Looking for feedback on TP personalized plans

[TristiK]

We will be in the World June 5-12th. I went quite a bit as a kid, but haven't been back since 1997, and I know things have changed tremendously since then. So, when I made my ADRs at 180 days, I used the EasyWDW crowd calendars to choose our park days. Since then, Disney has added early morning magic to 2 of our MK days and EMH in the evening to the third MK day. We will not be taking advantage of EMH since our 4 and 7 year old won't make it past Wishes. So, I know a good touring plan is going to be essential. I do have a subscription to TP and have built plans through them. Am just wondering if anyone has used them before and whether or not you found them to be reliable and efficient? I plan to go in with some flexibility so if we see a character meeting we can jump in line, but I do not want to be wandering around aimlessly or wasting time in lines where it isn't necessary. Thanks!

 

[snowybelle]

I've used personalized Touring Plans a few times for WDW and have found them to be pretty reliable and generally very helpful to have on hand. I usually tell it that I am a slow walker (I'm not) just so I have a little extra time built in for bathroom breaks, etc. It's nice to have a game plan going in — even if I deviate from it, I can always pick up again later in the day to get back "on track" if I want.

I've found Touring Plans to be much less accurate/helpful for Disneyland, however.

 

[soniam]

I have used the TP personalized and optimized plans for all of my adult WDW trips since 2012. I am using it for our upcoming trip too, which makes 5 trips. I love it and wouldn't do a trip without it. Having said that, we don't usually do character meet & greets, so I can't attest to how they affect the plans. I don't get bent out of shape though if we are not hitting rides at exactly the time listed, but usually, we are ahead of the schedule. I also use it for Universal and Disneyland, which aren't as accurate but still very helpful.

 

[DVCkidsMOM]

TP personalized plans are reliable, though we find they are sometimes a bit optimistic. Truth in advertising requires me to say that these touring plans are made by me prior to my 60d fastpass reservation window and only sometimes updated closer to our actual travel dates. I customize the touring plans to determine best FP strategy. I should, but do not always, optimize plans again closer to travel dates - my bad. They'd probably be always accurate if I optimized close to travel. Ditto the poster who suggests slow walking to account for bathroom breaks - otherwise, you have to actually schedule them in your custom TP. Your kids are on board with "No, you can't potty yet - it's not on the plan," right?!

 

[TristiK]

Thank you! We have FP for the major characters my kids want - A&E, Minnie, and Cinderella and Rapunzel. The other must do is Gaston. We have Cape May and CRT booked too, and plenty of time to hit characters in Epcot and AK. So, any of the extras we hit are bonuses, but I've prepped them that we most likely won't get to all of them. We also have FP for all of the must dos at MK (kids are too short for the roller coasters and DH is afraid of heights, so I have a FP for BTT for just me and will do Splash at Rope Drop). I figure we will fill in the gaps with anything that want to a second time based on wait times in whatever area of the park we're in.

 

[TristiK]

Your kids are on board with "No, you can't potty yet - it's not on the plan," right?!

Haha, yes, that works perfectly with a 4 year old! I just put in the headliners, so there is plenty of time in between to fill in, so I think that will be ok

 

[Meandnevaeh]

I used them and find them quite helpful, and I usually optimize upon arrival