Planning without using a crowd calendar

[Figmentmommy]

Just wondering if anyone has planned a trip without using a crowd calendar? We are visiting the week before Christmas and while I did look at the overall crowd levels I didn't plan our days based on the recommended parks. We are staying onsite and will be doing a few EMH evenings- probably not many morning EMH. We often arrive a little later and stay until closing/EMH and sometimes we leave a little earlier and head out for dinner. Since we will be departing before the pre Christmas weekend crowds arrive most of our days are at a low/moderate crowd level- so I'm not too worried.
Please share your experiences of planning without a crowd calendar or going to a non recommended park.
Thanks!

 

[BuckeyeBama]

4 words - you will regret it.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

I like using EMH so I can't go by the crowd calendars for everyday since EMH parks are usually a non recommended park. It works for us since we park hop.

 

[heidiboo]

Just wondering if anyone has planned a trip without using a crowd calendar? We are visiting the week before Christmas and while I did look at the overall crowd levels I didn't plan our days based on the recommended parks. We are staying onsite and will be doing a few EMH evenings- probably not many morning EMH. We often arrive a little later and stay until closing/EMH and sometimes we leave a little earlier and head out for dinner. Since we will be departing before the pre Christmas weekend crowds arrive most of our days are at a low/moderate crowd level- so I'm not too worried. Please share your experiences of planning without a crowd calendar or going to a non recommended park. Thanks!

We never use a crowd calendar however we also don't travel during busy times. We also get park hopper so if it gets really busy we just go elsewhere! Have fun!

 

[Figmentmommy]

4 words - you will regret it.

Well we've never used one on any of our trips and we've never had an issue. I can't say I have any regrets. I was just curious to see what other people's experiences have been. Thanks!

 

[Figmentmommy]

We never use a crowd calendar however we also don't travel during busy times. We also get park hopper so if it gets really busy we just go elsewhere! Have fun!

I agree. We have park hopper too so it's easy to pick a different park if things don't go as planned. We also don't travel during the peak times as well. Thanks!

 

[Mousemommy1]

We never plan around a crowd calendar and have never run into issues. We always have park hoppers too, but honestly we have never gotten to a park and said "it's too crowded, let's go to another". We like hoppers because we like to do different parks in the morning and at night.

 

[msmama]

I like to know the reasonings behind the crowd calendars. If there is something going on at a particular park that day, maybe it will change my decision.

That said, I often don't go to the recommended park. If you're going to a park on a day that is going to be a 10 though, I think it's best to be prepared for not doing as much as if you were going on a 1 day. If they're all about the same thing, I don't sweat it!!

Have fun!

 

[BuckeyeBama]

I have been to WDW many, many times. Even if you go in September the crowd calender is relevant. Go to MK on a Monday in Sept and see lines. Go to Epcot on a Monday and walk onto Soarin' - literally walk on. We were able to do this at 1pm twice on our trip last month because we used the crowd calendars.

If you don't regret it, it will only be because you don't realize how much better each day can be with dramatically shorter lines for everything (rides, food, characters, etc). You will ride less and accomplish less even with more time in the parks if you go to a park that is not recommended.

If you must go to late EMH, hop to the park in the evening after you have enjoyed an empty park. If you like morning EMH, hop to another park before noon.

I have changed my touring style many times over the years as WDW has evolved. This has been my experience.

 

[Mousemommy1]

I have been to WDW many, many times. Even if you go in September the crowd calender is relevant. Go to MK on a Monday in Sept and see lines. Go to Epcot on a Monday and walk onto Soarin' - literally walk on. We were able to do this at 1pm twice on our trip last month because we used the crowd calendars.

If you don't regret it, it will only be because you don't realize how much better each day can be with dramatically shorter lines for everything (rides, food, characters, etc). You will ride less and accomplish less even with more time in the parks if you go to a park that is not recommended.

If you must go to late EMH, hop to the park in the evening after you have enjoyed an empty park. If you like morning EMH, hop to another park before noon.

I have changed my touring style many times over the years as WDW has evolved. This has been my experience.

We go annually...so we are there quite a bit.

Everyone has different touring styles. Different doesn't make it wrong. We hardly ever have to wait more than 20 minutes for a ride. That's our experience. We are also pretty patient people though, and like to relax on vacation versus running around filling some type of quota for activities done. We always feel we've gotten plenty done on any given day.

Again, different doesn't make it wrong. Just different.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

We go annually...so we are there quite a bit.

