What book has the best touring plans for 2003?

[SpaceAce]

Just one week until we leave for WDW on our honeymoon.

Which book has the best touring plans?

Thanks to all!

 

[I Need Magic]

I just got back from Barnes & Noble where I was leafing through various guides. Lots of interesting plans but I can't say which works best. I was going to post the same question, so I'll just tag along with you.

I've used the Unofficial Guide to Disney in the past, but now there are so many more out there.

How exciting - a honeymoon! Good luck and enjoy your wedding day and trip.

 

[JimmyMartin]

I have been many times. Use the unofficial. Follow it. Which means early risng times if you can handle that on a honeymoon.

 

[jaysue]

The unoffical guide hands down - updates to the touring plans etc. can be found at www.touringplans.com

As posted above, the plans are based on being there at park open time......on a honeymoon, you may want to ask lentesta (programmer of the software that generates touring plans) what his honeymoon touring plan might be

Make sure you get bride's and groom's mouse ears!!!!!

Thanks
jaysue

 

[lentesta]

Thanks Jaysue.

Hi SpaceAce,

The touring plans in the 2003 Unofficial Guide are the best available. We visited each park many times over the past three years. We collected data on every attraction, FASTPASS booth and restaurant in every park, every 30 minutes, from park open to park close (it took a pretty big team to do this, and a lot of walking).

After collecting the data, we employed a professional statistician to analyze it. Next, we ran it through some very sophisticated computer software (which I wrote as part of my Masters work in computer science). More than half-a-dozen Ph.Ds, experts in their field, contributed to the software. We've got two patents pending on the technology, and it's been written up in several peer-reviewed academic journals.

After that, we tested the touring plans using real guests in the parks. For the Magic Kingdom, for example, we found that the One-Day Touring Plan for Adults can save up to five hours of standing in line per day. Very good results can be obtained for the other parks, too.

To the best of my knowledge, no other guidebook does any of this kind of research, nor are many capable of it. The data collection took almost three years, and I don't know of any guidebook that employs a statistican or computer scientist for their touring plans.

Consider, for example, that there are more than 3.62 million possible touring plans for a list of the ten most popular attractions in the Magic Kingdom, excluding things like FASTPASS, breaks or meals. Given the complexity of the task, it's almost impossible for someone to create a good touring plan without the right tools.

Hope this helps. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions. Congratulations on your wedding, too!

Sincerely,

Len Testa

 

[MrBill64]

I too recommend the "Unofficial Guide" touring plans. We used the touring plans in the book during our trip this past Easter and they worked fantastic. Minimal waits for almost every major ride (5-10 minutes) at the Magic Kingdom and this was during one the busiest times of the year. And FP's were only needed for a couple rides.

I cannot stress enough how important it is to arrive EARLY at the parks. This is the single most important advice if you want to avoid waiting in lines for the major rides.

Be one of the first into the park, follow the tour guide, and you will accomplish so much more in one day than you could ever do on your own.

Have fun!

Bill

 

[Terk-1]

I absolutely LOVE my PassPorter!!! In 2001 I bought the spiral one at my local B&N. Last year I bought the deluxe version from their website and this year I got the refills for it. This is an excellent guide and is worth every penny.

 

[piglet33]

here's another vote for the PassPorter. I have the spiral version also and just got the one for the Disney Cruise Line that's new this year. Talk about a lot of info. I love those books!

 

[lentesta]

Let me preface this by saying that I really enjoy the Passporter. It is an excellent companion to the Guide. We even recommend the Passporter organizer in the 2004 edition of the Unofficial Guide. I own two. Love 'em both. Great books. Nice website, too.

That being said, the touring plans in the Passporter (and every other guidebook, for that matter) are not as efficient as those in the Unofficial Guide. You'll certainly wait longer and possibly see less by using them. This isn't a matter of opinion - it's something that can be quantified, and we've done so. As I mentioned above, it takes a small army of highly-trained experts to create efficient touring plans, and no guidebook except the Unofficial Guide does this.

Perhaps efficiency isn't tops on everyone's list. If I recall correctly, the 2003 Passporter's Magic Kingdom touring plan for adults with children doesn't include an afternoon nap, either, which many folks consider a must-have. If this is true, it's probably an oversight, and I'm sure next year's edition will have one. All of the child-oriented touring plans in the Unofficial Guide include mid-day breaks for naps.

