discrepancies that I ended up scrapping everything. For instance, it would schedule just 2 whole minutes to ride RNR or have us showing up really late to shows and ADRS or walking times would be way off. There were other mistakes but I don't remember what exactly. I just wanted to warn you all to double check EVERYTHING... or just use them as a very rough plan. Good Luck!

 

[DisneySOS]

I had to stop for a while because things like that were driving me crazy!
It had me riding RNR at 9:03 - the park opens at 9 and I chose "relaxed walk speed"

 

[chiisai]

Touring plans has a forum, and I know that Len looks at plans directly if you contact him to see if there is an issue. You can also make your pln public and folks on that forum can look at it too to see if things seem right.

 

[DisneySOS]

Touring plans has a forum, and I know that Len looks at plans directly if you contact him to see if there is an issue. You can also make your pln public and folks on that forum can look at it too to see if things seem right.

Thanks for this. I haven't ventured over there yet but this sounds like a good idea.

 

[ellie05]

Once you star customizing you have to make sure times line up specially for shows. If you are not very familiar with the parks I wouldn't recommend customizing your plans.

 

[fluffykalie]

I think the touring plans are best used as a guide or list of things you want to do in a day. The minute by minute plan was impossible to keep up with. I do like to make them for my trips still though to give me an overall game plan for the day. Though I would never recommend showing up for a show late you probably won't be let in.

 

[mshanson3121]

FP+ for shows has their own window. Does it have you 5 min before the end of the fp+ window or the star of the show?

5 minutes before the start of the show.

 

[soniam]

5 minutes before the start of the show.

It probably depends upon the show. I love TP and always use it. However, if I am concerned about missing an FP+, a show, or ADR, then I skip over the next item, go do my higher priority task, and then head back to the skipped item.

For instance, TP assumes a 15 minute grace period for FP+ attractions. I don't know what the assumption is for FP+ shows. For shows, you might search around to see what happens if you get there toward the end or after the FP+ window. I don't feel comfortable getting there after my window, so that's definitely an instance where I might jump around on the plan.

I often find, especially by the end of the plan, that we are running ahead of schedule. Do what you feel is right. Software designed the plan, but as humans, it's up to us to use common sense when implementing it.

Added: We always during the summer, when TP will be put to the test more, and I still love it. I wouldn't think about not using it.

 

[astronautmom]

This is the first I've heard of Touring Plans and I just checked it out. I take it you all find it worth the subscription cost?

 

[Jetku]

This is the first I've heard of Touring Plans and I just checked it out. I take it you all find it worth the subscription cost?

I think it's worth it for the crowd calendar. I use the touring plans as a basic map for the day, but have never actually tried to follow one. We no longer have the "must do everything" mentality, so I don't find following a commando plan necessary

 

[finedice]

I take it you all find it worth the subscription cost?

Yes, if you have not been to Disney several times (and somewhat recently), it is a very handy resource. I renew the sub every time we go. The phone app will typically give you more accurate wait times by the minute while you are in the parks than Disney's posted times, and their planning tools are excellent.

 

[ariane37]

I'm also wondering if they take into account stuff that starts at certain times, for example at HS it has me arriving at 4:33 and waiting 6 minutes. Wouldn't the next drawing class be at 5? I thought I read that they started every half hour.

I've never used TP but you are correct, the Animation classes start every 30 minutes so there would be one at 4:30 and another at 5:00.

 

[bumbershoot]

I'm also wondering if they take into account stuff that starts at certain times, for example at HS it has me arriving at 4:33 and waiting 6 minutes. Wouldn't the next drawing class be at 5? I thought I read that they started every half hour.

With the animation class, there's actually a show before it. No one goes to it, they just pass that by. I wonder if the plan has you actually going to the show before it?

Given that there's usually a line for at least 20 minutes waiting (in my low-crowd experience) before you are let into the animation room, I doubt that getting there for the show at that time will get you into a 5pm class.

 

[ruthies12]

This is the first I've heard of Touring Plans and I just checked it out. I take it you all find it worth the subscription cost?

You don't have to pay the subscription you can use their personalized touring plans free.

I've never used TP but you are correct, the Animation classes start every 30 minutes so there would be one at 4:30 and another at 5:00.

With the animation class, there's actually a show before it. No one goes to it, they just pass that by. I wonder if the plan has you actually going to the show before it?

Given that there's usually a line for at least 20 minutes waiting (in my low-crowd experience) before you are let into the animation room, I doubt that getting there for the show at that time will get you into a 5pm class.

Thank you both, that's what I thought!

 

[SplashMo]

Also if you purchase the book. Unofficial Guide to WDW you should get a subscription to TP for free. That is the way it use to work...

I would read Easywdw world first and then touring plans second. Because easywdw is easier but they are both helpful. I use them mostly for rides. I believe you can enter a break in the plans at certain times and perhaps that is better then scheduling shows...