The accuracy of improved two dimensional finite difference time domain method (2D FDTD) is verified by comparing with 3D FDTD method and experimental data. The optimized 60° photonic crystal waveguide bend, used in this study as a test case, is composed of InPGaAs/InP material and air holes and TE polarization is considered. The photonic crystal waveguide bend transmission data was measured by End-Fire technique. This computational method can be applied to investigate photonic crystals with irregularly shaped and different materials. Comparison of experimental data with two and three dimensional simulations, it is evident that the improved 2D FDTD simulation shows a very good agreement with 3D FDTD simulation and also with the experimental data of the transmission properties. The efficiency and simplicity of 2D FDTD makes this algorithm promising for simulation of photonic crystals on personal computers of reasonable speed. Since the improved 2D FDTD simulation has a high performance compared to its 3D counterpart and also could easily be run on PCs, the improved 2D FDTD simulation can be considered as a useful tool in studying, designing and improving photonic crystal devices.