Necessary to have a tour plan in September?

[twinspluscade]

We're planning on being at DLR Sept 7-11 (Sun-Thurs). Originally, I was going to have a tour plan all typed out (I admit it--I'm an over-planner ). For our past two trips to WDW in Sept, I always had a tour plan--and it did seem to help with wait times in line.

However, I've read on several different threads that DLR in Sept is a very slow time, especially the week days, and rides are virtually walk-on. If that's the case, is it necessary to even have a tour plan? Or could we totally wing it (Dh's preference--he got a little sick of my touring plans at WDW ). Do even the rides like Nemo and Peter Pan have very little wait in Sept? My big fear is that we'll go without a touring plan, and then end up missing things OR having to stand in line for 30+ minutes.

Any thoughts on my plan-debate crisis? . Winging it okay in week-day September, or should we have at least a minimal touring plan?

Kelly

 

[DangerMouse]

What I would do (b/c I'm a planner just like you), is have a set plan in the mornings and then wing it in the afternoons. Might be a nice compromise.

 

[rentayenta]

What I would do (b/c I'm a planner just like you), is have a set plan in the mornings and then wing it in the afternoons. Might be a nice compromise.

That's how we roll too!

 

[Dizneydaz]

You won't really need a plan for when you're going. However, do do the rides you mentioned first. Nemo has continued to have a long line no matter when we go. We've actually only ridden it in the handicapped room. We are waiting for the lines to diminish. Peter Pan also seems to have the longest line in FL (since some of the other rides are scary to the young ones) but you should still only wait 20 min, or so.

Do take advantage of Fast Passes. I always get them just in case the parks get crowded later. Our FP plan is we try to get one for Space Mtn. first since it's one of DD8's favorites. Then we'll ride it if the line is short (usually is first thing in a.m.) and then onto Buzz. By then my window for a new FP has usually opened up and I'll grab one for BLY before going on. Then maybe we'll do Matterhorn (no FP) and move onto BTRM (also grab a FP for later). If DL starts to get crowded, we cross over to DCA and do the whole FP thing again (DL and DCA are on separate FP systems.).

We'll cross back and for sometimes several times during the day. Don't forget that you can use your FP even after the time stated on the pass. As long as the first time has come and gone, they are good.

Sept. is my fav. time in the parks. The weather is cooler (usually) and they start decorating for fall. Once the Halloween decorations are up, however, DLR does get more crowded.

Have a great time. Maybe we'll see you around-look for my purple Baggalini and red Mickey Crocs.


Here's a picture taken in later Sept. at DCA

This was taken in later Sept., after Halloween decorations were up. Even then, it wasn't too crowded that day.

 

[bumbershoot]

I always have *some* sort of plan.

Our first trip back as adults was in Sept, second was in Oct. Third trip, and the first multi-day trip, was again in Sept (then Dec then a solo in Jan). And I've always had a plan.

Now, the people I was traveling with (wonderful, but ungrateful, brother and SIL) didn't really appreciate the beauty of a plan and it was driving me nutty to stand and look at a map after every ride we did, so I started making casual suggestions to them (secretly from my touring plan) and that made everyone happier. So I can highly recommend that...know the plan enough so you don't have to refer to anything, and when hubby whips out the map, know what to suggest at that point (and get that map put away!).

Are you staying on-site? Or do you have hoppers with a day of MM? If you're on-site and will have more than one MM day, I recommend doing one MM day/hour in Fantasyland and one MM day (er, hour) for Nemo. That's what we did, though in the opposite order, when we were at Paradise Pier and it worked out nicely. We didn't walk that fast, and didn't even intend to go towards Nemo, but were still in line, on the ride, and off, inside the first half hour of MM. That was Sept 18th of last year, I do believe. (we had a plan, and that plan was FL, but for some reason I turned right at the castle instead of going through, and the line was so short we just did it) Later on in that trip my brother and I got in line for Nemo at around 5pm, and even though the sign said something like 40 minutes it wasn't even near that, much shorter. But then I don't mind the Nemo line at all, I find it very open and pleasant!

Peter Pan, well, you have to get on it the first half hour the park is open on any day. If it's a MM day and you don't have MM that day, skip it, IMO. Otherwise you're in that narrow unpleasant line for ages, and I for one don't find that to be fun.