Tour Guide Mike-- not much of a plan!!

[mommyoeo]

Well, I just paid for Tour Guide Mike... and I am not pleased (I am sure I was warned in the fine print that I was not buying what I thought I was buying!). I wanted something like: October 10th, go to Fantasy Land in the AM and World Showcase in the PM. I thought that was what I was buying. At least I can get a refund, according to a friend. If he's a tour guide, why couldn't we just buy his plans for each day ? We could say we're going to be there on certain days and he'd generate a plan for our length of stay. Now THAT would be worth $22! It would risk people not liking his plan, of ocurse, but at least there would BE a plan!! Am I missing something?! Please tell me how to find what I'm looking for! Christy

 

[pjtjm]

Well, no.. He won't say on Oct 10th do this in the AM & that in the PM. What if you really didn't feel like doing what he said on that day??? You'd be stuck with no alternative.

But…. If you know that Oct 10th is a Monday, (which you probably will since that’s when you’re going…), you can look up his recommendations for the best parks for Mondays, and make your own choice based on his expertise!!! Check out the “Express Planner” for October, and it will provide you with custom advice for October.

Of course, if you want a refund, you can get it, but I’d like to encourage you to maybe dig just a bit more before you decide if it isn’t worth it. I’ve heard other reports of people who were “over-whelmed” the first time they checked out TGM, and stuck with it a bit and were overall very satisfied with his site.

And, check out the forums over there. There is a specific thread for people who need a boost. Very friendly over there!!! (Really, no flames!!! It's a joy!!)


Hope that helps… I hate to sound like an ad for his site, but I really am a fan. I think the advice is worth the money personally, but everyone knows what’s right for them…


Enjoy your trip in any case !!!

 

[krismom]

I totally agree. I thought tourguide Mike was cluttered, hard to navigate and had no real "new" info for me. I really hated the "insert your name here" personal messages I'd get. Get your $$ back- use it for some Mickey bars!

 

[Mermaid02]

Well, I just paid for Tour Guide Mike... and I am not pleased (I am sure I was warned in the fine print that I was not buying what I thought I was buying!). I wanted something like: October 10th, go to Fantasy Land in the AM and World Showcase in the PM. I thought that was what I was buying. At least I can get a refund, according to a friend. If he's a tour guide, why couldn't we just buy his plans for each day ? We could say we're going to be there on certain days and he'd generate a plan for our length of stay. Now THAT would be worth $22! It would risk people not liking his plan, of ocurse, but at least there would BE a plan!! Am I missing something?! Please tell me how to find what I'm looking for! Christy

If this is the kind of plan you are looking for- I highly suggest booking with Dreams Unlimited and their agents will give this kind of itinerary AND book all of your ADR's for you.

 

[CarolA]

I have used TGM in the past and found his advice very helpful. I am not sure what you are looking for?

His site is to help you make a plan. For example he tells you what days are good and bad for certain parks etc.... If it's a REALLY busy season he does give you some great info. I did Disney over Christmas a few years ago and his advice was spot on!

 

[NCombs]

I like TGM but I understood what I was buying when I bought it. You can get a refund if it's not what you thought you would be getting.

 

[DisneyJen0504]

Just my opinion, but with all the information on the internet and in travel guides, I never understood why anyone would pay someone for a tour plan for their trip?
This is not to be mean or flame you in anyway-I just always wondered this. You can get all the info you need before you go, and adjust it as needed if weather, park hours or anything else changes your daily plan.
Sorry you were disappointed in your plans.

 

[C.Ann]

Just my opinion, but with all the information on the internet and in travel guides, I never understood why anyone would pay someone for a tour plan for their trip?
This is not to be mean or flame you in anyway-I just always wondered this. You can get all the info you need before you go, and adjust it as needed if weather, park hours or anything else changes your daily plan.
Sorry you were disappointed in your plans.

----------------

I agree.. Seems like a waste of money to me..

 

[2infinityandbeyond]

I totally agree. I thought tourguide Mike was cluttered, hard to navigate and had no real "new" info for me. I really hated the "insert your name here" personal messages I'd get. Get your $$ back- use it for some Mickey bars!

Why was it hard to navigate? All you need to do is bookmark a page and use the "back" arrow, like you'd do with any other website.

 

[goofie4goofy]

Just my opinion, but with all the information on the internet and in travel guides, I never understood why anyone would pay someone for a tour plan for their trip?
This is not to be mean or flame you in anyway-I just always wondered this. You can get all the info you need before you go, and adjust it as needed if weather, park hours or anything else changes your daily plan.
Sorry you were disappointed in your plans.

Horray!

The only one laughing all the way to the bank is "Tour Guide Mike"...what a racket.

I mean it's Disney World, it's all about fun, not trying to cram it all in. First of all it takes more than one trip to see everything....I think it's planned that way so you keep on going back ($$). It also makes every trip fun and different. I have to agree, with this board, you don't need to spend money for a plan. Who best than everyone here to help and it's FREE! You just gotta the people here...so nice and so very helpful.

 

[Fonzy13]

I love TGM, absolutely love it. And yes, you can get a lot of info on here, but I went in the middle of July last year and didn't wait in line for more than 15 minutes, and that was a result of a lot more than I learned on here.

