Who has the best crowd calendar?

[ssleblanc]

I posted earlier in this thread, or on another recent one - that I love both TP and easywdw. Both played key roles in planning for my upcoming trip (ADR's in just over a week). They conflicted at times, though I was able to see why, and make a decision on my own. A couple of days I really had a reason to be in a park that is not recommended by easywdw, but the detailed daily explanation of "why" helped me see that it won't be an issue in my case. I'm informed going in, I know I'll be there at the butt-crack of dawn (almost) and how to handle the park. I don't think it is imperative that every single person use the most recommended park every day (it would then be the suckiest park of the day..wouldn't it?)

As for the comments in this thread, I truly appreciated Len and Josh for taking time to explain how they get their numbers, and provide us further insight into their product. From his blog, I've always had the impression that Josh is a fun, sarcastic (in a good, fun way), enjoyable guy. And truly, when I read Len's comments I took it in a tongue in cheek, smiling, fun/sarcastic tone. I didn't see it as condescending or defensive. Any more than I find Josh's smart-alec comments (which I love) to be rude.

The botton line, is I really find value in TP's site and find it well worth the cost. And I find easywdw just as valuable. They sometimes conflict, but if used together well they really do complement each other. I'm glad to have both in my planning arsenal.

 

[flamingogal]

Well, I'm one of the 73.08%. I'm a big EasyWDW fan. Maybe because Josh is a celebrity blogger and hilarious or maybe because what he writes seems to make sense. I don't feel that I need a "touring plan" per se, but I really like opinions about everyday experiences by someone who is there everyday.

Also the knowledge he brings to his blog is amazing. He's just got to have another day job somewhere in WDW planning.

$.02

Jeanne

 

[DavidHobart]

I write the crowd calendar for **************.net (plus just about every other word on the site!) and want to thank the OP for including me in the poll!

My mom does not subscribe to the dis, so I'm thinking all the votes I got are typos.

Disclosure: Over the years, Len has contacted me with both praise and correction, and I've posted page after page of corrections to UOG and its sibs; Josh has taken me to lunch at MK and gave me some advice...my site is an affiliate of TP, but no one from TP has ever linked to me that I noticed, while Josh was kind enough to link at least once.

I love both offerings and recommend each on my site. Each has access to distinctive proprietary data that's not generally accessible to the rest of us....each provides a terrific service.

Personally, what I like about TP is that I trust it to be an accurate reflection of a massive data set, and what I like about Easywdw is that I trust Josh to filter facts and judgment through common sense to come up with a more human-mediated (and understandable) set of recommendations.

In other words, I trust Josh to be a good Bayesian and Len and the TP crew to be good analysts. I wouldn't be without either.

Turning to my own crowd calendar--I'm not even trying to do what seems to be the main topic of this thread, identify best and worst days. Rather, I try to help first time visitors who may never return pick good weeks and avoid bad weeks. This gives me a much simpler task.

In the first years of the site, my crowd calendar was largely based on relative changes in operating hours at AK and HS. (Leaving out Epcot because it rarely changes, and leaving out MK because the operating hours impact of the hard ticket parties throws everything off in ways I'm not smart enuf to correct for.) This did not adequately deal with shoulders (like early June) or spring break, so I've added to over the years insight from analyzing about 175 public school calendars. This has sharpened up the shoulder and spring break forecasts, and made it (based on feedback from my site visitors after their trips) plenty good enough for its purpose--but its purpose isn't nearly so ambitious as are those of Josh and Len.

Also...My crowd calendar goes up to 11...

 

[christie_megansmom]

Josh has taken me to lunch at MK and gave me some advice...my site is an affiliate of TP, but no one from TP has ever linked to me that I noticed, while Josh was kind enough to link at least once.

I love both offerings and recommend each on my site. Each has access to distinctive proprietary data that's not generally accessible to the rest of us....each provides a terrific service.

Could Josh be any more awesome? Seriously, what a nice guy. Smart, funny, helpful, and pretty cute.

 

[AmyPond]

I wish there was a West Coast Josh-type person to make an EasyDLR website.

 

[canwegosoon]

Love Easywdw.

 

[notfrostyjosh]

Hmmmmmmmmm. I've always taken the Highlander approach to Disney crowd prediction.

Come at me bro.

 

[DizDragonfly]

Hmmmmmmmmm. I've always taken the Highlander approach to Disney crowd prediction.

Come at me bro.

Seriously! Josh!!! You slay me!

 

[brandybo]

HAHAHA! That is exactly why we love you Josh!