Let me end by saying that I really like the Passporter Guide. Much of the other information in it is excellent. If you've already got an Unofficial Guide, a Passporter will help you stay organized while you plan your trip.

Sincerely,

Len Testa

 

[mrssalvaggio]

I always check out the most recent edition of Unofficial Guide from the library when I'm ready to start planning. I bought one years ago, but I think it would be too expensive to start a collection, as I think they update them every year. If that's the case, I would have over a dozen by now

 

[Pat_Elliott]

I agree with Len.

I wouldn't get caught dead in Disney without my Passporter, and I wouldn't plan without it.

But the Unnoficial Guide, for touring plans, is hand's down the best.

Pat

 

[luvaladdin]

My vote goes to the Unofficial Guide, have used it successfully several times and it can be adapted easily. It really does make the most of your time but you can also allow for relaxation. It really helps tremendously in cutting down the wait times for attractions.

 

[Alice28]

Ditto Pat....I LOVE MY PASSPORTER- just got my 2nd one the other day. Hands down the best book for WDW...

However, for first timers, the Unofficial Guide's touring plans are the best. At the very least get there early and learn quickly about FastPass!!!!Know which rides get the longest lines and do them first.

Have fun and have a great wedding and honeymoon!!!!!!!

 

[SpaceAce]

I have bought the Unofficial Guide 2003. (I already had an old one but knew I had to update my plans from years ago.)

1) The Guide says Disney did away with early entry. They brought it back after publication, right?

2)I have heard rumors of alterations to the touring plans? Is this due to early entry? Where do I find these updates?

Thanks to all who responded...I really appreciate your input and will have to check out the Passporter as well!

 

[lentesta]

Hi SpaceAce,

Updates to the Unofficial Guide, including revised touring plans for Early Entry, can be found by following the link at the bottom of this post. Feel free to drop me a line if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Len

 

[mlaaw]

I have never used the Unofficial Guide of the pass porrter book, but it sound nice to have to help out planning. Has anyone seen or used the touring plan at TourGuideMike I saw that link somewhere? Also how would the touring plans using the Unofficial Guide or any other one help out whit going to WDW with a 3 year old boy (you know how they can be).

Thanks for any info

 

[goofy4tink]

Let's see now....I have 4 PassPorters, and 4 UnOfficial Guides plus UnOfficial with Kids. And probably about 6 different other ones. Have to say that UnOfficial Guide and the PassPorter are terrific together. I cut out the touring plans and take them with me. Do I follow them exactly? No. But I do them loosely. This being said, lentesta may I ask you a question? I was planning on buying one of the tour plans for our trip in Aug. But we are planning on going to a park in the morning (ee), going back to Polynesian for lunch and swim and then a different park late afternoon. Do the touring plans still work if you're not spending the entire day in the same park? Thanks.

 

[lentesta]

Hi goofy4tink,

Yes, the touring plans would still work if you hopped between parks. Folks ask us to plan this very thing for them all the time. Let me know which parks you're interested in and I'll see what we can recommend.

You're probably already aware, for example, that it usually doesn't make sense to hop _to_ the Animal Kingdom, as closes earlier than everything else.

Sincerely,

Len

 

[Tinks]

I have both the Passprter and the Unofficial Guide. I love my passporter for planning but the Unofficial Guide wins for touring plans. What I do not like with the passporter touring plans are they assume that if you have kids, you will want to skip rides like Space Mountain! My eight year old would not like that! The adult plans don't include alot of Fantasyland..which my eight year old still wants to see! The Unofficial Guide plans cover it all and work very well. I buy the Guide for all my friends when I hear they are planning a trip to Disney! Have fun!

 

[LittleBlackRaincloud]

Does anyone have any experience or thoughts on TGM philosophy of always taking a break and going to two different parks on a single day. How would the touring plans fit into this type of schedule? I assume that if I go to a park in the afternoon, I would just pick up the touring plan in the middle. Also, since everyday will have a different combination of parks, I assume that I would have to order a customized plan for everyday if I decided to go that route. Does it really make more sense to park hop? I do actually like the idea of taking a break since my DH is recovering from a severe illness. Any insight would be appreciated. Thanks!