May be a racket, but it's a racket I'm willing to spend money on.

 

[NCombs]

Horray!

The only one laughing all the way to the bank is "Tour Guide Mike"...what a racket.

I mean it's Disney World, it's all about fun, not trying to cram it all in. First of all it takes more than one trip to see everything....I think it's planned that way so you keep on going back ($$). It also makes every trip fun and different. I have to agree, with this board, you don't need to spend money for a plan. Who best than everyone here to help and it's FREE! You just gotta the people here...so nice and so very helpful.

I assume you would say the same about the UG book or Birnbaums or Passporter(all of which are good in my opinion)?

TGM is far more than a tour plan, it's really an online guide book with information continually updated.

It's not for everyone but neither is every printed guidebook.

 

[Danauk]

I love TGM too, but I enjoy planning my WDW holiday just as much as going on it. I have plenty of time before my trip to read the articles on TGM to help me plan and I am enjoying doing this. I have found info on there that I have not read in other places.
I am sorry you do not like TGM. If you contact him he will give you a refund.

 

[NCombs]

Just my opinion, but with all the information on the internet and in travel guides, I never understood why anyone would pay someone for a tour plan for their trip?
This is not to be mean or flame you in anyway-I just always wondered this. You can get all the info you need before you go, and adjust it as needed if weather, park hours or anything else changes your daily plan.
Sorry you were disappointed in your plans.

Just an FYI- TGM is a travel guide- an online one not a printed one. That's why I pay for it.

 

[missypie]

We used TGM's plans and hints and the longest wait we had for any ride in 10 days (including over Memorial Day weekend) was 17 minutes (for a non-fast pass attraction). If you put a little time into it, his plans work like a charm.

 

[addicted2disney]

I first used TGM last Thanksgiving, and I am really glad I did. He doesnt tell you "on thanksgivng you must go to this park" but he does list all 4 parks for every day and evening of your trip, and gives them a green, yellow, or red rating. Thanksgiving may have a big red dot next to MK meaning yes, its going to jammed packed, while another park is going to get the green rating of the better choice park for that day. But ultimately, its up to YOU where you want to go. He tells you which park is the best, which is the worst and also the in between parks. If you have your heart set on Christmas Day in the MK, and it gets a red rating because of the crowd level and waits on rides, then he IS basically telling you not to go there, and there will be at least a yellow choice and possibly a green one ( never did a Christmas trip ). Sometimes there are 2 green parks on one day. But its up to YOU to decide which park YOU want to do that day. The kiddos are dying to be at MK on Christmas day, You need to decide to take TGM of NOT going there because of crowds, or pick his choice park for that day instead. My friend Denise MUST MUST MUST make MK her first park of her Disney trip. Thats her tradition. Even if TGM says BIG RED MK DAY on her first day at the park, shes still going. TGM IS telling you were to go, its up to YOU to listen or not. I was thrilled with our Thanksgiving schedule. I was leary because its not what I thought would have been best, but I WAS SO WRONG. We spent Thanksgiving evening with little waits for anything!! With all the new EMH's for the morning AND night, I want to know where the crowds WONT be.. and thats worth the price of TGM. There are forums there, and he will answer and comment there. I actually like that he says, ok MOnday.. AK & MGM are green days, Epcot is yellow and MK is red.. and we can decide which park is best for us that day. I just renewed today for my 3rd time.

 

[Stacy_C]

I am not being sarcastic at all, but the posters who don't think TGMike had any additional information other than what you can find for free (on dis and other boards)....have you ever subscribed to TGMike? An honest question...I promise.

I didn't think there would be much to learn on Tour Guide Mike after reading these boards for years. But, I decided to risk it and subscribe after reading all the wonderful reviews on here. Boy was I wrong! There was TONS of information that I never saw mentioned anywhere else! I think it has a lot to do with the confidentiality agreement between TGMike and his subscribers...so we don't go on other boards publicizing all of his tips/secrets/hints.

 

[UrsulasShadow]

He gives money back readily...that's the only good thing I really can say about TGM. I agree, to name it an Automated Travel Planner is VERY misleading. If you want to call bookmarking and using the BACK button "automated", well, I'd say our definitions are very different. Try it for another week or 2, and if you still feel cheated, ask for your money back.

I am not being sarcastic at all, but the posters who don't think TGMike had any additional information other than what you can find for free (on dis and other boards)....have you ever subscribed to TGMike? An honest question...I promise.

Honest answer. Yes, I subscribed. I worked with that site for a month. I found NO original information, i.e., none that couldn't be found on the DIS, in the UG, and for a small cost on the UG's Trip Planner ($6.95).

 

[poohluvr]

Boy was I wrong! There was TONS of information that I never saw mentioned anywhere else! I think it has a lot to do with the confidentiality agreement between TGMike and his subscribers...so we don't go on other boards publicizing all of his tips/secrets/hints.

I agree 100%! I thought there was ALOT of information not to be found anywhere else. TGM can be a little overwhelming, but once you get the hang of it it's pretty easy to navigate, and very helpful in IMO.

 

[Holly]

Another fan of TGM here. I went last year during the summer and TGM was a lifesaver.