Is Tour Guide Mike worthwhile?

[scarboroughmom]

Have you ever used tourguidemike.com? Would love to hear your comments. Thanks.

 

[SeattleMark]

TGM is absolutely fantastic and worth every penny. We used his advice and touring plans last year and, even during a very crowded day, never waited more than 10 minutes for any ride. My wife and daughter thought I was crazy for doing things in the order he suggested, but by late morning, they were singing his praises too. We even went on Space Mountain twice and Buzz Lightyear 3 times!

Highly recommended.

 

[Carol Ann]

Another happy customer here - it's amazing because I actually have always felt like I just "knew" Disney and was a devotee of the Unofficial Guide. TourGuideMike has opened my eyes to even better ways to do the park. I was skeptical too - the first few times I heard about him around here. I won't betray any of his secrets here - but his advice is fabulous - and he helps you understand his reasoning so that if you choose to do things a little bit differently, you will KNOW how to make things work for yourself. The website takes a little time to digest, but it is worth the money (IMNSHO). I'd be happy to respond to any questions, either here or via PM

 

[donnajon]

Another happy customer. We went last May (including Memorial Day ) for 10 days and went maybe waited twice for 10 - 15 minutes. He has lots of ideas that when you hear them, you go, "Oh yeah!" Plus he's very funny.

 

[bdrex95]

We're leaving tomorrow and planned everything using Tour Guide Mike. It took some time to absorb everything, you have to make an effort. It's not just dumped right into your lap. He makes you understand why you should do certain things at certain times. He doesn't plan your trip for you, but gives you all the tools you could ever need to plan it yourself, like a pro would. I haven't really heard anything bad about his approach, and I feel very confident and can't wait to leave!!!

At this point, I would highly recommend spending the $20 (or something like that) and dive in. I'll know in a couple days if his stuff works as well as I expect it to. If it doesn't, I'll let everyone know.

Have fun planning, I had a blast. It really helps build the excitement!

By the way, he does offer a moneyback refund, so if you don't like it you're not out anything.

 

[NewEnglandDisney]

I have to disagree with the panel.

Besides the overly cute, rather annoying (to me anyhow) writing style, I found very little of value at TourGuideMike that I couldn't get for free elsewhere. It's really just a series of linked articles giving mostly common sense tips and things you can easily pick up by reading these boards.

N.E.D.

 

[Scottish-Helen]

I think it's excellent. I too have always been a big fan of Unofficial Guide and these boards but if you use it properly Tour Guide Mike gives you even more tips and its all together in one place rather than having to hunt the boards.

Still don't know what I'd do without the Disboards though

 

[disney4me4ever]

Without getting into a debate of one guidebook or source of information vs. another, as I have the UG, the Passporter, subscribe to TGM plus read the Disboards everyday, I will say this about TGM. The other guides are written months in advance, and yes, you can download 'updates', but the information is not the same as what you get from someone that is in the parks, giving VIP tours every day. As an example, there was a thread a few days ago about crowd levels. One guide had this past week designated a "4". In actuality, MK closed due to capacity on several of those days. TGM had updates addressing higher than anticipated crowd levels and suggestions for his subscribers. I will give the TGM system on this upcoming trip, but so far, I've been impressed. I think each author brings a little different perspective, which is why I have all the major guides.

Nancy

 

[jtm1631]

I have to disagree with the panel.

Besides the overly cute, rather annoying (to me anyhow) writing style, I found very little of value at TourGuideMike that I couldn't get for free elsewhere. It's really just a series of linked articles giving mostly common sense tips and things you can easily pick up by reading these boards.

N.E.D.

I couldn't disagree with this more. If you spend the time and understand the reason's TGM recommends things and understand the reason why TGM has set-up the park itinerary the way he has, it is very valuable information you can not find for free and it is not "common sense tips". His detailed park iteneraries alone are woth the cost and are definitely not available anywhere else.

TGM is a great "educator" for people who want to have as much information about their WDW vacation. We have been to WDW numerous times but our trip in June will be our first TGM planned trip. The wealth of information I have already received from TGM was already more than worth the minimal cost.

