TGM or UG touring plans?

[Michelina]

Our last trip we managed to do RNR, TOT twice in a row, the new stunt show, Beauty & the Beast, Voyage of Little Mermaid, Muppet Show and other stuff that I'm sure I'm forgetting about but I have never seen Indiana Jones. I can't EVER seem to fit it in.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

We used the UG's touring plans for our last 2 trips and they worked incredibly well for MK, AK and Epcot. Only MGM didn't work out so well and I think that's because of all the shows. I wonder if anyone has used TGM for MGM and how well his plan worked?
I just read that TGM has 1/2 day touring plans for park hopping and that's the first thing I've heard that really makes me curious to check out his website.

I had that same problem with MGM. We quickly learned right off the bat we weren't going to get all the shows in. And we had to skip seeing the toy story characters or skip the stunt show. We ended up locked into a window for the stunt show (due to other shows conflicting) and that was right when the character meet and greet at the toy store was.
We missed most of the studio stuff like Millionaire, walt's thing, mermaid, We missed just enough to know we missed it but not enough to go back another day. HEHE. But I guess we'll pick all that stuff up this time. It doesn't appear any of the shows there have changed.

And now this summer we are going to Disneyland (we live in AZ, so this is very close) and even though TGM doesn't do DL, I KNOW I can use his strategies successfully and avoid long lines and cranky kids.

You can use general principles and general strategies yes. But do not attempt to overlay a touring plan for WDWMK be it UG, TGM, or any other, onto DL. Though the two parks have the same shape, they do things differently out there, things are in different places, the fast pass system is different, the rides that use them are different. their early entry is different, there's a fantasmic show right smack in part of the park. You have two extra superheadliners, neither of which even have fastpass on them. The parade route is different, etc, etc. Traffic flow is therefore different than it is at WDWMK. So use general principles yes. But go to the DL board, and use your general principles to make yourself a new plan. Then run it by them after you get done. You'll be glad you did.

 

[mommabo]

You can use general principles and general strategies yes. But do not attempt to overlay a touring plan for WDWMK be it UG, TGM, or any other, onto DL. Though the two parks have the same shape, they do things differently out there, things are in different places, the fast pass system is different, the rides that use them are different. their early entry is different, there's a fantasmic show right smack in part of the park. You have two extra superheadliners, neither of which even have fastpass on them. The parade route is different, etc, etc. Traffic flow is therefore different than it is at WDWMK. So use general principles yes. But go to the DL board, and use your general principles to make yourself a new plan. Then run it by them after you get done. You'll be glad you did.

Yup, can't use exact plans ......don't plan to......just use the general strategies. We have been to DL three times in the past 5 years (once over 4th of July-my EXTREME budget trip), all without knowing about DISboards or TGM and having a great time and doing most everything. So now with TGM's strategies and disboards, I feel like we will be even more successful and wait less. Actually, I believe TGM's general strategies and thought process can be applied to all theme park touring. We are doing Sea World, the San Diego Zoo and Universal as well, we will see if this theory pans out. Yes, I have already been spending time at the DL boards, but thank you for the referral anyhow. I love how everyone is so helpful on these boards.

And with regard to using TGM for MGM, yes we used his plans. I don't believe I am revealing trade secrets when I say even TGM acknowledges MGM can be difficult to plan for. However, we still found him quite valuable. He had great suggestions, short cuts, and descriptions that helped us to decide what we wanted to focus on and what we were willing to skip. We did RnR and ToT (both many times), Fantasmic, Muppet show x2, Star Tours x2, Indy show, Beauty and the Beast, Honey playground, Christmas lights, Sci-Fi, 50's Primetime (I can't remember at the moment if there were others) all in 2 half days equaling 1 full. We chose to skip Ariel show, GMR, playhouse disney, sounds dangerous, millionaire (only I wanted to go) and disney animation (again only I wanted to go, but I am sorry I don't push this one as so many have said they enjoy it). To be honest, MGM is my 3rd park choice. 1st MK, 2nd Epcot, 3rd MGM, 4th AK (which was a shock to me as I thought we would love it ) Don't know if any this helped, but hope so.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Yup, can't use exact plans ......don't plan to......just use the general strategies. We have been to DL three times in the past 5 years (once over 4th of July-my EXTREME budget trip), all without knowing about DISboards or TGM and having a great time and doing most everything. So now with TGM's strategies and disboards, I feel like we will be even more successful and wait less. Actually, I believe TGM's general strategies and thought process can be applied to all theme park touring. We are doing Sea World, the San Diego Zoo and Universal as well, we will see if this theory pans out. Yes, I have already been spending time at the DL boards, but thank you for the referral anyhow. I love how everyone is so helpful on these boards.

