Ever used TourGuideMike?

[Lisa-K]

Has anyone ever used TourGuideMike? I'm going May 28 thru June 2 with a family group and since we've never been to WDW, we want to make the most out of our trip (without running commando-style through the park). We also may separate into 2 groups since some of us have young teens and others have small children. I want to know if tourguidemike is worth the money and time.

 

[disneydiz]

I use TGM and really like it. There have been quite a few posts in the last couple days on TGM and whether people like/dislike it. Do a search on this and you will have a lot of opinions. Do not expect him to give you a detailed itinerary for your trip. His info is presented in a series of articles -- but he has a lot of information to give!

 

[GrandmaBarb]

TourGuideMike's AVP is a unique method of putting together the best possible WDW vacation. He helps you "step by step" to plan your itinerary. If you follow his advice (and again, step by step - don't skip around to all the links until you have gone thru the steps, then link to your hearts content) you will have the most wonderful vacation you have ever had. He has daily updates and all your questions will have an answer. Also, the folks on the forums are so friendly and knowledgeable and are always willing to jump in with information and suggestions. Just give it a try (not just a glance) and you will be so happy you paid out the small sign up fee. Worth sooooo much more than the minimal cost. Actually less that the outdated books out there.
Come over and join us.

 

[Lawshark]

I heartily second Grandma's advice! We just returned from a WDW trip from 2/4 to 2/8 and TGM's advice was invaluable. He does NOT give you a personalized "plan"...go here at 9am, go there at 9:12am, etc. TGM says that he is trying to teach you the why's and how's of WDW...much better IMHO.

I have no doubt that if you follow the commando style raids set forth in UG it will work beautifully. BUT...I've got a 4 year old and a 3 month old. You do NOT go on commando raids with them! If I had tried to follow the UG we would have been required to skip steps all over the place to "catch up".

Instead, due to understanding TGM's philosophy of how to tour WDW I was able to readjust on the fly...changing plans to suit that particular moment...like when our 4 year old decided that Tomorrowland Speedway was his favorite...with running around Donald's Boat and getting soaked a close second. With TGM's advice we ended up riding the Speedway 4 times...Pooh once...Space Mountain once each...Buzz once...Big Thunder Mtn RR once...Philharmagic once...and an hour at Donald's boat...all in the same day (2/8), never waiting more than 15 minutes and leaving by 3pm! Gotta love FP and baby swap!

Definitely sign up...and become one with the philosophy!

 

[kutchyone]

Got a discount membership through a code from Mouse Savers so I saved an additional $3.

I misunderstood what the "end product" would be so be aware and note what disneydiz said, you will not get a detailed itinerary for your trip/needs.

I hope and assume that as it gets closer to our trip more information will be provided. If you have never been to DW and you don't enjoy researching on your own I think his site will work out very well for you. I'm sure for the nominal fee that most people will find information that they can use.

Please note, GrandmaBarb runs the June 2005 Vacation Club for TGM. She has been very helpful with questions and sent me a wonderful welcome letter when I joined the "Club". I have no doubt that she uses his plans but thought you should know that she is not just a paying member but may have more of a formal association with the TGM site. Not that she has given you any false information about the site, just be aware of her association with the site when reading her opinions about the site.

 

[Lisa-K]

Please note, GrandmaBarb runs the June 2005 Vacation Club for TGM. She has been very helpful with questions and sent me a wonderful welcome letter when I joined the "Club". I have no doubt that she uses his plans but thought you should know that she is not just a paying member but may have more of a formal association with the TGM site. Not that she has given you any false information about the site, just be aware of her association with the site when reading her opinions about the site.

I thought she sounded like a commercial for the product. Good information though. Is TGM hard to use? I do love to research and plan things before I do them and since we've never been to WDW before, I'm planning ALOT!

 

[kutchyone]

If you are sitting there right now we can go over to the chat room and discuss it. Let me know if you want to hop over to the chat area and I can try to help you out.

 

[Mainebound]

I thought she sounded like a commercial for the product. Good information though. Is TGM hard to use? I do love to research and plan things before I do them and since we've never been to WDW before, I planning ALOT!

I subscribe to TGM and I am one of those who have trouble navigating the site. I don't regret my purchase, however, because I like to have everything to plan the trip.

