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

[mking624]

People that know how to avoid lines but choose not to.

Well I'm glad I made you laugh. I smile happily as well, since I've been able to have a spectacular time vacationing in the way that suits *me*.

 

[fitzperry]

I can relate. We took the kids to NYC in April and around 4:00 on a Friday we just wanted to find a place to get a cup of coffee and hot chocolate for the kids and sit down for a few minutes. We were at Times Square and it took several tries to find a Starbucks or any quick service place that had seating. All the time the meltdown clock was ticking.

DW lived in Manhattan for awhile and we used to go there all the time before kids. This was DS8 & DS6's first trip and what a change in how we "toured" the city. We also learned the all important lesson of knowing where the nearest bathroom was at all times and having the kids use them whenever there was one around.

BTW is there a family friendly place near the Natural History Mueseum? We went there on a Sunday Afternoon and wanted to get some desert and coffee afterwards and didn't find much right in that area. We took the subway back to mid town and hit a dinner there.

I think we ate ice cream in the park after the Natural History Museum. Frommer's NYC With Kids has a great listing of family-friendly restaurants organized by neighborhood. We carried it around with us and when that meltdown clock started ticking, we'd break out the book and figure out what was nearby. Their recommendations were spot on.

Actually, the book is on a shelf here by the computer. They list several places within a few blocks of the Natural History Museum - EJ's Luncheonette (Amsterdam Ave. between 81st and 82nd) sounds like fun, as does Artie's Delicatessan (Broadway & 83rd). There's also a Patsy's Pizza in the area. We went to the one on the upper east side and loved it. I want to go back to NY too! But that will have to wait until at least next year.

 

[C.Ann]

I knew it! DW kept trying to tell me that the castle was in MK! Hah! That is what she gets for reading Birnbaums.

Now, can you tell me where at the golf ball I check in for my ADR at CRT?

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

Haven't you heard? They've done away with the CRT.. Prince Charming is out of work (another victim of downsizing) and they've had to cut way back on their food budget.. However, Cinderella is working part-time handing out Fast Passes and with any luck, they hope to be back on their feet sometime soon..

 

[Pedler]

Posting a poll still wouldn't be the most accurate....because it's still not going to count every last person in the world.

It's like those studies that say "4 out of 5 blah blah blah". In other words, 80%. Well, what happens when you get 5 people in a room and all of them are part of the "5th person" group? Then the poll would really change, now, wouldn't it? It would then change to a 0%. But what happens if you got people in a room and they were that 1-4 group? Your percentage would go to 100%. It all can be very relative.

Out of curiosity how would you reccomend determining peoples view on waiting in lines short of asking every single person that goes to Disney world. True you will have some variation in the results depending upon the sample size and demographics but you could get a decent aproximation of what DIS users think with a poll.

 

[Pedler]

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

Haven't you heard? They've done away with the CRT.. Prince Charming is out of work (another victim of downsizing) and they've had to cut way back on their food budget.. However, Cinderella is working part-time handing out Fast Passes and with any luck, they hope to be back on their feet sometime soon..

So thats why they sold the place in MK and moved to the burbs. It all makes sense now. Bummers for Prince Charming. I dont think there is much work in the out there for Princes these days. You don't suppose he would consider becoming a power ranger? I here the pays OK and you get great mindless dialog.

 

[TZMOM]

Could someone just close this thread? I think the dead horse was beaten to death 5 pages ago. . . .

 

[mking624]

Out of curiosity how would you reccomend determining peoples view on waiting in lines short of asking every single person that goes to Disney world. True you will have some variation in the results depending upon the sample size and demographics but you could get a decent aproximation of what DIS users think with a poll.

Considering DIS users doesn't even make up a decent percentage of the amount of travelers that go to WDW each year, it really wouldn't give a decent approximation. Short of asking every last person in the world, there really is no fool proof way of getting an accurate estimation. It also depends on where you're asking. If I went into a church and asked how many people believe in God, what do you think the percentage of an "I do" would be? Now would that be a fair way to get an accurate percentage of the number of people who believe in God? It's all about timing as well. If I asked people in a dead month at WDW how many do not enjoy waiting in "theses long lines", how many hands do you think would go up considering there really wouldn't be such a thing as a long line? Now reverse those scenarios...change the question to how many people believe in God at a pagan meeting....and how many hate waiting in these long lines when it's the middle of the busiest week at WDW. There's really no fair way to do it. There's no fair way to prove my point either. We just have basically just do want we ourselves enjoy doing.

