Tour Guide Mike, to do or not?

[lovinmylilo]

I have been fighting with myself all morning trying to decide if I should sign up for the TGM for my upcoming trip in November.. Everytime I go to click on the sign up button I back out thinking, do I really need this information? Do I already know most of it? Is it worth it? Yeah so I have no problem dropping a good amount of $ for my Disney fix, but I'm torn between spending $20 on this.. YEAH I HAVE PROBLEMS

soo please, enlighten me you well seasoned TGM users.. Should I?

 

[bradk]

probably.

 

[LisaDKG]

You should.

Loved it last year and am using it again this year!

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

I've been around the DIS a long time, visited WDW 10 times, and still find useful info on TGM. His "best days" chart is great. His philosophy of touring made me think of a thing or two in a new helpful way. I don't hang out at the forums over there much, but that's a nice feature too. All in all, I'd say well worth the $20. You'll have plenty of time to digest his info between now and November.

 

[Mickeygolf]

The same or cheaper than most guide books and a ton of really good information. Using it for our trip this November and can't wait to try out some of his ideas.

Plus, it's a lot of stuff and I like a lot of stuff when it comes to planning. The forums are really good if you have questions and I can almost gaurantee you will learn at least one new thing.

So far it's been worth it to me.

 

[welovewdw]

I have been fighting with myself all morning trying to decide if I should sign up for the TGM for my upcoming trip in November.. Everytime I go to click on the sign up button I back out thinking, do I really need this information? Do I already know most of it? Is it worth it? Yeah so I have no problem dropping a good amount of $ for my Disney fix, but I'm torn between spending $20 on this.. YEAH I HAVE PROBLEMS

I've done the same thing! I've come *this* close to buying it but then start thinking too much - and wondering if it's mostly the stuff I already know! LOL now w/ the response, I'm thinking, it's only $20, right??

btw - Nice to see a fellow Richmonder here!!

 

[bopper]

Is November a crowded time of the year? If not, then probably you would not need it.

 

[Licorice]

It's pretty much what you already know, unless it is your first trip.

 

[litlpixie]

I use TGM every year, as I take my kids down during Easter week. He has not let me down yet, and I have used him for 3 years now. I don't use him when I go with just my DH for our annual mini-vacation down there, because we mostly just hang out poolside and do nice dinners and Epcot while we're there. But during a peak week like Easter, with all the $$ we spend taking the kids down there for a week and staying on property...the $18 renewal fee is well worth it!!

Enjoy!!

 

[Stack316]

I feel that website is very difficult to get around.

There is an offer at the top of this page that has a $3 off coupon link.


Most of the useful info I can find on here.

No pertinent universal or sea world info


It does tell you about where to sit on rides, where to sit for attractions and best days to go to each of the 4 disney parks.

 

[Magalex]

We have a trip coming up in 3 weeks. I signed up this past winter. It was great reading during the winter blues. I get most of my info on the DIS but TGM has been helpful. Just alot of Fun reading and planning

 

[PiperPizzaz]

You should at least try it once imo.
Do you think you will really look around on it a lot to get all the good info? If so I would go for it. If you need help when you get over there just pm me. There are also message boards too.

 

[mickeysaver]

I have used touring plans dot com many times and had very successful trips. I signed up with TGM for our upcoming trip. I haven't really learned a whole lot, but then again, I have been to WDW in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, and 2006. We sort of know the ropes at this point. I also have the time to read through allearsnet.com - wdwinfo.com and of course my beloved DIS, so I know what to expect.

Basically, if you are a newbie or strapped for time, then investing in TGM or touring plans dot com makes sense. Both offer least crowded park charts, but TGM offers explainations as to why he is asking you to go to or avoid certain parks. Both offer some park touring advice, but neither offers a customizable plan. TGM offers a good bit of basic info on the rides and park surroundings, but in all honesty, allearsnet.com blows him away.....and it's free. There is a message board that TGM'ers can use, but it's full of newbies and offers limited practical advice....the DIS has a much better mix of veteran park tourists......some on TGM will argue that the folks here are mostly the "them" that TGM teaches you to not be like, but I tend to disagree. There are some really savvy park tourist on the DIS and their advice is usualy pretty darn good overall. The "up to date" factor at TGM is really lacking. For the two months that applied to my trip, it was over two weeks for the least crowded park charts to be updated and for the other part of my trip it was just over a week when those least crowded park charts were released. TGM had plenty of reasons as to why it took so long....I am not totally heartless, I do understand that one of his reasons is that he has a chronically ill family member....but the lack of official communication with some sort of a timeline on when to expect the info was just unprofessional. Now, touring plans dot com is continually updated when the park hours came out, it was updated, when the MNSSHP dates were release, it was updated and so on. They have their act together over there. TGM is about $20 and touring plans dot com is about $9. I will save my money next time and use touring plans dot com.

Now, one last thing.....if only we could talk touring plans dot com, TGM, and ridemax.com into joining forces, we would all have one heck of an easy time planning our park touring. I wish....

I hope this helped. Maggie