Touring Plans Personalized ??

[michelle06]

I attempted using TP personalized plans in June 2012, however, I didn't feel they were realistic and gave up. They gave 0 wait time for almost everything when I knew better (like Dumbo or Rapunzel at any time of day). So, I figure it was still in testing or newer mode. I thought I'd try again since it's been a year and they've had time to tweak. It seems better but still not quite perfect. I know many here have had good luck but I still am confused.

I put in too many things to do at Epcot and it had me doing things until 4am. Can I assume that everything up until closing is accurate or should I assume that since it's letting me do rides at 2am (or countries) that's it's obviously confused and I shouldn't trust it at all?

So, how is it you all get good plans when I seem to always get these goofy things that would not work?

 

[ghtx]

I agree that it is not perfect. Every so often there are bugs that make me scratch my head. But on the whole I find the plans helpful.

If it is having you do attractions until 4am, then presumably you have too many attractions to fit into one day. Try deleting some and re-optimize to see if that fixes it.

Their estimated wait times are pretty accurate, with the exception of M&Gs (for which they don't even seem to bother with estimating wait times).

 

[cigar95]

After running the optimizer, I always make small adjustments to the plan to give it a bit of a "sanity check". The total wait + walking times usually come down a bit.

(Remember that the TP officially published plans didn't just come out of the computer either - they're tested and tweaked and adjusted from real-world experience.)

The code does have a few bugs in it, though - you'll occasionally get 5800-minute waits for some attractions, adn the like, and they're still getting some of the FP+ kinks worked out.

If something comes up on a plan that is obviously nonsensical, send a note to Len through the site and he'll look into it.

 

[michelle06]

Thanks for the replies. It does seem much more sane than a year ago when I tried it. I have deleted items to fit within my time frame and it does seem reasonable. They also have so many more items available now to put into the plan!

 

[JZCubed]

I use the Personalized Plans to give me a better sense of what things to do first.

I find it useful, but not perfect.

The imperfections are because of notions I have about what lines and crowds might be like, and whether or not the walking and/or wait times are sensible.

But while computers are only as smart as their programers, sometimes a tourist is smarter than the computer programer.

If TP is taking too much time to complete a series of rides/attractions, EPCOT in your example, then be smarter than the computer - make two Plans. Start another plan at, let's say 1pm, and see if TP gives the same results for the second round of rides/attractions that end at 4pm.

 

[Tltorrez]

I use the Personalized Plans but not the Optimizer. A lot of the Optimizer choices are weird. (Like any plan that doesn't put TSM first.) So I do my own plan based on experience, TP standard plans and easywdw Cheat sheets/Ideal Mornings. Then I use the Evaluate button. I find the estimated times from this feature to usually be spot on. Then I rearrange as needed. Although right now I have one day in Nov that is showing all zero waits; I submitted a bug ticket because I assume there's missing data or something for that day. I'm sure they'll fix it.

Also, I make liberal use of the Break function for things like lining up for parades, SOTMK or anything where I feel like the times are just too tight. Although I do wish the Break function didn't send you to the front if the park every time (I.e., increasing walk time).

I love that they added the ability to check off what you've done, so if you change things up you can re-evaluate in real time. Overall I love the features, but a lot of getting a good plan is just knowing what feels right. On my last trip I was nervous because it was higher crowds than I'm used to. But the times were all dead on and even changing things up on the fly, everything went smoothly.

 

[ghtx]

Also, I make liberal use of the Break function for things like lining up for parades, SOTMK or anything where I feel like the times are just too tight. Although I do wish the Break function didn't send you to the front if the park every time (I.e., increasing walk time).

I don't think that it does. Maybe you are setting your breaks to be OUTSIDE of the park, in which case it directs you to the entrance/exit. You can modify each break so that it keeps you INSIDE the park, and thus it won't tell you to walk to the entrance.

 

[Tltorrez]

I don't think that it does. Maybe you are setting your breaks to be OUTSIDE of the park, in which case it directs you to the entrance/exit. You can modify each break so that it keeps you INSIDE the park, and thus it won't tell you to walk to the entrance.

I always set it to inside but it still adds additional walk time no matter where I am, even if my next step is in the same spot. I just assumed it was going to the front. But it could just be putting in buffer time because it doesn't know where I'll be. It would be nice if it just set your break location to your last location or, even better, had you select a location for the break.