 

[C.Ann]

So thats why they sold the place in MK and moved to the burbs. It all makes sense now. Bummers for Prince Charming. I dont think there is much work in the out there for Princes these days. You don't suppose he would consider becoming a power ranger? I here the pays OK and you get great mindless dialog.

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Hmmm.. I don't know.. However, I have heard that Woody the Woodpecker is taking an early retirement over at Universal.. I think if the Prince were to dye his hair fire-engine red, he might have a shot at the position.. Unfortunately though, that would mean yet another move and word has it that Cinderella told him if they need to pull up stakes again, it's over.. (And far be it from me to gossip, but the word around town is that Cinderella and the Beast have been keeping late-night company - if you get my drift.. )

 

[Pedler]

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

Hmmm.. I don't know.. However, I have heard that Woody the Woodpecker is taking an early retirement over at Universal.. I think if the Prince were to dye his hair fire-engine red, he might have a shot at the position.. Unfortunately though, that would mean yet another move and word has it that Cinderella told him if they need to pull up stakes again, it's over.. (And far be it from me to gossip, but the word around town is that Cinderella and the Beast have been keeping late-night company - if you get my drift.. )

I can't top that one. That is just too funny!

 

[vatmark]

You must have missed my post when I said that I *have* traveled with larger groups where children were involved. Just last year in fact. Obviously it doesn't work for you. Doesn't mean it's that way for everyone.

If the children were not yours then it is still different. You don't have to deal with them.

Annie

 

[BAST]

This has certainly become an ugly thread.

I subscribed to TGM for our recent trip (8/9 to 8/17). This was our fifth trip in the last three years (about 45 days total). I have read the UG and other guides and have visited this and other sites quite frequently - I am a self proclaimed WDW expert. TGM looked fine but did not teach me anything that I did not already know. I did not really expect to learn anything but had read a great deal about TGM so thought I would give it a try. For someone making a first trip, I would recommend the UG - it is easier to navigate and is portable.

That said, there is consistent common sense advice in all the sources available concerning WDW - e.g. if you want to ride Dumbo, ride it early or the lines get horribly long, Soarin gets very busy, very early and will stay that way all day, for a good Fantasmic seat, get there an hour early. I think this is good advice but is readily available from many sources.

I do not think that anyone really enjoys standing in a line (like Peter Pan or Dumbo) for a long period of time if they understood there are alternatives to standing in that line. Personally, knowing how hot and sweaty that I was for our trip, I cannot believe anyone would want to stand next to me for any period of time (and I, unilke many visitors we encountered, bathe daily). Fortunately for such people, the only time I ever waited in line for more than 15 minutes was to get into the park since we followed everyone's advice (TGM, UG, DIS board, etc.) and arrived about 30 minutes prior to park opening.

 

[Pedler]

I do not think that anyone really enjoys standing in a line (like Peter Pan or Dumbo) for a long period of time if they understood there are alternatives to standing in that line. Personally, knowing how hot and sweaty that I was for our trip, I cannot believe anyone would want to stand next to me for any period of time (and I, unilke many visitors we encountered, bathe daily). Fortunately for such people, the only time I ever waited in line for more than 15 minutes was to get into the park since we followed everyone's advice (TGM, UG, DIS board, etc.) and arrived about 30 minutes prior to park opening.

I would agree but apparently some people don't mind it and actually prefer it to planning. Strange but true.

 

[eclectics]

It's not like TGM charges $100.00 for his website. It's the price of a tour guide book! I usually buy all the latest editions of most WDW guide books because I enjoy reading them and I usually pick up a tip or two. That's exactly what I got from TGM. He had some very good suggestions I could use. I printed up the pages I wanted for future reference, and I enjoyed "reading" the rest of his web site at my leisure. End of story. I don't feel "ripped off" at all.

 

[JRawkSteady]

Horray!

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.

