Touring Plans vs. Easy WDW

[cgmac121]

I just have a question regarding the crowd level numbers for these two sites if anyone is familiar with them both. The crowd levels for my dates, July 6-10th, are showing wildly different levels between the two sites. Obviously I know that is busy busy season, but I am wondering which site is historically closer to actual? For instance- on one day Easy WDW has a crowd level of 8, while Touring Plans has a level 5. Do they use a different scale? Just trying to figure out best course of action to get the most our of our park days since we are only on property 5 days this trip.

Thanks in Advance,
Crystal

 

[Mouse of Mystery]

At EasyWDW, look at the Most Recommended park for that day, not necessarily the crowd level number. I personally use EasyWDW more and have found it to be accurate, and Josh documents his frequent visits with park photos and attraction wait times that generally back up his recommendations.

Numbers can be a bit misleading. WDW is more crowded than ever and a level 5 a few years ago might be an 8 now. Sometimes there's an additional rationale for him recommending a park besides crowd level, so it's worth reading that as well as looking at the calendar.

Everyone will have their own favorite calendar to use. That just happens to be mine.

 

[automaticsoap]

Another vote for easyWDW.

 

[sunshine girl]

I just posted this recently on some other similar thread, so repurposing it here:

Quoting the TP website: "We at Touring Plans define a 'crowd' as the average posted wait time for the key attractions between 10:00 am and 5:00 pm," and "You can get a good sense of how the parks will feel to you based on our wait times pages. For example, a 70-minute average wait at Space Mountain is a '7' on our scale." Touring Plans also follows up and reports on their accuracy after each day.

On EasyWDW I could only find that it says: "A “5″ refers to average crowds. Numbers above 5 refer to a larger than average overall crowd level and numbers below 5 refer to lower than average overall crowds."

A "5" on Touring Plans is quantifiable, whereas a "5" on EasyWDW means "average crowds." (What if you have no idea what "average crowds" means? "Average" is kind of ambiguous.).

So yes, they do use different scales. I don't know if EasyWDW reports on accuracy after the fact. I do know that Touring Plans does, it's pretty easy to find on their blog.

Have fun planning, hope you enjoy your vacation!!

 

[Networth]

Vote for Touring Plans as I like the numbers and algorithms but I do glance at Josh's Calander.

 

[Mouse of Mystery]

I don't know if EasyWDW reports on accuracy after the fact. I do know that Touring Plans does, it's pretty easy to find on their blog.

He regularly posts accuracy reports like this one: http://www.easywdw.com/uncategorized/spring-break-walt-disney-world-wait-times/#more-15314

and also frequently documents his trips with photos and wait comparisons. It's also free, so that's nice too.

 

[Boski]

When planning your WDW trip simply ask WWJD? The answer will lead you to the right choice.

 

[cgmac121]

Sounds like there is no right or wrong choice. I guess with it being July I should just expect crazy crowds and sweltering heat and go from there!

 

[Jing]

I use both.

By itself, EasyWDW is a bit too strict (Josh is a statistician after all) for how I travel. Once you know his theories, you can pretty much do it on your own. I like his park recommendations and rationales, though I will take part in EMH when I have hoppers since I typically stay on property. It kind of blows my mind that he is a one-man-show and can generate the present all this data in an engaging way. I would love to know his secret.

I adore TPs touring plans because they make the most out of what you feel like doing no matter who is in your vacation party and no matter what park(s) you want to go to. Most of the site is free, including personalized plans, but the $10 and change is so worth it for planning and the in-park planning optimization and evaluation features. They defiantly keep themselves honest with consistent reporting of their stats.

That said, I do think FP+ makes both sites just a little less important then original FP or (gasp) the standby only days.

 

[supersnoop]

Touring plans provides data while EasyWDW provides information and suggestions. Unless you're experienced enough to interpret all the data, EasyWDW is, well, easy.

 

[grecorj]

I agree with some of the previous posters. Doesn't matter how crowded the park is if you don't have a plan. I use both sites but I also like to go by the philosophy of "zig when they zag." I think that's actually from the old Tour Guide Mike website LOL. This is also a bit of the rationale behind Josh's website as well. For instance avoiding EMH parks like the plague. Or getting there at RD. You can do really well if you have a simple plan in place. Even if the park is an eight or nine.

 

[beldred]

I like both EasyWDW and TP, but I disagree strongly with their recommendation that you avoid the EMH park, even if you are on property. We have had some of our best trip moments (and least crowded!) during EMH, both early and late. Obviously, a guest staying off-site should avoid the EMH park as it offers them no benefit. I don't disagree on that point.

One example from last trip...in February 2014 during Presidents Day week parks were a 8 and 9 all week, crazy crowded. However, we did early EMH at AK and once we got inside the park and away from the nutters running for EE, it was like we had the whole park to ourselves. It was amazing and quiet and beautiful (and we rode everything in the park, including EE by 11am without rushing, running, or waiting) which allowed us to have a long relaxing lunch and then go to our Backstage Safari Tour at 1pm. I am NOT a morning person, but I would do it again in a heartbeat.

*Oh, just realized I should add we rode everything but the Safari by 11am, because we knew we were doing that as part of our tour later so we skipped it though it had a very short wait the 2 times we passed by.

 

[lllGurulll]

I used to use TGM and have tons of stuff printed out from his old site that is still somewhat relevant. However, I really like EasyWDW and the way Josh presents his process. I'm a paying member of TP but so far I don't care much for the layout. I've tried making a few custom touring plans and really disagree with the order they want me to do things in. I won't say it was a waste of money but, to date, I haven't it found it to be much of a help to me other than the crowd calendar basically agreeing with everything EasyWDW already told me.

As far as EMH, I avoid all of them except PM EMH at MK. That day is a GOLDMINE for fun.

 

[scoobydooby]

I vote for Touring Plans. However, having a plan is the most critical thing. When the parks are busy all the parks are busy and for the most part apart from some notable exceptions (epcot on food and wine weekends for example) when they're quieter they're all quieter. I find the touring plans much more useful than the crowd calendars once there. The crowd calendars are great for planning a trip if you have flexibility in your travel dates.

 

[dancingtodisney]

Another vote for touringplans although they totally messed with my head when they changed the way they calculated their crowd levels really close to my visit last October and loads of my days went from 2's to 6's and 7's!!

 

[jomass]

I use both for figuring out my days and parks, but it ends there. Touringplans takes over the rest of the way. I like being able to create my own plan, customize and even develop a hybrid with one of their standard plans. Seeing that these are the same folks that brought us the original “Unofficial Disney Guides” for years, before internet and apps, I trust their expertise. I used their books back in the day and they forever changed my experience at the Disney parks. It’s hard to imagine life there before them.

 

[Nancyg56]

Another vote for touringplans although they totally messed with my head when they changed the way they calculated their crowd levels really close to my visit last October and loads of my days went from 2's to 6's and 7's!!

Holy Moly was that crazy!!!! I went in October too, and it went from soup to nuts! Yes, that was unexpected and I was a bit frazzled until I decided to stop whining and just roll with it! LOL!

I use both sites. I agree that both sites have good information, so I us it to manage an plan my park days and to help me atleast know what to expect if I cannot change the day.