Anyone unhappy with Tour Guide Mike?

[Lorelai]

bump...

 

[MermaidMommy]

I have never really taken the time to investigate the Touringplans site. But based on the satisfied users here I decided to use one of their online sample touringplans (for guests with children) to plan our upcoming Animal Kingdom day. They still have Tarzan Rocks listed as a show to visit with kids, and they make no mention of Expedition Everest (in the section where they list what rides in AK have height restrictions). Maybe this is because I am not a paid subscriber, and the plan is on the site as a sample of what you can get if you pay & subscribe? Does anyone have this info - it seemed outdated.

Lorelai, I was looking at touringpans.com, and in the Magic Kingdom sample touring plans section it states that these plans are from the 2006 Unofficial Guide book. I would imagine that they're trying to show people what their touring plans are like, without allowing non-subscribers access to the most current information.

 

[carolina_yankee]

I'm a TGM fan, and have used the website for each of the last 4 trips I've taken. The problem is that no one site fits everyone. I've also found that TGM and Touring Plans disagree on which parks are best for some days. At least TGM explains his reasons for why some parks are green, others yellow, and others red on any given morning or evening.

The other thing I like about TGM is that his advice is easier to adapt to your needs (especially based on his best parks/days). I like to get an early start, but I don't travel with others who do, so Touring Plans is pretty much out for me. TGM also likes early starts, but he gives you enough info to know how to handle things if you go later.

As for Expedition Everest - it's true he didn't have info up to date on the AK page, but he did have a long post in one of the forums explaining how to work EE into your touring. Essentially, he said he wanted to observe patterns before he committed to anything, and that takes time. For what it's worth, there's no way Touring Plans could have done any better since they also need time to gather the data.

Ultimately, as we all know, if you go to a park at opening, make judicious use of which days you go for which parks and fast pass the appropriate attractions, you're going to to accomplish what you want to do. That's not a state secret, and you don't need to pay $$$ to figure it out. The only thing any of these sites do is to lay out varying scenarios and give you enough information to work out what's right for you.

Dirk

 

[goofie4goofy]

I already know how to plan our trips to WDW, knowing what works for us. We go to WDW on the "no plan" plan and the only thing we do is make dinner reservations. I was curious about TGM, so for 18 bucks, I figured what the heck....I signed up.

I do find the website very confusing, and after answering a bunch of questions I thought there would be an itienary, but there isn't. There is a lot of info and you can get as deep into it as you like or just take his advice on his good park days. There is also a very active forum, so there is plenty of info there too. I did not find anything helpful for me ONLY because we travel to WDW during the lowest attendance weeks and we are just 2 adults, which makes a huge difference. If you are going to WDW during the hot crowdwd summer with kids, this will be very helpful to you. If you don't like it you can get your money back. Even though I did not find it great for us, I did not take the refund. After all, I did read all his stuff and it is only $18.

 

[HappyCamperToo]

A large part of the value we derive from our subscription is for the same reason - which parks to go to and which to avoid on any given day - makes trip planning smooth and easy

Anyone know---how do his "Best Days" compare with the free-to-access best days listed on the website from the unofficial guide book? http://www.touringplans.com/tp2/UG2_index.php?PageID=14

Thanks.

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

We are considering subscribing to help plan for our President's week trip . Now there is plenty of praise out there for TGM, but I wanted to hear from the the other side (if there is one). Why were you unhappy? and how difficult was it to get your money back? Thanks.

Subscribed last year. While there is a lot of info, I knew most of it since I am an obsessive Diser and former CM. It is most valuable for navigational purposes - how to get from rides/shows quickly, where to view shows, etc. All the info was very accurate. There were a few tips and tricks in those navigational areas that saved me quite a bit of time, esp. in Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom! By telling you to turn right when you are going from this ride to this ride but left when you're going there, can often save 10 or 20 minutes of crowd time.

Park days, ADR's, EMH, etc. are all common knowledge but all in all I'd say it's worth it. It's only 18 bucks and I felt I got 18 bucks worth of info. While I wouldn't renew unless I couldn't get back to WDW for a few years or fell out of the loop somehow, I would recommend subscribing to others - at least once. The info you get is worth the cost, esp. considering most guidebooks have outdated info and cost more. I love Birnbaum but I read it like a pictoral souvenir not a planning strategy, KWIM?

 

[goofie4goofy]

Anyone know---how do his "Best Days" compare with the free-to-access best days listed on the website from the unofficial guide book? http://www.touringplans.com/tp2/UG2_index.php?PageID=14

Thanks.