Everyone has different touring styles. Different doesn't make it wrong. We hardly ever have to wait more than 20 minutes for a ride. That's our experience. We are also pretty patient people though, and like to relax on vacation versus running around filling some type of quota for activities done. We always feel we've gotten plenty done on any given day.

Again, different doesn't make it wrong. Just different.

Agree - not saying that people who like to experience EMH are wrong. We do it too on some days. But we know the price that we will pay when we do so. The OP asked for experiences and opinions. I didn't think that the OP was just looking for people who would agree with his/her strategy.

Lines are lines, and crowds are crowds, and parks don't become less crowded because people tour differently - and non-recommended parks are more crowded - sometimes much more. That is a fact, not an opinion based on my touring style.

There is a reason that these crowd calendars exist.

 

[Figmentmommy]

Agree - not saying that people who like to experience EMH are wrong. We do it too on some days. But we know the price that we will pay when we do so. The OP asked for experiences and opinions. I didn't think that the OP was just looking for people who would agree with his/her strategy.

Lines are lines, and crowds are crowds, and parks don't become less crowded because people tour differently - and non-recommended parks are more crowded - sometimes much more. That is a fact, not an opinion based on my touring style.

There is a reason that these crowd calendars exist.

You are correct. I am definitely looking for varied experiences. We are making last minute tweaks to our plans before making FastPasses next week and I am considering switching a couple of our park days. Thank you for elaborating on your initial post and sharing some more detailed feedback.

 

[wendyt_ca]

We have never used the crowd calendar in all of our 11 trips and have never had any issues with it. We don't usually travel during busy times but we have. We don't plan around EMH really either but sometimes it does work out that we are in the park with them and we haven't even found those too bad. I def don't regret it and we usually don't wait long in lines either.

 

[Burnedout]

I like knowing where and whys. If the park is crowded because it is parade night at mk then that gives me the info I need to decide if I want to parade or have less crowds and dinner at epcot. Easywdw gives good rationale. I appreciate that.

During our trip there is the marathon to work around. We usually spend our first day at epcot. But it is smarter to hang close to akv and go to ak that day. We like to relax and dealing with fewer people is where that is for us.

 

[Peachkins]

We didn't use a crowd calendar on our last Disney trip a couple years back. We did go the first week of December which is a pretty slow time anyway though. We didn't have park hoppers, and we ended up picking parks for each day based on when we were able to get certain meal ADRs. As it so happened almost all of our choices fell on days without EMH- which are typically days that crowd calendars recommend. We didn't have issues with crowds anywhere.

 

[tinkerbella16]

We also have never used the crowd calendars and have never had issues... We lived! We don't go during super crowded times but there really is no such thing as "slow times" really like there used to be. We have always and still do get park hoppers too so that helps. But I don't haven't felt the need to use crowd calendars.

 

[mgentry210]

We've been there 29 days this year during all kinds of times and events. It does make a difference. I try to stick to the recommended parks, but not always. There is a pretty easy way around it if you don't want. Rope drop the big rides and walk on some of the second tiers. Use your fast passes and then schedule more for later in the evening. When the parks get ready to close during fireworks or parades, most ride lines drop significantly. Take an afternoon break and you are already set for the evening. Do what you want, but it does make a difference in crowd levels.

 

[Figmentmommy]

Thanks to everyone for sharing their personal experiences. It's helpful to learn about how others have planned. Even though we've never used any of the crowd calendars before it's certainly something I can see would be helpful- especially during the busiest times. Maybe I'll throw it into my planning mix for our upcoming trip.

 

[SCDisneyfanatic]

We never used crowd calendars, but that's because I never knew they existed. We have been traveling to WDW every couple of years since 1976 and never had any real issues. However, this December (13-20) we are going to the Recommended Parks every day of our visit, except for Friday the 19th. Sometimes you just need to go to the park that meets your needs and EPCOT will be on Friday. It's not recommended for that day, but that is when we could get a CP ADR for 10...besides the fact we wanted to end our trip eating dinner in Germany on behalf of our son and daughter in law that are being stationed in Germany in early 2015. Sort of a tribute to them! Bottom Line: Make plans to meet your needs, but if you can meet your needs and still manage to hit recommended parks, it's advised!

 

[casperthegm]

It all comes down to how you feel about the crowds. Using the crowd calendar, especially as you get closer to Christmas, will help you by sending you to less crowded parks. As much money as we spend on a Disney trip we try to plan as much as possible to make sure we enjoy ourselves. Part of that definitely includes avoiding heavy crowds, so yeah, crowd calendar is a must for us. It makes a difference.