TGM or Touring Plans.Com

[DanaHesson]

Anyone use either of these? What did you think? We are two adults, possibly to be joined by my parents...

 

[vatmark]

I chose TGM. I have not tried touringplans.com so i cannot comment on it.

I have found TGM has lots of info. I have not seen anywhere else. He updates his site when changes happen. I have not used his advice at WDW yet because we go Oct. 29th. He does not just spit a tourplan out at you. He gives you all the info behind why he says to do certain parks certain days and certain rides at certain times this way you can come up with your own plan that fits your needs and make changes on the fly if need be.

Annie

 

[cillakat]

unofficial guide to WDW 2006 (which is touring plans.com) I've perused Mike's info and while both of them are similar, there is much much more in the UGWDW2006 (get that over the 2005 version b/c the 2006 version is updated and covers the end of 2005)

really really get the book (and use the plans). Even when they had used the 'human created' plans as compared to 'your best judgement', the plans beat 'your best judgement' by *3 hours* when experiencing the same rides and shows. In fact, the 'own judgement' groups on average waited in took 3h longer but completed *37%* less attractions.

Once they came out with the computerized version that was worked on at universities all over the united states (by queue theory and other experts who happened to be theme park junkies), it knocked another *90* min off of the best human plan they'd come up with.

Following the plans, i did everything in which my young kids were willing to participate in by 11:30 am at AK, 1 pm MK, and early at Epcot too. DS was a total disaster b/c my sil wasn't interested in the plans so we stood on curbs saying 'well what do you want to do. oh, that lines to long. okay, let's do this. oh, we can't, daddy has all of the tickets to go find fastpasses for x...and oh, he left his cellphone here with me. what about this?" <<insert image katherine waiting in some line for 2 hours>>

i think we ended up doing 3 things at DS in something like 6 hours. freaking joke.

but anyway, i just can't can't can't say enough about the unofficial guide to WDW 2005 (what i used last year) and 2006 (this year). their restaurant info was also spot on ito the 'authors favorite counter service restaurants'. the reviews for sitdown restaurants were detailed and included lots of reader input from survey's.

best to you
katherine in atl

 

[TLC371]

I chose TGM. I have not tried touringplans.com so i cannot comment on it.

I have found TGM has lots of info. I have not seen anywhere else. He updates his site when changes happen. I have not used his advice at WDW yet because we go Oct. 29th. He does not just spit a tourplan out at you. He gives you all the info behind why he says to do certain parks certain days and certain rides at certain times this way you can come up with your own plan that fits your needs and make changes on the fly if need be

I have to totally second what Annie said. I haven't actually used TGM yet, we will be on our upcoming trip, Oct. 22nd to Oct. 29th. But I really like the information that he has, the way it is updated, etc. I just think the advice I've gotten from there is really helpful.

 

[bugbugmom]

I can only speak for TGM. But I found his site extremely useful for touring. However, it was hard to navigate initially. I've subscribed 3 times.

 

[Disney Cakers]

I had subscribed to Touring Plans - then stumbled unto Tour Guide Mike. So I have access to both for our upcoming trip and I have to say TGM wins HANDS DOWN. I have never in my life found sooooooooooo much more information than from this guy! Its great.

 

[conniehar90]

TGM is awesome. I used his site this past June and we saw everything we wanted and then some! His touring plans were right on the mark - we were always one step ahead of the rest. We were there in the summer crowds and we waited no longer than 10-15 minutes for a ride the whole trip.

I will not hesitate to subscribe when we start planning our next trip.

 

[whacked]

I have both.

I would say that TGM is a good adjunct for those who have and use the info in UG. TGM has good info, but if you are not familiar with all things Disney, it would be difficult to use his site effectively. Despite his protestations to the contrary, I don't find it that easy to navigate.

I would also recommend that you take a copy of UG with you, at least as far as your hotel room. If your plans change, it's a lot easier to look things up in the UG than to pay for a net connect, and/or find a computer if you haven't brought one.

UG is not that expensive (or TGM for that matter) compared to the expense of your vacation.

I would start with UG and get TGM when you understand the info in UG.

 

[mill4023]

I've used the UG plans for Disneyland, bought the UG for WDW, and subscribed to TGM for WDW.

Not a perfectly direct comparison, but I think it gave me a good idea of the philosophy of each.
Both were very worthwhile and both helped us to do everything we wanted to do without waiting in any long lines.
I lean slightly towards TGM because I think the touring style is a little more relaxed, and requires a bit less criss-crossing of the park. TGM also provides more explanation of the reasons behind his plan. This made it easier to be flexible and make adjustments to the sample touring plans.

I highly recommend subscribing to TGM and buying the UG.
I've already renewed my TGM subscription for our spring break trip next year and I'm debating whether there is enough new information in the 2006 UG to justify buying it.

 

[DanaHesson]

I guess I should also explain that this is our 3rd trip in 2 years, and we are pretty familiar with all things disney.... Looking forward to more responses!!

 

[cillakat]

<<I've already renewed my TGM subscription for our spring break trip next year and I'm debating whether there is enough new information in the 2006 UG to justify buying it.>>

for me there was. they also have the updates on the site, so i've taken that info and jotted it down int he book where appropriate.

i guess one reason i like the UG better is simply b/c i like the book. i just like having it in my hands, i bring it to the park so that my skeptical relatives can read about the restaurants etc.

there are also about 65 other plans from UG on the touring plans website incl plans that don't backtrack as much. however, i prefer the backtracking if it saves me time overall.

someday, maybe a day on my own or just with my mom, i'd love to try the Ultimate Touring Plan and try to do all of the open attractions in less than 12h

 

[Candicno]

For planning our Oct trip, I started with the UG (did not subscribe to the additional plans on the website though, no need for two adults really). I admit that I am cheap so I borrowed it from our library! I still have it checked out...

At first, I thought it was awesome. I copied down the plans and even laminated them. Then I thought, what the heck, this vacation is going to be VERY TIRING if we follow these plans. Some vacation.

I am usually commando style, so it initially appealed to me. But work has been busy lately and I KNOW I NEED A RELAXING TRIP. I absolutly can not come home worn out.

I was very skeptical about TGM. Once again, I am cheap and I didn't want to pay for it. I thought SURELY I knew everything about WDW from the boards here and the 5 books I checked out at the library. I didn't tell my husband I subcribed because I had all intention of asking for my money back after I saw how useless it was going to be.

10 days or so later, I admit, I was wrong! I love Tour Guide Mike. Yes, a lot of the info is repeat. What isn't when you are an obsessive planner? But for the touring plans and strategy, it is worth it. It made me look at WDW totally different.

WDW is not about doing every ride at all costs. It is not about conquering the parks. It is not about family meltdowns. Tour Guide Mike reinforced that for me. If I got anything out of it, it is a greater respect for MY VACATION.

 

[DanaHesson]

that is usually how the hubby and I do our trips. This will be the longest trip to the World we have ever taken, and we are going back just 2.5 weeks later for Thanksgiving. I am thinking TGM might be useful for that trip. I appreciate everyone's comments. As of right now, I am leaning twoard TGM....

 

[Pedler]

I prefered the TGM style. It was more focused on the total resort vacation experience and that was what we were looking for. Still, we were able to do an awful lot of attractions with minimal waits. Its not commando at all. I like to call it informed wandering.