Touring Plans doesn't factor in shows - right?

[dancer_mom]

Just bought TP and of course the Fridays are always shown as lower numbered days than Saturdays... however.... these numbers are based on overall wait times - correct? Because I think it is REALLY wierd that the number for CA always seems to be higher than DL when DL always feels more crowded to me in general.

So is it possible that even though the rides are less crowded the evening shows might not be - like locals coming in for an evening visit??? This might seem like a ridiculous question but we want to go for just one day and focus on seeing fireworks and fantasmic, visiting characters, etc. and less on rides.

We are choosing between going on a Friday or Saturday the second or third weekend of September right when Socal AP holders can start coming again and was thinking that the locals might be like "Yeah - let's go to DL for the evening and see F! because we haven't been for the whole summer!"

Or would out of towners on Saturday probably beat any evening locals crowds? Yikes - Am I over thinking this or what?!!

 

[ArchOwl]

Just bought TP and of course the Fridays are always shown as lower numbered days than Saturdays... however.... these numbers are based on overall wait times - correct? Because I think it is REALLY wierd that the number for CA always seems to be higher than DL when DL always feels more crowded to me in general.

So is it possible that even though the rides are less crowded the evening shows might not be - like locals coming in for an evening visit??? This might seem like a ridiculous question but we want to go for just one day and focus on seeing fireworks and fantasmic, visiting characters, etc. and less on rides.

We are choosing between going on a Friday or Saturday the second or third weekend of September right when Socal AP holders can start coming again and was thinking that the locals might be like "Yeah - let's go to DL for the evening and see F! because we haven't been for the whole summer!"

Or would out of towners on Saturday probably beat any evening locals crowds? Yikes - Am I over thinking this or what?!!

Touring Plans is supposed to measure the crowd level of each park (Disneyland and DCA) and the resort as a whole. I am not exactly sure of their formula. That being said, I would take their numbers with a grain of salt, because while they have years of data for Walt Disney Word, they still don't have the estimates right for Disneyland Resort.

I know Friday evenings can be pretty crowded when the Socal Ap holders are allowed back in. Probably depends on what kind of crowd you want to negotiate, tourists or locals?

 

[skiingfast]

Just bought TP and of course the Fridays are always shown as lower numbered days than Saturdays... however.... these numbers are based on overall wait times - correct? Because I think it is REALLY wierd that the number for CA always seems to be higher than DL when DL always feels more crowded to me in general.

So is it possible that even though the rides are less crowded the evening shows might not be - like locals coming in for an evening visit??? This might seem like a ridiculous question but we want to go for just one day and focus on seeing fireworks and fantasmic, visiting characters, etc. and less on rides.

We are choosing between going on a Friday or Saturday the second or third weekend of September right when Socal AP holders can start coming again and was thinking that the locals might be like "Yeah - let's go to DL for the evening and see F! because we haven't been for the whole summer!"

Or would out of towners on Saturday probably beat any evening locals crowds? Yikes - Am I over thinking this or what?!!

Your thinking is pretty right on. TP should get better and do two crowd levels on Fridays because the parks can swell after work on Friday.

And yes when the blackout days end it can get much busier. On any given day DL is by far mostly locals.

You might want to go on a Friday at least part of the day will be calmer.