Is Tour Guide Mike worthwhile?

[vpalmer]

I am definitely becoming intrigued by all of the glowing reports about TGM. For those who have used the program, I am wondering.....

Can you personalize the program for someone with special needs? The idea of not having to wait in long lines is wonderful but if it is like the Unofficial Guide with lots of criss-crossing through the parks, that won't work either. I am not looking for a plan that advises lots of extra walking (because of medical issues).

Any thoughts?

I think Mike's plans are very appropriate for someone with special needs. I am planning a trip with a toddler and the pace he advocates is very easy going and doable. I don't want to give any specifics but Mike is used to treating VIPs to WDW who are paying $100 an hour or more to tour the parks with a guide. As a VIP you would not be very happy to criss cross the park all day in order to ride more rides and that is not Mike's strategy at all. It is very kid and family friendly.

 

[geetey]

I think Mike's plans are very appropriate for someone with special needs. I am planning a trip with a toddler and the pace he advocates is very easy going and doable. I don't want to give any specifics but Mike is used to treating VIPs to WDW who are paying $100 an hour or more to tour the parks with a guide. As a VIP you would not be very happy to criss cross the park all day in order to ride more rides and that is not Mike's strategy at all. It is very kid and family friendly.

Thanks, Veronica! That's exactly what I was looking for.

Tons of extra walking will just make the situation worse, but we love riding the rides, so I am willing to try and make this trip as magical as all of the others. Here I come, TGM!

 

[ChairborneRangr]

I am definitely becoming intrigued by all of the glowing reports about TGM. For those who have used the program, I am wondering.....

Can you personalize the program for someone with special needs? The idea of not having to wait in long lines is wonderful but if it is like the Unofficial Guide with lots of criss-crossing through the parks, that won't work either. I am not looking for a plan that advises lots of extra walking (because of medical issues).

Any thoughts?

We have some friends who went last June. This family has a deaf and developmentally disabled child. Savanna is a great kid, but "melts down" very easily. They used TGM touring plans and were happy for all the articles that helped them plan and make modifications due to Savanna's sensitivity. I also provided info from the DIS, AllEars etc. They scheduled specific events with the Disney-with-Disabilities people and found out the sign language times, days, and locations. However, they found out the hard way you have to confirm all scheduled items when you arrive - there was a schedule change. They reported that the interpreters were fantastic as well as the CMs. Savanna just knows that Cinderella loves her. She signed so during the parade.

THis is actually where Mike's articles are great, because he gives you all the info to make your own adjustments when you have activities that must occur at certain times.

Bottom line, they had a fabulous trip. Although their longest wait was 30 min instead of 10, they said it was due to sign language scheduling where they couldn't follow the optimum advice, but all the "best times" info for the attractions helped them see everything they wanted to see.

They recommend TourGuideMike to everyone they know going to Walt Disney World.

 

[marriedmarylander]

I ended up subscribing a few days ago and looked at the touring plans and articles. Didn't find anything helpful - the MK touring plan for active adults says to leave after the afternoon parade - gee, what about Spectro and Wishes. The rest of the information was very broad for the entire month rather than each week. And on several pages/articles I found inconsistent information - things that said the opposite of what it would say on another page. I found it confusing to navigate as well. And the information just seemed to be similar to things I've read about for free from the dis boards or other websites.

 

[Marseeya]

I ended up subscribing a few days ago and looked at the touring plans and articles. Didn't find anything helpful - the MK touring plan for active adults says to leave after the afternoon parade - gee, what about Spectro and Wishes. The rest of the information was very broad for the entire month rather than each week. And on several pages/articles I found inconsistent information - things that said the opposite of what it would say on another page. I found it confusing to navigate as well. And the information just seemed to be similar to things I've read about for free from the dis boards or other websites.

Mike just wants you to skip Spectro and Wishes altogether. Heeee!!! Leaves more room for the rest of us who read ALL the articles!



(I am just picking on ya)

 

[Selket]

A couple of things: I use TGM and travel with my 3 year old son who has various medical issues (low muscle tone, type 1 diabetic, food allergies) and Mike's advice has been VERY helpful. With his plans we don't criss cross the park numerous times and can easily have an unexpected problem to deal with and get back on track with out touring.

