Tour Guide Mike or UG Touring Plans
- Thread starter dangler
- Start date
iluvwesties
<font color=green>Always planning the "Next" trip!
- Joined
- Nov 1, 2004
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- 3,205
I'd be interested in opinions re this also.
I have just ordered my 2006 Passporter and can't wait to get it
, but was also considering UG or TourguideMike 
Hoping someone can enlighten us
iluvwesties (aka Carol)
I have just ordered my 2006 Passporter and can't wait to get it
, but was also considering UG or TourguideMike Hoping someone can enlighten us
iluvwesties (aka Carol)
DutchsMommy
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Dec 12, 2003
- Messages
- 2,766
I have all 3 and like them all for various reasons:
1) UG is extremely thorough. They have what I call the 'cold hard facts'. It does remind me more of commando style touring - although there really is no pressure from the book, it;s just my opinion. I enjoyed their details, especially prior to my first trip
2) Passporter - LOVE it. I bought the deluxe edition and use it to keep all my tickets, confirmations, details together. We also use the pull-out park maps and find them VERY convenient, small clear and concise. The passporter also has alot more 'planning' type features - ie space to write down your budget, flight details, reports and ratings from readers etc etc. In addition, you can get updates to the Passporter online - but to be fair the UG has online updates as well
3) TGM - again, love it. The thing to keep in mind is that it is not a 'put in your itinerary and out comes detailed plans for each day' type of website. I value his best/worst days of the week for parks, and his forums which keep you UTD on things happening in your month. His reviews of restaurants, resorts, rides etc is very thorough. I like to use his site to plan my daily activities and record them in a .pdf planner he has available. There is a TON of info on the website and it does take a while to orient yourself and get through the info.
So, if you have lots of time, I would suggest all 3. If you only have a short time, I personally would drop the UG, but that's just me. The passporter is easier to take along (and the deluxe is 3 ring binder so you can take out the pages you don't need when you go to make it thinner) and TGM is good for pre-trip planning if you like to/have access to the computer/internet alot.
HTH
PS - Any other guidebook I have found is just too 'high-level' and everything in it I already knew from these boards. You will definately find things in the books you already know, but also alot of stuff you didn't!
1) UG is extremely thorough. They have what I call the 'cold hard facts'. It does remind me more of commando style touring - although there really is no pressure from the book, it;s just my opinion. I enjoyed their details, especially prior to my first trip
2) Passporter - LOVE it. I bought the deluxe edition and use it to keep all my tickets, confirmations, details together. We also use the pull-out park maps and find them VERY convenient, small clear and concise. The passporter also has alot more 'planning' type features - ie space to write down your budget, flight details, reports and ratings from readers etc etc. In addition, you can get updates to the Passporter online - but to be fair the UG has online updates as well
3) TGM - again, love it. The thing to keep in mind is that it is not a 'put in your itinerary and out comes detailed plans for each day' type of website. I value his best/worst days of the week for parks, and his forums which keep you UTD on things happening in your month. His reviews of restaurants, resorts, rides etc is very thorough. I like to use his site to plan my daily activities and record them in a .pdf planner he has available. There is a TON of info on the website and it does take a while to orient yourself and get through the info.
So, if you have lots of time, I would suggest all 3. If you only have a short time, I personally would drop the UG, but that's just me. The passporter is easier to take along (and the deluxe is 3 ring binder so you can take out the pages you don't need when you go to make it thinner) and TGM is good for pre-trip planning if you like to/have access to the computer/internet alot.
HTH
PS - Any other guidebook I have found is just too 'high-level' and everything in it I already knew from these boards. You will definately find things in the books you already know, but also alot of stuff you didn't!
I have used TGM and was very impressed and I even emailed him some questions that I needed help with and Mike himself answered me and even called me to assist with the planning.
I would easily recommend him to anyone who likes to do pre-trip planning. I was able to print the sheets with the info that I needed and thus able to take with me.
