Returned Today: How TGM worked for Easter Wk

[bluwater]

Hey all. Just back from 5 nights at WDW. While there, I'd been thinking about a couple of things that I wanted to highlight about this visit.

This was a spur of the moment trip....planned in about 3 weeks. Just me and my DD9. I had NO time to do any serious planning. I needed a "quick fix" solution for what I feared would be maddening crowds (they were).

I signed up for TGM about 12 days before the trip and I feared it was a mistake because I didn't have time to read the site or digest it all. So, I basically just planned best park days and took in some details about how to tour, how to eat, etc.

What made it more complex is that my DD9 is at the age that she loves ALL the rides....everything from Space Mtn to Pooh. This meant that I didn't have the luxury of skipping 30% of the rides that didn't apply to her. She wanted everything!

Ok, so here's where I knew TGM was working. It was 11am in the MK on our first day (this past Wednesday) and we'd completed Space Mtn, Buzz, Mickey's Phil, Peter Pan, Snow White, Haunted Mansion, Pirates...and I was holding FastPasses to Space Mtn (we FP'd and then immediately rode upon entering park), BTMRR and Splash.

We did not run anywhere....we were casually strolling (except when we entered and did a power-walk to Space Mtn). We'd arrived at about 7:40 for the 8am opening. It was not the EMH day. It was Mike's park pick for that day.

We then sat for lunch (11am - no line) at Pecos....then rode Pirates again, rode BTMRR twice since someone handed us a couple of fastpasses and we also had out own, then rode IASW, FP'd Pooh, saw Country Bear Jamboree, then got in FP line for Splash and it broke just as we were #2 in line to enter the log ...they shut the ride down and we got 4 FP vouchers for anything in MK until sometime in June...so we used them yesterday (for 2 rides on Splash).

Left the park for pool time and relaxation at Coronado Springs....then returned to MK at night and spent the evening in Tomorrow Land doing everything else, including another Space Mtn ride...then to Toontown for Barnstormer....used our Pooh FP ......and that was our MK day.

I don't know if they ever closed the park that day. But, other visitors were complaining about the crowds and saying that Disney needed to close the park because so many people were around.

It was a total log-jam by noon. The line for IASW was all the way back by the character area/stroller parking. Fastpasses were GONE by early afternoon for the big rides...I don't know exactly what time they were gone...but it must have been early and we saw lots of unhappy people hanging around the fastpass machines and angrily asking the CMs why they were gone so soon.

The Fastpass exhaust continued at each park throughout the week. I'd say that if you don't have your Fastpass by noon, you're pushing your luck on any of the headliners during this busy week. The standby lines for the headliners were reading 180 minutes!!

Even the Fastpass lines were a little bit of a wait. We Fastpassed by people who looked like they'd been in line for years. They were slumped over....not smiling...not talking....kids were crying....parents were yelling at each other and their children....

We never had any problem eating because we followed the TGM rules. We did not have ANY ADRs for the visit...and ate where we wanted...including some popular TS places.

All in all, we had a fabulous time. We are exhausted now...but that's what happens when you do four parks in four days over Easter week..and you cover almost everything...and cover some rides 2 and 3 x.

Thanks to the advice we'd received here and on TGM, I fully believe that my DD and I had a totally different experience than most people in the parks.

Favorite Ride: Splash (rode it twice in a row yesterday...LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the theming and the multiple drops)

Scariest Ride: RnRC. It was scarier than I thought it would be!

Overrated: Soarin and BTMRR

Thank you all for your help with planning this mini-adventure!

 

[nyfinfan]

Thanks for the trip report. DId you ride in the order that you wrote? Sounds like you got a lot in before 11. That's my plan in May but the park doesnt open until 9 than unless it get's changed. What time did you head back to the Hotel on your MK day?

 

[AggieTexan]

Hope this isn't a stupid question, but what does TGM stand for?

 

[nyfinfan]

http://disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=2 Look at the top of the page. Sponser of The Dis.

 

[rihard2000]

Great trip report and TGM review, bluwater. Glad you had such a good well planned time.

nyfinfan, That wasn't a stupid question at all. Sometimes it's hard to keep track of all of the abbreviations on this forum. Quite often I've had to refer to this list of DIS abbreviations. Notice you won't find TGM on that list, even though it is one of the most FAQ's here.

 

[robinb]

I'm glad to hear that TGM came through for you. I use his site every year for our annual Christmas/NYE trip. I never fail to pick up a couple of gems of wisdom from him and his "best parks" list rocks!

 

[nyfinfan]

.

nyfinfan, That wasn't a stupid question at all. Sometimes it's hard to keep track of all of the abbreviations on this forum. Quite often I've had to refer to this list of DIS abbreviations. Notice you won't find TGM on that list, even though it is one of the most FAQ's here.

I didn't say it was a stupid question. Just answering the question.

 

[bluwater]

I think we rode in almost that order. We definitely rode Peter Pan as soon as we hit Fantasyland...so I think the order was something like:

Be there at THE ROPE for Rope Drop at the main entrance. We were standing at the rope. When the rope dropped, we hustled to the rope at Tomorrow Land (the one between Stitch and Monsters, Inc). That rope was still up. The CMs there walked us to the Space Mtn area and then released us. Most people headed right for the Space Mtn line. We headed for the FP machine and then the standby rider line.

