TouringPlans - Sudden jump for crowd levels for Sept 1-7

[trivial]

Quite a big jump for crowd levels for Sept 1-7 this morning. Previously, all 7 days had a crowd level of 1, which I found kind of surprising as Labour Day is a bit later than usual this year. The TP team has been downplaying the effect of that, but it seems they've had a change of heart.

3 of the days have jumped from 1 to 3, and one of them jumped to 5 (!). Whoa.

These new numbers are closer to EasyWDW's predictions (released in March), but I'm a bit surprised TP's predictions jumped quite that much.

 

[briggscreek]

The crowd levels for our days in November all increased too, probably because of free dining during our trip though.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

We expected the crowd predictions to change for that week - they were too low given the late holiday weekend.

 

[rlduvall]

I had major crowd jump updates for first of June and early December. Apparently, the numbers were off for the majority of the months. I guess "It Is What It Is"

 

[Duffy Lover]

This is why I stopped using touring plans. One week before our trip in 2011 all the predictions and recommended parks changed. There was no way to rearrange our schedule with ADRs and such. Super frustrating.

 

[nat8199]

We just had a jump for Sept 19-26. Made me even crankier than my bad day had already made me.

 

[Jadyreen1282]

We stopped checking these. We go during the lowest crowd periods. If that's a busy time that year then oh well. It's not worth worrying about since you're banking on others perceptions. Choose when you book and have a great time.

 

[curlyque]

Quite a big jump for crowd levels for Sept 1-7 this morning. Previously, all 7 days had a crowd level of 1, which I found kind of surprising as Labour Day is a bit later than usual this year. The TP team has been downplaying the effect of that, but it seems they've had a change of heart.

3 of the days have jumped from 1 to 3, and one of them jumped to 5 (!). Whoa.

These new numbers are closer to EasyWDW's predictions (released in March), but I'm a bit surprised TP's predictions jumped quite that much.

I just received a similar email for the 3rd week in November. I've always planned my trip using easywdw's crowd calendar and felt it was accurate. Their crowd numbers were a little higher across the board than touring plan's were to begin with.

 

[patty57]

This is why I stopped using touring plans. One week before our trip in 2011 all the predictions and recommended parks changed. There was no way to rearrange our schedule with ADRs and such. Super frustrating.

Same reason I stopped using touring plans. The last time I used them, they changed their park recommendations and crowd predictions to align much closer to easyWDW. Now, I just go to the source, and use easyWDW.

 

[Alpha1]

I just received a similar email for the 3rd week in November. I've always planned my trip using easywdw's crowd calendar and felt it was accurate. Their crowd numbers were a little higher across the board than touring plan's were to begin with.

I think TP is all over the place. For example, Monday Nov 2, Epcot at a level 8 is not realistic, even with food & wine festival winding down. Then Wednesday Nov 4th MK a level 2 with extra magic hours? I doubt that.

 

[DisFam95]

Sorry had to laugh at a bit at the jumps to 3 and 5. My late august trip went from 7 to 10 - yeeeaah. You're going off season and you'll be fine! We went that week once and it was bizarre. We thought we had missed a closed sign at BTM. We walked all the way through the que w/ no one else and walked up to CM's leaning on the ride just waiting for someone!! Nothing i can do now but make the best of my long awaited Disney Vacation! Just need to be prepared which this board is awesome at helping.

 

[itchin2go]

We stopped checking these. We go during the lowest crowd periods. If that's a busy time that year then oh well. It's not worth worrying about since you're banking on others perceptions. Choose when you book and have a great time.

Exactly. I keep seeing these threads an thinking - Nothing has actually changed! Just some numbers on a page, and anyway, all of these services are trying to predict the future! Arm yourself with knowledge, sure, but don't get consumed with it. Don't they all say a good touring plan is more important, anyway?

I was very worried for our Thanksgiving trip last year because we had never been at such a busy time, but it was fine.

 

[eliza61]

I don't use either. they have both been way off more than once in my experience. I get park hoppers and adjust my plans if need be.
I no longer believe the "best park of the day" predictions.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

I don't use either. they have both been way off more than once in my experience. I get park hoppers and adjust my plans if need be.
I no longer believe the "best park of the day" predictions.

It is pretty easy to figure out which park(s) will be the most crowded. Just look for EMH. This is about as effective as a day-to-day "best/worst park" predictor as you are likely to get anywhere.

 

[Anesthesia Fine]

I'm not worried about it, honestly. Everyone always says to avoid EMH parks, but this time around I only have four days, so I decided to just maximize my time and let the chips fall where they may. My philosophy is, the higher the crowd level, the better the people-watching. Nothing like sitting on a bench with a drink and watching the crazy stroll by.

 

[lugnut33]

No matter when you go just plan on the parks being crowded, and if it turns out they are not then you can be pleasantly surprised. Then you can come on the DIS and find a "Parks Crowded" thread and post that the parks didn't seem busy at all.

 

[han22735]

Same reason I stopped using touring plans. The last time I used them, they changed their park recommendations and crowd predictions to align much closer to easyWDW. Now, I just go to the source, and use easyWDW.

Couldn't agree more. We've had great success using easywdw for our touring plans.

 

[Disfan1968]

Yup... see my thread as well. http://www.disboards.com/threads/touring-plans-crowd-tracker-updates.3411554/

 

[Pills]

Wow, HUGE jump for my trip as well. When I first checked, it was 7s at most, going down to three at the end. Now the first full day is a 9.

 

[cornflkgrl]

I got a similar email today for my August trip. All the days jumped from 4s, 5s and 6s, to 8s and 9s. I don't really know what I think because what Touring Plans considers a "5" is like a 10 for my comfort level crowd-wise anyway. We plan to rope-drop and be back at our hotel chilling by 2 every day anyway. As said above, it is what it is.