I know people who also like passporter but I have not personally used it.
Jacqui
I would easily recommend him to anyone who likes to do pre-trip planning. I was able to print the sheets with the info that I needed and thus able to take with me.
I know people who also like passporter but I have not personally used it.
Jacqui
surfer_ed
Disney/Marvel Geek and Proud of it
- Joined
- Dec 6, 2004
- Messages
- 1,393
I used TGM and thought he was great. Went at Christmas time and minimized our wait time. His park recommendations for the days of the week is priceless.
His site has tons of good stuff, sometimes you have to hunt for it but he is not a web-designer but a Tour Guide...and a great one.
His site has tons of good stuff, sometimes you have to hunt for it but he is not a web-designer but a Tour Guide...and a great one.
I think the sooner the better. There's a lot of information to go through at Mike's site, and you don't pay by the month, so there's no savings to be realized by waiting.dangler said:About how long in advance should I subscribe to Tour Guide Mike's website? I am not going until April, but I am getting anxious to start planning!
shaycamp21
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jan 14, 2005
- Messages
- 1,097
Another vote for TGM. His info was invaluable and often went against what the Passporter and UG said and once we were there we understood why Mike was right. There is lots of info to sift through but it is well worth taking the time to go through. It was quite busy when we went in Aug and we never waited in line more than 10 min (some rides had 90 min. posted times). From the best days to go to the best places to sit on attractions and the shows and parades.......all the info you need to have a magical trip.
POFQ AUG "05
POFQ AUG "05
MissMichelle
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Sep 9, 2005
- Messages
- 2,322
I agree with everyone ~~~~TOUR GUIDE MIKE! I love that site. It really is perfect and helpful to me...I love the DIS board, but when it comes to certain things with planning I really like TGM....I have the UG, Birnbaum's kids and the regular one...TGM is by far the best for me personally.
Inga
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Nov 21, 1999
- Messages
- 768
We been to WDW many times and enjoy the planning part of the trip. Subscribed to TGM for the first time for our upcoming December trip and found his advice and sample plans made alot sense to us. It is well worth the $20 for any WDW planner (novice or vet). Mike also does a good job of keeping the site up-to-date and updating recommendations based on his personal tour business experience in the parks.
As some folks have pointed out, there is alot of information (articals) in the site and I often have a hard time finding a previous read artical (search engine on the site is not very useful). But I understand on Nov 15th he will be launching a new (2.0) version of the site to help improve these areas.
As some folks have pointed out, there is alot of information (articals) in the site and I often have a hard time finding a previous read artical (search engine on the site is not very useful). But I understand on Nov 15th he will be launching a new (2.0) version of the site to help improve these areas.
DisneyMama629
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jan 6, 2005
- Messages
- 790
We used TGM for our honeymoon in July. As I understand it July is supposed to be one of the busiest time of the year. It was our first time to go to WDW so we had no experience. TGM made our trip awesome!!! We didn't have to wait in lines longer than 10 minutes if we waited at all. I'm not exaggerating. I repeat, I'm not exaggerating. TGM is the best thing that could have ever happened to us for our honeymoon.
GrandmaBarb
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Oct 30, 2004
- Messages
- 80
The web site is updated and being changed daily. Sign up now, you will be very glad you did. No need to wait for 3.0. 
iluvwesties
<font color=green>Always planning the "Next" trip!
- Joined
- Nov 1, 2004
- Messages
- 3,205
marylou said:
Hi marylou,
UG is Unofficial Guide (a really good tour book) they have just released the 2006 version of it
TGM is Tour Guide Mike, an excellent website that also has touring plans and constantly updated information such as EMH days etc., It also recommends the best days for touring the parks
The website is: www.tourguidemike.com
Hope this helps
From everyone's opinions here, I have just subscribed to TGM and am asking for the UG2006 for Xmas
iluvwesties (aka Carol)
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