Who wants to help a gal (who's too cheap to pay for Touring Plans) out with crowd levels?

[MammaMoe48]

I had to rephrase my question because it seems that my humor is lost to some (I am not really cheap, I would pay for Touring Plans if they were the only crowd calendar but since Easy WDE and Kenny the Pirate are free, I just use those). With that said:

We'll be in WDW next week (WOO HOO! FINALLY! ) and I'm curious about what crowd levels I can expect during that time. I went to Easy WDW but those numbers are from February and I've seen a lot of posts on here lately that crowds were much higher than what the calendars are saying. So for those who have been to WDW in the last couple of weeks and who have used Easy WDW and/or Kenny's crowd calendars, how far off (or not) were the numbers?


I know that there is no "slow" time anymore and that I can pretty much expect it to be crowded but on a scale of "Packed in Like Sardines" to "Forget About it, Just Stay in Your Hotel Room", how bad has it been?


I've got my FPs and ADRs and I have no illusions that I will be able to see and do everything, I'm just looking for an estimation so I know how to pace myself. Thanks.

 

[Alesia]

I find easywdw.com to be much more accurate than touring plans and it's completely free.

 

[marryfrmtx]

Starting next Monday the Resort crowd level is 9 and falls to a 8 on Friday. The parks are 7 through 9 for that time period. Magic Kingdom is always a 9 and falls to 8 on Friday and Animal Kingdom is a 7 the first few days.

 

[MammaMoe48]

Starting next Monday the Resort crowd level is 9 and falls to a 8 on Friday. The parks are 7 through 9 for that time period. Magic Kingdom is always a 9 and falls to 8 on Friday and Animal Kingdom is a 7 the first few days.

Easy WDW says that they will be at 7 next week and the following week it goes down to 5. Are they really that off? Can I at least rely on the Recommended Park advice?

 

[Boski]

Easy WDW says that they will be at 7 next week and the following week it goes down to 5. Are they really that off? Can I at least rely on the Recommended Park advice?

You will find the majority of people on this board will recommend easywdw over touring plans, and there is a reason we do that.

 

[mdb78]

In addition to easywdw, I also use kennythepirate.com.

 

[Princesca]

You will find the majority of people on this board will recommend easywdw over touring plans, and there is a reason we do that.

Personally, I use an amalgam of both. Unfortunately, my travel dates are still only covered by a preliminary month write-up at Easy that hasn't apparently been updated since Feb...

 

[HatboxHaint]

just sayinh.....Being cheap and going to WDW vacation do not mix. It's time to relax the purse strings!

 

[NH-to-FL]

I second the vote for easyWDW. I find the logic behind easyWDW's Recommended Park advice to be sound.

 

[JennyDrake]

Having been during that time the last 3 years and going again this year,= (I leave Friday!), I can tell you to expect THICK crowds. MK and AK will be very crowded starting about 12-1 each day and it only gets worse until 5 pm ish. rope drop is your new best friend! Take a midday break and you will be fine!

 

[MammaMoe48]

Personally, I use an amalgam of both. Unfortunately, my travel dates are still only covered by a preliminary month write-up at Easy that hasn't apparently been updated since Feb...

That's what I was concerned about, the numbers could be so way off by now.

 

[MammaMoe48]

just sayinh.....Being cheap and going to WDW vacation do not mix. It's time to relax the purse strings!

I see no point in paying for a crowd calendar - especially when there seems to be no agreement on how reliable they are. That said, I don't cheap out on vacation but then because I don't waste money on things like crowd calendars, I can afford to eat at Yachstman for dinner. I wanted to do the V&A private dinner but it was booked up. I may use coupons at home but when I go on vacation, I never scrimp to save.

 

[lovethattink]

I use easywdw. But also subscribe to Touring Plans and Character Locator. Each offer something different.

 

[MammaMoe48]

In addition to easywdw, I also use kennythepirate.com.

Going by Kenny, I should be OK. I know it will be crowded and I'm OK with that but at least I know I chose the right parks on the right days to avoid the worst of the crowds (if Kenny is correct). In the end, it's not like this is our once in a lifetime trip. We own DVC so expect to go back often so if we can only do 3-5 things in each park, we're good with that.

 

[Hopefully]

I agree with @lovethattink I use both. They provide different views of the same info and I use my own experience.
And In My Opinion, asking folks to provide Touring Plans numbers for free, bypassing their revenue stream, is Cheaping Out. Just Sayin ...

 

[HatboxHaint]

I see no point in paying for a crowd calendar - especially when there seems to be no agreement on how reliable they are. That said, I don't cheap out on vacation but then because I don't waste money on things like crowd calendars, I can afford to eat at Yachstman for dinner. I wanted to do the V&A private dinner but it was booked up. I may use coupons at home but when I go on vacation, I never scrimp to save.

Let me know when you find that $12 steak at the Yatchsman, you must be splitting it between 4 ppl...

 

[AngiTN]

We'll be in WDW next week (WOO HOO! FINALLY! ) and I'm curious about what crowd levels I can expect during that time. I went to Easy WDW but those numbers are from February and I've seen a lot of posts on here lately that crowds were much higher than what the calendars are saying. So for those who have been to WDW in the last couple of weeks and who have used Easy WDW and/or Kenny's crowd calendars, how far off (or not) were the numbers?.

They may be from February but they are as accurate as any can be. If there was a reason to change them he would.

 

[Delirium]

If there's a 120 minute wait at Stitch, it's crowded.

 

[Huff]

I find easywdw.com to be much more accurate than touring plans and it's completely free.

Many have said that. However, they are rather late to update their predictions as Disney changes hours, shows etc. For instance, their Sept. calendar hasn't been updated since February. Their August hasn't been updated since December. Touring plans updated theirs a few days after Disney updated their calendar schedules.

 

[Huff]

They may be from February but they are as accurate as any can be. If there was a reason to change them he would.

There is reason. Added hours to AK for Sept/Oct. for instance.