How much do I need a touring plan?

[Lydia91]

During the 10 days of our trip, Touring Plans has our estimated crowd levels mostly in the 1-3 range for the various parks, with only two days where the crowds get up to a level 5 (both at Magic Kingdom).

I was looking at rejiggering our schedule so we were at the lowest crowd park each day as much as possible, but I am wondering if I am being too anal. Is there really that much difference between a level 2 and a level 3 or level 4 day that this is worth the effort?

Also, with regard to specific touring plans for each park day, do I really need much of a touring strategy for a level 3 day for example? I will of course, get my fast passes for the headliners and decide what we will hit at rope drop no matter what.

Are touring plans (by that I mean a specific step by step program for rides) really needed here? Or am I putting too much faith in the crowd calendar?

 

[Missymouse18]

Everyone does their touring to their own liking/needs but this is how I do it and it works very well for my family: I completely ignore crowd calendars as far as making my plans. I DO check them so as to get an idea of how crowded the parks will be, but I don't plan my trips around them. I do the parks in the same exact order every single year. And a touring plan? Absolutely. So many times I hear people say they did not enjoy their trip because it was so unorganized and they felt overwhelmed. I would suggest that you get a general idea of where you will be throughout the day. Example: I leave for WDW in 3 days. I already know that if things go according to my plans, I will be at RD at DHS 8:00 Sunday morning, go straight to Pixar Place, see Walt's museum, go into the animation building and take the class, do my fast passes all around the same vicinity (TSMM, TGMR, LMMshow), have a late lunch at BE, and so on.
As I said, everyone is different and something so detailed might drive others bananas. Do let me say, though, I am very flexible and I don't get bent out of shape if things don't go exactly as planned - it's Disney World - not a lot of cause to get stressed when you are at the happiest place on Earth! So you kind of go with a basic plan and know that sometimes you might have to adjust it to keep everyone perking along.
I hope you have an awesome time at WDW! Happy planning - it's half the fun!

 

[richmo]

I'll temper this with that I'm not a big planner, even when it's crowded, beyond trying to pick the quietest park with a crowd calendar.

If the crowd levels are that low, I'd totally wing it! I would make the FP+ reservations, mostly early in the day so I could get more, but standby times should be mostly very short so you'll get a lot in. Don't overplan it and enjoy!

 

[It's A Happy Day]

I'm an over-planner before the trip but go with the flow once we get there type of gal....

That being said.... must do IMO:
1. pick you main park for the day
2. ADR's for meal in same planned park if doing table service meals
3. know what the priority rides, shows, etc. that my family absolutely must do

Once there - stick with park & ADR
Handle the must do attractions based on how busy that attraction is. We've been lucky to go off season so we really haven't had to skip things due to long lines/wait times.

Fast passes are great but we didn't have to do them for some of the rides I thought we would.... Toy Story Mania only had about a 10 minute wait later in the day when we were there and yet there were no more FP's available to pull Why bother getting one if the standby line wasn't long? Splash Mountain, not only did we walk on but we got off and went right back on 3x. Fingers crossed thats the case again for our upcoming trip So plan of attack yes, detailed touring plan.... I don't think you really need it for off season.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

It's all relative.

We've been many times and know the parks well and never bothered with a touring plan.

I suppose there are plenty of folks happy to stand in long lines, and those that feel most comfortable shelling out $$ for 'expert' advice. There are folks who are happy to spend only an hour or two in the parks each day, and those that do 15+ hour days for two full weeks.

The uber-planners are not happy unless they come up with detailed plan and strict with it, no matter what. Others are much more go-with-the flow. I'd like to think I'm I the middle.

With FP+ nobody can give you 100 fool-proof info right now, things are changing too quickly too soon. What was true before Easter 2014, no longer applies.

That said, it is smart to plan your FP+, a park for each day, a hotel, and at least some of the ADR's you'd like.

Beyond that, you an likely wing it, esp if you have a smart phone with a WDW app. Of all the new additions, that's among the most useful.

Most of our touring is done freelance. We know what our top priorities are, and we usually start with those. (using FP) After that, we look at nearby attractions with short waits, or at least relative short waits. If BTMRR has a 15min wait - jump on it! But 15 min wait for the carrousel is a bad sign. So it's probably smart to know which rides are e-rides.