Do you get frustrated when people refuse a touring plan?

[CNMooner]

I am on quite a few other chat boards (yea yea, I'm a dork...) and every once in a while someone posts about visiting Disney.

I always answer with tips and stress the importance of touring plans and it seems like no one ever believes me.

Once a girl came back and complained about how long the lines were on her trip-- she visited in late January and it should have been light had she followed a few cardinal rules...but instead she just busted on how Disney "isn't the same as when she was a kid."

Well, that's right, it isn't the same. It's BETTER if you just do a little research!

I think I'm going to start keeping all my tips to myself. If you would like to wait 120 minutes for Soarin', be my guest. I'll wave to you while I wiz by you in the fast pass line on my SECOND ride of the day.

 

[MyGoofy26]

Depends on the situation and what a person's expectations are. If they're new to Disney or just want to see it all, then they should definitely look into a touring plan.

But there are some people (myself included) that don't have those expectations. We've been going there so long that I don't feel the need to hit most attractions. If we can manage a few favorites a day, we're satisfied. We've really slowed it down over the years and it's more about leisurely walking through the parks and taking it all in, hopping into an attraction if the lines are low or grabbing fastpasses for later, and just enjoying the atmosphere without feeling the need to race from ride to ride. For that, a touring plan would be virtually useless.

 

[MrsJackSparrow]

Why on earth would you NEED a touring plan? If lines are long, use common sense and come back later . . .

 

[kvogel11202]

I always have a skeleton plan in place, meaning I book my lunches (if I'm doing TS) and dinners. That gives me a guide to what I want to do, and I work around that. I think if it is someones first time at Disney they should absolutely have a plan in place, and I tell people that. I had a co-worker go to Disney a few weeks before my last trip, and she came back talking about how much money she spent. I asked her what she thought about the fireworks, she says she didn't understand what the shows were, so they usually went back to the hotel before they started, didn't see any of the other shows- Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, ect, and found the whole experince to be a huge letdown. I felt so bad for her. When I got home I showed her my pictures, and talked about all the stuff we did and saw in the three days we had, she was so bummed out. Now she is planning to return, but only following my itinerary! I keep telling her, just have a plan in place. I gave her a passporter to help her along!

 

[salmoneous]

Just remember that touring plans are most important for those people whose goal at Disney is to get on as many attractions as possible. For other people, a touring plan might not be as important.

 

[JRawkSteady]

Why on earth would you NEED a touring plan? If lines are long, use common sense and come back later . . .

hehe, that's the way my best friend thinks, but if there are certain attractions you must experience, a touring plan is necessary. If you "come back later" to Peter Pan or Dumbo, you will still not see positive results.

 

[CNMooner]

hehe, that's the way my best friend thinks, but if there are certain attractions you must experience, a touring plan is necessary. If you "come back later" to Peter Pan or Dumbo, you will still not see positive results.

EXACTLY. A tourning plan can help you have a much more pleasant day, whether it is your goal to see 50 attractions or five.

 

[mking624]

There are certain attractions we must experience, but we do not use touring plans...in fact we refuse to use them (and we have perfectly enjoyable and pleasant days). It's a "to each his own" thing. I personally find it a little over the top for people to think it's a necessity. While it might be for you, that doesn't mean it's a necessity for anyone else.

 

[JRawkSteady]

It's not a necessity, it's a luxury. Like a dinner at Victoria & Alberts.

 

[badblackpug]

I don't use touring plans, itineraries, ETC. Never have. My closest thing to a touring plan is being at a meal reservation on time! I like to keep things loose and casual and have always traveled with kids so I want them to have as much fun as possible. Last trip that meant about 15 rides in the Haunted Mansion and a about 10 on Buzz Lightyear. No way could we have stuck to a plan!

 

[EnnEss]

Tour plans are far from necessary. It depends on your personality most likely, but a touring plan would just add stress for me, which is the opposite of what my vacation is supposed to achieve.

I know some people like them though, and I can see the reasoning behind them.

 

[JRawkSteady]

See in terms of a touring plan, I mean something as simple as:

Which park on which day
which attractions should be done in the first couple of hours
are we going on any tours, mini golfing, or to water parks
and
where to make ADRs

I don't see how any of this would add stress to a day. I guess maybe I've never been in your shoes ^_^

 

[beeayekay]

no

Why should I?

 

[TenThousandVolts]

touring plans- not for me- everytime we come to an intersection at the Magic Kingdom a different person chooses which way we go- it is fun!
But if it works for you- more power 2 ya. Don't get me wrong- I do research and get ideas- but NO SCHEDULES!!! That is what the rest of my life is all about- not my Disney trips.

 

[disneymama73]

I don't use touring plans, itineraries, ETC. Never have. My closest thing to a touring plan is being at a meal reservation on time! I like to keep things loose and casual and have always traveled with kids so I want them to have as much fun as possible. Last trip that meant about 15 rides in the Haunted Mansion and a about 10 on Buzz Lightyear. No way could we have stuck to a plan!

Sounds like us!

 

[Cool-Beans]

No, but I get annoyed when I TRY to help someone, they decline the help and then they come back and complain about long lines or inability to eat somewhere. It is sooo hard to not say "I told you so." With my better friends (and my baser instincts) I cannot stop myself.

One friend even called from her trip and asked to me to schedule the rest of it. Grrr.

 

[Mister Incredible]

Never have, never will. Just what I need, someone telling me I'm not following the plan

I've been there enough times that I know what to do when.

Is this the time you tell me to spend money on tour guide mike too

 

[ReneeA]

I am a commando type park tourer. I admit it, and I realize it's a character flaw. Last year we did fairly well considering we had a 2 & 3 year old - got through with no melt downs. But, I had a plan - and we stuck to it...it included rest and nap time. This year I want to work in more free time and play things by ear, which is how my DH likes to do things.

I'm just having trouble letting go of the idea that everything does not need to be planned right down to the last minute.

 

[44disney]

We have been several times, and follow a touring plan I modified from the Unofficial Guide, plus we will make allowances as we go along, especially if the kids want to ride something again and it's not crowded now (but will be later in the day). Plus, we always have a fast pass (thanks to my DH, who loves to spend a litttle alone time wandering the parks to get a new fast pass while the rest of us ride something he is not interested in).

I am always amazed, when I talk to friends who have gone and who have had a great time, at how much more we get done than they do. Lots of times they say that they skipped several attractions because of lines. We never do! They will also say how they almost never used fast passes, even though it was crowded and I explained how it works to them before they left! I just don't understand it.

We also leave plenty of time open for enjoying the details and for shopping, but our main focus is to enjoy the rides with as little wait as possible.

 

[Groovee]

We've never done a touring plan and don't plan to do so next time. The holiday is for the kids and EMH will help us a long the way. Any big rides will be fastpass as we'll not be able to ride them together.