When you sign up for TGM, you make a promise not to share TGM info in any way.

 

[HappyCamperToo]

I don't mean how does it compare day by day. I just mean in general terms, simliar to the other comments people are making on this thread. Is there general agreement, minor discrepancies, major contradictions, etc. Please don't answer if it will betray your promise.

 

[JPG]

I don't mean how does it compare day by day. I just mean in general terms, simliar to the other comments people are making on this thread. Is there general agreement, minor discrepancies, major contradictions, etc. Please don't answer if it will betray your promise.

Here is my take..We read the other popular books. UG, Pasporter, Official Guide, etc..They are good for certain purposes. Overall info (UG), organization (Passporter), fan style guide (Official Guide)....However, you will not beat TGM for advice on how to tour, when to tour, and great crowd avoiding tips. We used TGM this August ('06), and found his info to be dead on ! We were super impressed. I will not say anything specific per his request and our agreement.
We have already signed up again for our 2007 trip.
In closing I will say this....The man does park touring for a LIVING...Not just as a fan or hobby, or to write or contribute to books. Also, as others have pointed out, his info is as up to date as it gets. The books are already coming out now for 2007. There will be plenty of changes between now and then.

 

[nflder]

Does TGM offer good advice on what to do during the Easter break. We will be there for Easter 07 and i know that it will be extremely crowded. If his advice is geared toward that busy time of the year it may be worth my while to subscribe.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Does TGM offer good advice on what to do during the Easter break. We will be there for Easter 07 and i know that it will be extremely crowded. If his advice is geared toward that busy time of the year it may be worth my while to subscribe.

My take is, the more crowded WDW is, the more valuable TGM is.

 

[deedeetoo]

We purchased it this year for our trip over July 4th week. The hotels were completely booked but we never felt it was that crowded at the parks. I assume this is due to his advice. That said, I'm not sure I will get it again. The best part of the advice was the touring days. The rest of it is too commando for my family (we don't do UG touring plans either). My family loves to stop for characters and no amount of urging will get them to move. DS5 would be perfectly happy seeing characters all day and doing no rides. This is not what TGM is designed for.

 

[DisneyGirl4188]

I purchased TGM before my 2005 trip. I thought that it was going to give me an itinerary, but I was wrong. I requested a refund and received it promptly.

Then, after hearing everyone go on and on about it, I decided to try it again. I joined (and he remembered me; I have a unique last name). So far, I am very happy. He does give sample itineraries, but also gives the reasons for why he does things. I have gotten a lot of information and if this trip goes well, I will renew my subscription.

Yes, some of the information can be found on other sites, but there's a lot that can't. I would pay just for the "best days" advice. Every site lists their "best days" but those people aren't in the parks every day like Mike is.

Some of his information isn't updated, but that's because he hasn't had a chance to research it. How can he give advice on what to do for MNSSHP when he hasn't experienced the changes? It would be unfair to subscribers. So, I fully expect that he will go to MNSSHP, note the changes, and update his site then.

I think that when you are spending thousands on a trip, you should at least try TGM. If you aren't happy, get a refund.

 

[goofie4goofy]

I don't mean how does it compare day by day. I just mean in general terms, simliar to the other comments people are making on this thread. Is there general agreement, minor discrepancies, major contradictions, etc. Please don't answer if it will betray your promise.

Sorry I misunderstood your question. My take on TGM is, touring plans will give you an overall "score" on crowd levels for all parks, TGM is park specific and tells you which park to visit on any given day and what time of day to visit and why. So if the crowd level is a 4 (touringplans) with TGM's advice you may actually encounter a 1!

 

[MartDM]

I made the mistake of asking him some questions. Gee, you thought I asked him to strip naked and run down Main Street! Wow. I pay for a service and thought he would be happy to answer my questions. I did have some nice people on the threads help me through the rough spots. They should take over TGM!

I had a similar experience with him - he's incredibly unprofessional.

I gave the site a real chance, using it for a few months to get a real feel for it but there were several things that didn't sit right with me:

-the site is very poorly organized and not particularly intuitive to surf (and I'm in the tech biz so I'm no novice)

-the info is not portable and for the same price, you can get the same info in a guidebook you could carry with you (not something I need but a better value for a newbie IMO because it's portable and reusable)

-the vast majority of the information is not anything you can't easily find for free on many other websites

-there really isn't any true personalization functionality; just pages that add your name to a preset plan or checklists that you could easily make yourself

-there were several instances where the info provided was out of date or just plain wrong

-the site was very slow to provide new info, trailing the free sites in posting new updates

Although somewhat disappointed with the overall product offered, I still was referring to the site on occasion hoping for a leg up on the latest & greatest news about WDW. Upon noticing that the TGM was regularly updated much later than other reputable non-pay sites out there, I made the mistake of inquiring about it on the forums. Mike publicly lambasted me for daring to question the site maintenance and suggested I leave the site.

