Tour Guide Mike, am I missing something?

[taylor1293]

www.tourguidemike.com

I signed up for this vacation planner yesterday and so far, I'm not too impressed.

I'm not sure what I was expecting? But I wasn't expecting to click on mulptiple vacation articles that aren't even completed yet. Additionally, 80% of the pictures that have the "photo tour" line don't have any additional photos.

Any advice on how to best utilize this vacation planner? I've heard people rave about this site, so I must be missing something great? Please help!

Thanks,

Teresa

 

[CrzyforPiglet]

I'm kind of in the same boat. I've decided I'm just a huge WDW info junkie so I thought it's gotten some great reviews - let's give it a whirl. Not quite what I had expected and I know what you mean about the photo tours - I haven't found one yet that I've tried but I have gotten some dining info from it. A couple of places I don't think I knew about or would have considered but have kept them on my list to give a try so its been nice in that aspect.

I've only just begun to play with it though so if I end up with any great words of wisdom I'll let you know.

 

[crs7568]

I have to agree with the above posts. I have not found any new information. I can't understand what the hype is about. I was wondering if I was the only one missing something because of all of the positive reviews.

 

[SandraC]

I was disappointed too. The best WDW sites are this one, www.wdwig.com www.digital-disney.com www.mousesavers.com There are a few others worth visiting for pictures too. S

 

[seanf]

Another disappointed tgm customer here. It's frustrating to have purchased something that is not complete. Several of the articles I was interested in are coming soon. Also, I have not read any tips I have not already known. I got a chuckle out of one of tgm's "tips" for the Peter Pan ride is that the children's names are Wendy, John and Michael. That to me is a fact or some background on the attraction. I consider a tip to be something that will help me avoid long lines or something to that effect. I have spent alot of time reading completed articles on the tgm site. I've read posts by some strong advocates of tgm here on the Disboards and I guess I was expecting more and I don't see what they see. I'd stick with information from the Disboards and the Passporter.

 

[mickeysaver]

I am not a subscriber, but I wouldn't pay for the advice personally. There is just too much that people are willing to tell you for free on the unofficial WDW websites and boards. I think for my purposes, it would be a waste of money. I don't have kids. I have time to plan. I don't need to pay for someone to tell me how to tour a park. I go during value season. I tour without the commando mind set. So, with www.mousesavers.com to help me find my deals and www.wdwig.com to tell me darn near everything else. I really only need to take a look at Steve Soares website the week before we visit for the most up to date performance schedules.

I just don't see how anyone, in my position, could benefit from his services. Maybe I'm wrong, but I just don't see it. Mickey

 

[Piper]

I signed up for it too--I haven't been to WDW since 2000, but I haven't learned anything new from his site. I think it might be good for people who don't know how to research for themselves, but hasn't enhanced my trip planning yet.

 

[taylor1293]

Wow, so many dissatisfied customers. I wish I would have read a thread like this before purchasing the planner yesterday! I'm sure you all feel the same way!

Thanks everyone for your posts!

I love all the websites some of you listed. They are wonderful, especially mousesavers! I guess I was hopeful that tourguidemike would have a little more information and planning ideas that those sites didn't offer.

Thanks ,

Teresa

 

[disneyjunkie]

Originally posted by mickeysaver
I am not a subscriber, but I wouldn't pay for the advice personally. There is just too much that people are willing to tell you for free on the unofficial WDW websites and boards. I think for my purposes, it would be a waste of money. I don't have kids. I have time to plan. I don't need to pay for someone to tell me how to tour a park. I go during value season. I tour without the commando mind set. So, with www.mousesavers.com to help me find my deals and www.wdwig.com to tell me darn near everything else. I really only need to take a look at Steve Soares website the week before we visit for the most up to date performance schedules.

I just don't see how anyone, in my position, could benefit from his services. Maybe I'm wrong, but I just don't see it. Mickey

I visit the parks during peak season, have an 11 year old son, have commando mind set, and love to PLAN. I also think the site may not be worth $25.00.


I think TGM may be great for someone who does not enjoy all the planning and research that a trip to Disney requires. Or maybe someone that doesn't have a clue about all that Disney has to offer.

 

[ByJiminy]

I think TGM may be great for someone who does not enjoy all the planning and research that a trip to Disney requires. Or maybe someone that doesn't have a clue about all that Disney has to offer.

