First Timer Working on My Touring Plan and Confused!

[pinkgirlmommy]

We are going to WDW for the first time 2/28- 3/7. We arrive at 10:30 am and plan to visit a park on our arrival day. We are doing a 6 day ticket with no park hopper, so we will have one off day in the middle. I am looking for advice because we want to do 1 1/2 days at Epcot, 1 day at AK and DHS, and 2 full MK days but not back to back. Our off day is Wednesday 3/4, and we planned to go to MK on our last day which is 3/6 because it is "highly recommended". However, I just signed up for Touring Plans, and it shows MK as a 7 that Friday 3/7 which doesn't seem Highly recommended to me! Touring Plans shows MK as a 6 on Thursday 3/6 and a 7 on Friday 3/7, but Easy WDW shows MK as Not Recommended on Thursday and Highly Recommended on Friday. I am confused because they are the opposite!

So we also have 3/1, 3/2, or 3/3 to go to MK. I originally picked 3/1 since it is our first full day, but am wondering if I should change because it is not recommended. Here is what we were planning and Easy WDW's recommendations, but I have added Touring Plans #'s also:

The first park is our current planned park, Numbers are from Touring PLans and Rec's are from Easy WDW

2/28- Arrival Day- 1/2 day Epcot 4/10 (Most Recommended)
3/1 MK- 6/10(Not Recommended, but neither is AK) AK is a 5/10, DHS Most recommended 5/10
3/2- DHS 5/10(Not recommended, but want to use evening EMH) MK 6/10 Not recommended, AK 5/10 (Highly recommended)
3/3 AK 5/10(Most recommended), MK is 6/10 (Recommended), DHS 4/10 (Recommended)
3/4 Off Day
3/5 Epcot 5/10(Most Recommended)
3/6 MK 7/10(Highly Recommended)

Is it worth going to DHS with evening EMH? Touring Plans has 3/1, 3/2 and 3/3 with the same numbers for AK and MK so on there it doesn't matter what day I go to either of them, but on Easy WDW DHS is not recommended 3/2 because of the EMH.

Any Advice? Should I change to this:
3/1 DHS Most recommended 5/10, MK- 6/10(Not Recommended),
3/2- AK 5/10 (Highly recommended), DHS 5/10(Not recommended) MK 6/10 (Not recommended)
3/3 MK is 6/10 (Recommended), AK 5/10(Most recommended), DHS 4/10 (Recommended)

 

[LSUfan4444]

For the most part I stick with easy WDW's recommended parks each day. Then, I might hop to a non recommended park in the evening for nightime entertainment or EMH and I usually have my three FP+ waiting there for me.

 

[BrianL]

Easy is the way to go. You're heading into Spring Break season, so 7 is going to be the crowd level, but on Easy that is for WDW *** a whole. Then you look at recommended park, which is where the smallest percentage of that "7" is going to be that day.

I don't really know the Touring Plans numbers, but are they rating any other parks below MK that day? If not, then don't worry about it. You're not going to notice a huge difference between 6 & 7, it's just what you're stuck with. Not to scare you or anything because it can actually be very manageable.

I never shy away from an EMH park, but only because I can use the EMH. If you can't the crowds make it worse, but using the EMH time is great and worth it to me. Of course, here is where a hopper can come in very handy so you can hop after the EMH or to the park with evening EMH.

Try not to stress too much about small changes in crowd levels. You'll do just fine.

 

[ArwenMarie]

I would use EasyWDW's recommendations also. I find it easier to use, very straightforward.

 

[Cando86]

I'll also jump in and echo the EasyWDW sentiments. If I were you here's what I'd do:

2/28 Epcot
3/1 MK (even though it's not recommended...it isn't recommended until the 3rd and do you want to wait that long to visit MK?...here I think you'll just have to make do and go on a day that isn't recommended)
3/2 AK (can use DHS EMH if you want, like you had mentioned since AK closes early)
3/3 DHS
3/5 EP
3/6 MK

 

[Marthasor]

I'll also jump in and echo the EasyWDW sentiments. If I were you here's what I'd do:

2/28 Epcot
3/1 MK (even though it's not recommended...it isn't recommended until the 3rd and do you want to wait that long to visit MK?...here I think you'll just have to make do and go on a day that isn't recommended)
3/2 AK (can use DHS EMH if you want, like you had mentioned since AK closes early)
3/3 DHS
3/5 EP
3/6 MK

They don't have a park hopper, so unfortunately can't hop from AK to DHS EMH. OP, I would stick with the plan you have - I think it's good! As a PP pointed out, go to MK your first full day. It may not be "recommended", but we are talking the difference between a 6 and a 5. For a first time visit, I think MK is the place to go on your first full day!

 

[ruthies12]

I've always had great success using easywdw. Never heard good things about touringplans, but never personally used them so can't verify whether they are any good or not.

I want to throw my 2 cents in though and say that Wednesday is the wrong day of the week to be taking a break. Regardless of what week you are there, a Wednesday is going to be the least crowded I would think. Most people doing a long weekend are either going to be not there or just arriving or leaving on a Wednesday.

Since you want to use emh at dhs here is what I would do

2/28- arrive and relax
3/1- epcot
3/2- hs
3/3 ak half day and then relax
3/4 mk
3/5 epcot half day and then relax
3/6 mk

 

[MsMagical]

For the most part I have found that as long as I arrive for EMH and make my FP for later in the afternoon, it doesn't really matter if they are recommended or not. As a previously mentioned, the difference between a 4, 5, or 6 crowd during busy times is often (though not always) minimal. So, even though AK is most recommended (isn't it always?...), if it's a 4 and MK is a 5, you'll be fine as long as you get there really early and make your fast passes during the mid afternoon. Hope that makes helps!

 

[jessica29]

Can I just say the I am familiar with the week you are going(always wen 3/1-3/10ish). We went that week yearly until recently. Crowds are very manageable and you may be over thinking the crowd calendars. It is pretty much the same level at every park during that week. As long as you aren't there 3/9ish I wouldn't base everything on those plans. That is when the spring break crowds start and the cheer leading competitions crowds come in. I love going the week you are going.