 

[grecorj]

Totally forgot about Josh's amazing PhotOShop skilz. EasyWDW FTW. LOL.

 

[altiek]

People, people, you are forgetting to put Josh in quotes. tsk, tsk.

You should officially change your name to "Josh", Josh.

I will say that I love "Josh"'s walk-thru blogs with times and lots of photos. They are the most helpful planning tool I have seen, and it's free! I do wish there was a search feature enabled, but I understand why it's not.

"Len", the quote thing with his name is quite irksome. What's behind that? Do you need to see his birth certificate before you remove the quotes?

 

[DakotaRose]

I'm planning my first trip to WDW. I came across Touring Plans first. Being able to adapt their plans to the attractions I prefer and see the outcomes is really valuable to me. On one page I can see the expected wait, how long the ride takes, and the approximate time to walk to the next ride. Really helps me get my head around what I might be able to do in a day. The fee - roughly what my teenager earns working one hour at his summer job -- wasn't enough to give me pause.

I like EasyWDW, too, but for different reasons. Josh has very helpful photos and tips, and reading his blogs is a pleasure. I'm a bit overwhelmed by the amount of info there and how to sift through it, but I've learned a lot, even though his recommended plans and blogs include things I won't do (thrill rides, characters).

Both TP and Easy WDW would save me a ton of time in line compared to how I toured DL years ago-- um, lets start at Tomorrowland and go counter-clockwise. If forced I would choose TP for it's ease of use and for giving me the kind of details I need on one page.

 

[RJMC]

Hmmmmmmmmm. I've always taken the Highlander approach to Disney crowd prediction.

Come at me bro.

oooohhhh...It's crowd calendar sword fighting - wait, let me just go put my Queen CD on...

 

[OhioDisneyDad]

Easywdw.com all the way.

Given the current context the following remarks seem appropriate:

Former Len "The Kurgan" site user (TP) but now just use Josh "Connor MacLeod's" site for advice and planning.

Here we are, Born to be kings,
We're the princes of the universe,
Here we belong, Fighting to survive.

(Thank you Freddy Mercury & Queen.)

 

[Tinker74]

Josh is awesome!...I LOVE LOVE LOVE EasyWDW!!...The blog and pictures are amazingly helpful, its like TGM used to be times a million!

The amount of effort Josh puts in is truly incredible...I would seriously pay triple what TGM charges to subscribe...no other site even comes close.
Josh ALL THE WAY!!!

 

[whineaux]

I agree with TInker. It's just a lot of helpful information. NOt just what park is recommended, but WHY! this is waht's most important to me. I'm an adult who is way overplanning my theme park visit, so I don't just want numbers, and someone telling me "go here". "Josh" does that. His crowd calendars have explanations. His resort rankings have explanations. It's a lot of information, but that's what I prefer.

Plus, as noted on this thread, he's funny, and he has lots of photos on his blog. Did I even mention his site is free?

 

[bytheblood]

TGM and Easy WDW is the same information. I have used TP (not toilet paper) in the past and I was unimpressed.

 

[tyzzle]

"Josh" thanks for the post. That wasn't so bad, was it?

Okay, so if I understand correctly, your estimates are based on park attendance ... six months out? Is that correct? And you determine the accuracy of those estimates by looking at wait times after the specific day is over?

Thanks again for the info.

Len

This is why I love "Josh" (quotes? really?) I can do without all the holier than thou attitude.

 

[christie_megansmom]

Hmmmmmmmmm. I've always taken the Highlander approach to Disney crowd prediction.

Come at me bro.

OH MY GAWD.



I'm going to die.

 

[AmyPond]

I'm planning my first trip to WDW. I came across Touring Plans first. Being able to adapt their plans to the attractions I prefer and see the outcomes is really valuable to me. On one page I can see the expected wait, how long the ride takes, and the approximate time to walk to the next ride. Really helps me get my head around what I might be able to do in a day. The fee - roughly what my teenager earns working one hour at his summer job -- wasn't enough to give me pause.

I like EasyWDW, too, but for different reasons. Josh has very helpful photos and tips, and reading his blogs is a pleasure. I'm a bit overwhelmed by the amount of info there and how to sift through it, but I've learned a lot, even though his recommended plans and blogs include things I won't do (thrill rides, characters).

Both TP and Easy WDW would save me a ton of time in line compared to how I toured DL years ago-- um, lets start at Tomorrowland and go counter-clockwise. If forced I would choose TP for it's ease of use and for giving me the kind of details I need on one page.

Your teen makes $12 an hour at a summer job? Is that what kids make these days? I feel old.