Anyone NOT like TMG?

[binkyj826]

I am thinking of signing up for TourGuide Mike and keep hearing wonderful things from everyone.
I was wondering if there were anyone out there that DIDN'T like TMG?

 

[Annette_VA]

I didn't really find it all that useful. I guess if you're hard up for reading material, it's a good thing. But, to me, I'd rather come someplace like here to find the info I need instead of wading through pages & pages of info on TGM

 

[BYC]

I like it, but it is not what I thought it was. I thought I would answer a bunch of questions about our group, our dates, etc., and I would get a suggested itinerary to print out and work off. Not the case. He provides the info (A MAJOR amount!), and you put everything together yourself. So, I do like some of the info (but I have to say it completley conflicts with info I get here and at some other sites....which makes everything more confusing!)But, I guess I was just expecting something else.

 

[fitzperry]

I used both the UG and TGM when planning our recent trip. There wasn't much that I learned from TGM that couldn't also be found in the UG, and I found the UG to be easier to use. The one thing that I did like about TGM was that he does a nice job of explaining the logic behind his touring plans and best park days, which is helpful.

If you like the idea of faithfully following a touring plan, you would probably find his site to be helpful. We'd rather go with the flow, however, so I mainly used TGM and the UG to determine which days to visit which parks, and I'm not sure you really need both resources for that.

 

[dgaston]

I have subscribed twice to TGM and will again. His discussion forums are very friendly, and I have found tips I've never seen elsewhere. However the site takes time to learn. Navigation is a "drill down" style, and there is a lot of material. As said earlier, it's not a tool that you punch in ages and dates and lo and behold here's your touring plan. It's a philosophy about how to gain the most from your Disney experience.

 

[missypie]

I loved TGM BUT it took a while. If you're short on time, or generally don't like to read, don't subscribe. You have to put some work/study into it to get the most out of it. I imagine that if your trip is coming up very soon, it would be best to just use the UG touring plans.

 

[JohnNJ]

Sometimes I have to wonder...

Bottom line is that TourGuideMike.com has helped thousands of families have great vacations and he offers a money back guarantee so you have nothing to lose by signing up.

He does not provide a custom touring plan as he states on the main page.

He does provide sample plans and explains his approach so you can design your own flexible plan. Since you'll know how and why he recommends things you can adapt your plan for any changes while you're in the parks.

He does not recommend a formal touring plan that you HAVE to stick to. You decide based on what you learn from the site.

The information is organized and easy to find. He tells you how to navigate the site and offers Super Express planners for people in a hurry. All of the most important info is available in one place for the month you're going to travel. A few hours and you'll be light years ahead of most of the other guests.

Information is updated regularly unlike guide books which are out of date when they're published.

There's a very friendly forum with lots of knowledgeable people that can help you develop a plan.

John

 

[TMJR]

This is my 1st time using it. I like it, but I don't love it. I like the suggested days for each parks. I have found though that there are several areas that are not updated...several times I have come across a "We'll update this section after Christmas"...with no update.

I'm undecided as to whether or not I'd suggest it. But, it is only 18.95...in the scheme of what a Disney vacation costs, it is a drop in the bucket!

 

[Nancyg56]

I was not crazy about TGM. I found that his website was a bit difficult to navigate through, and that there was a ton of material. I was more comfortable with the UG. I think that he is worth trying, especially if you are going during the busy season, as there is a money back gaurantee, and you can decide for yourself.

 

[dawnball]

Yeah, we weren't thrilled. It was "ok", but I didn't find any amazingly useful information that I didn't find elsewhere. My spouse says that it made me more annoying than other methods of research and that he'd rather I didn't use TGM again. It was hard to use, and I was really annoyed that if you aren't willing to get to the parks at the crack of dawn he sort of leaves you on your own.

Everyone loves the money back guarantee - but I felt like I got just enough use out of it not to demand my money back, and not enough to justify the cost.

dawn *bounce*

 

[jaycns]

I know you didn't ask for those that like it...but I absolutely loved it when we used it for our vacation last year. I think the wit thrown in is funny and I found my vacation planning time an enjoyable thing using TGM. I still surfed the DIS boards...I still bought a planning book and I still looked up tons of info myself...just to double check TGM but I was pleasently surprised by the level of service we got and the fast response time from TGM himself when I asked specific questions (not guaranteed to get an answer from him but there is always someone helpful on the discussion boards there). I think that if you like current info updated right up until (and through your vacation if you have internet acess at your hotel) your vacation TGM is a good thing. And really, it does have a money back guar. What more could one hope for? I just signed up again for our coming trip (Sept. 06). I now won't travel without TGM.

My family loves him!

 

[Selket]

I agree mostly with what others have said about his site - probably best for those who like to do a lot of planning/reading/thinking. If you prefer to let the wind blow you around on vacation (not always a bad thing!) then you probably won't like it.

I have found that it is quite possible to use his touring advice without arriving at the parks early. Our vacation in August 2003 we had so many thunderstorms that closed the pools in the afternoon/evening (for the ENTIRE evening) that we ended up going to the pool some of the mornings cause the kids really wanted to swim! We were able to use his advice to sucessfully tour the parks later in the day without long waits. That doesn't mean that Mike can tell you some magic way of arriving at the MK at 3pm on a Saturday during Spring Break and there are no lines at Dumbo

I think his advice is most useful too if you are going when it is busy and lines are long. I do love his site but I've found it most useful to really spend time with it, read a lot and re-read some things and try to absorb what he says. He has "touring plans" that will suggest the best order to visit attractions but for us the more useful thing is WHY he suggests it - and that makes it easy for us to get on track. With 2 young kids, one with health issues, we often find ourselves off track! Mike helps keep us out of the long lines and I really like that.