Does anyone NOT use touring plans in Nov/Dec?

[WendyMichaelJohn]

Do we need to use them for last week Nov/first week Dec? It seems awfully stressful to me considering we'll be with a preschooler and a toddler (as well as teens.) Even if we split from the part of the group with the two teens, we'll still have the unpredictability of small ones with us.

Is there anyone who goes with the flow, using fastpasses for bigger attractions, but generally going from land to land, just taking things as they come?

I'm beginning to get the impression from these boards that a touring plan is absolutely necessary. It's making me nervous!

Thanks

Shel

 

[Sorcerer Figment]

I'd suggest using a loose touring plan, something akin to Relaxed Robert's Rules of Order. If you really want to relax and enjoy yourself, it's best to do a little bit to avoid lines. Just have a general game plan and don't get stressed over 'docking two attractions' for having to use the bathroom, etc. Of course that could just be the bit of Tour Guide Mike in me speaking...

 

[jrogers345]

Do we need to use them for last week Nov/first week Dec? It seems awfully stressful to me considering we'll be with a preschooler and a toddler (as well as teens.) Even if we split from the part of the group with the two teens, we'll still have the unpredictability of small ones with us.

Is there anyone who goes with the flow, using fastpasses for bigger attractions, but generally going from land to land, just taking things as they come?

I'm beginning to get the impression from these boards that a touring plan is absolutely necessary. It's making me nervous!


Thanks

Shel

We'll do what we did the last time... which is first decide which parks to go to each day and at what time. From there... will be pretty loose. Just have a list of rides/attractions that are "must do's" . Everything else after that is a bonus. We also took advantage of some parade times to hit some of the popular rides. Took advantage of some hints I had read to do. Also, we had some friends there at the time and would sometimes be together or split up. But when we were together, it did slow us down.

 

[Pooh67_68]

We have been in May, Sept, and Dec and never use a plan. We have always seen and done what we wanted.

 

[goofy4tink]

I don't really adhere to a touring plan. I know what we want to do beforehand so can plan loosely where we need to be at a particular time. We don't just amble around, aimlessly though. Well, maybe we do a bit, but we've been mulitple times now and like to just 'take in the sights and smells' now. And having been at this time of year I have found that having a strict touring plan really isn't necessary. Just make a list of the things you want to do and use FastPass when you can. If you get to the parks relatively early you should be fine. I'm going down from Nov 30-Dec 4 and I'm really hoping the crowds won't be too bad. Last year we left on Nov 30 and I really wished I was staying rather than leaving because the crowds had really died down after Thanksgiving.

 

[PatsGirl]

We've decided on what park and ADRs for dinner each day. I actually do a index card "book" that lists each day, best transportation choices for the day, ADR times and #, a simple itinerary that lists special must-dos, firework and parade times. If it doesn't work out that way, so be it, but I won't miss something because I didn't know about it, only because I chose to forego it.

Brenda

 

[kirbsam]

We try to show up at each park at opening or early emh at least one day per vacation, mk twice. We get all the big stuff done, grab fast passes to go back on that stuff, and enjoy the rest of day without having to stand in lines very much.

 

[WendyMichaelJohn]

I'm REALLY pleased to see the results so far. We know what our must-dos are (most of the parks, lol!) and we know we'll have 3 days at MK, so I just want to relax. I don't want to have to worry about wait times, etc. Even if we wait 15-20 minutes for a ride, I don't that to bother me. I just want to enjoy the time, even the waits, without worrying about a plan. If we miss stuff, oh well.

 

[sue1013]

We go the 1st week of December almost every year. The weekends are busier than during the week. During the week there are no crowds. The only plans we make the whole week are dinner on the weekends. When I'm on vacation I don't want everything scheduled that's too much like everyday. You will be fine without a plan. We don't get to the parks early, very rarely need to use fast pass and I won't wait more than 15 minutes for any ride. It's a great time of the year to go the decorations are beautiful.

 

[lentesta]

Hi WendyMichaelJohn,

Having some idea of what you want to see each day, even if it's not a step-by-step touring plan, will certainly help. For example, if you want to see Dumbo in Fantasyland with your toddler and pre-schooler, I can't think of too many reasons why you would not ride that first thing in the morning. Even during the slower times of the year, a mid-day wait at Dumbo can easily be 20 or 30 minutes, simply because of the attraction's capacity. During the morning, however, it's perhaps 5 or 10 minutes. So the question of whether a step-by-step touring plan is needed depends on what you want to see.

That being said, I think you could go "land by land" instead of "step by step" and have a decent balance between flexiblity and saving time.

Hope this helps!

Len

 

[jann1033]

we basically do the above, know what we want to do first, get the stuff that will be busy later done early in the am( basically the mountains,newer attractions rnr tot ect ) we go to emh and do it then if possible. then kind of coast through the afternoon and evening, have arelaxing sit down lunch to refresh (leavening the park is awaste if the hrs are short.

 

[KrisTX]

We will have a tour plan and will try to stick with it (including adding a second ride) as long as we are happy. We did this last time at DL in Sept and were pleased. We were able to ride Dumbo twice with almost no wait by having my husband get in line so many people behind us. I just handed the kids to him after we got finished. It was really nice and a smart way to start the day. Had he not gotten in line, we would have had to wait 30+ minutes to ride again. By that time the que for the next ride would have been even longer. We got the most important things done before lunch and spent the rest of the day meandering around as we wished.

 

[addicted2disney]

I used Tour Guide Mike last Thanksgiving and it was AWESOME. I dont need a touring plan that tells you step by step where to go and what to ride. I just like knowing which park will be the best one to be at on certain days. He tells you which are the best, which are ok, and which ones to avoid. Thats what I like. He gives great tips too. I Loved his advice from last Thanksgiving and we hit no big crowds from Thursday-Sunday. After that, everyone was gone. It was perfect!! I am using him again this year since the added those new EMH's. I want to know where NOT to be over the weekend!!