TGM.....should I do it?

[r4blessings]

Hi! I've been to WDW twice in the last four years, and did really well planning it out myself with the help of several tour books. I guess what I'm wondering if is it really worth it to pay for TGM? I noticed a lot of DIS'ers have done this, even though you all seem to have experience. Is there really an advantage to paying for this? I am so excited to be going, I just want to have a great time! We have four little ones, ds8, ds4, dd2 and ds 9 months! So yes, we have our hands full!

Thanks!
Jennifer

 

[Ozymoe]

My original opinion would be that Tour Guide Mike is an absolute godsend (and incredible value) to First-Timers...or to occasional visitors (once every year, two or three or so)...and also maybe if you HAVE to visit in the summertime (or Christmastime/Easter/4th of July), even if you know your way around in the off season.

I have never done Tour Guide Mike because we/I have gone almost every year for 18 years...but would be interested to hear what other Disers think.

 

[sara74]

Loved it loved it! We used TGM for our first trip in April and it was great! ***Shameless plug for own trip report here...*** My trip report (4.5 newbies...) is about to hit our first day in the parks where I will profess my undying love for TGM! If you read it you will see how wonderful the TGM system worked for us! ***end shameless plug here***

 

[Dale-n-Chip]

TGM's "money-back guarantee" is a pretty good deal. As the sponsor of the "Theme Parks Attractions and Strategies" board here, he offers a $3 discount to DIS members.

I am a serious (OK, anal-retentive) planner and did a lot of research on my own before subscribing to TGM myself. Certainly, a lot of his suggestions I already knew (eg: go early), but I have learned a LOT about how Disney manages crowds and how to beat the herd mentality. Was it worth my $20? I think so. Personally, I like it well enough to subscribe again for my next trip after this one (he offers a return-user discount, too). Additionally, I find the boards over there to be less confrontational. Eventually, I'll get the TGM strategies ingrained deep enough not to need the site for a cheat-sheet, but for now, I need the site. It's worth every penny to me.

Of course, YMMV.

 

[OhMari]

I am going to move your question off the Trip Report Forum and move you over to Theme Park Strategies. You will receive a lot of answers.

Ohmari
Trip Report Moderator

 

[bigbabyblues]

I just subscribed last night, and I'm having a ball reading all the info! OK, so I'm a dork, but there is so much info and it's fun to me. It is a little confusing to get around the site, but I have 362 days until our trip, so I think I have time!

We're going Memorial Day week next year, and that's the main reason I subscribed, to find his suggested days, etc. I probably won't use a step by step attraction plan, but I'm sure a lot of the info will be helpful.

It's $18.95 if you go through the link at the top of the page, and a guidebook is roughly the same price, maybe a little less but not much.

 

[TheZeppo]

Don't waste your money. He has no info that can't be found on this board, any other board or in the guide books. Those sources are also easier to navigate than his site, which can at times be difficult and frustrating. I expected a lot more out of something that was so highly recommende on these boards.

 

[Crazy4mandms]

Don't waste your money. He has no info that can't be found on this board, any other board or in the guide books. Those sources are also easier to navigate than his site, which can at times be difficult and frustrating. I expected a lot more out of something that was so highly recommende on these boards.

Not true! I've been 2 WDW 3x in the last 4 years (I'm actually in a hotel right now on my way home ) and this is my first trip with TGM. If you are willing to put in a few hours navigating the site there is just soooo much useful info. My mom was so impressed with how we avoided all the crowds and she can't believe how much we did in so little time and had the best parade/fireworks veiwing. THere was lots I already knew from navigating these boards but I learned 50% more stuff by using TGM. Not only that....I was so impressed by the dedication of the board monitors...I would post a ?? about itinerary and would have a detailed, expert answer within an hour. Mike himself is on the boards directly putting his two cents in here and there....he updates constantly.

What have you got to lose? He has a money back guarantee and from what I've heard he honors it with no problem....I got my $$ worth! Best trip we ever had!! (disclaimer: I am not a TGM employee!! LOL...just loved our vacation using TGM!!)

 

[MomofCKJ]

I am using it for our December trip for the first time. Came highly recommended by a friend.

His site is FULL of info and great tips. I am learning so much and I can't wait to have a great vacation at a busy time at Disney. I think for $20 it is worth every penny!

Allyson

 

[r4blessings]

ok, you've convinced me! I'll be using TGM to plan our trip! Can't wait!!!

 

[mrslur]

Don't waste your money. He has no info that can't be found on this board, any other board or in the guide books. Those sources are also easier to navigate than his site, which can at times be difficult and frustrating. I expected a lot more out of something that was so highly recommende on these boards.

