To "touring plan" or not?

[wrighter]

We leave next Saturday for our annual WDW visit. This is our first trip during peak travel times. Crowd calendar is calling for 10's the entire duration of our stay.

In general, we are not the commando type. We like to get to the parks for opening, stay through early afternoon, then return to the hotel for pool time until dinner and bed. Sometimes we go back for fireworks, etc. We have gone every year for the past few years, so we know our way around - we won't be the guests with a map in their hands wondering where to go. Thank goodness! But like I said, we've never dealt with 10s!!!!

My question is: Considering the crowds, should we consider an official "touring plan?" Will it even be worth it for people like us? We do tend to map out our routes for the day - taking into consideration FP and such. But we also really like the freedom to change it all up if the kids are really jonesing to do something at that particular moment. We do not do many ADR's because we don't like to back ourselves into a permanent eating time. We just like flexibility.

On this trip, DS will be almost 7 and DD will be 4. My sister and BIL will be joining us - and they will do some things with us and then do their own thing at times.

I've looked at touringplans' sample plans, and didn't think it was much more than we could do ourselves, with some exceptions of course! I'd love to see what they suggest for our "type" of disney family - just not sure we're the touring plan type.

Anyone have any thoughts here? Are these plans better for newbies? Are there advantages for us veterans that I'm just not seeing? Would love to know what my fellow DISers think!

Here's to insane crowd levels!!! May we return in one piece!!!

 

[PIRATEGIRL007]

10's? Heck yeah I'd do it. We have followed thier touring plans to the letter on like a 6 day and noticed a huge difference. If they recommend an attraction you don't want to do just skipit and move to something else. Our kids also know that we will eventually get to everything and what they want to do may be something we have planned later in the day. We don't criss cross back and forth on a whim just to please them with something we are going to do in a few hours anyway.

 

[carolinamama]

I usually don't do a touring plan at WDW at this point, but if the crowds are 10s, then yeah, I'm bringing a plan!

I'm all kinds of familiar with the Unofficial Guide/touringplans.com, but I've also found out about ridemax.com through the Disneyland thread. We're using this considering for CA because 1) it will be crowded; and 2) we have no idea what we are doing! It's just a different take on touring. It's pretty cheap, might be worth checking out for a second opinion!

 

[MurphyJoe]

My question is: Considering the crowds, should we consider an official "touring plan?" Will it even be worth it for people like us? We do tend to map out our routes for the day - taking into consideration FP and such. But we also really like the freedom to change it all up if the kids are really jonesing to do something at that particular moment. We do not do many ADR's because we don't like to back ourselves into a permanent eating time. We just like flexibility.

Based on what you've written, I'd say its a wash. You already show up a rope drop, have an outline of your day, and avoid the afternoon hours. While the order you partake in the offerings might not be optimal (based upon previous wait times and such) you're already doing what it takes to minimise wait times. On the other hand, having a commercial plan in hand might lessen stress, minimise wait times even further, and provide a scapegoat should you end up in long lines.

 

[wrighter]

Hmmm - all good points. Much to consider!

It's really not all that expensive, and if it gives us just a little edge on just one day, I would likely consider that worth it. I could probably even "hide" the purchase from DH and play off the "plan" as my own. Then he'd have to be so thankful to me . . . Just might have to give it a shot - we so want to have as great a time as possible, crowds or not!

Thanks, guys. Wish me luck!

 

[2Tiggies]

We like Easter at the World and yes, a touring plan does make a difference. You guys seem to have it mostly sorted anyhow with your early start to the day. I think that is one of the biggest reasons why a plan does not work for some. As the PP said, they are not expensive and just give you the edge on teh rest of the folk that day. Also, I use it to a point and once we have achieved what we want to for the day, or if DD is tired, we can the plan and wing it if we are staying in the park - or leave and go for a swim. Getting a plan doesn't mean you are bound to it 24/7 - that is the great part.