Well, that's not exactly true. I went to WDW for 7 days and 6 nights last Feb. and my associate and I rode every ride, saw every show, met every character that was available that week, enjoyed every street character (including all the streetmosphere, main street, World Showcase, and Animal Kingdom performers). Plus we had time to enjoy at least 3 meals a day (most of them sit-down), drink around the world in Epcot, play in the hotel, devour Pleasure Island for all it was worth, and we still had time to kill just to walk around and sightsee. We only were crammed/rushed once or twice in the entire trip!! You just have to know how to plan right if that's the sort of thing you're going for. Of course it was my 23rd time there... so it's obviously a different story for first-timers or people who haven't already seen everything in one way or another.

 

[pjtjm]

Did you create those pages? They are outstanding. I printed up 2 copies along with the relevant stuff of Stephens to take with us in the parks. I litterally have it down to three pages per park. Technically its more like 1 full page and two half pages. Thanks a lot for taking the time to put that together. It saved me a ton of time. TGMer's rock!

ehem. Ok. so maybe I am a little bit addicted too. We are off in 2 and a half days! Woohoo!

<---aw shucks... (blushing.....) Ya' know... I was actually not sure if anyone noticed the update to Steve's page, so it makes me happy to hear that at least someone else is getting some value out of it !! I spent tons of time cutting and pasting all that info, but my original copy had nowhere near the neat, clean layout that you see. I was having trouble with the font sizes and colors, so I asked Steve if he could help "pretty it up."

Thanks for the kudos...

Less than 2 days for you!!! Enjoy!! I leave in 5 days !!

And to those who don't mind waiting in line... Enjoy your trips too!!!

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Out of curiosity how would you reccomend determining peoples view on waiting in lines short of asking every single person that goes to Disney world. True you will have some variation in the results depending upon the sample size and demographics but you could get a decent aproximation of what DIS users think with a poll.

You could if you randomly selected the poll participants. But the problem with the way a poll would be done here is the respondants are self-selected rather than randomly selected.

 

[Pedler]

You could if you randomly selected the poll participants. But the problem with the way a poll would be done here is the respondants are self-selected rather than randomly selected.

I would be curious as to just what DISer think about lines. I think I have a good handle on TGMer's (i.e. lines not good.)

There have been more than one comment on these boards that people shouldn't fret about lines or plans at Disney they should just be happy that they are there. Thus the curiosity on what people that spend time on this board think of lines. I would have guessed that most people would take reasonable efforts to minimize them but then again there is a whole thread with a few pages on the joys of not having a touring plan and not worrying about it.

Bringing this back around the the TGM discussion I think I can safely say that if waiting in long lines isn't a concern for someone then TGM is definitely not for you. If lines are a concern and you feel overwhelmed by Disney then TGM may work for them. With a money back guarantee there is no risk.

Inquirying minds want to know. Heh, heh.

 

[C.Ann]

Inquirying minds want to know. Heh, heh.

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Just be aware though that all of the lines now start in Sea World.. Wouldn't want people running around like crazy 'cause they didn't have all the updated info..

 

[DisneyJen0504]

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

I know that but online or in print, I still dont understand why anyone would pay for it. Now I feel this way because I enjoy researching myself online. I find more info on the web than in all the guidebooks combined so for me, I dont pay anything additional when planning my trips.
To each his own..whatever works for you.

 

[bdlily]

This has become a very interesting discussion in basic vacation philosophies (planning or no planning, with kids/without kids, pay for info/don't pay). All I have to say (and it's been said before) is "to each his own". Not everyone is going to agree on any one topic which is why we should all learn to be more tolerant and not "flame" each other over ANY topic. To quote a book I've read, "Judge not, that ye be not judged".

For the record, I DO subscribe to TGM, I HAVE found his information very helpful (albeit the layout a little convoluted) and worth the price and I LOVE the people I have met there. I don't blame anyone for not subscribing in the first place or for not liking the product after paying for it. At least you know what is for you and what is not.

Pedler- I have found your comments to be very balanced and I appreciate that. What is your screen name over at TGM?

PJTJM- great job on the info over there, I always appreciate when anyone shares their own work with others in an effort to make everybody's life happier.

To everyone else- I hope your next Disney vacation is perfect for you and that you all have a magical day!