touring plans question

[disneygirl76]

Hey everyone,

Hope you are all having a great evening! I am playing around with the touringplans.com website and trying to use the personalize your plan function.

Has anyone used this? Or do you use the predone ones?

If you have used the personalized ones, how have they worked out for you?

If anyone could give any advice on using them and working them, it would be very helpful.

Also, if you are a seasoned WDW traveler, do you think it is effective to use touring plans or just go the way that you normally travel?

Thanks!

 

[Mukta]

I have been to WDW over 10 times in the last few years. I use the personalized ones. They work for me.

 

[Joshua&CalebDad]

Hey everyone,

Hope you are all having a great evening! I am playing around with the touringplans.com website and trying to use the personalize your plan function.

Has anyone used this? Or do you use the predone ones?

If you have used the personalized ones, how have they worked out for you?

If anyone could give any advice on using them and working them, it would be very helpful.

Also, if you are a seasoned WDW traveler, do you think it is effective to use touring plans or just go the way that you normally travel?

Thanks!

I have used the touring plans as a starting point and then modified it from there to fit our needs/wants. If you are going for a week long visit, my suggestion would be to pick a touring plan and use it the first day. If you like it and it works for you then continue to use it, if not you can modify the plan or just go back to your own game plan. By doing it this way you'll have at least tried it.

Keep in mind, most, if not all, of the touring plans are based on you coming into the parks first thing in the morning and not mid morning when the crowds start to arrive and lines get long.

 

[TAMarie]

I've been visiting WDW for 41 years, including 12 times the last 2. I've tried to use touringplans, but find them restrictive. Things can happen (family members aren't ready to leave when you want, it rains unexpectedly, someone doesn't feel well). So we do our own routine for each park that incorporates seeing our favorite rides first and getting fastpasses, while leaving time to be spontaneous. It's vacation, not warfare, so we balance enjoying ourselves with seeing as much as possible. Running from one ride to the next without taking in the scenery or atmosphere just isn't our thing.

 

[shmmrname]

If you have a good understanding of how to handle crowds, you usually don't "need" a touring plan. Most of it is common sense: arrive early, don't wait in long lines, and have a good idea of what attractions you want to hit BEFORE you get to the park. Just have an idea of how long is an acceptable wait for each attraction, and if you really can't seem to be hitting those 'acceptable' wait times... that's when you might need a touring plan.

Also, if you want a little less pre-planning and some flexibility: if you have a smart phone, TouringPlans.com has an app that can be updated on-the-fly while your in the park. It will adjust and re-adjust hundreds of times for you, so you don't have to stick to the plan 100% at all.

 

[disneygirl76]

I have been to WDW over 10 times in the last few years. I use the personalized ones. They work for me.

Is there a formula to how many activities you pick per day? I tried one, and I had too many activities, but I just wanted to tour the countries. So...that didn't work.

 

[disneygirl76]

If you have a good understanding of how to handle crowds, you usually don't "need" a touring plan. Most of it is common sense: arrive early, don't wait in long lines, and have a good idea of what attractions you want to hit BEFORE you get to the park. Just have an idea of how long is an acceptable wait for each attraction, and if you really can't seem to be hitting those 'acceptable' wait times... that's when you might need a touring plan.

Also, if you want a little less pre-planning and some flexibility: if you have a smart phone, TouringPlans.com has an app that can be updated on-the-fly while your in the park. It will adjust and re-adjust hundreds of times for you, so you don't have to stick to the plan 100% at all.

We have been every year since 2005 and several times prior to then. So, we do have a way we do the parks. I was thinking of giving it a try but i'm struggling to make it work in their system. I have the mobile app too but have never used it. It just sits on my phone. hee hee

 

[disneygirl76]

I have used the touring plans as a starting point and then modified it from there to fit our needs/wants. If you are going for a week long visit, my suggestion would be to pick a touring plan and use it the first day. If you like it and it works for you then continue to use it, if not you can modify the plan or just go back to your own game plan. By doing it this way you'll have at least tried it.

