Tour Guide Mike Questions

[labst60]

Could someone explain what exactly this is and why it is worth the $$

I was checking out the website and it seemed like a big database of info - what can you get there that you can't find on the boards or another free site?

Also - are there any discount (mousesavers, etc??)

Thanks!

 

[Selket]

If you do a search here at the DIS boards you will find a lot of info on TGM. I used his website last summer for our August trip and found it the best planning guide - that is compared to the Passporter and the Unofficial Guide. We go to Disney every few years so I am a somewhat experienced traveler there. I found his plans to be very helpful - cutting down wait times significantly. I especially like that I didn't feel "marched around" the parks. I have 2 young kids so we often get "off plan" and it was easy to pick up and go on with TGM. He also had half day plans and lots of info on when to see certain attractions or conversely - what to see depending on what time of day you're there. Also great info on where to see parades and the like. Tips on things like how to get the most points at Buzz Lightyear (DH really liked that one!). Mike himself was also very good at responding directly to me with questions I had about my (then) non-mobile/not able to stand toddler and his suggestions made the price worth it just in that!

Well worth the money for me - I've rejoined for my next trip. I did get a discount originally at mousesavers. I'd suggest trying it once and if you don't like it, then you'll not get it again.

Have fun!

 

[Lollipop Mom]

There are is a discount link on themouseforless.com for I believe $3 off. There was one on mousesavers for a while but I don't know if it was permanent or just a limited time offer.

IMHO, it's well worth it. I stumbled upon it before a trip we took between Christmas and New Years. I bought it because I knew it was going to be insanely busy and I wanted to see what tips he had in his "holiday week survival guide." I figured it had $ back guarantee so I didn't have a lot to lose plus, when my parents were spending this much $ to bring themselves, my DH, my kids and I as a Christmas gift, I could at least spend $18 to help us get more out of it! We followed his advice and didn't wait for more than 20 minutes for anything. Most things it was around 10 minutes. The longest line I stood in was to buy a very early lunch at Epcot. A lot of it yes, you do see on the boards but there are also things that he recommends that are totally opposite from what you see recommended here and in our experience, those are *the best* tips. I felt it was MORE than worth the price.

We used it again for our trip from 4/24 to 5/2 and had even better results (and this was on a week where several trip reports from DISers mentioned long lines and very big crowds).

It's more than just a touring plan. There is advice on least crowded parks per day for morning and evening, parade and fireworks viewing tips, trivia, tips on attractions and dining locations...all sorts of stuff plus it is always kept up to date with changes Disney may make.

We had a fantastic comparison on this last trip. About halfway through our trip we ran into some friends from home that we hadn't seen in a while. We each had no idea the other would be there. We both have 2 kids that are both about the same age so we were looking to do similar things. We ran into them a little after 11 am on a MK early entry day. We had been there sicne park openign for early entry and had followed TGMs advice. We had finished everything in Fantasyland, some things more than once, except Mickey's Philharmagic which we were headed to get fast passes for to see after lunch, we had done several rides through Buzz Lightyear with no waiting. We had gone over to the other side of the park and done Splash Mountain, Haunted Mansion, Pirates and the Jungle Cruise then rode the train to toontown for Goofy's barnstormer. That is when we met up with them. They had arrived around 9:20 and had done 3 rides. The parents were arguing, kids were whining and no one was having much fun. They were just getting started on their list of stuff to do and we were headed for lunch and to see Mickey's Philharmagic then back to the WL for a break. No comparison!

Later in the week we had dinner with one of DHs coworkers who were there with their 2 kids who are a year older and 3 months younger than our two. They had used the custom touring plans from the Unofficial Guide site. Their "review" of it was that it was great at helping to avoid lines but that they were having a hard time sticking to it with preschoolers in tow. They would have preferred something a little more flexible. We felt we had plenty of flexibility with TGM. I think when you take small kids into account, the computer that the custom tour plans uses can't take them into consideration whereas a HUMAN giving you recommendations can. They did say if it was an "adults only" trip they would use it again in a heartbeat.

Hope this helps!

