You’ve spent countless hours planning, making reservations, and studying touring plans to construct the best possible Disney vacation for your family. Yay! But even the most carefully constructed Disney World battle plan can go quickly awry when unexpected weather conditions butt into your plans. Here are some things to consider about how the weather might impact your trip.

Average Walt Disney World temperatures. Chart from weather.com. Click to enlarge.

Long-term Information is Power

One of the most frequently asked questions I’ve seen when working on the Walt Disney World Moms Panel is, “What will the weather be like during the time of my visit?” The guest then typically lists a date months in advance. Lacking Madame Leota’s crystal ball, the source I use to answer these types of questions is The Weather Channel chart of month averages for Walt Disney World. See the photos at the right for screen shots of the average WDW temperature and rainfall each month.

The main thing to note about these charts is that the temperatures and rainfall listed are AVERAGES. This means that what will happen during any given year might vary widely from those numbers.

I have visited Walt Disney World during the first week of December during four different years. If you look at the Weather Channel chart, you’ll see that the average daytime high for that week is in the mid-70s and the average nighttime low is in the mid-50s. Two of the four years I visited at that time, that’s exactly what I experienced, temperate climes perfect for touring. My other two early December visits had significant deviation from the curve. One year I was sweating through my tee shirts, with temperatures in the upper 80s. A different year, I ended up purchasing two heavy sweatshirts and pair of gloves because early morning temperatures were in the low 40s. Same week, vastly different experiences.

So, while you can use weather averages for general planning purposes, deciding when to visit for example, you’ll definitely need to do some fine tuning on your packing and daily planning as you get closer to your trip.

And in the trivia department … The highest recorded temperature at Walt Disney World was 102 degree F. The lowest was 17 degrees F. No shorts on that vacation!

Short-term Information is Power

Average rainfall at Walt Disney World. Chart from weather.com. Click to enlarge.

Since there is such weather variability, it’s important to check the five, seven, or ten day forecast for Orlando immediately prior to your departure from home. This will let you swap out your jeans for an extra pair of shorts, add a pair of gloves to your bag, or throw an umbrella into your carry-on.

I’m a freak, so I tend to check the forecasts from half a dozen different sources. These might include:

• The weather app that came on my iPhone
• Other iPhone apps including: Weather Channel, Weather Bug, and AccuWeather
• Orlando area TV station forecasts including: WFTV 9, WESH 2, and My Fox Orlando
• The Orlando Sentinel

Generally, the forecasts are quite similar, but every once in a while there’s an outlier that makes you add an extra sweater to your bag.

Even Shorter-Term Information is Power

In some circumstances, the hourly forecast may be important to your planning. Chart from weather.com. Click to enlarge.

While I’m on my Walt Disney World vacation, I also take a look at the hourly forecasts (available from many of the sources listed above) at least once in the morning and once in the afternoon. This can help with decisions about how long you might be able to spend at a water park, whether you should bring a jacket to the fireworks, or if you can leave your ponchos in the room.

What Happens in Unseasonably Cold Weather?

For the most part, the show goes on at Walt Disney World, no matter what the weather conditions are. There are, however, a few situations where events or attractions will be cancelled due to cold. Notably, the Spirit of Aloha Luau can be cancelled due to cold. If this happens during your stay, you will be offered either a refund or a rebooking on another night. Also, if temperatures won’t make it out of the 50s, then generally the Disney water parks will be shuttered for the day. If you’re visiting during a cold snap, ask the concierge at your hotel to call and confirm that specific outdoor activities will be operational.

The Pool Situation in Cold Weather

The Walt Disney World resorts only have outdoor pools. These are heated to approximately 83 degrees, year round, I have often seen parents sitting on deck chair wearing sweatshirts and scarves, while their children happily splash in the pools. If you or your kids like to swim, bring your suit, regardless of the temperature.

Dressing for the Cold

It’s all about the layers. During the winter months at Walt Disney World, I typically wear jeans or capri-style pants rather than shorts. I’ll start the day wearing a long-sleeved tee, covered by short-sleeved tee, covered by a fleece or sweatshirt and possibly gloves and a hat. As the day warms up, I’ll pull of layers and stash them in my backpack. If you have a large family wearing multiple layers, you may want to rent a locker at the park so you’re not carrying an entire closet worth of gear with you at all times.