FPV Space Mtn (FPV means grab the Fastpass)
RIDE Space Mtn
RIDE Buzz
RIDE Peter Pan
FPV Splash
See Mickey's Phil
RIDE Snow White
RIDE Pirates
RIDE Haunted Mansion
FPV BTMRR

Lunch -11am

We really should have taken our "resort break" at noon because the crowds were absolutely crazy by then. But, we got caught up and kept going. We took out break at 3 and came back to the park around 7. In hindsight, I wouldn't do that. It made our nights too late and we are worn out now. I suggest breaking at noon and going back to the parks around 4 or 5. (or earlier if your go to WDW during a time when the parks close early).

At MGM, if you plan to ride RnRC, you NEED to be there at the front of the rope drop area. We were a little behind the crowd on that day (still there before park opening, but not at the front) and we were in the middle of the crowd on Sunset Blvd when they did the pre-show...and people were literally running to RnRC and we had to wait in a line for the Fastpass. We didn't even try to ride until much later. RnRC had the craziest line I saw...and the craziest Fastpass line at park opening. Soarin had the second craziest.

 

[Dan Murphy]

TGM is great!! And thanks for the good report, sounds like a great time.

 

[Aisling]

My DS and his girlfriend got back from WDW last night. They used TGM, and Mike was right on! They followed his plan, and had virtually no waiting even during this past busy Easter week. It was so cute, I was was watching their video, and so many times they said "Thanks TourGuide Mike!"

 

[Tinker74]

Iam glad you had a good time and the plan worked well for you...but i don't think you should be posting the "plan" here....Its against tour guides mikes rules to post info you got on his site elsewhere...I think you have crossed the line.
to be honest iam really po that you would do this??

 

[jordanyosh]

Iam glad you had a good time and the plan worked well for you...but i don't think you should be posting the "plan" here....Its against tour guides mikes rules to post info you got on his site elsewhere...I think you have crossed the line.
to be honest iam really po that you would do this??

I really didn't get the impression that the OP was sharing TGM info. If anything, I felt like it was an advertisement for TGM. I have flirted with the idea of signing up and this was a great testimonial.......

 

[Leota]

I really didn't get the impression that the OP was sharing TGM info. If anything, I felt like it was an advertisement for TGM. I have flirted with the idea of signing up and this was a great testimonial.......

I agree - I thought it was a great testimonial. I have no plans to get TGM because I have a system all worked out after years of practice. But the OPs glowing review made me wonder if I should get it anyways. I'm sure the folks at TGM love this kind of free advertising, so I wouldn't sweat it. If they don't I'm sure they'll handle it themselves.

 

[Schmeck]

I noticed that you had 3 FPs at one time, according to your first post - were you using them after they expired? Did the CMs give you any trouble? The one time we tried to use expired FPS, at TT, the CM gave us a bit of trouble, and I had to explain that I hadn't been feeling well during our FP window.

 

[mickeymom629]

I agree with TINK - I don't think this detail from TGM should be posted.

 

[mommyaof2]

I must also agree. I am glad that you had a great time, but I think that this is pushing the envelope a little with the info that you gave! You are really not supposed to disclose any info.

 

[Matt'sMom]

Oh please.

The OP posted her personal experience and what she managed to fit in on one day at MK. About the only info from TGM that she gave up was that it was his recommended park of the day on that date (a date now past). Doesn't mean it will be his recommended park on that same date again next year.

As for being at the parks for rope drop, that is fairly common knowledge among anyone with experience at WDW... and not exclusive info to TGM. Ditto on using FP, taking mid-day breaks, eating at less popular times, etc.. I honestly didn't see any tips that I don't already follow--WITHOUT using TGM.

If it is unethical to share any of what the OP did, just because TGM might happen to include some similar 'tips'... then most of the info posted on the DIS and other Disney fan sites (by those of us who have never even read TGM) must be equally wrong??? I really think not.

Give the OP a break. She gave TGM a rather glowing review, and without sharing any 'super secret info' that Dis regulars would be unaware of. I think that was very kind of her.

 

[fuji]

I am a huge fan of TGM and used it with much success last year, but please do not give out any info that you received on his site. I have to pay for that info. This thread should be deleted.

 

[Tinker74]

Oh please.

The OP posted her personal experience and what she managed to fit in on one day at MK. About the only info from TGM that she gave up was that it was his recommended park of the day on that date (a date now past). Doesn't mean it will be his recommended park on that same date again next year.

As for being at the parks for rope drop, that is fairly common knowledge among anyone with experience at WDW... and not exclusive info to TGM. Ditto on using FP, taking mid-day breaks, eating at less popular times, etc.. I honestly didn't see any tips that I don't already follow--WITHOUT using TGM.

If it is unethical to share any of what the OP did, just because TGM might happen to include some similar 'tips'... then most of the info posted on the DIS and other Disney fan sites (by those of us who have never even read TGM) must be equally wrong??? I really think not.

Give the OP a break. She gave TGM a rather glowing review, and without sharing any 'super secret info' that Dis regulars would be unaware of. I think that was very kind of her.

nevermind

 

[Gillian]

While I would rather not read ANY TGM info here, I don' think there's really enough for it to be helpful.

It's worth paying the fee to get the full TGM site! It's not any more $$ than a good guide book, and it's all current.