If you are going to any of the Disney theme parks for your next family vacation, you may want to look into one of the Disney touring plans to help you get the most out of your trip.
What Is a Disney Touring Plan?
Also known as a trip planner, a Disney touring plan allows you and your guests the luxury of not only having your day (or days) planned out for you, but also inside tips to save time and money on your vacation. They can be generic in nature or customized depending on your needs. Trip planners are good for:
- Choosing the right time of year to go to the theme park
- Checking for special park events and hours of operation
- Finding discounted tickets and passes
- Planning the length of your visit
- Suggesting types of air travel and rental cars
- Offering tips and road maps if you are driving to the theme park including stops along the way
- Offering ways to shave time off your wait for rides and attractions
- Finding the highest-rated attractions
- Locating the best yet least expensive hotels, shopping and eateries
A touring plan will also outline what to do if you need special accommodations, find you nearby attractions to visit and even give you ideas on what to do with all of the memories you made, including scrapbooking themes and creating memorable photo albums.
Different Plans for Different Parks
Touring plans differ from park to park, especially if you visiting one of the theme parks overseas. If you are looking for a trip planner for Disneyland, make sure it includes information about California Adventure. Similarly, if you are looking for a touring plan for Walt Disney World in Florida, it should include tips and advice about Epcot, Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios and Disney's Animal Kingdom Park.
The same goes for the international Disney parks:
- Disneyland Resort Paris
- Tokyo Disney Resort
- Hong Kong Disneyland Resort
Additionally, if you want to book a vacation aboard the Disney Cruise Line, you will need to contact a travel agent since those plans are a bit more specific.
Finding a Disney Trip Planner
There are a few ways to find a Disney touring plan to fit your bill. However, if you are looking for a customized guide, expect to pay for it. Non-personalized plans can be purchased for a relatively inexpensive price; you may even find some good ones that are free. The easiest way is to first use the Internet to gather the information you need. You can always phone or mail away for additional information.
Websites
- Touring Plans is a subscription-based site offering an insider's guide to Walt Disney World. Receive tips and advice from other park visitors and get access to an online trip planner.
- Family Vacation Getaways has some free suggestions on how to make the most of your visit to the Southern California amusement park including short wait times for the rides and attractions, where to dine and shop, and contact information for the resort. There is also information listed for surrounding theme parks such as Knott's Berry Farm, Sea World and Legoland.
- Walt Disney World Info has a tremendous about of visitor information for Disney World, Disneyland and Disney Cruise Line.
- My Disney Vacation allows you to customize your park visit online.
Books
Amazon has quite a few books you can order that outline a variety of touring plans:
- Mousejunkies!: Tips, Tales, and Tricks for a Disney World Fix: All You Need to Know for a Perfect Vacation
- The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2013
- Disney on a Dime: Money-Saving Secrets for Your Walt Disney World Vacation
- The Complete Guide to Walt Disney World 2015
Disney touring plans are extremely popular especially for those who are visiting the park for the first time. If possible, take a look at a few different plans to determine which one you like the best.