I grew up in Maine and have a pretty high tolerance for cold, but I have seen winter Disney World visitors in full parka-and-Uggs ensembles. If that’s what it takes to get you out in the parks during a cold snap, then I say go for it.

When It’s Hot, It’s HOT

Visit longer show-type attractions to wait out a rain storm.

The temperatures can reach into the upper 90s at any point in May through September. Couple this with the inevitable zillion percent humidity and, yes folks, it’s going to feel hot. If you’re traveling during the summer, be sure to take all the usual precautions for outdoor warm weather activity: wear light and light-colored clothing, wear sunscreen, stay hydrated, spend the hottest part of the day indoors, etc.

Take special precautions with members of your traveling party who may be particularly susceptible to heat exhaustion such as older people, babies, and individuals with medical conditions.

Also consider how you’ll be getting around the parks and your resort. For example, I’m generally fine now with an August visit to Walt Disney World, but those years in which I wore my children in a front carrier on August trips were brutal. This may be the trip that you bring an fan or umbrella for your stroller or that you rent an ECV for grandma who is prone to shortness of breath.

One thing to consider – even in the middle of the summer, you may want to throw a light sweater into your park bag. In my experience, the restaurants may be over air conditioned, causing a chill in comparison to the heat outside.

The Rain Situation

Jackets and hats may be your park touring attire in the winter.

The wet months at Walt Disney World are June, July, August, and September. During that time, you can expect that it will rain almost every day. Most of the time you will get an intense drenching for an hour in the late afternoon which then passes quickly. Do not panic if you look at the forecast just prior to your summer trip and see rain predicted every day. Chances are this will have negligible impact on your touring. Just pop into a long, show-style attraction (Carousel of Progress, Hall of Presidents, etc.) or a quick service restaurant and wait out the downpour. Or better yet, throw on a poncho and proceed as if the sun is shining.

Of course there are situations where the rain is steady throughout the day. The best course of action is to have a “Singing in the Rain” attitude and hit the parks anyway. Chances are the crowds will be thinner than normal and you’ll get some extra time on the rides.

What Happens When it Rains?

As with other adverse weather situations, the vast majority of Walt Disney World will continue to function in prolonged steady rain. A few of the attractions with outdoor components might temporarily halt operations (Dumbo, Test Track, etc). Parades and fireworks may be postponed, abbreviated, or cancelled in driving wind or rain. Outdoor character greetings may be cancelled or have a location adjustment in long-term rainy conditions. Fantasmic and the Spirit of Aloha Luau may be cancelled due to heavy rain. Stop by guest relations for up-to-the-minute updates.

Some attractions that continue operating in light rain may be halted due to lightening. For example, anything involving water will be closed if there has been a lightning strike within a six mile radius. This includes resort pools, water park attractions, water recreation at the deluxe resorts, and even water-based transportation such as the Friendship boats between Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios or the boats between the Wilderness Lodge, Fort Wilderness, the Contemporary, and the Magic Kingdom. If boat transportation is suspended for more than 15 minutes, buses will be dispatched to service that route instead. If you’re experiencing a storm which includes lightning, ask a cast member about which mode of transportation is operational.

The Pool Situation in the Rain

The scavenger hunt portion of this runDisney Expedition Everest 5K was cancelled due to a severe storm. We were wet, but happy.

During light, or even heavy rain, the resort pools will remain open to guests. As noted above, if there is lightning nearby, the pools will be closed. My children have decided that going for a swim is one of their favorite activities during the inevitable summer afternoon downpour.

What to Wear in the Rain

To keep dry you basically have three choices: jacket, poncho, or umbrella. I’ve tried them all in every combination. My personal preference is a jacket/umbrella combo. I’m not a huge fan of ponchos. I find that the hood tends to slip off, leaving my head wet and water dripping down my neck, but maybe that’s just me. I also never figure out what to do with a wet poncho once the rain has stopped. On the other hand, you can’t beat ponchos for ease of packing, most fold up into tiny squares that can be stored at the bottom of a day pack.

Disposable ponchos are available from discount stores like Walmart for just a dollar or two. Disney ponchos are available at most gift shops. They are not usually displayed unless it is actively raining. If you want one and don’t see them available, just ask. During October 2012, adult Disney ponchos were sold in the parks for $7.98 plus tax.