Mike *does* have specific advice on his website for certain days and weeks at WDW. He recently put up the advice for May which talks about what parks to visit when based on the schedules Disney has put out. Even yesterday when WDW revised its May hours for that 1st week of May adding a Spectro and closing the MGM early Mike had a post on this morning with new scheduling advice for those specific days and recommendations on where to go and when. So his advice IS specific to the month, week and days you are going. If you are looking for specific advice for a trip later this summer or later this year it isn't up yet.

I haven't found conflicting advice - it is possible you found a page that hadn't been updated (perhaps an outdated link he needs to take out?). And sometimes Mike recommends different things for different times of the year. Like he'll say take advantage of EMH for these weeks or months or whatever and don't do it these times depending on the crowd levels. In other words his advice to folks traveling over Easter for EMH is probably different than what he recommends for us going in May as to whether to take advantage of EMH's and which ones.

If Mike recommended leaving after parade it was likely just for a break - then return to the park for Spectro and Wishes. Or he would suggest hoping to a different park if you have hoppers, etc. and seeing Spectro and Wishes on a different night. He certainly puts A LOT of detail into his advice on the best times to see Spectro and Wishes if it is offered more than once during your vacation (so you have a choice of which nights to go).

Hope that makes sense! Anyway the good thing about his site is that if you try it and it doesn't work for you, he'll refund the money. I think you need to spend a bit of time getting used to his site and certainly post to the forums there if you find confllicting info or something that doesn't make sense, or you can't find something. People are very helpful I've found.

 

[marriedmarylander]

Mike *does* have specific advice on his website for certain days and weeks at WDW.

What I meant was he doesn't say Monday, May 16 - this is the best and worst things to do that day. He breaks it down per day of the week for the whole month rather than each week. At least that's what I found. Unless it's somewhere else and I can't find it. What I have seen so far on the site just reiterated the UG touringplans site for the most part.

 

[mill4023]

I ended up subscribing a few days ago and looked at the touring plans and articles. Didn't find anything helpful - the MK touring plan for active adults says to leave after the afternoon parade - gee, what about Spectro and Wishes. The rest of the information was very broad for the entire month rather than each week. And on several pages/articles I found inconsistent information - things that said the opposite of what it would say on another page. I found it confusing to navigate as well. And the information just seemed to be similar to things I've read about for free from the dis boards or other websites.

What in the world are you talking about?
Just so everyone else knows, that is not what TGM's plan says at all. That would just be silly.

 

[mill4023]

What I meant was he doesn't say Monday, May 16 - this is the best and worst things to do that day. He breaks it down per day of the week for the whole month rather than each week. At least that's what I found. Unless it's somewhere else and I can't find it. What I have seen so far on the site just reiterated the UG touringplans site for the most part.

Again this is not true. He gives general advice on which days are better for which parks (you'll note that he agrees with UG on some days and disagrees for others.) In addition, he gives detailed advice for each month that covers any exceptions to his normal best days chart. He talks about things like the Flower and Garden festival, Star Wars Weekends, Grad Nights, and the May 5th celebration kickoff. He explains in detail what effect these events will have on the normal crowd patterns and any deviations this will cause in his normal suggestions for best days and worst days at each park. He also divides his recommendations up by mornings and evenings, since the best park isn't always the same all day long.

 

[marriedmarylander]

I guess I didn't realize that!

Sorry about it.

I guess maybe it depend who reads TGM info if it's helpful to them or not. I guess since I've read so much already it just seemed to repeat stuff I already knew. If I had done it first maybe it would have been more helpful

 

[Kenswing]

If you're having problems understanding some of the tour plans or other advice, why not post them on the TGM board and get some help from the people over there. Posting here is not going to get you the detailed answers that you need, due to the user agreement.

Ken

 

[Dementia]

Does TGM work for those staying off-site and those FL residents with the 3 day pass (so really can't do more than one park one day?)

 

[luuuceee]

I can answer the first half of your question - yes, TGM works for offsite guests as well as those who stay on property. He has a whole detailed page of the best parks for each day for onsite guests, AND the same thing for offsite guests, along with his reasoning for his choices.