With regard to the negative comments o the UG, well, TGM recommends you use Fastpass, like the UG and everyone else. ANY touring guide or plan that recommends Fastpass is thereby recommending backtracking. Period. I have used the UG twice with a 1 and 3 year old with great success. Trust me, there was nothing "commando style" about our trips, unless you count my two little "commandos".

I don't think that the managers of the monthly forums are paid at TGM. They act as moderators like folks at the DIS. But I do think I read that Grandmabarb is TGMike's grandmother or relation of some sort. I may be wrong -- correct me if so!

Have a great trip!!

 

[Kenswing]

I thought she sounded like a commercial for the product. Good information though. Is TGM hard to use? I do love to research and plan things before I do them and since we've never been to WDW before, I planning ALOT!

I would venture to say that anyone that has utilized TGM as its intended to be used would sound a bit like a commercial.
I have bought just about every guide book out there. As of 1/2/05 they all became obsolete. TGM was able to edit his site to reflect the changes in ticket options and dining plans in near real time. He continues to update things as they change. Even if the guide books are able to get the changes in the next edition, they will most probably be outdated by the time they print the book (Disney changes things too fast and too often for published media to respond effectively).
As for GrammaBarb being a Vacation Club Manager... Every month has it's own Vacation Club Manager. It's pretty much anyone willing to step up and monitor that Forum. She is not a paid employee.

TGM is not for everybody. If you're looking to just click and have your itinerary printed out, you may not want to subscribe. If you're looking for the most accurate information out there and are willing to be patient and follow the steps prescribed in the AVP, there is no place that will give you a better experience.

 

[Lisa-K]

If you are sitting there right now we can go over to the chat room and discuss it. Let me know if you want to hop over to the chat area and I can try to help you out.

Ummm....newbie here. Don't know how to do that.

 

[kutchyone]

With a little practice and time you will be able to navigate through the site with no problem.
I udnerstand that he is fast in giving refunds if it does not work out for you. Give it a try. You may enjoy it. Just another tool in the arsenal.

 

[kutchyone]

Ummm....newbie here. Don't know how to do that.

Go to the Home page, click on Discussion/Chat, click on Chat Main. Are you headed there?

One thing though, as a paying member we can not give any specific tips out that may be given out on that site.

 

[Lawshark]

With regard to the negative comments o the UG, well, TGM recommends you use Fastpass, like the UG and everyone else. ANY touring guide or plan that recommends Fastpass is thereby recommending backtracking. Period. I have used the UG twice with a 1 and 3 year old with great success. Trust me, there was nothing "commando style" about our trips, unless you count my two little "commandos".

I'm guessing you mean me...but my comments were not really intended to be "negative" towards the UG. I read UG cover to cover and found it to be extremely helpful...I'd certainly tell someone that they need the UG AND TGM in planning a trip.

BUT...what I meant was that the recommended tour plans did not seem to be very conducive to touring with toddlers...in that they were not realistic. The UG seems to understand this too, since they address the question of "what happens if I get off track?" by recommending you skip a couple of steps. The UG plans would be great to follow without my kids...but with kids I've got to give the nod to TGM and a more flexible approach. Like I said...we rode everything that we wanted to and never waited more than 15 minutes...nor did we backtrack much at all. The only "extra" work was me having to journey off to Big Thunder to get FP's while everyone else was in Toon Town. TGM has some additional advice on his site that pretty much eliminated any backtracking...but it's the stuff you'd pay for!

 

[Mainebound]

but with kids I've got to give the nod to TGM and a more flexible approach. Like I said...we rode everything that we wanted to and never waited more than 15 minutes...nor did we backtrack much at all. The only "extra" work was me having to journey off to Big Thunder to get FP's while everyone else was in Toon Town. TGM has some additional advice on his site that pretty much eliminated any backtracking...but it's the stuff you'd pay for!

I don't find TGM more flexible that the UG. I subcribe to TGM, and I am looking at his MK plan right now (don't worry -- not revealing anything!). He insists you do things in a certain order if you want to avoid lines.

Here is a direct quote from the MK touring plan: "[Ride X] must be ridden at park opening or not at all."

In fact, when I have suggested doing things slightly differently on the TGM boards (based on our experiences), he has personally replied to the thread to strongly advise against deviating from his suggestions.

If I had his experience as a VIP tour guide I would probably feel the same way. Not criticizing here -- just pointing something out.

