tour guide mike instead of guidebook???

[chriserbell]

i'll be heading to the world from 4/5-4/9/07...and in the past i've always bought guidebooks to help with my planning...this time i'm thinking of using tour guide mike...do u reccomend him?? also how long does the $21 membership last. thanks

 

[ajcolorado]

We've used Birnbaum, UG, & TGM and I have to say that we are now completely sold on Tourguidemike. To answer your last question first - you can subscribe as early as you want and it lasts until the end of your trip.

I'm going to use the wrong terms but - when you subscribe, go through the express planner / tutorial all the way before you follow any links. TGM provides lots and lots and lots of great information but it is easy to go from link to link and never complete the information.

Be sure to join the "club" for your trip's month. It'll keep you up on any important info.

The forums there are super-nice and super-helpful.

 

[js]

Hi. I too subscribe to TGM. Your subscription ends, I believe, 3 months after your trip ends.
We have been to Disney too many times to count and have always purchased UG and spend hours on the disboards.
This year I purchased the UG, still spend time on the dis, BUT find I am not on nearly as much or read the UG as much (only for fun now).
The information you get on TGM is priceless and really now all you need for touring. I have planned my MK and EPCOT itineraries and just finished my MGM touring last night and will post on the TGM boards for input.
So anyway, I use these forums more for the budget board, restaurants, some planning (although TGM has that too) but for the real planning, what parks, what days, how to tour, I definately use TGM! People have been coming back from summer trips and saying the longest line they waited on was 15 minutes, only because they wanted to do something again. I can't wait to use him on October 21-28, 2006

 

[magiroux]

I just came back from a trip, and used TGM beforehand. I have always been a loyal UG user. In fact, the what sold me on TGM was there were so many new rides and I KNEW, from past issues, that UG would not have enough info/research completed by press time for the newest addition. TGM's info is updated constantly from TGM's and other people's experiences as they return from WDW.

There is alot of material to read (but, then again UG isn't exactly light reading either), so the only time I would NOT reccomend TGM is if your trip is a month or less away. IMO, that just isn't enough time to read and understand his touring methods, and I think that just makes an unhappy customer. Also, just as the DIS is an invaluable source of info, I found TGM forums to be really friendly AND really helpful (especially the trip reports that focus on how TGM's plan worked out for them).

Membership lasts up until 60 days after you return from your trip.