 

[kristenbrandt]

You could be writing about us - disney lovers, "vets" of three v. successful trips w/ kids (now 4 and 7) and several trips as a child/teen myself. But this is the first time (like you, next saturday!) we'll be there during a busy season. We also go early, break by 4 or 5, nap the boys/eat & drink CL apps, return for late dinner/fireworks/favorite rides w/ no lines OR enjoy the pool and call it an evening at the resort. I went with TGM and have found it to be really helpful in getting us mentally prepared for the reality that this will be a different kind of trip, but still successful b/c we're ready to do what it takes to tour smarter, more efficiently, break earlier, and find alternatives to parks that still are distinctly disney experiences that work for our kids' ages/interests.

If you're reading boards, you're probably aware of all the best advice for days that are 10s and there may not be much alteration needed to your usual routines. My head was definitely somewhere else when we booked this week - never occurred to me how busy it will be until about two weeks ago. But since i've educated (DH says OVER educated) myself in the last week or so, i think we're ready for the challenge. Definitely ready for the fun, sun, and awesome memories!

Good luck - see you there!

 

[wrighter]

Anyone have thoughts on TGM vs. touringplans? That might be a whole other thread . . .

 

[Mom2PrincessK]

We have the exact touring style - RD until early afternoon and then back to the hotel...maybe dinner that evening.

We went last year the week after Easter - all 9-10's. We did fine doing just as stated. We got there Sunday evening and left Saturday afternoon - did everything we wanted to do and it was one of the more restful vacations because we did rest in the afternoon's/evenings.

As long as you get there at RD and maximize your FP use, you will be fine! When you are leaving for the afternoon, you will feel sorry for the people in the 2-3 hour ride lines

Have fun - we leave three weeks from today

 

[Sagginit]

devils advocate here but, when i went the books were not that accurate. it said the MK would be the most crowded the first day we got there, we went and it was not crowded at all....but the AK that was supposed to be empty and the next morning was packed! i had a funny feeling that it was reverse planning, all the books told everyone what park to go to and therefore that was in reality the most crowded park.

i would use your personal knowledge to make a touring plan that works for you and takes into account FP. touring plans publishes a book so you can get that advice for free if you take the book out of a library or go to barnes & noble and look at it. i saw a number of people that had cut out and laminated the touring plans and had them on their strollers, so if we had stuck to it we would have been following the crowd. i would just make your own touring plan using a map and your experience and stick to that.

 

[kathy884]

Just my opinion // When you are already paying so much for Disney tickets, I'd pay the $10 and get the plan on www.touringplans.com. Its not that much money and fun to see what they recommend. I found doing the rides I wanted to do in the order they recommended helpful in terms of saving time in lines including getting fast passes when they recommended I get them and using fast passes when they recommended I use them. You can look at all of their plans. I usually use the highlights plan for adults, take off rides I'm not interested in, and do everything in their recommended order and it just worked so well (better than my doing it on my own). You'll probably be fine either way, but I really like to use the plans for heavy crowd days. They really seem to save time over my educated guesses.

 

[dolphindan1]

Anyone have thoughts on TGM vs. touringplans? That might be a whole other thread . . .

there is no comparisons they are really 2 different thing...TGM is not what you want for a step by step plan...but his best day advice is superior to TPs....if you want step by step advice I would go ridemax and with crowd level 10's ridemax will be worth its weight in gold

 

[softballmom3]

Could you just use a touring plan from the unoffical guide that's in the back for each park? We were there Easter week a couple yrs back....it was all 10's....used the plans from the book and had little wait for the rides. The only difficult part about it for me was passing up some of the attractions...my girls wanted to stop and I was like, "Nope....that's not what the plan says...." LOL....They admitted later it was worth it after seeing people wait SO long for rides.

 

[Mrs D]

Just an FYI you can get a discount on the touringplans subscription if you receive the allears newsletter.