I'm not sure I'm doing the quote right, but hopefully it works. I can't disagree with this. I think there are people TGM is very well suited for, especially first time visitors going at a busy time, who don't have time to research everything. But it's not for everyone, I can see there are many people who wouldn't benefit from it.

I thought it was worth the money for me, even though I have four guidebooks and have spent alot of time online, there was quite a bit in it that was new to me, particulary the touring and itinerary strategies. I'll have to check out the digital-disney site that was mentioned, because I haven't seen that before, but I haven't seen really any touring advice at wdwig. Maybe I missed it?

I am satisfied with it, of course I wish it was all complete already, but since our trip isn't until August I have some time to wait.

Laura B.

 

[disneydave2003]

I don't think you're missing anything. I'm new to the boards and I'm planning a vacation to Disney in September or October. On the recommendation and raves about the tourguide on this board, I went ahead and subscribed. DISAPPOINTMENT. Since I haven't been to Disney World in several years I was wanted all the info I could get my hands on. Several articles I was interested in, NOT COMPLETE. Photo galleries of resorts I wanted to look at NOT COMPLETE. There were itinerary planning tips in there which are good. I've learned alot from Deb page, Disboards and Passporter. I like to just have a book to flip thru, not a site to have to navigate my way thru. I'll still read it since I signed up already. Hopefully the articles I'm waiting for will be completed soon.

Disneydave

 

[disneyjunkie]

Originally posted by disneydave2003
I don't think you're missing anything. I'm new to the boards and I'm planning a vacation to Disney in September or October. On the recommendation and raves about the tourguide on this board, I went ahead and subscribed. DISAPPOINTMENT. Since I haven't been to Disney World in several years I was wanted all the info I could get my hands on. Several articles I was interested in, NOT COMPLETE. Photo galleries of resorts I wanted to look at NOT COMPLETE. There were itinerary planning tips in there which are good. I've learned alot from Deb page, Disboards and Passporter. I like to just have a book to flip thru, not a site to have to navigate my way thru. I'll still read it since I signed up already. Hopefully the articles I'm waiting for will be completed soon.

Disneydave

What happens if the articles you want/need are not completed by the time you go on your trip? Do you get a refund? Is there a test period?

I buy several of the same guide books each year. (Unoffical Guide, all of the Birnbaum's...)
They do not change much from year to year. I don't mind buying them because I know what I'm getting BEFORE I spend my $$$.

The problem I have with TGM is that you can't find out if it's something you'll want and or need without putting up the $25.

 

[zurgswife]

I took a test drive when it first was introduced....and I wasn't impressed at all......I would have been mad if I had payed money for the lack of information that I found on the site.....

I am a commando type of planner and look for the best deals and the newest things to do and I find the other mentioned free sites to contain more then enough accurate, upto date, info to feed my needs...

 

[JJS2K3]

I too am disappointed about all of the "This Article Is Coming Soon" links. It does not seem right to me to pay full price for a service and not receive the full service. It does not state when you sign up that the site is not yet completed.

Since I haven't been to WDW since 1986 I was looking for all the planning resources I could get my hands on. So early in my trip planning I signed up for TGM and ordered a Passporter (no complaints on this). Since then, I've found that a lot of the info I paid for I could just get over the internet through these forums and other places.

Having said all that I'd do it again.

For me, TGM was valuable in the area of itinerary planning for each park - where to go first, maximizing FP, what to avoid. These type of things would be second nature to vets but are valuable for me since I wouldn't even know what questions to ask having been away from WDW for so long. Half the current attractions didn't even exist in 1986.

So, yes, I would have paid for it. It just irks me that there is no disclosure about the unfinished product.

 

[kdibattista]

I also found the site rather "lacking". I hope that it improves by trip in December. I know I would be extemely disappointed if my trip was sooner and that is all the info I had . Here is another site that I found extremely helpful (and I am a total "planaholic"):

http://www.wdisneyw.co.uk/index.html

Hope this helps someone

 

[MinnieGi]

I checked out the site, but decided not to subscribe b/c of the lack of any new inforamtion. I was especially disappointed with the lack of any real photo tours beyond the first picture. I too think these boards and the other sites already mentioned are much better for planning and pictures than TGM. I had only seen glowing reports before on it, so I'm glad to see others who had the same opinion as me!

