Touring Plans update timing?

[japanese maple]

We are new to touring plans - when do they typically update the crowd prediction levels? We are going week after Thanksgiving and right now it's currently sitting at almost all 5s for each day. Which is fine, but I'm just reading so much about low crowds there right now, wondering if those numbers will update?

Is it usually about a month out?

thanks!

 

[Upatnoon]

We are new to touring plans - when do they typically update the crowd prediction levels? We are going week after Thanksgiving and right now it's currently sitting at almost all 5s for each day. Which is fine, but I'm just reading so much about low crowds there right now, wondering if those numbers will update?

Is it usually about a month out?

thanks!

The crowds right now have nothing to do with the crowds the week after Thanksgiving.

Today's high in Orlando is 97. When it gets that hot, you are going to see lower crowds. The trend over the past several years is that summer is the slower time to visit, because of the heat, afternoon storms, hurricanes and the like.

As for the Touring Plans prediction numbers, I'm not sure when and how often they adjust those. The weather should be much nicer and I would expect plenty of crowds. However, that is all speculative.

I would suggest forgetting about those crowd prediction numbers and focus instead on planning your strategy for visiting the parks and what you want to get done. Pay attention to the various holiday parties that will likely be taking place.

 

[japanese maple]

The crowds right now have nothing to do with the crowds the week after Thanksgiving.

Today's high in Orlando is 97. When it gets that hot, you are going to see lower crowds. The trend over the past several years is that summer is the slower time to visit, because of the heat, afternoon storms, hurricanes and the like.

As for the Touring Plans prediction numbers, I'm not sure when and how often they adjust those. The weather should be much nicer and I would expect plenty of crowds. However, that is all speculative.

I would suggest forgetting about those crowd prediction numbers and focus instead on planning your strategy for visiting the parks and what you want to get done. Pay attention to the various holiday parties that will likely be taking place.

I know today's crowds have nothing to do with later in the year. I've been reading that the hotel occupancy was forecasted low for the entire year and bookings are down and forecasted to stay down.

Just wondering when the updates normally happen.

 

[lentesta]

Updates usually happen when:

• A day or two after Disney releases updated park hours
• It's 30-60 days out and determine crowds are different than we've been forecasting

Crowds can be "different" for things like new discounts, general economic trends, newly-announced ride closures, and the like

I think Disney's got WDW park hours through mid-August right now. So late November hours should be out in late ... September? I should really have more coffee before I start doing math in my head.

 

[japanese maple]

Updates usually happen when:

• A day or two after Disney releases updated park hours
• It's 30-60 days out and determine crowds are different than we've been forecasting

Crowds can be "different" for things like new discounts, general economic trends, newly-announced ride closures, and the like

I think Disney's got WDW park hours through mid-August right now. So late November hours should be out in late ... September? I should really have more coffee before I start doing math in my head.

Thank you so much! I will check closer to those time periods you mentioned.

 

[Kailunkat]

Updates usually happen when:

• A day or two after Disney releases updated park hours
• It's 30-60 days out and determine crowds are different than we've been forecasting

Crowds can be "different" for things like new discounts, general economic trends, newly-announced ride closures, and the like

I think Disney's got WDW park hours through mid-August right now. So late November hours should be out in late ... September? I should really have more coffee before I start doing math in my head.

Well there you have it - an update from the man himself. Thanks for all you do Len! Love your website and all the contributors to the blog as well.

 

[Mardigras2025]

I like that they summarize their forecasts vs. actual every month or two lately: https://touringplans.com/blog/walt-disney-world-crowd-calendar-update-for-may-2024/

Here it says they were revising MK and AK forecasts down by a point or so due to the recent downward trends, but will monitor what happens with Tiana’s opening. Not sure if that meant they knocked it down by a point for the whole year forward or just the next 30-60 days.

 

[lentesta]

I like that they summarize their forecasts vs. actual every month or two lately: https://touringplans.com/blog/walt-disney-world-crowd-calendar-update-for-may-2024/

Here it says they were revising MK and AK forecasts down by a point or so due to the recent downward trends, but will monitor what happens with Tiana’s opening. Not sure if that meant they knocked it down by a point for the whole year forward or just the next 30-60 days.

It should be for the next 30-60 days. We're still overpredicting a bit. I believe Iger said on the last earnings call that the fall is shaping up to be a bit better.

