I am now a Believer - Tour Guide Mike

[lovehoney]

So tell me this...

I have a trip coming up next week... I have NO plan of action other than my ADRs. Today I was thinking about either getting the Unofficial Guide plans online or the TGM. I already have the passporter for maps etc.

Is TGM that much better than UG?

Thanks for any input... gotta get to planning!

~Berta

Get the UG. It is great fun. I have 2005 and 2006. I keep 2005 in the car for when I'm waiting in traffic, school car pool lines, etc. I am going to tweak the Tour plans that are included in the back of the books. Haven't quite decided what to do about EMH. Right now I'm leaning towards staying away from the EMH parks. Maybe early tour of the park with evening EMH the day before.

I've never done TGM - maybe on the next trip.

OP - Keep us updated on your visit - can't wait to read more. I have young kids too so very interested.

 

[HaleyB]

Berta-

It depends a lot on you. Are you comfortable doing research online? Will you have enough online time to use TGM? If you will have a lot more reading in print time go with the Unofficial Guide and ignor them when they get really negative about something. However they are equally bloated with information and both take time to figure out/read.

Neither TGM or UG will spit out an itinerary for you. Both have touring plans you can use out of the box. UG has more, but TGM really has all that anyone needs.

You can get 75% of the important information out of TGM with just a few pages of reading.

Read his intro material, 7 simple steps. You can skip some of the advice on tickets and resorts if you don't have time.
Read his EMH advice-Is EMH for you and MAXamize your EMH
Read his Itenerary planing advice
Read his sample touring plans for each park
READ HIS FASTPASS ADVICE- this is one of the most important insights he has, and it is unique as far as published advice I have seen.



To the OP Love the food reviews you posted as well. Glad you are having a great time. We used TGM during a very busy time of year and had a great time. Worked like a charm.

 

[Rozzie]

TGM rocks! We never wait longer than 10 minutes for a ride. unless it breaks down....that's another story!

 

[bertalander]

Thanks for the detailed answer...

Yes, I have time to read online between now and then. I already have the Passporter book, but wanted better plans for the day. We used UG years ago (1999) with an extended family trip... and I liked it lots. But went withe the PP this time.

I see TGM is more $$ than the UG for the online info...

Guess I just need to look at it all in detail... thanks!!

~Berta

 

[goodferry]

We had great success in August using TGM, glad it's working for you

Berta--The other thing to consider is that Mike not only gives you lists of what days are best for what parks and what to see at one time, but it's his whole philosophy for a Disney Resort Vacation that is very helpful. He helps you have a "genuine resort experience" as opposed to coming home exhausted. I would invest the $17, I found it to be a great help, and it kept me from going into "commando mode", which I have to admit, happened the last few trips before TGM.

 

[Okiemom]

I just subsribed to TGM and I really have enjoyed reading it. I think it has some good ideas in it too. I love reading these boards too, they have been very helpful. But if they change the EMH at the last moment, it will mess my plans up. I am going over Thanksgiving time, and I am thinking they might change things then. When is the latest time you have seen them change things, like the EMH hours?

 

[madgomez]

Thanks for the detailed answer...

Yes, I have time to read online between now and then. I already have the Passporter book, but wanted better plans for the day. We used UG years ago (1999) with an extended family trip... and I liked it lots. But went withe the PP this time.

I see TGM is more $$ than the UG for the online info...

Guess I just need to look at it all in detail... thanks!!

~Berta

List for the UG book is 18.99. I know it's less on-line, but I don't know if the whole book is available on-line. There is a discount code for TGM that makes it the same price as the UG book- I'll dig it out and post it for you. Also, TGM offers a money back guarantee - if you don't like it, send him an e-mail and he'll refund your money.

If I had to choose just one, I'd choose TGM, hands down, for planning. But I love the UG for information, reviews and the overall tone and humour.

 

[madgomez]

I just subsribed to TGM and I really have enjoyed reading it. I think it has some good ideas in it too. I love reading these boards too, they have been very helpful. But if they change the EMH at the last moment, it will mess my plans up. I am going over Thanksgiving time, and I am thinking they might change things then. When is the latest time you have seen them change things, like the EMH hours?

Make sure you sign up for the November Vacation Club on the TGM boards - that's one of the quickest ways to find out about any changes right before you leave. WDW does sometimes change them during busy times, without much advance notice.

 

[JohnNJ]

The $3 off discount code for TourGuideMike.com is

HE7KD-8GA

 

[madgomez]

The discount code for TGM is A82E8-2AH , or if you ate a "mouseforless" reader, there's an ad with a link for the discount.

 

[bertalander]

I didn't eat a mouseforless reader but I used the code... thanks guys!

Hope dh doesn't flip I bought something else to plan... ack!

~Berta

 

[monica31671]

I'm going Jan 5-10. Do I really need a serious plan? I can't decide. I went in June and was super glad I had an itenerary, but I was thinking I might be able to wing it in January. What do you guys think?

 

[Mycroft]

Are mouseforless readers included in the dining plan or do I have to pay OOP?

 

[jennz]

Too funny Mycroft!

We used TGM this summer and did not wait in a line for longer than 10 minutes - it was awesome! I thought I knew it all since I worked in the parks for several years but surprise! I didn't. He is definitely worth it. Which parks to go to when and then the order to hit the rides were great. We got to do everything we wanted and still had time to hang out at the pool. Will be using him for spring break too.

 

[luuuceee]

from another happy TGMer. I first purchased the AVP in November '03, for a June '04 trip. I never knew how much I didn't know about WDW! Thanks to Mike's advice, we did everything we wanted to do, and like others have said, didn't wait in line for more than 15 minutes. It was such a fabulous trip - I couldn't have done it without TGM!

With TGM, it's not a detailed plan that tells you where to go when. It's a mindset, and Mike tells you the "whys" behind all of his advice. I have even used his touring style for Universal, IOA, and 2 Six Flags parks, and haven't waited longer than 10 or 15 minutes for any ride!

I should say, though, that ever since I discovered TGM, my kids (7 and 9) are just spoiled. Any line over 5 minutes is now deemed "too long." Of course, the only lines we're in for that long are at the grocery store...

 

[madgomez]

The discount code for TGM is A82E8-2AH , or if you ate a "mouseforless" reader, there's an ad with a link for the discount.

LOL how embarrasing ! Well, the "r" and the "t" are right next to each other! I would edit it, but then some of your follow-ups won't make sense - so I'll stay humiliated!

 

[danny1649]

TMG know how happy you are on his site to.

 

[luuuceee]

LOL how embarrasing ! Well, the "r" and the "t" are right next to each other! I would edit it, but then some of your follow-ups won't make sense - so I'll stay humiliated!

Yes, it may be humiliating, but...I got one heck of a loud laugh out of it! Made my workday that much more interesting...

How'd that mouseforless user taste, anyway?

 

[CharmedLife]

Okay - rookie here, I don't know anything about TGM. I do have the UG and love it, but of course am always looking for an even better plan. We're leaving in 2 1/2 weeks - I'm getting into full planning mode (hard to think about anything else!). Is it worth checking into?

 

[HillPete]

Lots of people mention the great maps in the Passporter guide. Is there something different or special about these maps that makes them different from the ones you get at WDW. Do I need to buy the Passporter also just for the maps?

They are the MOST user-friendly maps of WDW I have ever seen. They are color-coded, have walking times marked between attractions, everything is labeled right on the map (no searching the margins for number 27-B)...I could go on and on. Go to a bookstore and take a look. The 2004 and newer have the great color maps. Before 2004 they were black and white, but still way easier to read than the official ones.