Keep in mind, most, if not all, of the touring plans are based on you coming into the parks first thing in the morning and not mid morning when the crowds start to arrive and lines get long.

How far out can you plan it? Its 6 months before we go.

 

[disneygirl76]

I've been visiting WDW for 41 years, including 12 times the last 2. I've tried to use touringplans, but find them restrictive. Things can happen (family members aren't ready to leave when you want, it rains unexpectedly, someone doesn't feel well). So we do our own routine for each park that incorporates seeing our favorite rides first and getting fastpasses, while leaving time to be spontaneous. It's vacation, not warfare, so we balance enjoying ourselves with seeing as much as possible. Running from one ride to the next without taking in the scenery or atmosphere just isn't our thing.

We have our own system that we have done the same thing. But we want to change things up a bit. We stroll. Slowly stroll. We are not running from place to place, zig zagging across the park kind of people. That actually makes me nuts when we have to do that. Most of the time, my DH is like " no, not ready for lunch" as we are passing by Pecos. But then as we hit on thing in Fantasy Land, he is like i'm hungry...i'm talking like 15 to 20 mins later. I'm not a stickler to a schedule but I hate the zig zagging.

 

[DisneyJoe]

I've been visiting WDW for 41 years, including 12 times the last 2. I've tried to use touringplans, but find them restrictive. Things can happen (family members aren't ready to leave when you want, it rains unexpectedly, someone doesn't feel well). So we do our own routine for each park that incorporates seeing our favorite rides first and getting fastpasses, while leaving time to be spontaneous. It's vacation, not warfare, so we balance enjoying ourselves with seeing as much as possible. Running from one ride to the next without taking in the scenery or atmosphere just isn't our thing.

I worried about that at first, but the way their personalized plans work is this:

- pick a day and a park, with starting time
- pick your attractions, order doesn't matter
- hit Optimize

Their software will then put the attractions in order of how it thinks you should visit them. Then just start your day - follow the plan - OR NOT - and mark things off as you finish them. Every now and then hit Optimize again - you would be surprised with some of the suggestions and how much time can be saved just by making a few adjustments here and there - but you are under no pressure to do so.

 

[Figgy1]

I'm not a fan of it. I do print out the standard ones, nut don't always follow it. I REALLY miss the "cheat" sheets. They were charts for the best times for all the rides and shows.

 

[Weather_Lady]

On our last trip, we used "personalized" plans from touring plans, customized for our October dates (which had a low-to-moderate crowd level) and with our ADRs built in. They worked like a dream. We made modifications on the spot when we wanted, and used the plans, to paraphrase Captain Barbossa, as "more like guidelines."

As a result, except for one attraction which broke down and lengthened our wait, we never waited in line for more than ten minutes for ANYTHING, and we got to hit all of our favorite headliners in each of the parks at least 3 times in our 5 days of touring.

Of course, going to the headliners that many times, without sacrificing half of our day standing in line, is going to be impossible with Fastpass+. (They really should have called it "Fastpass Minus.") I'm looking forward to using touringplans.com to figure out the best way to make use of our limited Fastpass opportunities next May. By then, they should have some reliable, updated information concerning the effect of Fastpass+ on standby lines for all of the attractions.

 

[Weather_Lady]

We have our own system that we have done the same thing. But we want to change things up a bit. We stroll. Slowly stroll. We are not running from place to place, zig zagging across the park kind of people. That actually makes me nuts when we have to do that. Most of the time, my DH is like " no, not ready for lunch" as we are passing by Pecos. But then as we hit on thing in Fantasy Land, he is like i'm hungry...i'm talking like 15 to 20 mins later. I'm not a stickler to a schedule but I hate the zig zagging.

We do this, too. I do use touring plans, but I personalize them so that we're not zig-zagging anywhere. I build in multiple rest and snack breaks so that we have the freedom to take things easy and stop for "unplanned fun." Often the most fun experiences are the ones that didn't appear anywhere on "the plan."