Gi

 

[mom2of2]

Ok I'm an advocate of TGM. Why??? Cause when I first decided that this was THE year that we were finally going to the Mouse House I decided to learn everything that I could possibly learn about WDW. I bought the Passporter, signed up for Mousesavers and Deb's site and joined here. I received the invite for TGM soon after and joined basically site unseen. I totally agree that some of the articles are not published and the photo tours are incomplete. That being said....I didn't know about what restaurants there were, what a PS was or if I even thought I'd need an Illuminations Crusie. Although people on this board are very helpful and knowledgeable I found the search engine a pain and veryyyy slow and the same questions get asked so much that I sometimes feel that people don't answer a thread because they have answered the question already 40 + times. Is TGM for Disney vets who don't even need a map?? NOPE it's for us newbees that have no clue as to what they are doing and helps us not to get overwhelmed with info. I printed out what I needed and stuck it in my passporter. The passporter does have details on resorts and it is MUCH better then TGM. It has it's pros and cons and no, it's not for everyone. I truly hope that some of the articles that I want are published before I leave in 31 days but if they aren't I won't have a problem asking Mike if he's willing to compensate me in some way. You do have to search for info and sometimes I find myself on the site for hours and still haven't found what I am looking for. The site is ever evolving and new articles are published every day. I thought from the intro that it was a detailed set itenairy? Meaning do this at this time here, then go here and then do this. I was dissappointed that I still have to wing it some what. The passporter has a travel w/ kids itenairy and one w/out what to do each step of the way including where to eat. I really thought TGM was going to be that way too. I was disappointed with that part of it. For a newbee I'd say go for it....it's $25 bucks and not gonna break the bank....for a vet...that's your call.

I just wanted to add that I am not affiliated with TGM in any way shape or form and only stated MHO. I have listed both pros and cons and it hasn't always been one sided.

 

[northernmouse]

Finally, a few other folks who are disappointed! I was starting to feel like the lone voice in a few other threads. I signed on to tgm just as it officially opened, and was very disappointed with the 'coming soon' tone of the site and a nasty experience with 'Mike'. In fairness, many articles have been finished since then (though others have not), the dining planning function is very good, and there have been some snippets of info that I hadn't found anywhere else. I think people would find it as valuable as a printed reference book, if they prefer spending time on the web. But having paid for it once, I would not buy the service again, precisely because I feel I subsidized the finishing of the site and paid for a still unfinished (vs updating) product.

(I have repeatedly bought Passporter, though, because I find the proprietary 'Passpocket' system to be a useful trip planning & recording tool, in addition to the guide)

Quote from seanf: "I've read posts by some strong advocates of tgm here on the Disboards and I guess I was expecting more and I don't see what they see."

Quote from disneydave2003 : "On the recommendation and raves about the tourguide on this board, I went ahead and subscribed"

There's always a lot of opinion, some good and some not, on almost everything on these boards, all of which help people come to their own planning decisions. This board is an amazing resource, reference and referral for all things Disney, and attracts highly-motivated Disney customers. That's worth keeping in mind if you ever see an unusual discussion pattern.

Generally, IMHO, people on these boards share their experience, good and bad, on a topic and then move on. I've grown *very* skeptical about *some* of the really repetitive, highly advocative posts about tgm. A few have been just too effusive, are posted too often and sound too familiar to the tone and manner of the tgm site for my spidy senses to take them *purely* at face value.

 

[disneyjunkie]

Originally posted by northernmouse

Generally, IMHO, people on these boards share their experience, good and bad, on a topic and then move on. I've grown *very* skeptical about *some* of the really repetitive, highly advocative posts about tgm. A few have been just too effusive, are posted too often and sound too familiar to the tone and manner of the tgm site for my spidy senses to take them *purely* at face value.

I've noticed this also. I seems odd to find the same person or persons posting over and over about how great TGM is. I've even noticed it in threads that didn't have anything to do with his site. No matter what the thread is about, someone manages to make a plug for TGM. Kinda makes you wonder....

 

[G-gang]

I'm glad to see that I was not the only one dissapointed .

This will be our first family vacation to WDW and although there is a lot of information that I found useful--I find myself losing track of what I originally was looking for when I use this site. I also think it would be helpful if he had an area where you could document your itinerary as you go. Maybe it does and I just haven't found it yet