I did receive numerous emails from other members of the site expressing their sympathy for the way I was treated and telling me Mike was completely out of line since my question was polite and quite valid. Given that, I do think the users there are good group of folks and they clearly don't support the kind of behavior Mike has subjected many to. Nonetheless, I don't need to pay to be abused so I haven't been back.

Color me unimpressed.

 

[jenr812]

I was curious about TGM while planning our first trip (July 2005) but didn't subscribe. I was already on information overload with the DIS, UOG, and Passporter. We had a great time and the info I received from those sources really contributed to that! I do think I will subscribe to TGM for our upcoming May 2007 trip - the best days info will be great and I am again curious about the hoopla. It's good to hear all of these honest reviews. THank you all for sharing your thoughts.

 

[DisTeach1]

I think it was a waste of money. I didn't request mine back, but I haven't used it either. I like the DIS boards better, and the unofficial guide. I hated trying to navigate his website. To me, it would be overwhelming for someone who is unfamiliar with Disney.

 

[senecabeach]

I gave the site a real chance, using it for a few months to get a real feel for it but there were several things that didn't sit right with me:

-the site is very poorly organized and not particularly intuitive to surf (and I'm in the tech biz so I'm no novice)

-the info is not portable and for the same price, you can get the same info in a guidebook you could carry with you (not something I need but a better value for a newbie IMO because it's portable and reusable)

-the vast majority of the information is not anything you can't easily find for free on many other websites

-there really isn't any true personalization functionality; just pages that add your name to a preset plan or checklists that you could easily make yourself

-there were several instances where the info provided was out of date or just plain wrong

-the site was very slow to provide new info, trailing the free sites in posting new updates

I agree with you.

I tried TGM for a May 06 trip bringing kids for the 1st time. I thought he might know better or at least something I missed going as an adult all my life...BUT...

Well....head 1st to this attraction then.. run right for that attraction..then..run left, beyond where you just were , to get to this other attraction..OH...and by 11 AM too!! BTW...Did you get those FP's before going to attraction #2??

I AM on VA CA TI ON !!!

This was certainly NOT MY WAY to DO "All Things Disney" and especially with a family who has "never" been to WDW..

My advice to "newbies" is do "your own" homework, lots of great info on multiple "free" sites, including park crowds.
Do your own itinerary..its soooo much family fun..Plan your "must see's/do's".
Take afternoon breaks, nap, swim (this is a no brainer, especially with kids or a seasoned adult (like ME)
Realize you won't/can't do everything....its the joy of coming back.
Relax...Take in the Magic
Expect nothing and you will be rewarded with much "Pixie Dust".

Nope, there is NO way I need any help...life is too short to be in such a hurry to beat the crowd....UGH and no I don't believe, nor remember, waiting in a line more than about 30 min, ever, for anything.
I have 34 yrs. experience going to WDW every year, sometimes twice a
year..yep there's still things I haven't done..but.. the older I get, the longer I stay...how "Magical"!!

 

[TBuss]

I signed up in the spring for TGM for our upcoming October trip. We typically do not tour with a "plan" we like to "wing it". What I like about the site so far is the way he ranks the 4 parks in terms of relative business each day. If those prove to be accurate - I would pay the TGM fee again for my next trip with no reservations.

I agree with previous posters that he takes the time to research and confirm info before updating his website - he does not waste time analyzing how a rumored change would effect touring.

Like others, I amy refering to multiple sources to plan my trip - The Unofficial Guide (book and website), multiple discussion boards, TGM. I don't know if I could recommend one source over the others ...

 

[Lisa_Belle]

When you sign up for TGM, you make a promise not to share TGM info in any way.

This is exactly why I never intend to subscribe to TGM. I get the distinct impression that he's just trying to cover up the fact that his information isn't any better than anyone else's. There are several guidebooks out there with enough information about what attractions to see when, what days to go, etc. Once you start flipping through them, you discover much of the information is similar. There is no way TGM can have that much proprietary information that the other guides don't have.