Not true. Because he is not a guide book he is able to update his site frequently and not be out of date by the time a book is published. He is also in the parks almost daily and has a wealth of experience. I have used stacks of guide books, this web site, touringplans.com, etc. but NOTHING helped us like TGM to avoid the lines and crowds.

 

[MisunderstoodLilo]

To be honest, I hadn't heard of the service til recently. Sounds interesting, I'll have to learn more!

Have a good trip!

 

[TheZeppo]

A lot of planning is basically common sense. If you've been twice in the last four years, you should pretty much no how things work. TGM will most likely not be worth the money for you.

 

[jenny-d]

What exactly is TMG? I know it's a website that helps with planning but what does it do--does it actually provide a customized plan/strategy for you personally? I bought the Official Guide (love) and Unofficial Guide (hate) but I still feel very overwhelmed and as though I don't have a good strategy for our trip. We are going with DD6 and DS4 June 8-15 so I know it will be hot and crowded so any possible crowd-dodging strategies would be great for us. So I guess my question is like the OP's--should I do it? I hate to waste another $20 on something that won't help me. I also don't have a ton of time between now and leaving! BTW--this will be our very first trip to WDW

 

[disneysailor]

What exactly is TMG? I know it's a website that helps with planning but what does it do--does it actually provide a customized plan/strategy for you personally? I bought the Official Guide (love) and Unofficial Guide (hate) but I still feel very overwhelmed and as though I don't have a good strategy for our trip. We are going with DD6 and DS4 June 8-15 so I know it will be hot and crowded so any possible crowd-dodging strategies would be great for us. So I guess my question is like the OP's--should I do it? I hate to waste another $20 on something that won't help me. I also don't have a ton of time between now and leaving! BTW--this will be our very first trip to WDW

TGM is good if you want to have fun looking at a bunch of info and it can help you in general to plan your itinerary. There are a lot of reviews of restaurants, lodging etc. also. It can be a bit of a pain getting around the site even after reading all the navigating tips and I've been kicked out frequently and have had to resign in and find where I was. However, I didn't see anything that created a great WOW!, I've never heard that before!, this is amazing. Most of the info can be found on some of the great free sites and in guide books that you can bring with you (these alternatives offer additional info not found on TGM). I had the misunderstanding that the TGM site would help specifically plan MY vacation and set up an itinerary for ME (I'm not sure where I got that idea, oh well). You are asked a bunch of questions at the beginning pertaining to your trip but then you have to manually plug all your itinerary decisions into a blank form, it will not set an itinerary up for you. Also, there are sample park touring strategy plans but there is no way to have them set up specifically for your family and how many days you plan to be at each park (they're good if your family fits into one of the samples and you'll get useful info, but again there is no way to make them specific, you need to use the advice and then plan out for your family). I guess you have to decide what you want out of TGM and if it is right for you.

 

[nicolemarie]

Loved it loved it! We used TGM for our first trip in April and it was great! ***Shameless plug for own trip report here...*** My trip report (4.5 newbies...) is about to hit our first day in the parks where I will profess my undying love for TGM! If you read it you will see how wonderful the TGM system worked for us! ***end shameless plug here***

I will also shamelessly plug TGM AND my trip report. (Link with pics in my sig)

We've been to the World 8 times in the past 7 years. I still found TGM to be worth it. Look at it this way - you are spending at least hundreds, probably thousands, on your Disney vacation. If you pay about $20 and learn just a couple of things - it's worth it.

But we learned WAAAY more than a couple of things. Had a great trip with no lines. During one of the weeks that is considered Spring Break. Just my 2 cents!!

 

[GrandmaBarb]

Go to the TGM web site and "carefully" read what he offers.
It will be the best $20 you can ever spend towards a vacation where you will be in the right place at the right time. No lines, do everything you want without stress or fatique, it works..
He does not hand you a pre-planned list of what to do when. It is not possible to do so. Each of us wants to do and see things differently.
And he teaches you how to make changes to your itinerary when circumstances change.
You cannot just glance at the information, skip thru it and expect to understand what is there.
You need to follow the plan, step by step, and you will have exactly what you need to enjoy a stressfree, relaxed (yet do everything) vacation.
Once in a while a person will sign up, glance at the site and say nothing is there. Not true.And of course TGM graciously gives them a refund.
The TGM'ers forum is open to all who join and is loaded with pros who will have specific answers to any questions you may have and happily help you with your plans.
Thousands of TGM'ers can't all be wrong. It does work.
Try it and see for yourself.

 

[colonels cruisers]

We are very into getting what we pay for. We leave for WDW in 11 days. So I asked DH if he thought that TGM was worth it. He said "$20 and experts review your itinerary to make your vacation more of a vacation. Thats a bargain"

Granted I probably spent hours reading but With average wait time expect to be an hour, each hour I read = less line time = more FUN