Easy WDW or Touring Plans ???

[GAN]

A couple years ago I compared Easy to Touring Plans, and found Easy was more accurate, as far as which parks to do on what days go. Totally unscientific comparison, but all I know is that when we ignored the advice of Easy when it conflicted with the advise of Touring Plans, we regretted it. Easy is more accurate and free. For me the only reason to pay for Touring Plans is if you want an actual touring plan.

Or the lines app, which is infinitely better than Disney's.

 

[dayvewc]

I tend to be a glutton for punishment. I check all three sites (easyWDW, touringplans, and UndercoverTourist) for their crowd calendars. I then plan my trip with the "best 2 of 3", and in instances where they all say something different I go by easyWDW since there is an explanation of why.

 

[GeorgiaHoo]

If I want a misanthropic and alcohol-fueled romp through the parks, I use easyWDW.

If I want to plan a pleasant day enjoying myself, I use touringplans.

Haven't used touring plans so can't comment on the level of alcohol-fueled romps they recommend. Have used Easy WDW several times and found it to be very helpful. Plus Josh offers a ton of info on other aspects of the parks. Highly recommend Easy WDW.

 

[jepperson1]

I have only used TP so I can't really compare, but I LOVE TP. Recommended parks aren't really as important as what you do at that park at what time, and that's where they really shine. They reason they got rid of the "recommended park" is they were making sure each park was represented in a 7 day period, even if it wasn't the best park to go to on that day. So, now they just show the ratings AND because they have hard they actually show you when they are wrong and why.

I'm a fan.

 

[jaysmom4285]

Another TP fan. Haven't used easywdw, so I can't comment, although others do like that site. I've always gone with the park that TP says will have the lowest crowd level, and I don't think I've ever been led astray. Some people still don't understand that TP does their park ratings by the length of wait times for the rides, which is very measurable, and not by how crowded the parks may feel to people, which is very subjective. And more recently, on their blogs, they have been comparing their predicted wait times with the actual times for the previous week, and they have been spot on almost all the time. Hard to argue with that kind of hard evidence.

 

[CdnCarrie]

EasyWDW hands down.

 

[alex9179]

I can't compare them, but have used easywdw for my last two trips and everything was very "easy". They were my 1st & 2nd trip since I was a kid and a lot has changed

I haven't been during peak crowds, though. I think that's where someone would see the difference, if there is one.

 

[chinarider]

I probably over analyze. I compare all 3. However, we love the morning EMH's and those are always the parks that they mostly tell you to stay away from. We are morning people so it works well for us. The explanation of wait times vs crowds for TP probably explains their update now reflecting SWW (they still dont have HS listed as the busiest park on those weekends) . Just try and be patient and have fun.

 

[kathy884]

I have only used TP so I can't really compare, but I LOVE TP. Recommended parks aren't really as important as what you do at that park at what time, and that's where they really shine. They reason they got rid of the "recommended park" is they were making sure each park was represented in a 7 day period, even if it wasn't the best park to go to on that day. So, now they just show the ratings AND because they have hard they actually show you when they are wrong and why.

I'm a fan.

I use touring plans for the descriptions of the rides and ride ratings to decide what I want to do and the touring plans (order to hit attractions, when to get fastpasses, etc.). I start with a standard adult plan, do additions and subtractions and then do an optimization. Their web advice about where to go to view night time shows in excellent too. // On my last trip I looked at TP and EasyWDW for park recommendations, and they recommended the same parks. I really don't worry too much about that. The main thing I do do though when I am offsite is avoid a park with morning EMH, so I can take advantage of rope drop without a large group of people there before me. I've been using touring plans since the late 80s and they have saved me so many hours of standing in line. I love it how they tell you when to get your fastpass, and then in your plan when to use it. It's like clock work. Their optimization programs and timing are really good. Like the poster above I am a HUGE fan. I never do even a day at WDW without one of their plans in hand. Their plans changed me from someone who dreaded extended family trips to WDW and the dealing with the crowds to someone who has no problem going busy season on even a 9 day.

 

[disneybound08]

Without a doubt easywdw. Josh has awesome cheat sheets for each park which include touring plans for all different scenarios. Arriving at rope drop, arriving late, wanting to see characters etc. We love his site, and his crowd predictions have been right on when we visited.

 

[distherapy]

We have used both and now use easywdw exclusively. Much better predictions, easier to understand (free, but I have to admit I'd pay for it), and I think he's funny.

 

[coconutprincess]

Josh's Easy WDW site. His honesty is refreshing.

 

[think-like-tink]

well hmm. Josh has the 16th of JULY as the best day to visit MK and TP said to avoid it.

I think I will take Josh's advice and go to it. It IS our first day touring the parks. I like this plan better

 

[Pixie Princess]

Touring Plans- Never been steered wrong

EasyWDW- Been steered wrong

Touring Plans it is for me.

Being that these are predictions, I could easily have had the reverse experience, though. Frankly, I prefer TP's presentation of information. I don't need explanations of why to choose what park. I also could care less what the overall crowd level is. I want to know crowd level predictions by park, and I find descriptive variables of "most recommended" or "recommended" are not all that helpful for how my family typically vacations at WDW.

 

[rt2dz]

They use different theories. It's important yo understand that.

TP recommended park were based on lots of different things, but also done so that you would have each park recommended at least once in a 5 day trip--the average trip length. It isn't necessarily the best park to be in on any given day, but how to best plan an entire trip.

EasyWDW is based on each day individually. Which means making choices if each park isn't recommended at least once during your trip.

I would recommend using EasyWDW for picking which park, which day. It's better, IMO. But, TP is much more about *how* to tour which park you are in once you get there (probably the more important aspect), and while EasyWDW has that too, I find TP to be the better choice here. It's not an either/or thing, it's how to use them in conjunction.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[tina.tina]

When we went in 2011, I paid for TP (using Mousesaver's discount) and all of their recommendations changed right before we left. I had also checked out Easy WDW and taken his recommendations into consideration.

To me, these are guidelines. The DISers who posted their successful touring experience on NYE a few days ago demonstrate that it's all about planning, strategy, and expectations.

If you want to go to MK on a day that either site has as crowded, just be prepared!

I do like that EasyWDW explains his reasoning. Further, I believe reading his explanations (along with DIS info) educated me to be able to make my own plans and adjust my strategy while we were in the parks. Plus, as a PP stated, he is funny!

 

[hhill]

I am using both. Does this make senses?? I am planning our first trip for our family of 5 and it has been overwhelming. I looked at EasyWDW and compare to TP and went with the highest number in crowd, which it was usually one number lower or higher not a huge different. Then based on this I created our touring plan and again compared that to EasyWDW which actually their attractions recommendations for FP+ are the same as TP. I guess I will let you guys know who it went once we get there in May!