Tempted to try TourGuide Mike

[tzuhouse]

Should I do it? Obviously, we've been before and have read every word in books and online and had terrific trips. I think I'm just curious if he might show us something different or new! I've read people love it, but wonder if anyone has been disappointed or thought they could write it themselves LOL! Thanks!! Jamal

I just used him for our trip and I'm very happy with him. He gives you your money back if you are satisfied, so I'd go for it and if you already know all of it, just send him an email.

Mary

 

[KimR]

I think I am going to sign up and give it a try but we are going the first week of April and I am VERY skeptical that there is anything we can do to avoid the lines. We've gone during spring break twice now and lines are just a fact of life that time of year and I don't see how they can be avoided no matter how well you plan. But, like I said I am going to give it a try. last year we waited an hour and a half for mission space - not fun.

 

[Amapola]

That does sound annoying. Would you write like that, Amapola? I wouldn't do that. Would you use "wink wink" comments, Amapola? I would delete them too. Ok, I am just being a smart a** Amapola!!

 

[PKS44]

My colleague used TGM for XMAS week 2004 and did everything they wanted with very little waits using the TGM method....at busy times of year like XMAS and Easter -his on the spot day to day advice which he updates as needed on a continuing basis is INVALUABLE...

 

[roadtripper]

Not asking anyone to reveal trade secrets here, but are you allowed to put in definites, or non-negotiables when TGM does your plan? For example, there's no way I could hold my kids off from the MK for three days, as a previous poster stated was recommended. We are early risers, so maybe we should just stick with our usual "do Dumbo first, etc" routine? Interested to hear more from the TGM fans.

 

[Mellie0119]

From what I've picked up, on any given day a park can fall into one of three categories green light, yellow light, and red light. And it is split up into morning and evening categories- so one park may be yellow in the morning then red or green in the evening. It's all based pretty much on common sense on which park/category everyday (although some of it seems counter-intuitive- when you think about it, it makes sense) so it just saves you having to figure it out for yourself.

Like I said in my PP, I went ahead and signed up based on a few factors:
1. If I didn't like it, I could get my money back.
2. I usually spend about the same amount on the UG (and I have 3 editions on my bookshelf already)
3. I really wanted to see what all the TGM hoopla was about.
4. I'm always looking for ways to avoid lines and make my trip less stressful. (and if the plans don't work- refer to #1)

 

[always quiet]

Mike doesn't give you an individual schedule...you tell him what your group consists of (like if you have all little ones, you can emphasize those kinds of rides and not the wilder ones), whether you want to do things aside from the parks, like water parks or driving experience, etc. You also tell him when you want to go (if you don't know exactly, just an approximate date is fine). He will tell you which parks, which days, what in the morning, what in the evening...what order he recommends the rides (and WHY he feels this way). He will even remind you when to call in for ADRs and when new discount codes come out. LOTS of things in one place...all at your finger tips.

 

[geetey]

Not asking anyone to reveal trade secrets here, but are you allowed to put in definites, or non-negotiables when TGM does your plan? For example, there's no way I could hold my kids off from the MK for three days, as a previous poster stated was recommended. We are early risers, so maybe we should just stick with our usual "do Dumbo first, etc" routine? Interested to hear more from the TGM fans.

always quiet is correct. You don't get a personalized plan. You get the information to make your own plan. You may chose to do MK whenever you want. It just might not be the *best* day to do it. I hope that makes sense.

Of course, you could always just change your day of arrival. (just kidding!) I have friends who MUST ride the TTA in MK as their first ride, so their first day (they arrived @ 2pm) they did their own thing and then followed TGM for the rest of their trip. Worked just fine.

 

[Wendy*Darling]

No offense but that seems pretty hard to believe. Has anyone else had this experience. Week 2 in June is fairly crowded and to say that you had no waiting in lines is a big statement.

I can back it up. We used his advice for two different Christmas week trips and did 't stand in line for more than 10-12 minutes for anything in both trips combined. Most of the time it was more like 5-10 minutes. The survival guides he writes for really busy times like Christmas, Spring Break or Summer is great! It's nice to have specific advice for being there at a busy time rather than just general advice that is in the guide books. I think those guides are worth the sign up cost alone. There are things that you'll know from going before or from DIS or other boards but the best advice is the stuff that is total opposite of what is recommended here.

I use a sign up link on http://pscalculator.net and get like $3 or $4 off the purchase price. We renew for every trip but then it's only something like $16 for subsequent trips.

Definitely worth spending $20 to make the most of a vacation where you're more than likely spending $2000 or more!

 

[TomD]

TGM is a great site. I visit there almost as much as I do here. His advice is right on and the forum is a friendly place.

Takes a little while to figure it out but after that it is a breeze.

 

[mommyintn]

Ok all you TGM vets, I just joined last night and I love the way his touring plans are layed out and since we are going with our 2 young sons (6 & 3) I'm excited about the prospect of smooth sailing during spring break. Here's my question, where do you store this information when you get to the parks? Do you write up your plan on a small sheet of paper or print it out? Or do you carry around what you print out from TGM site?

 

[puddleduck]

I copied and pasted the info into a word program and printed off a single sheet for each day in the parks. I just took the page for the park we were going to, but to be honest, after I had spent all that time reading and making my touring plans, I had it all memorized. I really enjoyed using it and will use it again when we got back in either Dec 06 or Jan 07. And I agree with the pp, the one day we didn't follow his advice, it did not go smoothly.

 

[JennaTX]

Ok all you TGM vets, I just joined last night and I love the way his touring plans are layed out and since we are going with our 2 young sons (6 & 3) I'm excited about the prospect of smooth sailing during spring break. Here's my question, where do you store this information when you get to the parks? Do you write up your plan on a small sheet of paper or print it out? Or do you carry around what you print out from TGM site?