 

[GrandmaBarb]

First of all I AM NOT RELATED TO TGM IN ANY WAY.
Anyone who says so is deliberately lying. And I stand by that statement.

I am known on the forum as Gramma to everyone. I am 73 years old and live in a northern midwest state.

I would love to be related to Mike of TGM, and would also love to be able to work for his as I am totally sold on the product he offers. Have used it a number of times now and will continue to use it in the future.

Kutchyone and Mainebound please get your facts straight before you make incorrect and damaging statements.

I am one of twelve who were chosen to moderate a particular month's forum. We just try to aid others going to WDW in the same month. Those of us chosen for the honor are seasoned veterans of WDW who respect TGM and all he stand for and want to help in any way we can.

Some attitudes and rudeness and mis-information is the thing that I dislike about this forum. most people are very nice but unfortunately there are those who must resent TGM and will lie or distort the truth for their own benefit and satisfaction. And I most definitely resent them posting lies about me personally.

 

[kutchyone]

Lawshark, are you also a Vaction Club Host? Just wondering?

 

[Mainebound]

don't blame Kuychyone, Grandmabarb,it was me that thought you really were TGM's grandma. I really thought I had seen that somewhere. Sorry!

 

[always quiet]

I also like how TGMike's information is always "current"!! I bought Birbaum's OFFICIAL Guide in November (I was bummed over our postponed trip moved from 12/04 to 12/05). Was I ever floored to find mistakes in this book.............and even more floored to discover that DISNEY publishes this book. I pre-ordered the new 2005 Passporter and now since WDW changed everything from their EMH to their tickets, I'll have lots to download and print out from the computer to get this book up to date. TGMike is always up to date.

 

[kutchyone]

First of all I AM NOT RELATED TO TGM IN ANY WAY.
Anyone who says so is deliberately lying. And I stand by that statement.

I am known on the forum as Gramma to everyone. I am 73 years old and live in a northern midwest state.

I would love to be related to Mike of TGM, and would also love to be able to work for his as I am totally sold on the product he offers. Have used it a number of times now and will continue to use it in the future.

Kutchyone, please get your facts straight before you make incorrect and damaging statements.

Gramma, I never said you were related to TGM that was someone else. I just wanted the original “poster” to know that you do work, be it voluntarily or not, for TGM. Why are you always so PARANOID about your affiliation with the TGM site. I'm serious, this is not the first time you acted so volatile to innocent statements. This is exactly what I wrote:

Please note, GrandmaBarb runs the June 2005 Vacation Club for TGM. She has been very helpful with questions and sent me a wonderful welcome letter when I joined the "Club". I have no doubt that she uses his plans but thought you should know that she is not just a paying member but may have more of a formal association with the TGM site. Not that she has given you any false information about the site, just be aware of her association with the site when reading her opinions about the site.

With a little practice and time you will be able to navigate through the site with no problem.
I udnerstand that he is fast in giving refunds if it does not work out for you. Give it a try. You may enjoy it. Just another tool in the arsenal.

I believe you owe me a heartfelt apology for your inflammatory statement: “Kutchyone, please get your facts straight before you make incorrect and damaging statements.” You also insinuated that I was a liar too…”Anyone who says so is deliberately lying. And I stand by that statement.”

Now can’t we all just get along?

I have also replied to your personal e-mail that you sent to me requesting that I stop the “imagined” damaging statements.

 

[always quiet]

Gramma, I never said you were related to TGM that was someone else. I just wanted the original “poster” to know that you do work, be it voluntarily or not, for TGM. Why are you always so PARANOID about your affiliation with the TGM site. I'm serious, this is not the first time you acted so volatile to innocent statements. This is exactly what I wrote:

Please note, GrandmaBarb runs the June 2005 Vacation Club for TGM. She has been very helpful with questions and sent me a wonderful welcome letter when I joined the "Club". I have no doubt that she uses his plans but thought you should know that she is not just a paying member but may have more of a formal association with the TGM site. Not that she has given you any false information about the site, just be aware of her association with the site when reading her opinions about the site.

kutchyone,
I hate to be the one to say this, but you did sound a bit..............snotty...........when you said this. I don't think there was any need to point out the fact that she helps voluntarily with TGMike's site. It kind of sounded like a compliment with a sword stuffed in the middle.