 

[Figgy1]

We do this, too. I do use touring plans, but I personalize them so that we're not zig-zagging anywhere. I build in multiple rest and snack breaks so that we have the freedom to take things easy and stop for "unplanned fun." Often the most fun experiences are the ones that didn't appear anywhere on "the plan."

Best answer yet!

 

[stevehousse]

With all the pre planning involved in a Disney vacation, why not actually enjoy it once your there instead of hammering down another plan to stick by. Eat at 1105, pee at 12, ride buzz at 1215! That's even more crazy to me than those of you with your pre planning spreadsheets. It's a vacation, relax and enjoy it instead of sticking to some military regime!

THe most planning we do is pick a park for the day before we go and schedule one sit down ADR meal a day. Other than that, we relax and enjoy the parks and do whatever flow come next!

 

[tare]

Haven't used touring plans for that.

 

[luv]

I go to WDW on a fairly regular basis because I live here. I don't generally use the touringplans plans because I don't generally know what I want to do or even care how much I get done. I do use the Lines app, though. It actually ticks me off, how helpful it is, because I hate bringing my phone but always feel like I must! It comes in very handy when you're at BTMR and wondering if Space has re-opened after being shut down or how long the wait is for the Mermaid ride.

When I have people here and want to see and do as much as possible, I totally use the customized plans and they work well for us. It's pretty self-explanatory - how to do it. I love that you can hit the Optimize thing while you're IN the park. If you end up going to the Crystal Palace when you weren't planning to (because everyone over-slept, didn't eat and is now hungry...), you just do it and hit Optimize when you're done. The plan re-figures out the quickest way to do it NOW. Love that!

I've been using Lines since they started it and using UGs since the Flamingo one. Always been very happy with their stuff.

They totally should pay me, as much as I talk them up, but I don't work for them or make a penny for recommending them.

 

[disneygirl76]

I worried about that at first, but the way their personalized plans work is this:

- pick a day and a park, with starting time
- pick your attractions, order doesn't matter
- hit Optimize

Their software will then put the attractions in order of how it thinks you should visit them. Then just start your day - follow the plan - OR NOT - and mark things off as you finish them. Every now and then hit Optimize again - you would be surprised with some of the suggestions and how much time can be saved just by making a few adjustments here and there - but you are under no pressure to do so.

I think my first attempt didn't work b/c it gives a value for each attraction. I started by coming in at 5 pm with dinner reservations and adding all the countries plus the land and soarin. I ended up asking touring plans what was happening b.c it was not working. She said I had too many attractions for the day and choose fewer and since we can go at our own pace for the countries, we don't really need a plan for that. I think what it amounted too is that I choose the wrong day to start "planning".

 

[disneygirl76]

On our last trip, we used "personalized" plans from touring plans, customized for our October dates (which had a low-to-moderate crowd level) and with our ADRs built in. They worked like a dream. We made modifications on the spot when we wanted, and used the plans, to paraphrase Captain Barbossa, as "more like guidelines."

As a result, except for one attraction which broke down and lengthened our wait, we never waited in line for more than ten minutes for ANYTHING, and we got to hit all of our favorite headliners in each of the parks at least 3 times in our 5 days of touring.

Of course, going to the headliners that many times, without sacrificing half of our day standing in line, is going to be impossible with Fastpass+. (They really should have called it "Fastpass Minus.") I'm looking forward to using touringplans.com to figure out the best way to make use of our limited Fastpass opportunities next May. By then, they should have some reliable, updated information concerning the effect of Fastpass+ on standby lines for all of the attractions.

I hadn't even thought of that!!!! Oh what will it do? Maybe we really need the touring plans this next trip then.

 

[disneygirl76]

We do this, too. I do use touring plans, but I personalize them so that we're not zig-zagging anywhere. I build in multiple rest and snack breaks so that we have the freedom to take things easy and stop for "unplanned fun." Often the most fun experiences are the ones that didn't appear anywhere on "the plan."

Hee hee yes! I love the special moments! My DH HATES waiting in lines so I am thinking this might really work!