Tour Guide Mike vs. Touringplans.com????

[MommyPoppins]

I am soooooooooooooo confused! Almost everything that touringplans.com says about crowds TGM says the opposite! If one says go to MK in the morning the other says that MK will be the worst place to go. Which one is more reliable? Please help!!!

 

[TAKitty]

I noticed this same thing yesterday. I was wondering which to follow too!

 

[Goofy4]

"The future is hard to see it is. Always in motion the future is..." - yoda.

The TGM/TP debate it usually a hot one here.

I know it's very discouraging to research something, only for another "expert witness" to contradict it. My 2 cents: try to find some common ground between the 2, and maybe flip a coin .

 

[rfortune]

We just returned from 6 days at Disney (12/30 - 1/4) and the best response I can give you is that we followed Mike's advice for the first 5 days and we NEVER waited more than 15 minutes for anything other than LMA and Fantasmic.

Our typical wait was anywhere from 4-8 minutes (yes I watched that close) from the time we entered the queue (if there was one) to the time we were getting on the ride.

The biggest laugh we had all week was on New Years Eve after Fantasmic when we rode ToT and RRrC 2 times each in an hour while the standby line was 110 minutes for RRrC.

On New Years Day we had ridden everything that was on our "plan" by 12:00 (the only ride that did not include was Space Mountain, as my kids don't like it). We re-rode a couple, relaxed and returned to the resort to avoid the crowds.

 

[chipmunkfan]

I used Mike during my Dec 2-9 trip. I was thanking him alot through the whole vacation. Everything was walk on. Also, on a red night at MK, DH had to get a burger from Cosmic Rays so we went to MK just for the burger. It was a mob scene, just like Mike said it would be. We ate and left quickley. So, I am now a true believer in Mike's plans.

I also planned out the attractions using Mike's tools. Went passed a few of the attractions later on during the day and some were 20-30 minute waits while I had just walked right on earlier.

 

[Lulu's Mom]

I found the contradictary odd as well and I wonder the same thing. I tried to find days were they both agreed, a few did, and then I based the rest of my days on Mike's recommnedations. I think that for one of our days ladt year touring plans recommended AK and we went and it was a mad house

It is really hard to predict the crowd patterns, so I suggest just having a good touring plan with what you want to see and do each day where and stick to that.

 

[marshallandcartersmo]

I agree. I subscribed to TGM last week, and am having trouble "getting it". I think I'm a fairly intelligent person ( ), but it's just about over my head. I planned my park days to be one of the "green days" that TGM recommends, but is there more to it than that??

 

[julielovestigger]

I purchased both touring plans for the trip I just returned from. I used both to construct my touring plan. Here's my take:

Touringplans.com is good for someone who just wants to connect the dots. Go to attraction A, then B, then C. This was good during my initial stages of planning.

TGM explains WHY you are doing what you do. This approach requires a better understanding of what you are doing. TGM allows you to think on your feet and allows you to navigate around unexpected events.

For example: When we toured AK, it was advised in the plans to get to the Safari right away. When we arrived at the park, that attraction would not be open for 45 minutes after opening. Neither plan provided what to do in this situation. However, with TGM, I was able to think on the fly on what I would do and why I was doing it. If I only had touringplans.com, my assumption would have been to go to attraction B, which may not be the best route.

TGM allows you to see the big picture. This enables you to handle unexpected events, which almost always occur.

 

[alexbigday]

Ok, so now I feel all in a panic. I have not purchased either of these (hoping that since I am going the last week in Jan I will not need them). I have, however, looked at the free sample plans for one of them.

Thoughts???? Thanks

 

[ameraumi]

I just went to TGM's website and it looks nice, but is it really worth the money to join?

 

[daemom]

I just went to TGM's website and it looks nice, but is it really worth the money to join?

IMHO I think it's worth it. I was so confused by all of the differnt books that were available. We went the second week of June last year and I was thanking TGM every day! I will be subscribing again before my next trip too. Mousesavers has a discount code. Good luck!

 

[ameraumi]

Hmmm, maybe I need to go look at mousesavors again to see if I can find it.

 

[ameraumi]

I wasn't able to find the discount code anywhere! If you have it would you mind sharing?!?!?!? TIA!

 

[addicted2disney]

I used TourGuideMike for Thanksgiving 2004, January ( last week)/February(first week) and then renewed it once again for Thanksgiving 2005, and am using it again for my trip in 2 weeks because of all the new EMH changes. I found all of his park suggestion days right on. Even in the middle of Thanksgiving weekend, We never experienced mass crowds. More crowded that January crowds that we are used to, but never once did I stand there and say "Its too crowded and Im never coming back at Thanksgiving". It was good!!

I go as far as getting the green and red days, and plan according to that. I dont get the sample touring plans, as we travel with too many people to have that strict of a schedule. Im happy knowing the best days to be there, and TGM is AWESOME in that way!

 

[MzDiz]

I subscribed to TGM for our trip in March and I have to say that it makes so much sense. I've read lots of guide books and when I go back to them I find myself thinking about what TGM has said and the books no longer make sense. I'm loving that he teaches you the "why" of what you're doing. He's also so fun to read. I should be careful, my husband might get jealous!

I <3 TGM!

 

[PooohBear]

I've searched Mousesavers and can't find the code either

 

[wilma-bride]

I think you need to subscribe to the Mousesavers newsletter in order to get the code

 

[kaelarad]

I on the other hand found better advice from touringplans. I have used Mike as well but prefer touringplans. It is all in the eyes of the beholder. You can't go wrong with either one. It comes down to preference.

 

[Cynt]

I just purchased TGM. Although a bit confusing at first glance, once you work your way around the site it seems to be very informational. I'm a hands on type person so I also needed something tangible in my hands. I purchased the 2006 Passporter so I can see the map/restaurant and attraction descriptions as Mike describes his plan of action. This seems to be working out well for me. I annotate and change the recommended plans in the Passporter to coincide w/ Mikes suggestions. The book also gives you room on the daily pages to plan your own itinerary.

In a nutshell, I'm using the 2006 Passporter as a study guide to TGM. No that don't coincide word for word but w/ a few notes here and there it sure bits printing a ton of pages out of TGM.

 

[QT Pooh]

I have not used either but have glanced at touringplans.com and am a TGM subscriber. I will be using his philosophies next week - I'll be happy to do a trip report when I return. I definitely think his advice is well worth the money paid...you'd pay that much for a guide book.