Tgm?

[EjandMD]

Okay after reading all the flames on the TGM posting. I have a qustion. I am a faithful UG follower. I get the new one every Aug or Sept. We are going with kids (for the first time) in Feb. I am drafting the itinerary as we speak. This will be the first time I have ever gone during a peak season (presidents' day weekend). Will TGM provide me with better insight than UG? The issue isn't the $20. The issue is will this be a waste of my time if it takes me days to learn how to navigate and then realize that it is the same info or less specific info than the UG? Please help. Thank you.

 

[EjandMD]

Anyone...anyone....Buler...Buler....

 

[Kitty-chan]

I'm using TGM for the first time too, and I didn't find it took long at all to get used to the site. Now mind you, I'm a geek and a computer professional, so Your Mileage May Vary.

I'm loving TGM. I've been a UG reader for years, but haven't used their touring plans as they didn't match up to my family's needs. I love the TGM feature that prints out the best times for your chosen attraction for each park (ie, you enter information about which attractions you want, and then can click on a link which shows them listed by "best time" -- it's kinda like an itinerary but less structured). And there's a ton of other stuff on there too, plenty of detailed information on many many different topics. I will spend the money on TGM again for my next trip, no doubt.

I find some of TGM kinda hokey -- it cracks me up how he inserts the reader's name from time to time, in this chatty way. But it's also kinda sweet.

 

[cleo]

There are currently 7 active threads on the topic of TGM with various opinions on his 'worth'. Answering the question of whether he is worth it for each individual family gets a bit cumbersome, so you may want to read the other 6 threads to help you make a decision for your family.

 

[Goofy4]

I find some of TGM kinda hokey -- it cracks me up how he inserts the reader's name from time to time, in this chatty way. But it's also kinda sweet.

Another computer professional here -- I've been biting my lip on that one. I think that was one of my first school assignments: "generating personalized mail". If it works for most, that's fine.. I just shudder picturing those "insert name here" statements in the code

 

[MinnieM21]

There are many threads on TGM. If you do a search and read through them, I'm sure you'll be able to find the information you need.

This is just my opinion, but I think if you've been to WDW many times or enough that you know how to tour the parks, then you probably don't need anymore additional information. There's tons of information on the DIS and in the UG and with your own experience.

 

[Goofy4]

To answer the OP's question: Part of the problem no doubt is that few people know both well. I tried TGM for a day shortly before our trip and found that I needed to invest more time in it than was practical at that time (no super-quick answers.) On the other hand, as you mentioned, no 1 plan over at UG/TP fit our group.

I'm not sure what I'll do next time. As with you, the $20 isn't a big deal, nor is the $6 over at TP. I'll probably do both for general knowlege, but I won't plan so much next time. Wilma put a wrinkle in it for us. Going here first, then this, then this was just not practicle most of the time. Having invested in making good choices in ADRs set a good pace for us.

 

[originalrabbit]

Okay after reading all the flames on the TGM posting. I have a qustion. I am a faithful UG follower. I get the new one every Aug or Sept. We are going with kids (for the first time) in Feb. I am drafting the itinerary as we speak. This will be the first time I have ever gone during a peak season (presidents' day weekend). Will TGM provide me with better insight than UG? The issue isn't the $20. The issue is will this be a waste of my time if it takes me days to learn how to navigate and then realize that it is the same info or less specific info than the UG? Please help. Thank you.

don't do it! But that would be selfishness on my part. This is the fifth trip that we have used TGM. Each trip had different players invovled. Two mature adults. Two mature adults with grown daughter and infant. Two mature adults with grown daughter and two toddlers. etc. etc. Each trip was custom designed using TGM and we NEVER waited in line over ten minutes and get this - three of these trips were the week of Christmas!! Want to know the secret - open the wallet and pay the meager twenty bucks.

 

[zachnlucy]

I've always loved the UG and got it again for next April's trip. Then I subscribed to TGM. You do need to invest some time in his site, but it has given me a lot of information I've never received from the UG. Like everyone says, your satisfaction is guaranteed or you get your $ back.

 

[EjandMD]

Okay Rabbit---you're on! I'll try it...uhh if it fails me at the parks, Aunt Michelle's reputation as the super planner will be ruined!

I would also like to point out that I did notice all the other threads, but no one answered the question I needed it was just a bunch of flames. So I needed to start my own. My apologies to the MOD.

 

[Sammie]

I think the reason this question (as with many other questions on these forums) are hard to answer because there is no way to know how any one person will process and use information.

If you ask does TGM provide lots of useful info and detail then yes it does. However that does not mean every person that purchases the program will be able to make it work for them.

Kinda like buying a very good cook book, some will have great success from the recipes and some will burn to a crisp everything they attempt.

 

[mmcguire]

To the OP: did you read this thread:

Dangit! Thought I was done planning and now Tour Guide Mike! ?

At last check, there was little or no flaming going on there. Anyway, I was the OP on that thread, and much in the same boat as you. Leaving Dec 15, planning for a group of 7, and just ran across this on Tues. Three days later, I'm LOVING my decision to subscribe to TGM. I've learned a ton of stuff, and I've been reading Disney guides for nearly 15 years.


Hope this helps!

 

[CBear]

I think some people think that if they subscribe to TGM, they'll be able to plunk in their dates and it will spit out an itinerary for you. It won't do that, but it will provide you with loads of very detailed, thorough, well thought out info that will enable you to easily plan your own amazing days.

TGM does require some time, however, to really get the most out of it and to become familiar with the navigation of the site. But I'm a second-time subscriber and I love TGM. I'm always finding new pages of information that add more to my planning experience, and I know using TGM will also add a lot more to our vacation at WDW.