Tour Guide Mike vs. Touring Plans

[munchkinsmomma24]

I've read great things about Touring Plans on here and in a few other places, but I also had a couple from church recommend Tour Guide Mike (https://www.tourguidemike.com/). They went during a very busy time of year, said they had an awesome time, and didn't wait more than 10 minutes for anything. But Tour Guide Mike is more expensive, and doesn't include an app.

I'm also concerned with both "plans" that the main emphasis will be on "get there early." We plan to on our second day, but on our first day we will be getting to MK at 1pm on a Saturday. Yes, I know it will be crazy But will either of those help with our wait times?

 

[Tltorrez]

I've read great things about Touring Plans on here and in a few other places, but I also had a couple from church recommend Tour Guide Mike (https://www.tourguidemike.com/). They went during a very busy time of year, said they had an awesome time, and didn't wait more than 10 minutes for anything. But Tour Guide Mike is more expensive, and doesn't include an app.

I'm also concerned with both "plans" that the main emphasis will be on "get there early." We plan to on our second day, but on our first day we will be getting to MK at 1pm on a Saturday. Yes, I know it will be crazy But will either of those help with our wait times?

I love TP. My understanding with Tour Guide Mike is that it has not been kept up to date. But I have no personal experience there; just what I've heard.

The standard TP plans will tell you to get there early. But there are alternate suggestions for late days or you can customize your own (and the tool will evaluate your wait times).. They have a lot of plans for different scenarios, It's not that you can't start late, you just have to adjust your expectations. One tip is that while headliners are best first thing in the morning, they can also be done at the very end of the day and sometimes during parades.

 

[munchkinsmomma24]

I'm feeling for not searching the forums first. I just realized this is a topic that comes up a lot Feel free to weigh in, but don't feel like you have too!

Rookie mistake....

The standard TP plans will tell you to get there early. But there are alternate suggestions for late days or you can customize your own (and the tool will evaluate your wait times).. They have a lot of plans for different scenarios, It's not that you can't start late, you just have to adjust your expectations. One tip is that while headliners are best first thing in the morning, they can also be done at the very end of the day and sometimes during parades.

That's why I'm trying to figure out whether one or the other is worth the money. I'm already planning on not doing Fantasyland at all our first day, just Adventureland and Princess/Mickey M&G. Which I get may have long waits, and may be out of Fast Passes.... Ahhh, decisions!

 

[lisat723]

I've read great things about Touring Plans on here and in a few other places, but I also had a couple from church recommend Tour Guide Mike (https://www.tourguidemike.com/). They went during a very busy time of year, said they had an awesome time, and didn't wait more than 10 minutes for anything. But Tour Guide Mike is more expensive, and doesn't include an app.

I'm also concerned with both "plans" that the main emphasis will be on "get there early." We plan to on our second day, but on our first day we will be getting to MK at 1pm on a Saturday. Yes, I know it will be crazy But will either of those help with our wait times?

I've been an avid user of TGM for quite a few years, but I won't renew again. I understand he's going through some tough times, but he isn't keeping the site updated, though many moderators are doing their best. Traffic has slowed some over there as well...

I would suggest easywdw.com also...it's free and Josh's suggestions seem to be pretty good. I also use Touring Plans and love that site as well...

We have been to WDW many, many times over the past years, so we don't really rely on a touring plan so much any longer, unless we have newbies with us...but with Fantasyland throwing a curve in our typical touring plans, I've been trying to plan as much as I can!! Plus I have a special trip coming up in February with family, including my mom, who I have NEVER been there with!

So, I'm pretty much using TP and easywdw exclusively...TGM has only just started updating some early Feb info and is behind on the most recent October calendar changes...the updating and reaction times there are most often too slow for me...sometimes as much as weeks behind...

Good luck!!

