KTP vs. TP crowd calendar

[ckelly14]

Planning my trip for April and had a specific question. Originally set up my one park per day schedule (I have a 4 day, 4 park pass) after consulting the Touring Plans calendar. Messing around online this AM and came across Kenny The Pirate's free calendar. They are fairly similar for 3 out of four days, except Friday April 17.

Based on TP's relatively low crowd level at all the parks, I picked MK for that day and AK for Sat. However, Kenny has MK on Friday and AK on Sat as the "worst park". This also goes along with my long standing belief to avoid parks with EMH, especially if you don't take advantage.

Any suggestions? I know all the parks will be less busy on Friday compared to Sat. Which part would you rather tour on the lighter day, AK or MK? Does the idea to avoid parks with EMH still hold up? Does the villains after hours event affect the crowds at MK?

Thanks!

 

[holden]

We avoid EMH parks if we are not using the EMH. I also ignore crowd calendars. Honestly, the parks are either crowded or more crowded. That's about it.

 

[ckelly14]

I agree. I think I will switch it. I also think that AK doesn't handle crowds particularly well.

 

[ISUamanda]

The way Kenny does his calendars (especially Best/Worst Park) makes it hard to determine if the difference is material (could be the difference between an 4 and a 5 on a 10 point scale...not super meaningful).

Honestly, with a touring plan and knowledge of how to maximize FPs...park choice is not that important. What you're describing would NOT have me change my plan.

 

[yorkieteacher]

I'm thinking that KTP usually has parks with EMH listed as worse parks to visit? I know he doesn't change his calendar as much as Touring Plans- I think KTP has great character locaters and TP can generate great personalized touring plans, but crowd calendars are just not as accurate as the were four or five years age. People more in the know than I am an tell you what data they base these predictions on, and why it is no longer as accurate. I'm just going on personal experience. I'm more interested in predicted wait times, which is why I use Touring Plans to make my plans. These have been fairly accurate for me.

 

[alwayssmile]

KtP says his is more of the feel of the park and TP is more on line waits. I don't put 100% confidence in either. I consider them both just to make sure I'm not planning on a park that's the worst according to both. In the end which park we will do which day is influenced more by fast passes and their timing lining up to our ideal.

 

[evlaina]

Planning my trip for April and had a specific question. Originally set up my one park per day schedule (I have a 4 day, 4 park pass) after consulting the Touring Plans calendar. Messing around online this AM and came across Kenny The Pirate's free calendar. They are fairly similar for 3 out of four days, except Friday April 17.

Based on TP's relatively low crowd level at all the parks, I picked MK for that day and AK for Sat. However, Kenny has MK on Friday and AK on Sat as the "worst park". This also goes along with my long standing belief to avoid parks with EMH, especially if you don't take advantage.

Any suggestions? I know all the parks will be less busy on Friday compared to Sat. Which part would you rather tour on the lighter day, AK or MK? Does the idea to avoid parks with EMH still hold up? Does the villains after hours event affect the crowds at MK?

Thanks!

I love KTP's site and FB page and go by what he says. Maybe I just THINK parks feel less crowded to justify my use of crowd calendars lol.

Anyway, this would be a lose-lose for me. I always avoid EMH parks, red parks, and avoid MK on Saturdays, so I would feel stuck. What 4 days are you doing? I would seriously move my days around to not deal with EMH or red parks. I would do AK on Friday and HS on Saturday if you can, and MK on another day.

 

[ckelly14]

Great point. Unfortunately my tickets are date limited. I wonder if I could change dates?

 

[DavidNYC]

We avoid EMH parks if we are not using the EMH. I also ignore crowd calendars. Honestly, the parks are either crowded or more crowded. That's about it.

This. Beyond avoid EMH if not using it and avoid World Showcase festival weekend evenings (and taking into account any special events like holiday parties if applicable), I don't think there is any reason to go to or avoid certain parks on any day. Do what works for you and leave yourself some flexibility. If you read these boards and know general touring tips, how to use fastpass effectively, etc., you will be fine at whatever park works best for your trip and way ahead of the game compared to the vast majority of guests.

 

[mamamelody2]

So I just checked KTP for our trip starting the 25th. Our first 4 days are all planned at the "worst" park. LOL. I'm not going to worry about it. It's probably because they are mostly EMH days and KTP still advises to avoid those parks while easy WDW says that is outdated. Wait times are no longer worse on EMH days.

 

[ckelly14]

Thanks for suggestion above. Changed my dates from Weds-Sat to Tues-Friday!

Not sure why I didn’t think of it...

Now all my parks are a 4 for TP and a best park on KtP. Probably doesn’t matter but I do feel all warm inside...