My favorite piece of rain gear for Disney is a pair of rubber flip flops. After ruining many a pair of shoes in rain at the Disney parks, I’ve learned that when it starts to pour, I take off my regular footwear and store it in my back pack, using the flip flops instead. This tip can be particularly helpful for children who complain about walking around in wet shoes/socks.

How Disney Handles Hurricaines

Dinner and a movie at Downtown Disney can be a great escape when it's too hot, too cold, or too rainy.

Disney has its hurricane policy explicitly stated on the official Walt Disney World website. The key part of the policy states:

If a hurricane warning is issued by the National Hurricane Center for the Orlando area or for your place of residence no more than 7 days before your scheduled arrival date, you may call in advance to reschedule or cancel your Walt Disney Travel Company Magic Your Way vacation package and most room only reservations (booked directly with Disney) without any cancellation or change fees imposed by Disney. This policy also applies to Disney’s Vero Beach Resort or Disney′s Hilton Head Island Resort in the event a hurricane warning is issued for those destinations.

There is lots of fine print that goes along with this. If you’re making plans to travel during hurricane season, I encourage you to read the website carefully. This may also be a time to consider purchasing trip insurance.

If you’re at Walt Disney World during an actual tropical storm or hurricane, the theme parks and other attractions might cease operations entirely. You will be given safety instructions via your in-room television, printed materials, and cast member announcements. In the event that you are confined to your hotel, the Disney staff will bring in extra food and entertainment. This might include movies, characters, and games in the lobby. While a hurricane is no one’s idea of a good time, there are certainly worse places to experience this than a Disney hotel.

How Disney Handles Snow

There may be non-swimming activites at your hotel's pool area that are great fun in cooler weather.

No, I don’t mean snow at Walt Disney World itself. Even when the temperatures dip below freezing, you’re unlikely to see any real white stuff falling from the sky. But your Disney vacation may be impacted by snow in other areas of the country. In 2010, a Christmas blizzard in the Northeast US forced the cancellations of nearly all flights in and out of the Northeast US. This meant that my family was forced to spend four unplanned days at Walt Disney World. (You’re crying, I know.)

Disney cast members were extremely helpful finding us alternative accommodations, moving our copious luggage twice, and rebooking our Magical Express transportation several times as each of our planned flights was cancelled. Try not to panic when situations like this happen. Your inability to leave also means that other guests will not be able to arrive, making rooms available even in hotels that were fully booked. Be as patient as you can and try to enjoy your extended stay.

Other Special Circumstances

Your visit to Walt Disney World may include special events such as runDisney races, concerts, parties, ESPN Wide World of Sports competition, or other happenings. Each has their own weather related policies and procedures. Some that I’ve encountered have included: curtailment of an in-progress runDisney event due to heavy rain and lightning in the area, temporary suspension of service at the outdoor Epcot Food & Wine Festival booths due to rain, and earlier-than-normal shut-down of the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights at Disney’s Hollywood Studios due to heavy rain. If you’re concerned about the status of an event, stop by your resort concierge desk or any park guest relations office and ask them to call and verify operations.

So my fellow weather watchers, is there anything else you’d like to know about the weather situation at Walt Disney World? Have you had any experiences with heat/cold/rain/storms that you’d like to share? Let us know in the comments below.

The Weather at Walt Disney World is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.

You’re going to Walt Disney World! You’ve chosen your travel dates and made you reservations, but what should you bring with you? To help you with this issue, we’ve created a handy downloadable TOURINGPLANS PACKING CHECKLIST.

The checklist includes it all, but the rationale for many of the checklist items is broken down here. Packing for a Walt Disney World vacation involves gathering five types of basic items:

• Clothing
• Toiletries
• Documents/Money
• Electronics
• and Miscellaneous.

CLOTHING

My biggest suggestion when assessing your clothing needs is to check the Orlando weather forecast 2-3 days prior to your trip, particularly if you’re traveling at any time other than mid-summer. I have been to Walt Disney World in the winter when temperature lows were in the 20s (F). That means you’ll need jeans, sweaters, jackets, and gloves, not shorts and tank tops. Also winter trips tend to have greater temperature fluctuations. Bring layers that you can take on/off throughout the day.