 

[SnoWhiteRabbit]

I like Tourguide MiKE. Basically, it is a huge data base of info -- good info! I've read several Disney Travel Guides, all whcih are very helpful, but I have found some planning and touring hints on Tourguide MiKE's site that I did not encounter elsewhere. I think of it as buying a an on-line travel guide, equivalent to a very up to date travel book, and I think it is very worth it!

Hope that helps!

 

[HappyMommy2]

I used TourGuideMike for our trip last summer and IMO it was worth every penny! The flexibility was great, and it covered so many of the basics we needed to know on our first WDW trip with kids. That being said, I also got a great deal of useful info from the Unofficial Guide, Birnbaum's, and of course this board (which I think is the very best resource of all for specific questions and issues). If you have the time and money and enjoy researching a trip before you go, I say choose as many resources as possible, and definitely consider TGM as one of them!

 

[Atotty]

TGM is awesome. You can keep doing research...all over the internet and reading books, but you won't find the same info he has. I read 15+ guidebooks last trip (literally) and found out all I needed was Mouseforless e-mail list, allearsnet.com and TGM. (I found disboards too late last time I thought I had to do all the research myself, but these three things had everything I needed. It's a relief this time that I don't have to read a ton of books and do research all over the internet. Do I still enjoy planning...oh yeah...do I still look at new sites and things...yes. Do I feel pressure to find info...no because it's all in these three places. Each place gives you diff info, but together they give me everything I need.

He updates things all the time because WDW changes all the time, so it's much more current than any guidebook out there.

For TGM, you put in your dates and answer a brief questionnaire and he'll show you the rides/parks/hotels/restaurants/everything Disney that are the best according to your personal likes/dislikes. It's good because it will allow you to focus and learn about just the things that you're family is interested in/would enjoy. If you hate seafood, there's no reason to wade through info on seafood restaurants. If you're on a value budget, there's no reason to wade through Grand Floridian info. But if you decide you want to,
you can still get to all the info about anything at WDW...even if you didn't put it on your questionnaire.

He also takes the info you give him in your questionnaire and comes up with a list of rides for each park. The list is divided into Best rides for you for AM, Afternoon, PM, Anytime to be able to avoid lines.

The other personalized parts are the e-mail reminders and the AVP (where you sign up for the month your going and get ongoing updates for that month).

It does not give you a personalized itinerary, but it does have sample itineraries for thrill seekers, EMH Mornings, people with young children, etc...several categories...for each park that really work. He'll tell you to get FP, go ride this and this, then it's time for the FP return time and it worked every time for us. And they are diff than the other guidebooks. I've looked. (couldn't help myself...it's the planner in me)

He has a chart that shows the best park for AM and PM for each day. He rates the parks 1-4 for each daypart and gives the reasons behind the ratings so you can decide where to go each day. It really helped us stay away from the crowds.

He tells you the best places to sit for every ride, the little things you may overlook in the ride, things to help a child who is timid about a ride, tips for being picked for interactive shows, etc. Tons of info that I haven't seen anywhere else.

He tells you the overlooked photo opps.

He also has an auto e-mail feature that reminds you when to do certain things such as every PS you want for food, illuminations cruises, Pirate Cruise, Hoop De Doo, etc. You can even put in your own reminders....stop the paper, get someone to take care of the cat, get RX refilled, etc. and he'll send you e-mail reminders for those, too.

He also has tons of info on restaurants, hotels, pix, and ratings from WDW guests. If it's Disney, he has pix, hints, and ratings for it...except for Disneyquest...and only a little for Typhoon Lagoon.

He also has all the schedules for each park and the special events and lets you know when it changes. You sign up for the time you're going and he has a special section that tells you all the times, changes, rehabs, etc. for then...and he updates it all the time as things change so you don't have to keep cruising the internet to find it. It's all in one place.

He had all the Park After Dark info before the other places.....as well as a suggested way to make the most of them...which to go to ....which to avoid and why.

Mouseforless does have a discount. Jsut follow the link ont heir page.

Hope this helps. If you ahve a particualr question, just ask.