Anybody else feeling ripped off by TGM?

[praline3001]

Also for those that can't find the TH/Nemo info- that was also posted in Nov 08. I agree this should be added to TH info and/or Nemo info- and it is hard to find. But is is there!

http://www.tourguidemike.com/articles/articleDetails.asp?articleId=645#tuskernemo

Hope that helps!

The Tusker House link you posted, that is one of the issues I am having with the AVP. It makes a quick announcement on the calender but when you click on the link he gives to Tusker House, it has nothing about the nemo package.
Also 1/2 of his article calls it a CS and the other half calls it a TS.
For people who are new to Disney that can cause them to mess up their plans, KWIM? AHHH TH is a CS so no need for ADRs then when they get to AK they starve

 

[carmiedog]

The Tusker House link you posted, that is one of the issues I am having with the AVP. It makes a quick announcement on the calender but when you click on the link he gives to Tusker House, it has nothing about the nemo package.
Also 1/2 of his article calls it a CS and the other half calls it a TS.
For people who are new to Disney that can cause them to mess up their plans, KWIM? AHHH TH is a CS so no need for ADRs then when they get to AK they starve

no arguments there - I agree 100%

 

[carmiedog]

2ndstartotheright- do you get paid by TGM?

No I don't....

You should! No, REALLY! There are a lot of helpful users over there, but some really stand out.

Does TGM have a paid staff to help with the site? Or does he do it by himself? I think some of the things could be easily fixed if he had someone helping with the simple things like the Tusker House issue.

 

[vicki_c]

You should! No, REALLY! There are a lot of helpful users over there, but some really stand out.

Does TGM have a paid staff to help with the site? Or does he do it by himself? I think some of the things could be easily fixed if he had someone helping with the simple things like the Tusker House issue.

He does have some paid staff (not sure how many - 2 that I know of for sure) and they're not the moderators - those are all just volunteers.

I think the bottom line in any of these threads is that - when people make valid comments about things that are not updated, no one really argues with that. When people make more blanket or dramatic or incorrect statements, they turn into arguments. As I said before, the site is not perfect, but as praline pointed out - wdwinfo is not always accurate either, or allears or touringplans or whatever - it's a moving target. The bottom line is - you can always get your money back if it doesn't work for you. (oops -guess I have 2 bottom lines there)!

 

[praline3001]

You should! No, REALLY! There are a lot of helpful users over there, but some really stand out.

Does TGM have a paid staff to help with the site? Or does he do it by himself? I think some of the things could be easily fixed if he had someone helping with the simple things like the Tusker House issue.

BINGO ~

His operation is too much for `1 guy to do all by himself.
He needs to expand his AVP services to include a few paid employees that can help keep it up to date.
Trying to do it all by himself is causing things to be outdated and in turn his services are not up to par.

I have said from the start of this thread, the message board has been a wealth of information. I have gotten a few really good ideas in place... BUT that was from other guest just like me who have brain stormed.
The AVP part of the website (which is what we are paying for) needs more people working on the web issues and updates. Example would be the least crowded dates
Disney released my dates on April 1. It took Mike until April 17 to publish the calender for my dates. With this new 90+10 dining you REALLY have to be on the ball with making your ADRS... so for some that cut it REALLY tight and there were a few who had to make blind ADRs
Had Mike had a few employees helping him ~ those dates could be publish SOOO much faster!
The updated information could be ..err..well updated more often

 

[praline3001]

He does have some paid staff (not sure how many - 2 that I know of for sure) and they're not the moderators - those are all just volunteers.

I think the bottom line in any of these threads is that - when people make valid comments about things that are not updated, no one really argues with that. When people make more blanket or dramatic or incorrect statements, they turn into arguments. As I said before, the site is not perfect, but as praline pointed out - wdwinfo is not always accurate either, or allears or touringplans or whatever - it's a moving target. The bottom line is - you can always get your money back if it doesn't work for you. (oops -guess I have 2 bottom lines there)!

Vicki ~ But do they work on the AVP section? All of the information and articles are written in Mike's own style.
He has written all of that information without having someone go back over and fix and edit and update information. Even if he would prefer not to have employees making changes ~ he could set up a system to flag certain errors. Nobody is perfect and EVERYONE needs an editor

 

[popsynic]

I agree those items have not been updated BUT you did not mention those items. You were chewing on TSMM like a dog with a bone.
My post was very clear in stating TSMM was in fact there.

I never mentiond TSMM? My first post on this thread was about Laugh Floor & Pixie Hollow, and I correctly pointed out they were missing from TGM

 

[DanMedix]

I subscribed to TGM in 07 and 08, for both trips. In 07, the site and the advice on it worked like a charm. However, in 08, I ended up scrapping it, because not only was information posted late, but also seemed a bit inaccurate at times. I've seen the merits of the site, however. But, next time, I think I'll try UG...