For less than the cost of an ice cream snack for my family of five, TGM has more than paid for itself already. Even if we don't follow the park itineraries on our trip (which we will), the other information provided by TGM is still worth the cost.

I believe TGM has a money back guarantee. Try it out for yourself and see what you think.

 

[Marseeya]

Have you ever used tourguidemike.com? Would love to hear your comments. Thanks.

This is our first trip and I've bought the UG, the Passporter, Birnbaum's, and TGM. So far, I feel far more confident after I've read TGM's than the other three combined! The UG just stressed me out to the point that I wasn't sure I wanted to go, although it is packed with good information.

Give it a try. $20 is a small price to pay for a vacation as expensive as WDW.

 

[Alice Sr.]

I have been to the parks about 45 times, do you think I would still find it interesting? I stopped buying WDW books because there really isn't any new information. So now I'm down to just the Dis to feed the obsession. I'm all for a new source of good reads.

 

[ebarj1098]

If you go with TourGuideMike, check around for a discount. I think I ended up getting a couple dollars off! I really like the web site. I have had a hard time going through everything though. Maybe its because I get on the computer for an hour a day and I don't have the time. There's SO much information. I can't figure out how I can plan out a day to day itinerary of my own and save it...

 

[Holly]

Another very satisfied TGM customer here.
Thanks to his site, my summer vacation to WDW last year was a total success (well, except for my son being sick from Lyme Disease- but I guess that's not TGM's fault ).

 

[Carrie Ellis]

I bought TGM in Febuary and we are not leaving for our annual WDW trip til Oct1! So, I can say that I am getting my monies worth! I read sections every 2 or 3 days! I think he gives wonderful common sense information. I really am happy about his Magic Your Way Dining information. I like it better than any book because it is updated!

He does offer a money back guarantee. He really has to work hard on this, though, to keep it up to date. I can not imagine how much time it would take to keep everything up to date!

 

[NCombs]

I'm using it right now and I like it.

I have a lot of stuff I have printed from his site that I am compiling in a binder.

He has really good ideas about where to go each day and gives very solid reasoning as to why.

In fact, last night I was reviewing some of this with my family and they were all like-"Wow-that makes perfect sense."

There is a lot of stuff on the site so it does take a while to figure out how to find things but I have over a year until my trip so I can really spend a lot of time looking at the articles. I'm also one that has read a lot of other guide books but I love having the ability to print out the articles I want to pay special attention to and just being able to click on things when I am interested in a particular topic.

 

[AmyBeth68]

Love it .

Even thought I'm a Disney "veteren"....I never go without using TGM anymore. His advice has always proven to be spot on. I think that all the resources out there give you wonderful advice. However, I personally feel that TGM is such a huge value!

 

[LBS]

Here's another vote for TGM. There is information about the parks on his site that you will not see anywhere else. And because he is in the parks regularly he can give you the most up to date information. It is well worth the money to spend for his information.

 

[MarkGrands]

By all means get TGM. There are volumes of information to read through, but if you just do as he suggests in his iniitial outline, everything works into place and you'll be left as I am now just 35 days away wanting to read and plan more but knowing that everything will work out if you just read and understand his philosophy. This is not for the Disney "Commando" type of person but for someone who wants to really enjoy their stay at Disney with their friends and family.
Mark

 

[zachyd]

I second NewEnglandDisney's opinion. I think that I would be able to find all this info on the boards or on other site or from people who have been there!

Zach

 

[tracy51]

I second NewEnglandDisney's opinion. I think that I would be able to find all this info on the boards or on other site or from people who have been there!

Zach

Respectfully, have you used TGM?

I'm using TGM to plan our upcoming trip and can off the top of my head think of atleast 2 things I've read in his information that I have not seen in my months of reading through this and other boards every day or in UG or Passporter.

There is A LOT of information to go through. Yes, some of it is information you can find elsewhere. Yes, there is so much of it that it can be overwhelming at first. However, the TGM approach to planning is a bit different than other planners approach. I can see where it wouldn't be for everyone, but I've found it an invaluable asset. The people on the boards are very helpful and friendly. Mike also enters in discussions on the forums to clarify questions or give up to the minute advice.