Experience with Tour Guide Mike?

[Tam1067]

I admit my information is "old" as in last year, but I signed up for TGM and then became increasingly frustrated with the service which was so outdated it was pathetic.

I ended up requesting a refund. No response. I requested one again. No response. So only on my THIRD request--this is several weeks after the first one--did I get my refund. I did get it, but I think the site is a joke and not worth the money.

Read these boards, and you get most of the same information he's got, and these boards are updated regularly. Also, the Unofficial Guide and its companion website Touring Plans are both easier to navigate than the TGM site, they're updated fairly frequently, and the touring plans website costs much less than TGM.

 

[angelmav]

Well I am a repeat customer to TGM, but thats not because I find his info to be invaluable. I just like having an extra resource of info, but I doubt that I get my moneys worth as I rarely even use the site. It is a little humorous that so many people swear by his least croweded park days when the recommendation always boils down to avoid the parks on EMH days. The mods over there are quick to answer questions in the forums though which can be helpful.

 

[momtwoboys]

I tried to like it, but in the end I got a refund, after SEVERAL requests. Never going to recommend it to friends or family. But some love it and that's ok too!

 

[Cool-Beans]

Here's my experience: The peppy condescention in the way the site "talks" to you is annoying at best. And showing me my name over and over while it "talked" to me...you know, back when they started doing this in like 1980 it was cool and impressive. Now it is just pathetic...and annoying.

There is no info there that you can't get here for free.

I thought that (the non-discussion part of) the DIS was a difficult site to navigate....HA! TGM was ridiculously complicated. His supporters are always quick to point out that he has discussion boards where you can ask questions about how to get around the site and find the info. But IMO, if you're going to take the time to ask a question about how to find the info, you might as well just ask the question itself...which you can do here for free.

I could do the least crowded parks as well as TGM. That's what I figured and only plunked down the money to see if he was doing what I did, which he is.

Don't waste your money.

 

[csss31399]

I love TGM. His site has gone downhill since I started using him three years ago, but we have gone at very busy times (Easter) and we still did not have to wait using his techniques. I use his site for the least crowded days charts and the general idea of how to tour and avoid crowds. I have recommended him to at least ten people and they all have had wonderful trips. When we travel with friends, they refer to me as Mike since I am always following TGM's advice.

 

[2ndstartotheright]

After looking around TGM (and paying for it), I don't think I found anything there that wasn't already here or on allears.net or someother site - FOR FREE!!!

I posted a couple of questions to the forums and got fairly quick responses, but again, nothing shared there that I haven't already gotten here.

... except attitude. One question I asked explained that something was confusing me, and instead of trying to help, I was sent back to some article (that I'd already read) to get myself edumacated. It seems to me that if someone asks a question, they shouldn't be simply told to "read the article".

Just wanted to say that I was one of those that responded to your question on TGM- one of 6 responses actually and none were condescending. It was pretty clear from your question that you had not read the relevant articles, nor were you sent back to those articles until it was pretty clear you still did not understand the info given by the responses.

You received a very detailed answer to your question. And most of that info is unique to TGM- so I think it is rather disingenous of you to post here that you did not receive any new info or were treated in a condescending manner.

Sorry you were not satisfied with TGM. If it was Mike's writing style that bothered you, fine- to each his own, but let's be honest about it.

You also only posted that one question, unless you posted in your Vacation Club.

 

[creativeamanda]

I posted a couple of questions to the forums and got fairly quick responses, but again, nothing shared there that I haven't already gotten here.

... except attitude. One question I asked explained that something was confusing me, and instead of trying to help, I was sent back to some article (that I'd already read) to get myself edumacated. It seems to me that if someone asks a question, they shouldn't be simply told to "read the article".

Bold mine. I was hesitant to mention the attitude of many of the answers I have gotten over at the TGM forums, but I will say it now: I absolutely refuse to ask a question over on his forums again because I felt I was receiving rude responses. Instead of asking "Why are you doing it this way", they have been quick to jump on small things that went against the strictness of TGM style. The site is not easy to navigate, and honestly, the touring guides are almost exactly the same as other touring plans. The best/worst parks are a no-brainer--he recommends avoiding the park with AM or PMH EMH.

From now on, I'll be using RideMax and touring plans.

 

[creativeamanda]

I don't recall ever seeing TGM suggesting that you need ten or more days in the parks. Our trips are usually 5-7 days and TGM has worked perfectly every time.

I was told on TGM that my trip (5 days) was too short to truly go by TGM's style and that I was possibly asking questions in the wrong location.

 

[DisneyGalAlways]

Just wanted to say that I was one of those that responded to your question on TGM- one of 6 responses actually and none were condescending. It was pretty clear from your question that you had not read the relevant articles, nor were you sent back to those articles until it was pretty clear you still did not understand the info given by the responses.

You received a very detailed answer to your question. And most of that info is unique to TGM- so I think it is rather disingenous of you to post here that you did not receive any new info or were treated in a condescending manner.

Sorry you were not satisfied with TGM. If it was Mike's writing style that bothered you, fine- to each his own, but let's be honest about it.

You also only posted that one question, unless you posted in your Vacation Club.

Thank you for responding to my question there and here.

As for my being "disingenuous" here, I merely am sharing MY OPINION, just like everyone else here who has RAVED over their experience with TGM. Unfortunately, my experience wasn't so wonderful. To gloss it over would have been "disingenuous". I think the problem you have is that I actually needed assistance and wasn't getting it and didn't keep it a secret. And no, the content about which I had a question (Fastpasses) are NOT unique to TGM.