All WDW resort hotels have laundry rooms for guest use.

I’m not a fan of chores while I’m on vacation, so I usually skip doing laundry on my trips, but you should know that coin-operated guest laundry rooms are available at every Walt Disney World resort hotel. This can come in handy if you have an accident-prone child or are trying to take a long trip with only carry-on luggage. If I won’t be doing laundry on my trip, I tend to pack at least one or two extra shirts and changes of underwear and socks for each person in my family. It’s amazing how much better fresh clothes can make you feel after a sweaty day in the parks.

If you’re checking bags, keep one change of clothing in a carry-on in case of delayed or lost luggage. I also recommend bringing clothing in a carry-on for your return flight. Don’t even get me started about the nine hour delay I had at Orlando International with a sick child, no stores open, and no extra clothes.

Shoes are big topic in Walt Disney World planning circles. The only footwear restrictions I’m aware of at Walt Disney World are that you must be wearing shoes in the theme parks and that Heelies (or similar) cannot be used in their wheeled form. I’ve seen guests sporting flipflops, sneakers, Crocs, sandals, boots, Uggs, ballet flats, and even stiletto heels while touring the parks. You should wear whatever makes you most comfortable. Be aware that you will be walking for MILES during your trip; blisters are a common complaint in the parks. This is not the time to try something new. If you’re traveling during the summer months, you may want to bring a second pair of walking shoes in case your feet get soaked in one of the frequent Florida downpours. Trekking in wet shoes can be quite unpleasant.

TOILETRIES

As I noted in the post Your Walt Disney World Hotel Gift Shop: What Did You Forget? Chances Are They Have It, the Walt Disney World resort gift shops are well stocked with any personal care items you may have forgotten. However, prices will be more than you’d pay at home, and you may not find the exact brand you’re looking for.

I’m going to give a quick shout-out to a favorite website of mine, minimus.biz. Minimus is a great source for travel-size items of all sorts including toiletries, baby care items, snacks, and even toys. As always, double check the TSA website for current carry-on rules.

Bring more prescription medication than you think you’ll need. Delays happen.

Several members of my family take daily prescription medications. Twice in the past year, we’ve had Disney-related vacations unexpectedly extended by several days due to weather issues. I had packed extra meds, but just barely enough. If there are any must-take prescriptions needed by your family, I encourage you to bring at least 3-4 days more than you think you’ll need. Having copies of your prescriptions can facilitate getting replacements if your travels are delayed even further. And of course, prescription medications should never be placed in checked luggage.

DOCUMENTS/MONEY

When I’m home, my wallet contains a few dozen items: grocery cards, frequent buyer cards, department store credit cards, etc. When I travel, I leave all that behind and just take the basics: driver’s license, basic credit cards, and health insurance ID cards. It’s easier to carry fewer items and it’s easier to replace fewer items if they become lost or stolen. If something unfortunate does occur, your recovery time will be much quicker if you have photocopies of each of the items you have with you.

It also truly pays to make copies of your Walt Disney World park tickets. On my most recent trip to the parks, my 12-year-old daughter’s ticket fell out of her bag – lost. Disaster (and a big replacement cost) was avoided because I had taken a cell phone photo of the ticket’s bar code. As soon as we realized the ticket was gone, I brought the photo to guest relations and the ticket was reissued within minutes.

For easy replacement, copy the back of your tickets.

I also encourage you to take your ID and health insurance cards with you into the Walt Disney World theme parks. ID is required to verify resort room charges over $50. Insurance cards may be necessary if you have the unfortunate circumstance of having to travel directly from a park to a medical care situation. (Yes, it’s happened to my family. Hey, if you visit enough, things are bound to happen.) There is a school of thought that suggests you can spend a day at Walt Disney World with only your ticket-encoded room key on your person. I strongly discourage this.

You won’t need large amounts of cash at Walt Disney World. Credit cards and room charges are accepted at almost all on-site locations. However keeping some on hand is always advisable. You may need to pay a taxi driver or tip your bellman. If you’re driving from the airport, there are several tolls along the way. Having dollar bills can speed your journey. There are ATMs in the Disney theme parks and resorts.