And with regard to using TGM for MGM, yes we used his plans. I don't believe I am revealing trade secrets when I say even TGM acknowledges MGM can be difficult to plan for. However, we still found him quite valuable. He had great suggestions, short cuts, and descriptions that helped us to decide what we wanted to focus on and what we were willing to skip. We did RnR and ToT (both many times), Fantasmic, Muppet show x2, Star Tours x2, Indy show, Beauty and the Beast, Honey playground, Christmas lights, Sci-Fi, 50's Primetime (I can't remember at the moment if there were others) all in 2 half days equaling 1 full. We chose to skip Ariel show, GMR, playhouse disney, sounds dangerous, millionaire (only I wanted to go) and disney animation (again only I wanted to go, but I am sorry I don't push this one as so many have said they enjoy it). To be honest, MGM is my 3rd park choice. 1st MK, 2nd Epcot, 3rd MGM, 4th AK (which was a shock to me as I thought we would love it ) Don't know if any this helped, but hope so.

We loved things about AK, and we hated things about it. I thought the Boneyard was OK, but the big playground was kind of cheesy. I just don't like paying all that money for a big playground that's at the municipal park. And the slides don't even slide. The poor kids couldn't slide down em because they were just so unslick. They should just remove Dinoland and redo that whole area. maybe devote it to a North American animal theme or South American.
We liked the shows in camp minniemickey but ultimately It sort of was like, shouldn't there be something else to do over here? A merry go round? anything?
Africa and Asia were great. Loved those things, and the Oasis and tree of life were great too.

 

[mommabo]

We loved things about AK, and we hated things about it. I thought the Boneyard was OK, but the big playground was kind of cheesy. I just don't like paying all that money for a big playground that's at the municipal park. And the slides don't even slide. The poor kids couldn't slide down em because they were just so unslick. They should just remove Dinoland and redo that whole area. maybe devote it to a North American animal theme or South American.
We liked the shows in camp minniemickey but ultimately It sort of was like, shouldn't there be something else to do over here? A merry go round? anything?
Africa and Asia were great. Loved those things, and the Oasis and tree of life were great too.

Yup have to agree with you. I was really looking forward to dinoland as my 5yo DS loves dinos, but was very disappointed. Kids played in play area, but like you said, we have wonderful playgrounds already. Did not take son on Dinosaur as it would have scared the begeezers out of him. Besides I thought it was too herky jerky and I have ridden Raiders at DL that has the same type of ride, but this one was actually uncomfortable. DS was too short for dinowhirl (is that the name?) and my girls didn't think much of it. Actually 11 yo DD somehow hit her head during ride and cried. Now you need to know I could smack this kid with a 2x4 and it wouldn't faze her. (and no I haven't actually tried it so don't report me to CPS ) Yes we like Asia and Africa and of course tree of life. I actually think it could use more animals. I know its Nahtazu, but I like zoos, so I would appreciate more animal areas. Also, the day we were there was a bit on the chilly side (January), but we were prepared for Kali rapids with ponchos from Wal-Mart. Let me tell you, people were actually turning green with envy. But they need not have coveted those ponchos too much as DS and I somehow still managed to get fairly wet Who knows maybe it is better now with Everest and my expectations are lowered.

However stayed 3 nights at AKL and LOVED it! (I went check in while DH and kids parked. I watched their faces as they walked in the lobby and the expressions were priceless. DS walked up to me with mouth hanging open and said "Mom you were right, this place is awesome" And this is my hardest kid to impress )

 

[crazyj4488]

My vote goes to the UG. I used TGM once and it was fine. Nothing can quite compare to the Disney bible though