Trust me, though; I will be sure to ask any and all future questions here at DIS. And as a matter of fact, I think I will ask that same one. Just to see what happens. Since the forum members here don't rely on "articles" and use their experience to answer questions, I think I will get a different set of responses. (I've been amazed at the sense of community here.)

TGM wasn't a fit for me. And since I started this thread asking for the experience of others with TGM, I certainly have the right to share mine.

I'm getting a little irritated now. I will try to make my final points and give this thread the boot.

I requested my refund last night and wouldn't normally have logged back in to my account there. But because you were so gracious to SEARCH for ME on THIS board and respond to MY thread HERE, I felt it only fair to see if I could find YOU and YOUR response to my question over at TGM. INTERESTINGLY, you use a different user name there. Be sure to tell your boss (TGM) that I will not be back.

Maybe tomorrow, you should go to work and write some new content. That is clearly the biggest complaint you've read here from even those who loved TGM and vow to use the AVP every trip.

The DIS forums are free and that is what is best about them. The information here is free. The members are free to post pretty much what they like.

If you don't like my opinion of TGM and that I came here to "tattle," so be it. If you don't like me, so be it.

I don't like TGM, and you only reinforced it.

Thankyouverymuch and Goodbye.

I've had my say. I've shared my opinion. I've been reamed for said opinion. I'm done.

 

[vicki_c]

The PP does not work for TGM, I can vouch for that. Most of the TGM moderators (who are just volunteers anyway, and that person is not one of them in any case) don't post over here.

 

[WallE]

Fellow Alabamian here! War Eagle. For what it is worth, I signed up for TGM for our next trip and have been pleased overall. Some articles are woefully behind, but his advice, I think, is practical. I will let you know after our trip.

 

[MushyMushy]

Thank you for responding to my question there and here.

As for my being "disingenuous" here, I merely am sharing MY OPINION, just like everyone else here who has RAVED over their experience with TGM. Unfortunately, my experience wasn't so wonderful. To gloss it over would have been "disingenuous". I think the problem you have is that I actually needed assistance and wasn't getting it and didn't keep it a secret. And no, the content about which I had a question (Fastpasses) are NOT unique to TGM.

It's amazing how different people can have such totally different perceptions of the same incident. You got your first answer within 6 minutes, point by point, and then even more thorough answers within an hour and 20 minutes. Only one person asked if you read the articles, and then another suggested that you might find more answers there, but you had all the answers you needed right there in the thread fast enough to please anyone.

It is pretty unfair to bash a service based on what you would call rudeness, when the responses were actually quite thorough and friendly. If you believe you've seen rudeness on that forum, then might I suggest a thicker skin? Because you're really gonna need it over here.

 

[2ndstartotheright]

Thank you for responding to my question there and here.

As for my being "disingenuous" here, I merely am sharing MY OPINION, just like everyone else here who has RAVED over their experience with TGM. Unfortunately, my experience wasn't so wonderful. To gloss it over would have been "disingenuous". I think the problem you have is that I actually needed assistance and wasn't getting it and didn't keep it a secret. And no, the content about which I had a question (Fastpasses) are NOT unique to TGM.

You are absolutely entitled to your opinion of the TGM site.
You asked a question. You got lots of responses. Reading thru your thread there I am finding it hard to agree that you did not get assistance in a timely manner. You got several helpful, friendly and detailed answers. As for details in those answers, I have yet to see that kind of detail shared here.

Trust me, though; I will be sure to ask any and all future questions here at DIS. And as a matter of fact, I think I will ask that same one. Just to see what happens. Since the forum members here don't rely on "articles" and use their experience to answer questions, I think I will get a different set of responses. (I've been amazed at the sense of community here.)
My answer to you on that post specifically states it was based on my experience, and that experience was indeed while using TGM advice.
I'm sure you'll get a whole lot of different responses here, based on all sorts of experiences.


TGM wasn't a fit for me. And since I started this thread asking for the experience of others with TGM, I certainly have the right to share mine.

I'm getting a little irritated now. I will try to make my final points and give this thread the boot.

I requested my refund last night and wouldn't normally have logged back in to my account there. But because you were so gracious to SEARCH for ME on THIS board and respond to MY thread HERE, I felt it only fair to see if I could find YOU and YOUR response to my question over at TGM. INTERESTINGLY, you use a different user name there. Be sure to tell your boss (TGM) that I will not be back.
I didn't search for you here. Simply reading a thread of interest, saw your post, saw your avatar, and recalled your post over there.
You use a different screen name on TGM as well.
I don’t work for TGM.

Maybe tomorrow, you should go to work and write some new content. That is clearly the biggest complaint you've read here from even those who loved TGM and vow to use the AVP every trip.
Did you have time to read much of the content in the less than 48 hours since you subscribed? Or in the less than 24 hours til you requested a refund?

The DIS forums are free and that is what is best about them. The information here is free. The members are free to post pretty much what they like.
Hey! In this economy, free is always good.

If you don't like my opinion of TGM and that I came here to "tattle," so be it. If you don't like me, so be it.
I don’t give a hoot what your opinion of TGM is. But do like to see the facts presented honestly.

I don't like TGM, and you only reinforced it.

Thankyouverymuch and Goodbye.

I've had my say. I've shared my opinion. I've been reamed for said opinion. I'm done.

Peace out.
Hope your cold symptoms have subsided and you're feeling better.