ELECTRONICS

Between phones, iPads, iPods, cameras, and computers, my five person family travels with a minimum of a dozen electronic gadgets. Before you leave home, make sure that you have all the required power cords and chargers. I routinely pack a power strip to facilitate the charging of all these items – much easier than tripping on cords all over the room or worrying whether your phone charging in the bathroom is in danger of falling into the sink. And needless to say, never pack eletronics or their chargers in checked luggage. There’s nothing more frustrating that having your flight delayed for hours and having no way to recharge your dying cellphone.

I’ve also become a big fan of portable external device chargers. I use a Mophie case for my iPhone, but there are similar, and less expensive, options for other devices. I find that when I’m in the parks, I’m checking Lines for ride updates, calling my kids, playing Where’s My Water (addictive, trust me) during waits, and taking photos of characters; a single battery charge barely makes it through the day.

Sleep-specific headphones can help keep the peace.

Speaking of cameras, there are PhotoPass photographers in the parks that will take shots of your family at some locations. However, the photographers are not everywhere and the PhotoPass prints/CDs get expensive quickly. I strongly encourage you to bring some sort of photographic equipment with you into the parks. I’m a sucker for Goofy and kids with big Goofy grins.

Two other plug-in items I like having are a booklight and sleep-specific headphones. The odds of a family all falling asleep at the same time in a hotel room is minimal, these items can help make everyone more comfortable.

MISCELLANEOUS

Here a few notes about “everything else:”

• Gum – They don’t sell it in the Disney parks or resorts. And they don’t sell it at the Orlando airport. If you need gum to help with ear-popping on your flight, be sure to pack enough for your return trip as well.
• Zip-top bags – The travel uses for these are endless: Save your child’s unfinished snack for later. Keep your wet bathing suit contained in your luggage. Contain your collectible pin collection. Throw a few in your bag and you’ll thank me later.
• Ponchos or umbrellas – Rain showers are common in central Florida. The parks sell rain gear, but it’s much more expensive than what you’ll find at home.
• Laundry bag – When I travel with the family, I pack a mesh laundry bag. This gives the kids a specific place to corral their sweaty duds at the end of the day.

Additionally, if you fall into one of the categories below, you’re going to need bring some additional gear:

• Guests with babies/toddlers
• Guests with elementary age children
• Athletes
• Guests traveling during special seasons
• Guests with upscale dining plans
• Pin/Vinylmation traders
• Guests planning to eat in their hotel room
• Guests driving to Walt Disney World

GUESTS WITH BABIES/TODDLERS

Walt Disney World hosts many, many thousands of pint-sized guests each year. The parks are well equipped for children. But they may not be well-equipped for YOUR child. When my kids were small, they had VERY specific preferences for things like pacifier and baby food brands. If your kids are choosy, bring supplies from home.

Disney rental strollers can be uncomfortable for small kids.

Diapers and related supplies are available at Walt Disney World, but they may not have exactly what you need. For the complete run-down, take a look at the post Disney and the Diaper: Managing Diaper and Potty-Training Issues at Walt Disney World.

Stroller-related questions are hot topic in Disney circles. Just check out the comments on Ryan Kilpatrick’s post The Great Stroller Conundrum. I personally always recommend that you bring your own when you’re traveling with babies or toddlers. Your mileage may vary.

TRAVEL WITH ELEMENTARY AGE CHILDREN

Costumes are NOT required for character meals, but many children (particularly girls) don’t feel like they’ve had the full Disney experience until they’ve had a meal at the parks in costume. Be aware that the most basic Disney princess dress sold in the parks costs nearly $70.00. Bring a $12.95 Wal-Mart dress with you and no-one will be the wiser.

ATHLETES

There are numerous sporting activities available at Walt Disney World. If you’re interested in working off the Dole Whip and churros you consume in the parks, then don’t forget your running shoes or tennis racket.

SEASONAL CONSIDERATIONS

If you’re visiting Walt Disney World in September or October, you might want to pack a costume for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. Costumes are not required, but they can add a bit of festive flair to your experience.

Winter trips can be chilly if you’re not prepared. Some Walt Disney World visits in January and February are much more pleasant if you’re prepared with hats and gloves.

UPSCALE DINING

A few of Disney’s signature dining experiences have a minimal dress code. Or, if you’ll be dining at the posh Victoria & Albert’s in the Grand Floridian, you’ll need posh attire. Check the Walt Disney World website for current requirements.

