Touring Plans for DCL

[steveyjc81]

hi all,

Does a paid up subscriber to touring plans get anything worthwhile regarding DCL, for anyone that has a) already booked and b) sailed 4 times previously?

Thanks Steven

 

[_auroraborealis_]

No.

 

[gatordoc]

There are a bunch of cruise links on the touring plans website that have the message "You need a Disney Cruise Line subscription to access the links below." Couldn't tell you if any of them are worthwhile, though, as I am not a subscriber. The free fare tracker is nice, though.

 

[FigmentSpark]

I had the subscription as a first time cruiser. I also bought the book. I found the book really handy, as it laid out, in one place, the basics to start planning my cruise. The membership had links, but much of the information was elsewhere, including the book. I did use the 'reminder' to sign in, but then, I wasn't going to forget that awesome moment, 75 days before sailing. I also used to go to the forum, but found it really didn't have much throughput, so I eventually just came to the DIS instead.

All that said, every single time I go to WDW, I get the membership. I wouldn't do WDW without a customized plan through Touring Plans.

 

[Sytrace]

Not really for DCL...it is not nearly as intense as WDW in terms of planning. And certainly not if you have done a couple already.

 

[steveyjc81]

Thanks all. I don't think I'll bother then.

 

[starvenger]

I think everything you need to know can probably be gleaned from here, cruisecritic, and the multitude of cruise blogs on the interwebs. I mean I'm going on my 6th cruise, it's not even a Disney cruise, but the (applicable) information I get here and on CC is invaluable. I feel like I"m still learning things.

Love TouringPlans though. It was very helpful on my last WDW vacation.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

It can be more useful for WDW, though, because WDW is a lot more predictable.

Sure, we know in advance when early/late shows in the theatre are, but even things like movie times and what character shows when vary by cruise. Times/dates for things like Princess Gathering vary. Movie times vary based on movie length, and it's not like 120-90-75 days in advance it's known what the base schedule for movies on the cruise is.

Cruise planning is a lot more ambiguous than "maybe it would be good not to plan Big Thunder and Space Mountain back to back followed by Voyage of he Little Mermaid!"

 

[mmmears]

I'm glad you asked this question. I love TP for WDW trips, but I never bought a subscription for the cruise and I was wondering if there something there that I didn't already know from experience + reading on the DIS.

 

[hnthomps]

No. I bought it as an add-on (which was cheaper) when buying for a DL trip. It's not worth it. Everything on it you can find on the actual disney website or by spending maybe an hour on this board and reading no more than two trip reports.

 

[rodimusprime73]

i bought the sub last year when we started looking at booking a cruise for summer 2019.
i found lots of info there but have since learnt that all the info can be found elsewhere-eg here is a really good place for info and ideas.
i bought the book as well but apart from reading it when it arrived last year,i haven't looked at it again.
i only used the sub a couple of times..