planning services aka: tourguidemikes, touringplans

[Elmo888]

What is the touring plans site? I like the option of itinerary by age.

Google "touring plans", and the site will come up...Disboards doesn't like the site, and it will get scratched out if I type it.

 

[carj]

We used TGM for our trip June 22-29th 2008. Because it is the week leading up to the 4th of July, I expected crazy crowds.
We followed the TGM recommendations, only deviating for our CRT reservation. That was the ONLY day that we experienced crowd issues at all. We had a wonderful time and we rarely waited in lines at all.

I think that if you are a "planner" it is definitely worth it. If you just want to go with the flow, then it may have some benefit as well since you can at the very least avoid going where the crowd goes.

 

[mumto3girls]

We used TGM for our November trip. I had never heard of Touring plans though so I can't campare them. I thought TGM really helped us to avoid the most crowded parks on any given day. On some days we weren't able to follow his advice exactly since I had previously made ADR's in other parks, but it did help and in some cases if we had an adr in a more crowded park, I would at least plan to spend in the morning in a less crowded park. I also thought his suggestions of order of rides to follow was helpful for when you first get into the park. I would say it is worth the money and I will most likely use him again.

His most important piece of advice, though, I think is in every guide book that I have read in the last 20 years ( and there have been many) and that is to arrive before the park opens. I think that advice maximizes your time no matter the park, the day of the week or the time of year.

 

[delmar411]

Is it worth paying for the touring plan if one is going during a low time? We just booked our first trip with our 3 year old son for Dec 5 - 12. We're staying off property in a timeshare and will probably only spend 3 days in the parks.

yes because that's not a low time. It was VERY busy during that time this year. Disney promo'd free dining to fill the rooms and it worked! LOL

 

[mistypnc]

This is my first time doing tourguide mike but I like it so far. I wanted to join so I could pick the best days to go to each park because last time I went we ended up in Epcot on a Friday, when, apparently, every school in Florida does their field trips. That was not the best day! I'm enjoying tourguide mike but I think his plans are a bit too scheduled for me. I like to be a little more spontaneous so I'm just picking and choosing what advice we'll follow.