 

[Eyore4Ever149]

Yes it does. I'm cutting and pasting from MK: 1-Day Tour for Teens & Active Adults:

"Afternoon break by at least 1:30 p.m. Or Share a Dream Come True Parade at 3 p.m. and then leave soon after."

What use is a sample touring plan if it doesn't include important parades & shows? It doesn't say anything in the touringplan about going back to the park.

Then on Animal Kingdom Touring plan it says:
"The EMH mornings in this park are Friday and Monday."
The morning is on Saturday so they have this completely wrong.

You're kidding right? Please go back and read the non-disclosure on all touring pages. And please post over on the TGM boards so that you can have your questions answered (TGM reads and often posts to those boards)

Ill let Mike know you are having issues. (will send him this thread)

TGM is excellent, but it does take some time to master navigation.

If you know seibel- you know TGM format

 

[tracy51]

Yes it does. I'm cutting and pasting from MK: 1-Day Tour for Teens & Active Adults:

"Afternoon break by at least 1:30 p.m. Or Share a Dream Come True Parade at 3 p.m. and then leave soon after."

What use is a sample touring plan if it doesn't include important parades & shows? It doesn't say anything in the touringplan about going back to the park.

Please do not just read the touring plans. If you do that, then yes you are going to be very confused. Read the planning articles and about your itinerary and park days. That will help you tremendously. The shows and parades are addressed there. You need to have read a bit of background information to understand why he says what he says in the touring plans.

And no, TGM does not say on July 27th go to this park or on May 21st go to this park. He recommends best days differently than UG. And both present their information in different manners. I have found both to be helpful on planning our trip but they are different.

And, as kenswing said, come over and post you questions on the TGM boards. Everyone there is very helpful and since they don't have to worry about the user agreement there, someone can probably give you a link directly the articles that will help you out.

 

[Princess Mommy]

I just wanted to add that TGM has been wonderful and so accurate on what to see & do and when to see & do it whenever we have used his advice!
My family & I would HIGHLY recommend using his services!

 

[DisneyMama629]

Yes it does. I'm cutting and pasting from MK: 1-Day Tour for Teens & Active Adults:

"Afternoon break by at least 1:30 p.m. Or Share a Dream Come True Parade at 3 p.m. and then leave soon after."

What use is a sample touring plan if it doesn't include important parades & shows? It doesn't say anything in the touringplan about going back to the park.

Then on Animal Kingdom Touring plan it says:
"The EMH mornings in this park are Friday and Monday."
The morning is on Saturday so they have this completely wrong.

You're supposed to leave for a break. If you read all of the articles you will see that evenings are reserved for entertainment such as Spectro and Wishes.

 

[mill4023]

Yes it does. I'm cutting and pasting from MK: 1-Day Tour for Teens & Active Adults:

First of all, you are violating the user agreement that you read when you signed up for TGM by pasting portions of his plan on here. I can't go in detail about what the full article on the touring plan says, because I am not going to violate that agreement. But note that in your quote above, there is a word "Or". And a "break" comes in the middle of an activity, not at the end. If I take a "break" at work, it doesn't mean I go home for the day, it means I stop working, maybe go home for lunch, then return after the "break" is over. The UG highly recommends that people take afternoon breaks, then return to the parks in the evening.

Mike's touring plans are called sample plans for a reason. They are just one example of a plan that he has found to work very well for his tour groups. If you read his advice about why he makes the suggestions he does, it makes it very easy to make your own modifications to the basic "sample" plans he provides.

As far as the EMH for AK, it's a sample plan. Disney changes their EMH's fairly often. Mike has a section that tells what the current EMH schedule is and he always updates to let users know of any changes or exceptions.
I'm going to paste something from his site. I'm fairly confident that it's not anything that will violate the user agreement.

"Your promise: You realize this is a helpful sample tour - a good one - but it cannot account for every possible factor that may happen on your day, or for the different tastes of your party members. You fully understand that the 'why's' of this itinerary are more important than any of the 'where's.' "

 

[marriedmarylander]

Sorry about if I violated the user agreement. I deleted my other post.

 

[RickNWendy]

how much does tour guide mike cost?