 

[sheilafri]

I think there is a correlation between park hours and crowd levels. Longer hours when crowds are higher. In trying to decide between parks it gets trickier. I like the zig when they zag method, ie, go to the park that has a party that night then leave when the party crowds arrive. Park hop, go to DS, or just have a nice dinner and relax and rest up for the next day in the parks. Crowd calendars can give you a general idea of which days are busiest at a particular park to help you plan ahead for dining ressies. I feel like Covid broke the algorithms though so don’t accept them as gospel.

 

[japanese maple]

I like that they summarize their forecasts vs. actual every month or two lately: https://touringplans.com/blog/walt-disney-world-crowd-calendar-update-for-may-2024/

Here it says they were revising MK and AK forecasts down by a point or so due to the recent downward trends, but will monitor what happens with Tiana’s opening. Not sure if that meant they knocked it down by a point for the whole year forward or just the next 30-60 days.

Oh darn. Was hoping for low crowds.

 

[Upatnoon]

Touring Plans has a wealth of information on planning a great trip, yet everyone obsesses over whether they are going on a "6" day or a "7" day.

These days, I'm more concerned about whether it's a 99-degree day or an 82-degree day. I've decided Summer is just too hot for Florida theme parks.

 

[katyjeka]

I like Touring Plans for all the information but really don't hold much stock in the crowd level calendar anymore. We have visited in December for over twenty years but when we visited in December 2021 the calendar was completely off. We arrived on the 6th and the crowd level was crazy. I didn't plan much for the trip as I assumed it would be slow as always and I found myself in unfamiliar territory. Genie was a must and saved the trip. I believe people have discovered those few sweet weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas! We visited in June of 2022 and the calendar was off again. The level was a 7 and we were ready for the crowds..........that didn't exist. It was crazy slow. My advice is to be ready for the crowds and enjoy your trip. As long as you are prepared the crowd level really shouldn't matter.

 

[lentesta]

I like Touring Plans for all the information but really don't hold much stock in the crowd level calendar anymore. We have visited in December for over twenty years but when we visited in December 2021 the calendar was completely off. We arrived on the 6th and the crowd level was crazy. I didn't plan much for the trip as I assumed it would be slow as always and I found myself in unfamiliar territory. Genie was a must and saved the trip. I believe people have discovered those few sweet weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas! We visited in June of 2022 and the calendar was off again. The level was a 7 and we were ready for the crowds..........that didn't exist. It was crazy slow. My advice is to be ready for the crowds and enjoy your trip. As long as you are prepared the crowd level really shouldn't matter.

Do you mind if I post the predicted and actual crowd levels we measured for your "crowds were crazy" and "crowds didn't exist" dates?

 

[katyjeka]

Do you mind if I post the predicted and actual crowd levels we measured for your "crowds were crazy" and "crowds didn't exist" dates?

Not at all. I know June was 7 straight across and I believe December was a 5. I'm not picking on touring plans as they are VERY helpful in our planning. (We joined again this year as we love everything but the crowd calendar) I just don't believe any crowd calendar is perfect anymore.

 

[japanese maple]

I'm sorry for bumping my own thread!

I joined too early and my subscription will run out before my trip. I'm trying to renew, but I don't see where? I'm probably missing it completely, but can someone point me out where to renew on the site? Or do I just wait until it's up? Will still be a few months.

 

[sponica]

I'm sorry for bumping my own thread!

I joined too early and my subscription will run out before my trip. I'm trying to renew, but I don't see where? I'm probably missing it completely, but can someone point me out where to renew on the site? Or do I just wait until it's up? Will still be a few months.

I think the emails would start about 3 months before it expires. I let mine lapse as we don't have any parks trips planned in the foreseeable future.

 

[japanese maple]

I think the emails would start about 3 months before it expires. I let mine lapse as we don't have any parks trips planned in the foreseeable future.

Thanks! I will wait. I just want to be able to use the line app while we are there, so I want to make sure to renew in time.

 

[scrappinginontario]

Thanks! I will wait. I just want to be able to use the line app while we are there, so I want to make sure to renew in time.

they will contact you when it's close to renewal time. You will have lots of opportunity to extend your subscription.

 

[japanese maple]

they will contact you when it's close to renewal time. You will have lots of opportunity to extend your subscription.

thanks!

 

[robinb]

they will contact you when it's close to renewal time. You will have lots of opportunity to extend your subscription.

At a discount too .