 

[munchkinsmomma24]

Thanks! I've been doing a lot of reading, so I'm trying to figure out whether it's worth it to pay for a specialized plan or not. And after reading more threads on comparing TGM, TP, and Ridemax, I am even more confused than ever! lol

 

[Q-man]

I like Tour Mike better but it is woefully out of date and no new touring plans for how to manage the new enforced FP return times. Mike has really let his site go. I cannot recommend spending money on it presently.

 

[MoonFaerie]

I used to use TGM all the time. Now, it's just sadly out of date.

IMO, EasyWDW > Touring Plans > Tour Guide Mike

 

[T1gger]

Picking the right park on the right day can be a big part of the battle!

Last trip I went with TP for recommended days - this trip I started planning with them but found EasyWDW and am a convert!

I like that the reasons are explained for why a park is recommended/not recommended, I like that Josh is in and around the parks a lot and you can read his blog and see the pictures of the parks on various days/times. And I love that he explains the strategies you can use to see everything you want - especially if you don't want to do RD every day.

 

[munchkinsmomma24]

Picking the right park on the right day can be a big part of the battle!

Last trip I went with TP for recommended days - this trip I started planning with them but found EasyWDW and am a convert!

I like that the reasons are explained for why a park is recommended/not recommended, I like that Josh is in and around the parks a lot and you can read his blog and see the pictures of the parks on various days/times. And I love that he explains the strategies you can use to see everything you want - especially if you don't want to do RD every day.

I guess this is what concerns me with any of the plans. We only have 2 days. For my kids, Magic Kingdom is Disney. So even though Josh has it marked as basically, "Don't go here no matter what you do, under any circumstances!!!" there's no way I can not go there. We don't have park hoppers, so if we want to see MSEP and Wishes, we have to go there Saturday.

I feel like in some ways the crowd calender and park recommendations have just made me even more stressed out. I want to be prepared, but I can't help that one of the two days we get to go Disney the one park we have to go to is supposed to be miserably crowded.

This is our first Disney trip, and I don't know when or if we will get to go back, so I want to make the best of it. I'm just praying that being as prepared as I can and going into a crowded park with a good attitude will make it okay. And if there's a "plan" I can pay for that will help me arrive at the least recommended park at 1pm and still not stand in line for hours, that would be great

 

[Tltorrez]

I guess this is what concerns me with any of the plans. We only have 2 days. For my kids, Magic Kingdom is Disney. So even though Josh has it marked as basically, "Don't go here no matter what you do, under any circumstances!!!" there's no way I can not go there. We don't have park hoppers, so if we want to see MSEP and Wishes, we have to go there Saturday.

I feel like in some ways the crowd calender and park recommendations have just made me even more stressed out. I want to be prepared, but I can't help that one of the two days we get to go Disney the one park we have to go to is supposed to be miserably crowded.

This is our first Disney trip, and I don't know when or if we will get to go back, so I want to make the best of it. I'm just praying that being as prepared as I can and going into a crowded park with a good attitude will make it okay. And if there's a "plan" I can pay for that will help me arrive at the least recommended park at 1pm and still not stand in line for hours, that would be great

Sign up for TP. I just double checked and there is a pre-built Two-Day late Arrival Touring Plan for Parents with small children. You could combine that with the regular Two-Day plan since you're only late one day. This gives you several applicable Pre-built plans to work from or you could start from those and customize your own. TP has a great Custom tool that will evaluate and/or optimize the attractions you select.

As far as the crowd numbers - the point if a plan is to maximize your time when crowds are high. You are totally doing the right thing and don't let the potential crowds stress you out. With a good plan the crowds don't matter.

 

[pepe of ohio]

Don't fret the tour plans and crowd counters and best day worst day..... We've done over 40+ trips and never looked at or subscribed to any of them and our trips have all been ideal!!

We always do the MK for our first park and we usually get into WDW on a Saturday or Sunday....

We go to the parks in the order we want, we like EMH's, morning and evening.... Crowd counters don't matter... We like the extended hours and who's to say an extra 2,000 or so more guests are in the same park ....