TRADING

Pin trading and Vinylmation trading (my personal vice) are great ways to personalize your park experience and facilitate interaction with cast members. If trading is your thing, then don’t forget to bring your supplies with you.

Don’t forget your Vinylmation or pin traders.

BRING YOUR OWN FOOD

If you’re trying to economize, bringing breakfast items and snacks from home is a great way to keep on budget. Cereal boxes, granola bars, and nuts are easy to transport. Guests can bring food items into the parks (alcohol and glass containers are not permitted), but large coolers are not allowed. Bring a small soft-sided cooler with you if you’d have food items you’d like to keep cold.

DRIVING TO WALT DISNEY WORLD

If you’re driving to the parks, you have a bit more leeway in what you can bring. Don’t forget items to make the drive more comfortable for the kiddos, particularly if it’s a long one. Beach towels can be a great thing to have if you’re going to the water parks, and as an added bonus, they can do double duty as drive-time blankets.

WHAT TO ACTUALLY BRING INTO THE PARKS?

So you’ve hauled all your stuff to Orlando, but what do you actually bring into the parks with you? If you’re just traveling with adults, you may be able to get away with just pocket items: your cards and tickets, your phone, and a small tube of sunscreen. (Consult the checklist for necessary paperwork.)

If, like me, you’re more of a “be prepared” person, then a small backpack works perfectly for park touring. In addition to the above items, use the backpack to tote: your camera, first aid supplies, snacks, a water bottle, rain gear (umbrella or folded ponchos), a light sweater (chilly air-conditioned restaurants), tissues, Purell, and more sunscreen.

Contents of my in-park emergency pouch.

The first-aid stations in the parks do stock pretty much everything you’d need for minor scrapes or illness, but I find it MUCH more convenient to have these things with me. I have a four inch square fabric pouch that I always carry in the parks. It contains: 2 Purell wipes packs, 3 or 4 doses of Tylenol, single-use dental floss packs, 3-4 hair bands, Benedryl Quick Dissolve strips, 4-5 Band-Aids, 2 doses of Immodium or Pepto Bismol, safety pins, a folded zip-top bag, and an emergency panty liner. All this weighs only a few ounces, but something in the pouch has come into use nearly every time I’ve traveled to Walt Disney World. Your contents may be slightly different depending on your family’s needs.

Guests traveling with young children will need to tote even more gear into the parks. In addition to the pocket and backpack items I’ve noted, you’ll also need diapers, wipes, baby food, bottles, bibs, and a host of other childcare paraphernalia. My family liked to use our stroller as a “home base.” We packed the diaper bag with all the essentials for the day and left it in the stroller. When we went off on rides, we just took a smaller bag with us that contained valuables, 1 or 2 diapers and wipes, and some basic snacks. As we went back to the stroller, we replenished our “go bag” as needed. Obviously you’ll need to assess your own comfort level with leaving anything unattended in your stroller, as there is the very small possibility here of loss/theft. However, this is extremely rare, and if you make sure to take your camera/wallet with you, the potential damage is limited.

Emergency pouch packed up. My phone, in its Mophie charger case, for size reference.

Let me add that with small children, the amount of “stuff” you can convince yourself you need is nearly unlimited. (The downside of the “be prepared” syndrome.) Yes, you can bring a plastic stroller cover in case of rain and an extra stroller blanket in case of a chill. Or you can improvise with a poncho and towel. It’s impossible to plan for every situation; try to have a MacGyver attitude and enjoy the adventure.

My last tip is that I always pre-pack the bag that I’ll be bringing into the parks and place it into my main luggage. For me that usually means that I load up a backpack with the items listed above (minus liquids, which I add later) and drop it into my regular suitcase. I typically arrive at my Walt Disney World hotel mid-morning, before my room is ready. With a touring bag pre-packed for the parks, I can just pull it out of the suitcase, drop my luggage at bell services, and be on my way to the parks in minutes. No searching for the camera, ponchos, and sunglasses; it’s all right there, ready to go.

So folks, what are your packing strategies? What have I forgotten? What have you forgotten on your Disney trips? What’s missing from the checklist? Let us know in the comments below.

Trip Planning 101: Packing for Your Walt Disney World Vacation is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.