Anyone else use Tour Guide Mike?

[Malaguti Ball Clan]

The thought of sending a runner somewhere to get FP just seems ridiculous to me.

Well I would have to DIS' agree For me its a chance to send one of my kids on a "Critical Tactical Mission" while the rest of us just float in that general direction...normally arriving at said objective nearly same time the "volunteer" makes it though the FP line, if they make it before we get there, they just reverse there track and rejoin...they may or may not enjoy these missions..but I love to sending them for FP's

PS....I have some great kids, oldest DS took most of them last time, but I made sure youngest DS had a chance, he had BTMRR when we left POTC, he made it and we rdvs at the bench area near TSI entrance after sending a reroute text message... Commando...naaa this is just how we roll...but we only stay in parks for 4-5 hours twice a day so it works for us...maybe this year I will draw them up and issue them maps with basic "plays" with associated routes and ..perhaps some Robo maps

 

[Liljam]

We don't use with TGM or TP, but I checked out TP's crowd calendar right before we left for our Feb. trip when it became free to the public and it was bang on. As DVC members we find ourselves less worried about what we do, but we get just about everything done. We'd have finished all we wanted to this trip but I blame the weather and not the higher crowd levels or poor touring plans on my part. I may take a look at TGM one of these days but I just can't rationalize paying the $20. We're not planning on heading back until May of 2011 and I'd really like to know when the best time is going to be for us to book the trip because Easter will be April 24th. I'm wondering if TGM will be beneficial in helping me plan that out for the sake of finding out about school schedules but unless it can do that, I don't see it helping with my next trip much.

 

[mom2dzb]

I LOVE TGM!

We go about once a year, so it's nice to have a refresher course before every trip. And, although he isn't always timely in getting out his suggested park days, it's pretty easy to extrapolate from the previous year's suggestions.

I've tried so many new things, that I wouldn't have considered before being introduced to TGM.

Still, if it isn't for you, that's fine by me. The fewer people that know his tricks, the easier it is for me to tour.

 

[Malaguti Ball Clan]

I LOVE TGM!
The fewer people that know his tricks, the easier it is for me to tour.

So True...what was I thinking letting that secret out...Moderator..please close this thread as matter of Disney Security

 

[brandip22]

We also use TGm and have for years. Some for the least crowded parks and tp suggestions. A lot for the extra info. Although we've been a ton and we know a lot, it's nice to have it all in one place where it's easy to find. Plus, as another person said, just more to obsess about!

 

[Starr W.]

We don't use with TGM or TP, but I checked out TP's crowd calendar right before we left for our Feb. trip when it became free to the public and it was bang on. As DVC members we find ourselves less worried about what we do, but we get just about everything done. We'd have finished all we wanted to this trip but I blame the weather and not the higher crowd levels or poor touring plans on my part. I may take a look at TGM one of these days but I just can't rationalize paying the $20. We're not planning on heading back until May of 2011 and I'd really like to know when the best time is going to be for us to book the trip because Easter will be April 24th. I'm wondering if TGM will be beneficial in helping me plan that out for the sake of finding out about school schedules but unless it can do that, I don't see it helping with my next trip much.

Go over to the Theme Park forum, it might be early for 2011, but there is usually a thread with a poll on Winter/Spring Break weeks.

I'm in NW Ohio and have the 2010-2011 schedule and Spring Break in our district will be the 1st week of April. State testing can go on the 2nd-3rd week of April(some districts spread it over the 2 weeks, ours just does it the 3rd week).

Easter will be a 3 day weekend. Our schools are out June 2.

A lot depends on where you live, some states/districts have a mandatory fixed week for Spring Break(ie 3rd week of March). Others, like ours bounce around Easter, others go later in April every year because they get a Winter break also.

In a roundabout way, I don't think Easter week in 2011 will be as busy as it would be if it was earlier in April or late March.

 

[Liljam]

Go over to the Theme Park forum, it might be early for 2011, but there is usually a thread with a poll on Winter/Spring Break weeks.

I'm in NW Ohio and have the 2010-2011 schedule and Spring Break in our district will be the 1st week of April. State testing can go on the 2nd-3rd week of April(some districts spread it over the 2 weeks, ours just does it the 3rd week).

Easter will be a 3 day weekend. Our schools are out June 2.

A lot depends on where you live, some states/districts have a mandatory fixed week for Spring Break(ie 3rd week of March). Others, like ours bounce around Easter, others go later in April every year because they get a Winter break also.

In a roundabout way, I don't think Easter week in 2011 will be as busy as it would be if it was earlier in April or late March.

Thanks! This is great advice. I'll look out for it. The May week we usually go is wonderful, but with Easter being so late, I was worried about the crowd. I'll follow this advice and may just try TGM to see what all the fuss is about too. I enjoy the planning aspect of my trip anyway, so I guess it can't hurt. For me, the planning isn't to get it all in or to feel like I'm in control, it's because I know I have "The Mouse House" to look forward to. It's sort of like when I come to the boards here. I take breaks when life gets busy, but when it's time for my trip, I come back full force!

 

[DizGirl20]

I joined TGM last week for a discounted price of $18.95 thanks to The Dis!

I just completely changed our scheduled park days and corresponding ADRs based on what he advised. Since this is our first time using TGM I will be interested to see if it's worth it. Here's Hoping!

Oh, and surprisingly I changed all my ADR's and got everything I wanted, 85 days out!

 

[wendy774]

Love TGM!!! Used him last year and I'm using him again this year.

 

[4HOLIDAYS]

Lots of good info. I think it is worth it if you don't go often enough to know the patterns and such.