I think if you look on the TGM forums, there are a few threads about this. I had sent a PM to another member there, who emailed me some great sheets. Just ask the same question over there and you will get a lot of replies!

 

[ntengwall]

I just joined tonight and have a headache from all the reading But it does seem to be very thorough and I have already taken quite a few notes! The one thing that made me a little mad is that his info on the specific parks and their EMH were wrong. He said not to do MGM on a Sunday night because of the extended hours, but when I went to the Disney site (because we are planning just that), there are no EMH that day. So makes me wonder how accurate all his other info is. I got more accurate info concerning which parks to do on which days from www.touringplans.com

That said, I do think his site will be very helpful--even if just for the dining options and his tips and directions for avoiding lines.

 

[ntengwall]

Wendy*Darling--
I am also the the queen of the testosterone castle! What are the ages of your boys? I LOVE having 3 boys and wouldn't trade it for the world! It was so funny when I had my third (we didn't know what we were having....even though I had a feeling Everyone assumed I was upset that I didn't have a girl. I was honestly relieved because I know "boys" and already had all the clothes, toys and gear for them. I don't know what I would have done with hair bows, matching shoes (my boys have one pair of sneakers) etc.. LOL

 

[Matt]

I just joined tonight and have a headache from all the reading But it does seem to be very thorough and I have already taken quite a few notes! The one thing that made me a little mad is that his info on the specific parks and their EMH were wrong. He said not to do MGM on a Sunday night because of the extended hours, but when I went to the Disney site (because we are planning just that), there are no EMH that day. So makes me wonder how accurate all his other info is. I got more accurate info concerning which parks to do on which days from www.touringplans.com

That said, I do think his site will be very helpful--even if just for the dining options and his tips and directions for avoiding lines.

What month were you looking at. I haven't seen him say that on a Sunday however it could be a mistake from the old EMH schedule. Not sure!

 

[Wendy*Darling]

Take a look at the best days advice in your month's express planner. More than likely what happened is that WDW has deviated from the "typical" EMH schedule that week for some reason. The general best days article has info based on the typical EMH schedule but he usually has a specific article for your month if they are going to deviate from it at all. In that article he will give specific advice for your dates rather than the general "any time" advice.

My boys are 8 1/2, 6 and 4. Everyone assumes we have 3 because we kept trying for a girl which isn't the case. DS #3 was a surprise. Of course we had friends and family say "OH! This will be your girl! Why else would you have a surprise after having so much trouble getting pregnant the first time? It's your girl!" Nope! LOL I don't feel anything is missing in my life not having a daughter. I wouldn't trade them for the world!

Everyone assumed I was upset that I didn't have a girl. I was honestly relieved because I know "boys" and already had all the clothes, toys and gear for them. I don't know what I would have done with hair bows, matching shoes (my boys have one pair of sneakers) etc.. LOL

I totally know what you mean! I told friends I couldn't have a girl because we don't have room in our house for a train table AND a Barbie dream house.

 

[PKS44]

Not asking anyone to reveal trade secrets here, but are you allowed to put in definites, or non-negotiables when TGM does your plan? For example, there's no way I could hold my kids off from the MK for three days, as a previous poster stated was recommended. We are early risers, so maybe we should just stick with our usual "do Dumbo first, etc" routine? Interested to hear more from the TGM fans.

It is not an itinerary---it is a primer on how to build your own ideal itinerary knowing how the crowds behave--how the rides handle the crowds..etc...so while he does have a checklist--go to this then this, etc available the strength of his approach is the education to alter the basci plan to suit your needs....and he updates it continuously as needed for changes in circumstances--new hours, parades, EMH, crowd patterns different, new rides added and how they best fit into a schedule, etc..

 

[thelionqueen]

This is what I do, and it works very well, albeit time consuming.
I first print out the hours for each park the weeks I am there. Then, I download the TGM empty itinerary (sorry, don't know where it is) into my computer in word. I then "map out" on scratch paper what my tentative dining schedule is going to be determined upon park hours and best days.

I then make my dining ADR's (I did mine early in Dec. for late May..got everything I wanted BTW).

After ADR's are made, I do a daily breakdown of activities. This includes meals, events (Spectromagic, Wishes or other events on that day) park hours and basic itineraries.

I do this for every day of the trip. Once I have a basic idea of what and where I'm going each day, I do some tweaking as necessary (Dining CM's will vouch for my tweaking ability )

I then put every day into the empty itinerary so I can have a 1 page look at what is going on. Then I down load the weekly (by day) itinerary from TGM (again, don't know where it is, sorry hard to navigate for me sometimes) and do a detailed daily itinerary (which is usually about 8-10 pages for 10-12 day trip).

I then do a separate sheet with all ADR's, times and Confirmation numbers on one separate sheet.

I add lots of other stuff to this folder BTW (like special events, Flower & Garden Festival & Star Wars weekends are on during our trip, so I have a "special event" section as well.

I fully admit I need help with my overplanning obsession, but it makes for a GREAT vacation!!

If I can help in any other way, just let me know...Stephen King wants his pen back

 

[MAGGIED]

I joined TGM the other day and when I tried to copy and past the sample tour plans into a word document along with it came all the little pictures and took up like 5 pages - did I miss something? Am I downloading the wrong ones. I had already made my ADR before purchasing TGM then after reading his days I went and switched them around - except the last day - he says to stay away from MK in the morning - but it is our last day there and we ALWAYS start our trip and end our trip with visits to the MK.