We love theme parks. We want you to enjoy them more.

A theme park vacation takes time, money, and a lot of anticipation. At TouringPlans, we build tools that help you make the most of all three—with less waiting, smarter spending, and more time for the experiences you came for.

It started with a little attention to detail

Len Testa’s love of Disney began in 1974, when his grandparents took him and his twin sister to Walt Disney World. He was six years old. In the queue for Pirates of the Caribbean, he noticed something extraordinary: the electric lights flickered like candles. Someone had cared enough to make even that small detail feel real.

That sense of wonder stayed with him. Years later, Len and his sister would finish work on Friday, drive through the night to Walt Disney World, and spend the weekend in the parks before heading home for Monday classes.

A long wait led to a better way

On a later family trip, Len spent two hours waiting for the Great Movie Ride. As a computer scientist and graduate student, he saw a problem he wanted to solve: could a computer figure out the best order to experience attractions while spending less time in line?

That question became his master's thesis at North Carolina A&T State University—and helped lay the groundwork for TouringPlans.

Len’s research brought him together with Bob Sehlinger, creator of The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World. Bob was already applying mathematics and research to help park guests avoid long waits. He shared his findings, his experience, and what readers had taught him about the realities of a family vacation.

Turning those ideas into useful software took years of collecting wait times, refining calculations, and testing plans with families in the parks. Our approach grew from that combination: careful research, computer science, and experience on the ground.

From better itineraries to better vacations

Our work expanded from planning the order of attractions to helping guests make decisions throughout their trips. The Lines app put our planning tools in guests' hands inside the parks, and guests contributed their own measured wait times to help improve our forecasts. Their experiences and feedback became part of how we build better tools.

Today, TouringPlans helps visitors to Walt Disney World, Disneyland, and Universal Orlando answer the questions that shape a vacation:

• When should we go? Our Crowd Calendar based on wait time forecasts helps you choose your dates and park days.
• What should we do next? Personalized touring plans and the Lines app help you experience your top attractions with less waiting.
• How can we spend wisely? Our Ticket Calculator helps you compare ticket options and prices.
• Where should we stay and eat? Hotel information, room-view photos, menus, and reviews help you choose what fits your family and budget.

Your vacation is why we do this

We understand the excitement behind a first visit, a long-awaited family trip, or a return to a favorite attraction. We also understand how much goes into making those trips happen.

That's what gives our work its purpose. Every forecast, every plan, and every improvement should help you spend your vacation time and money well.

We do the research so you can enjoy the parks.