Crowd Calendars: Undercover Tourist vs. Josh at EasyWDW

[LetsDoDisney!]

Definitely a Josh fan here. And I agree, his blog is pretty funny. Love his humor. Also if you read his crowd calendar he spells it out - says exactly why he recommends or doesn't recommend each park.

 

[kapstar]

I called Undercover Tourist and asked what their methodolgy was for their crowd calendar projections. I was told the base it on historical data. Josh provides you with the logic for his best parks in his daily description.

So another vote for Josh, but I also like some of the info available on touringplans, so I use their projections and Josh's in concert.

 

[DWillowBay]

Josh and touringplans.com

 

[showers2flowers]

The answer is always Josh.

 

[AngieInOH]

I think one of the differences I noticed is Touring Plans doesn't shy away from EMH. They assume you will be there at rope drop. Josh stays far away from EMH parks. We are not morning people so I'm following Josh.

 

[DoctorK]

EasyWDW hands down. I'm still not convinced that Josh has a full grasp of how ratios work, but if you're looking for theme park touring advice he's your guy.

 

[Mikie]

Hope I can piggyback on this topic. . . I have always used both EasyWDW and Touring Plans (I like the way TP gives numbered crowd levels by day instead of just recommended/not recommended and analyzes results the next day; I like that Josh gives his rationale, so I can decide whether his parameters match with my touring style and decide which calendar to lean on more)

BUT I have always been somewhat constrained in my choice of dates (i.e.e. Have to go on school holidays or hubby's slow time at work) and have only used calendars to choose my park days within a given week.

How useful are the calendars for picking a week of the year to visit? I'm helping my retiree parents plan a trip & not sure just how "relative" everything is. I know people say a 4 crowd in 2015 is not what a 4 was in 2011. I'm wondering if a 4 in February is comparable to a 4 in Oct? Not sure how to weigh seasonal pricing, crowds, and weather to pick a date when you can actually go any time you want!

 

[LiveToTravelNicely]

Hope I can piggyback on this topic. . . I have always used both EasyWDW and Touring Plans (I like the way TP gives numbered crowd levels by day instead of just recommended/not recommended and analyzes results the next day; I like that Josh gives his rationale, so I can decide whether his parameters match with my touring style and decide which calendar to lean on more)

BUT I have always been somewhat constrained in my choice of dates (i.e.e. Have to go on school holidays or hubby's slow time at work) and have only used calendars to choose my park days within a given week.

How useful are the calendars for picking a week of the year to visit? I'm helping my retiree parents plan a trip & not sure just how "relative" everything is. I know people say a 4 crowd in 2015 is not what a 4 was in 2011. I'm wondering if a 4 in February is comparable to a 4 in Oct? Not sure how to weigh seasonal pricing, crowds, and weather to pick a date when you can actually go any time you want!

Josh states his numbers are for a scale 6 months before and after a particular date:
"Remember that the easyWDW crowd calendar only compares crowds to the six months before and the six months after a given date." http://www.easywdw.com/uncategorize...west-crowds-of-the-year-look-like/#more-16262
So, I would say that, yes, a 4 in February of the same year is the same 4 as October of the same year.

And, I also vote for Josh. But I've never used the other site mentioned in OP. I have used Touring Plans, and I've found Josh to be much better when compared.

 

[Tbiafore]

No question Josh wins hands down...

 

[automaticsoap]

Another vote for easyWDW.

 

[siskaren]

How useful are the calendars for picking a week of the year to visit? I'm helping my retiree parents plan a trip & not sure just how "relative" everything is. I know people say a 4 crowd in 2015 is not what a 4 was in 2011. I'm wondering if a 4 in February is comparable to a 4 in Oct? Not sure how to weigh seasonal pricing, crowds, and weather to pick a date when you can actually go any time you want!

http://www.easywdw.com/category/disneybest/besttime/

 

[Magpie]

Josh.

 

[5kidsmommy]

I am hoping Josh is right because he is showing lower crowds than the other calendars on the days we are going.

 

[siskaren]

I am hoping Josh is right because he is showing lower crowds than the other calendars on the days we are going.

Just remember though, that his numbers are for the resort as a whole. So if a day is rated as a 4, but MK is not recommended, MK would probably be more like a 6 or even a 7.

 

[NYHeel]

So I've been looking at touringplans.com and easywdw.com for my trip in January. My first day at the parks is 1/20 and I was hoping to go to MK since I try to hit MK first due to its size. This way I can make up what I don't get done in the one day at MK later.

Touringplans has 1/20 as a 3 out of 10 overall with all parks except HS as a 3. But easywdw, while they rate the day a 2, specifically doesn't recommend MK on 1/20 because of evening extra magic hours. Any thoughts on this decision?

 

[NH-to-FL]

Another vote for easyWDW. I appreciate Josh's explanations and agree with his logic. I have successfully followed his recommendations for many years.

 

[Mikie]

http://www.easywdw.com/category/disneybest/besttime/

Thank you! That's what I get for being such a creature of habit - I look at EasyWDWs month-by-month crowd calendars and the cheat sheets, but had never looked for the "best times" info. Doesn't get much more thorough than that!!

 

[Mikie]

So I've been looking at touringplans.com and easywdw.com for my trip in January. My first day at the parks is 1/20 and I was hoping to go to MK since I try to hit MK first due to its size. This way I can make up what I don't get done in the one day at MK later.

Touringplans has 1/20 as a 3 out of 10 overall with all parks except HS as a 3. But easywdw, while they rate the day a 2, specifically doesn't recommend MK on 1/20 because of evening extra magic hours. Any thoughts on this decision?

I'd say that at a 3, you're not facing crazy crowds and can't make too big of a mistake even if you guess "wrong".

You have a good reason for wanting to do MK on your day. If you'll also actually USE the evening hours, or have hoppers that can give you an escape hatch if needed, it's still a good choice for you. I think Josh primarily warns against an EMH park if you're not using the time. Then, you fight the potentially higher crowds without getting any benefit.

 

[5kidsmommy]

Just remember though, that his numbers are for the resort as a whole. So if a day is rated as a 4, but MK is not recommended, MK would probably be more like a 6 or even a 7.

I actually meant his overall resort levels. And yes I comprehend how crowd calendars work, his predictions are overall lower that the other calendars for the days we are there.

 

[RAD]

Any guess when EasyWDW will update the last two weeks of December for this year?