Touring plans

[Noliboli]

I was just wondering if anyone had joined/tried touringplans.com. As a WDW newbie their plans seem to make sense for us (2 adults and 2 DS10), and on paper at least, seem to reduce walking and/or waiting time. Just wondering if the plans are successful or just hooey. .

 

[supersnoop]

Yes, we use them every trip. We don't always follow the plan exactly, but the information allows us to make informed decisions about how to plan our day.

 

[eschil]

The plans are good. I also use the phone app to look up wait times. They are usually pretty accurate. The part I don't like is where they recommend which park to visit. On our next trip, I am trying easywdw's recommendations. The phone app is also good for looking up restaurant menus if you have any picky eaters like I do.

 

[Mousewerks]

I am a huge touringplans.com fan. Let's just say that we went during Spring Break and got to ride every ride we wanted to with no problems whatsoever following their plans. My wife was pretty impressed that we got to do as much as we did with how crowded it was.

Now I am an Engineer and I understand the queueing theory behind their plans and will continue to use them due to the math behind them.

 

[bighoo93]

I am a huge touringplans.com fan. Let's just say that we went during Spring Break and got to ride every ride we wanted to with no problems whatsoever following their plans. My wife was pretty impressed that we got to do as much as we did with how crowded it was.

Now I am an Engineer and I understand the queueing theory behind their plans and will continue to use them due to the math behind them.

I would second everything here. Except one bit of caution: know yourself and your group. I'm an efficiency fanatic, and part of the fun for me is feeling like I'm "cheating time" by getting on more rides faster and avoiding the crowds. My wife...not so much. She prefers to take things as they come. Sure, she would like to avoid crowds and have shorter lines, but she feels like the loss of spontaneity and the programmed plan creates some anxiety and robs some of the fun. It wasn't a problem, we both compromised a little. But go in with eyes wide open, it isn't for everyone (even though I feel like it should be!).

 

[DenLo]

My Disney Experience show actual wait times whereas the Touring Plans is not connected to Disney's computers. But other than that if you still do parks commando style, Touring Plans gives great advice.

We do the parks in a much more laid back fashion since joining DVC. We know we will returning again to WDW and do not worry if we do not hit every single ride in a day so touring plans are something we have given up. However, when family joins us at WDW, it is a website I recommend every time.

 

[CarolMN]

Moved from DVC Boards

 

[SydneyFalco]

I buy the Unofficial Guide every year, even though the text hardly ever changes enough to warrant it, and I subscribe to the website even in years I'm not going to Disney. The crowd calendar is great and they're just too good a resource not to use. Since we usually go off season, I've never bothered with the app.

I've also never used their plans beyond the first three or four steps. In the days before fast pass plus it boiled down to: get to the park early, know which are the top three attractions, send someone to get fast passes for the heaviest hitter, then rush to quickly do the other two rides before the crowds show up. After that, the only park you need to continue to think about ride order in the off season is Magic Kingdom, and that comes down to preferences.

 

[BurleyGirl]

Are there any other touring plans besides touringplans.com and easywdw? Seems like I read a post some time ago where you could get a personalized, custom touring plan drawn up. I've not used either one of these, but from what I've read on other posts, touringplans.com seems difficult/confusing to understand or work with and easywdw is not personal enough for me...I can't go to the recommended parks on the days he offers...

 

[Noliboli]

Thank you for the great advice. I'm really excited about our trip.

 

[Missyrose]

My Disney Experience show actual wait times whereas the Touring Plans is not connected to Disney's computers.

I would tweak this to read that MDE shows you the wait time Disney wants you to see. It's not always synced up to the posted wait times and Disney will sometimes use the wait times on its app as a form of crowd control.