 

[quantumottle]

I know my comments are like fingernails on a chalkboard to the old timers faithful to TGM, but I gotta' call em' like I see em'.

With a product like RideMax now available, I cannot imagine why anyone would still be using stuff like TGM. Other than, of course, the old timers who aren't big fans of this new-fangled technology stuff. hehe.

It's ironic though, I mean, here we are on the Internet, posting in cyber-space, you'd think we'd all be fans of new technology advances.

 

[praline3001]

I know my comments are like fingernails on a chalkboard to the old timers faithful to TGM, but I gotta' call em' like I see em'.

With a product like RideMax now available, I cannot imagine why anyone would still be usingstuff like TGM. Other than, of course, the old timers who aren't big fans of this new-fangled technology stuff. hehe.

It's ironic though, I mean, here we are on the Internet, posting in cyber-space, you'd think we'd all be fans of new technology advances.

Ridemax IS THE one place I did ask for a refund from.
That program is NOT for me. I played with it for 3 days and did not like the plans it kept spitting out at me.
TGM is outdated but as was stated before ..ridemax fishes for you and TGM teaches you how to fish.
Very different.... I know if I have to change plans I can do so and still know where I need to go. If I have to change plans with Ridemax I am screwed...
I like the teaching part of TGM MUCH MUCH better. Of course this is only MY opinion but I did get a refund from Ridemax

TGM's AVP would BE 100% better if he would updated his information more often.

 

[2infinityandbeyond]

I know my comments are like fingernails on a chalkboard to the old timers faithful to TGM, but I gotta' call em' like I see em'.

With a product like RideMax now available, I cannot imagine why anyone would still be using stuff like TGM. Other than, of course, the old timers who aren't big fans of this new-fangled technology stuff. hehe.

It's ironic though, I mean, here we are on the Internet, posting in cyber-space, you'd think we'd all be fans of new technology advances.

Some people enjoy putting the pieces of the puzzle together themselves (even if a few pieces are missing) whie others would rather have the completed puzzle dropped in the lap.

I don't know much about RideMax. Is it portable, i.e. can you take it with your to the parks? What I like about TGM is that having used the site for a few trips now, I know exactly what to do when we get off course in the parks.

 

[JeffZ]

Why do you need to PAY someone to tell YOU how to have FUN???? It's Disney--just go-- do it--Walt will thank you for it. Besides EVERYTHING you need to know is right here on the DIS--for free from other Disney freaks just like you and me!!!

 

[2infinityandbeyond]

Why do you need to PAY someone to tell YOU how to have FUN????

Waiting in lines isn't fun.

Besides EVERYTHING you need to know is right here on the DIS--for free from other Disney freaks just like you and me!!!

There's a ton of inaccurate information on the Dis. I feel bad for first timers who get "advice" which gives them thirty seven different answers to one question.

 

[praline3001]

Waiting in lines isn't fun.



There's a ton of inaccurate information on the Dis. I feel bad for first timers who get "advice" which gives them thirty seven different answers to one question.

<GASP> stepping away from 2infinityandbeyond in case lightening strikes

 

[floydfamily4]

I don't know Mike but I think I know business. It is not good business to have this many complaints about things that seem easily fixable. Call me crazy but I would be on boards like these and quickly trying to address concerns before hundreds of people hear that my service is "not worth the money or inaccurate". No business is perfect but I always say its not the problem but how you address the problem that will make or break your reputation. Clearly people can get a refund but that is not stopping the many, many, complaints so he must do more than just offer a refund KWIM? His reputation has stopped him from getting my money and that is too bad for him. Just my humble opinion

 

[popsynic]

I don't know Mike but I think I know business. It is not good business to have this many complaints about things that seem easily fixable.

Yep, you would think he or a representative would come on and reassure us that work to keep things updated is actually happening wouldn't you?

I spotted today that of the two sample plans for the studios he details, one of them was last updated in 2004, and he refers to the park as MGM studios in both samples!!

I understand that we are supposed to create our own plans, and use these samples as guidelines - I just wished they were a little more current. In the case of the 4 or 5 year old Studios touring plan sample, that's ridiculous.

As mentioned in another post - I don't hate his service, just frustrated by the fact that the service could be fab, but is actually just very, very average.

 

[Sandy321]

I'm afraid to try TGM, as so many people say that if you don't find it helpful you aren't putting in enough effort to learn how to navigate through the site properly. If I'm going to pay to use the site, it should be user friendly and easy to use.

I think you should look at TGM maybe like an "e-book" There is a lot of information - you get to pick and chose what you want to read, learn and use - the forums are very helpful - posting questions, getting responses...

some feel it is easy to use - but some dont - when I stopped thinking it should be done "my way" or like a message board, and started to approach it as an ebook - it got easier!