Unofficial Guide Touring Plans

[dizcrazee]

Do you strictly follow the UG touring plans? If so, do you think they really make a difference in your wait time or overall satisfaction? I've always read them and planned to use them, but then not actually followed them (mainly due to the influence of non-UG-believing DH who thinks the plans are a little anal-retentive). For this trip, I'm thinking we might follow them down to the letter and see how they work out for us, despite the scoffing of my naysaying better half.

 

[kimberlym4]

We did one day at MK couple of years ago and followed the one-day tour plan. I thought it worked very well.

I really love the book as a whole. I think the authors impart honest and valuable information about WDW.

 

[dizcrazee]

I agree; I love the book. It's written with such a dry wit, too. It's my favorite WDW book - I read it over and over before every trip!

I feel like I'm letting Sehlinger and Testa down when I don't follow the plans after all the work that's been done on them! (Stupid, I know... ) It's kind of like I want to be a loyal "team player" or something!

 

[kimberlym4]

I know what you mean about wanting to be a "team player". We will be visiting the parks for 4 days this June. My plan is to try the touring plan the first day and see how it goes. If it works well - we will stick with it. My family thinks I'm anal about it too but they'd rather listen to me (and Sehlinger) than come up with their own plan!

 

[jaysue]

The plans work better as the parks get busier - whilst some consider them somewhat prescriptive, almost all plans are - what some people miss is that you can skip attractions, take breaks etc. and the plans are still generally intact

My DW was cycnical at first about it as in the morning at MK it seemed to produce a bit of a rush - she noticed though by early afternoon that we were getting on rides still that had shorter waits whilst the morning rides we had done had pretty long lines

She then realised the plan worked and saved us time and waiting in line

When the parks are not busy, there is not as much benefit from following the plans from a time saved perspective

cheers
jaysue

 

[helens042266]

We followed the plans on our first trip in June 2002. When we strictly followed the plans, we never had more than a 10-15 min. wait in any line. Now, saying that, at the time we visited, Florida was having record rainfall and it was right after 911, so that might have kept crowds down. As a matter of fact, my DH hopes that it rains like that again while we are there! We are going with the plans again this year in June. I absolutely love that book! It has the greatest information.

 

[salmoneous]

I think the plans are great if your goal is to get on as many rides as possible. If that's what you are looking for, then by all means use them. Personally, I think there is much, much more to the WDW parks than rides.

 

[NMAmy]

I buy the UG and love all the advice. However, we have never followed the touring plans--mainly because if dd wants to ride Space Mountain 4 times in a row because the line is short, well, we take advantage of that.

We do go early, take advantage of EMH, and ride the big rides first. The rest of it we sort of play by ear. But we've been several times and we'll go back again--so if we miss something this time, we'll catch it the next time.

 

[Jalva22]

I think the plans are great if your goal is to get on as many rides as possible. If that's what you are looking for, then by all means use them. Personally, I think there is much, much more to the WDW parks than rides.

I 100% agree. We used the plans somewhat last June. We would start off the day with the suggested attractions, then would just let things happen as they happened after a few hours. That way, we were sure to hit the headliners before crowds got too heavy. After a while, though, we liked it better taking things as they came so we could do things other than the attractions.

I fully believe, though, that those choosing to follow them to the letter will find they work. There are sacrifices either way.

 

[punkin]

I 100% agree. We used the plans somewhat last June. We would start off the day with the suggested attractions, then would just let things happen as they happened after a few hours. That way, we were sure to hit the headliners before crowds got too heavy. After a while, though, we liked it better taking things as they came so we could do things other than the attractions.

I fully believe, though, that those choosing to follow them to the letter will find they work. There are sacrifices either way.

I tend to use them religiously in the mornings. However, after we break for lunch, we tend to slow down. Using the plan in the morning gets you on as many rides as possible during the slowest wait times. I think the afternoon portion of the plans are a lot less important.