Tell me how you use Touring Plans

[1GoldenSun]

I just renewed my subscription for Touring Plans. In the past, I have mostly used it for crowd predictions and finding ADRs. I could use it for those purposes without a subscription, though, so I'm wondering what else I might want to use it for.

How do you use Touring Plans? Have you found it to be helpful?

 

[Nordic4tKnight]

I use their lines app in the parks. Their wait times are more accurate than Disney a lot of the times.

 

[cincystamper]

Besides the Lines app, I use it to build customized touring plans. I usually go with my elderly mom and minimizing the amount of our walking is super important. I also indicate the slowest walking time in the customization options. That allows time for not just slow walking, but unexpected breaks for restrooms, sitting, taking pictures, etc. It helps me figure out a good route in each park to get the things done that we want to do. I may or may not actually follow the plans once we're in the park, but it at least helps me figure out a plan!

 

[pants]

I use it to make customized touring plans (and room requests, and ADR search, and crowd calendar). I do not always follow the plans to a "T" but it is helpful to get an idea of the most efficient way to move through a park and what waits to expect. Don't expect perfection but it has worked well in my experience.

 

[lovethattink]

I didn’t renew since 2020, but in the past I used it for room requests. Most of the room numbers have photos for room views.

 

[chris benton]

Customized Touring Plans.
Ability to recalculate your walking path / plan on the fly in just a few sec.
Lines App
Res Finder
The forum is a riot - I'd bet there are plenty of members from disboards, too.
And, it's dirt cheap.

 

[Kingoglow]

You will probably get expert advice by posting your question on the TP forums first, before moving to other communities.

Here is how I use Touring plans:
I goto my Dashboard and build a trip. I enter my resort confirmation number, the days that I am visiting and my planned park days. Once done, I use the tool for room requests to view photos for rooms at the hotel to get an idea of rooms that I would enjoy. I enter those room requests into the tool so TP faxes the resort my request.

Then I view the crowd predictions for my park days. If a park looks really busy, or if I am only visiting a certain park once, I will build a touring plan for that park, based on how I want to tour that day.

I use the reservation finder if I have trouble securing a dining reservation. I have used this feature about 5 times, and have always been able to secure my reservation, so far.

Then I go through the Checklist on my dashboard to make sure that I am not forgetting anything.

Once in the park, I use the lines app to access my touring plan and update it with my LL and ILL times and refresh it. I also monitor general wait times in the app and try to be opportunistic with attractions with low wait times.

Edit: I will mention that the Touring Plans website could use a design update to become a more modern website/user experience. The same could be said about the DIS though. Both site feel very late 90's, and have several questionable navigation experiences.

 

[1GoldenSun]

You will probably get expert advice by posting your question on the TP forums first, before moving to other communities.

I didn't know there was a TP forum; that will probably answer my question! Thanks!

 

[Princesca]

I use their lines app in the parks. Their wait times are more accurate than Disney a lot of the times.

There's been a lot of talk of Genie wait times being manipulative and not factual; Disney using them to steer people to and away certain things as suits them. So I don't really trust them, and I trust TP more for that reason. Plus I genuinely believe in Len's dedication to his craft. They have been kind of hit or miss this year, I hear, but the crazy crowds in late January for example was even styming most of the vloggers I follow. Everyone was kind of caught off guard by it, or seemed to be.

 

[RoseGold]

I use the line app, it's worth the cost for that.

It also has a better interface to see all the parades and such. Much easier to use than MDE. It's the only way I know to make sure we see the princess parade or whatever.

 

[Brett Wyman]

Room requests is the only reason we renew. And those havent worked since Covid. Im not sure if its just bad luck or they rally aren't working anymore.

 

[Doingitagain]

Room requests is the only reason we renew. And those havent worked since Covid. Im not sure if its just bad luck or they rally aren't working anymore.

We received email messages that our room reservation requests were submitted. Our trip hasn't started yet, so I don't know if they resulted in a successful request.

 

[Duck143]

We received email messages that our room reservation requests were submitted. Our trip hasn't started yet, so I don't know if they resulted in a successful request.

Can you let u know if your room request through TP worked? I am considering signing up for that reason. We have 3 rooms and I would like them to be close together, if not connecting.

 

[flowergleam1211]

I have never used touring plans but am considering it. How have people used it in conjunction with Genie+ and Lightning Lane?

 

[nicksinger8]

I just renewed my subscription for Touring Plans. In the past, I have mostly used it for crowd predictions and finding ADRs. I could use it for those purposes without a subscription, though, so I'm wondering what else I might want to use it for.

How do you use Touring Plans? Have you found it to be helpful?

Touring plans basically tell you the order you should do the rides in to minimise time in line. They are based on 100,000s pieces of data and are calculated by a very powerful algorithm. They were the single best investment I made for my trip in 2004. I went over 4th July and never spent more than 15 minutes in line. I know that times have changed but I am 100% confident that they will save time. They can also be customized based on date, time of arrival, whether you have early entry and based on the specific rides and shows you want and even to maximize or minimize walking. Given my family, we are going to be mainly doing mornings but with multiple visits over 10 days, so customization has really helped. I don't believe they have yet got enough Genie + data to build that in but combine the plan with the lines app (and the unofficial guide book) and you'll be fine.

 

[nicksinger8]

I have never used touring plans but am considering it. How have people used it in conjunction with Genie+ and Lightning Lane?

I don't think they have enough data to build it in. Generally they suggest that you should get the earliest Genie Plus reservation you can get based on the next three steps on the plan. If you can get it quickly go on it and then carry on. Otherwise, if deferred skip the ride until later if convenient and just carry on with the plan as normal. But you can update the plan as you go and use the lines app.

 

[stinkpickle]

I only use it for the Lines app and room requests.

 

[tinkerbelletreasure]

I build touring plans, but I don’t often follow them because my son has a DAS pass and there isn’t a way to work those into it, but I at least put on all the things we want to do that day and check them off as we do them. I can also get a feel for if we are trying to do too much, if we need to rope drop.

 

[gharter]

Love their room reservation option and the park wait times. I make sure I post EVERY wait time that we do in a park. I greatly appreciate everyone else that posts wait times. I t really seems closer to reality than what Disney posts.

 

[lentesta]

I don't think they have enough data to build it in. Generally they suggest that you should get the earliest Genie Plus reservation you can get based on the next three steps on the plan. If you can get it quickly go on it and then carry on. Otherwise, if deferred skip the ride until later if convenient and just carry on with the plan as normal. But you can update the plan as you go and use the lines app.

We're approaching 900,000 Genie+ return times. I think the initial G+ forecast algorithm is linear regression, because you should always start with linear regression. We're experimenting with other techniques this month, and we'll see which is better.

ETA: We should also have an app update this month, helping suggest which G+ reservations to get, and when, for minimizing waits in line.