Officially and Unofficially confused

[jfink12]

Hi All,

I have been trying to build an itinerary for my August 6-13 trip, our first to WDW.

I initially found "Days to Avoid" in many sources including the Official guide by Birnbaum. I used its data to make an itinerary to avoid the parks on those days it said would be crowded. I found I could even incorporate the Extra Magic Hour morning and evenings to avoid those days as well. I was pleased.

I then read the UnOfficial Guide and went to its web site for touring plans ( tourningplans.com ) and found a different story. They certainly seem to know what they are doing collecting data, using smart PhD's and supercomputers, etc.... The website had a list of what they calculated would be the best and worst parks to visit for every day of 2005 and even into 2006. Unfortuantely, my pride and joy, my baby, my wonderful plan went EXACTLY OPPOSITE of what they recommend! At first I thought it was a joke that they used complicated programs, meticulous data collection, etc. when, for the days I am going to be at WDW, the days they say to avoid EXACTLY matched the Extra Magic Hours days at the parks! Who needs a supercomputer to figure that out!!

But alas, I checked some other weeks out and did notice that it did not follow that script every day or week. I guess I just caught a week that it did. And in retrospect, trying to go to EVERY extra magic hour offered was probably not a good idea, but I am a WDW rookie and it looked SOOO kewl on paper! <=== Should be a Harley!

The site did say that the DAY chosen to visit a park was not as important as the touring plan used to tour the park. But of course that is coming from a website that makes money from selling tourning plans!!

I had also read/heard to try to go to parks on the DAY AFTER either 1)Extra Magic Hours or 2) was it the day AFTER one of the days the Official guide said would be crowded?

I set up all my PS's based on that original itinerary. I am only really stuck to 2, CRT on Sun 8/7 and HDD on WED 8/10. I have 8 days with plus/hopping in the parks and am very flexible, so I am still able to change my plan for the most part.

I have not come across any "Days to avoid" for the water parks or Disney quest. Any thoughts on those?

Anyway, does anyone out there share my frustration? Is there a solution? Which is the best guide to go by in setting up an itinerary?

Jeff

12 6

 

[Uncleromulus]

Micro-planning a trip to WDW is always frustrating, especially trying to do it "day-by-day" far in advance. There is NO way the UG can tell you how crowded any park will (or won't ) be on a given DAY in August..and most days at any park in August will likely be crowded anyway.
I'd just go with what you originally planned and incorporate as many extra morning/evening Magic hours as you can.
And from my "you never know in advance" Dept: we went to Epcot one day in Sept. a few years ago.Traditionally a great and not crowded time to go by all accounts. But when we got to Epcot--every Middle-school student in all of Florida was there!! Thousands of them swarming all over the place, carrying little notebooks in which they apparently were supposed to write down their experience, what they learned, etc.
So in spite of all best efforts in planning, you never know in advance---

 

[sters]

Some of your sources were also printed before the introduction of Evenning Magic Hours and the new Magic Your Way theme park tickets, which would affect the way people tour. To save money, for example, many people might opt not to park hop where with the old tickets hopping was always an option. I think the safest thing to do is attend the Early magic hour and then leave after a couple or completely avoid the EMH park altogether.

 

[mhingher]

My strategy worked great for my trip in March. I didn't go to any am EMH, but I went to every PM EMH. I went to a non-pm EMH park in the am, and then went to the PM EMH park late afternoon. We didn't really have to take breaks, since the weather wasn't too hot (70's) and the parks closed by 8 or 9pm. In August the weather is extremely hot and humid, so you really want to plan on going back to your hotel mid-day. What also works is to sleep in one or two AMs and hang out by the pool, and then go to a park in the afternoon.

Happy planning!! And don't worry, you'll have a great time. Just remember that whatever you plan, you have to be flexible b/c you just never know!

 

[SpecialK]

We took our first family trip last June. I made up an itinerary based on EMH days and the recommendations of the Unofficial Guide and Tour Guide Mike. What I neglected to figure into the equation was my children! EMH is great, but my kids were wiped out after the third day. We really had to slow down so that they could enjoy themselves.

We're planning to go back August 8th through the 15th. I am using some of the recommendations of the UG, but not all. This time I'm building in a lot more swim and relaxing time. I doubt that we will do any AM EMH parks - it's just too early for tired kids. We plan on doing non-EMH parks at opening, leaving the park after lunch to swim and rest.

We just recently decided to get the non-expiration option on the MYW tickets. We know we'll go back in a couple of years, and it takes some of the pressure off "getting your money's worth" out of a ticket that will expire.

 

[mommykds]

I agree with everyone above...you truly just don't know exactly how the parks will be until you get there...I always suggest to anyone going to WDW that they should get a park hopper option to their tickets. This way if one park is too crowded you can hop to another. We use this for MK..do MK in the morning & hop to Epcot later in the day. Epcot can usually handle more crowds without you feeling crushed like MK.

 

[DebbieB]

Everyone was nervous because the guides showed the first 2 weeks of May as 8's & 9's, which means very crowded. I was there last week and it wasn't crowded at all, others reported the same thing. So I wouldn't put alot of faith into their ratings.

 

[Grumpy92]

I am sure you will be fine. As everyone has said, just go with what you have done. I would suggest leaving room for flexibilty. Having been hundreds of times and working there for years I totally agree with Uncleromulus dont over plan.
During the summer the temperatures are higher, lines tend to be longer and guest wear out quicker. IF you are staying onsite use the EE options, they are a great benefit. Go early and leave early. Arrive early do what you can have lunch and return to your resort. Give everybody a break, eat there, swim or take a nap. Then return to the park for dinner. It will be cooler, lines wont be as long and family attitudes will be much better then if you had done a marathon day. Another suggestion ask your family what their top five attractions are, then focus on them first. Once those have been done the rest is just the extra fun stuff you will get to do.
So NO MORE PLANNING. You have done enough and your trip will be wonderful.

 

[MNmom]

The OP also asked about best days for waterparks and DQ....any ideas on those?????

thanks

ps--I just printed my 3rd itinerary for Aug. 28-Sept.3rd.

 

[Rozzie]

jkink12--my bday trip is around some of your dates, we will be at WL aug 10-14. (quick trip I know!) We usually go in the off season, when it really not as important which day what. I haven't been in august in 10 years, and been banging my head up againist a wall for 2 days, trying to figure out ressies. Finally after consulting DH, I am only making 2 important ressies (Derby for my bday!! and Lecellier for lunch on our epcot day) for flexibilty sakes ---and going to kinda go with what the parks are like. I think we might do EMH pm on aug 10 since that is our arrival day but other than that we are going to avoid the early/extra entry parks after much research.
I am itching to have the august hours in front of me. On your question of unofficial or official, I would always always go with Len. (UG) I have trusted his advice many years! he needs a fan club....

have a great trip, I can hardly sleep myself!

 

[ncbyrne]

I think weekdays are the best for waterparks. There are lots more locals on the weekends. During the week, the weather determines the crowds more than what day it is.