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

[daemom]

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

Sorry, that's where I got mine last year. I found a $3. off code on another site--can I post it here? Can I post the site name or code?

 

[zachnlucy]

From what I've read, touringplans is a more commando style itinerary that involves a lot of crisscrossing the parks, whereas TGM is more of a "let's have a great vacation and not get too tired, okay guys?" style.

 

[Dale-n-Chip]

The discount code is on http://www.themouseforless.com rather than MouseSavers.com. I made the same mistake myself last night before thinking. . . "Hmmmm. . . maybe it was on the other one. . ." $3 off! That'll buy me a Mickey Bar in October.

I'm a long-time UG reader. I love EVERY UG I read (except DL--that one just stunk!) and have already read the 2006 WDW UG. But I like Mike, too. Because I'm anal-retentive, I've got the UG, Passporter AND a subscription to TGM.

With DS5, we find that we often have to adjust any touring plan, so I think TGM will allow us more flexibility in that regard. I agree with the PPs who contend that TGM's "whys" help us make more informed decisions when perhaps things don't go EXACTLY the way we planned.

We will see. So far (in the last 18 hours) I like what I see. There are a lot of TGM cheerleaders out there! Ten million Elvis fans can't be wrong, right?

Happy planning!

 

[KIRSTIN'S MOMMY]

I'm the same way, I have all the books, a subscription to tourinplans.com and tourguidemike. On our last couple of trips, (the most recent being a few weeks ago), I've used them both. I find both of them offer something in their own way, although I think that Mike is better at predicting which parks on which days.

 

[always quiet]

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 were there that week as well ( from the 4th to the 17th). I think we did the park the same night you did! (don't want to list the day of the week here....PM me if you'd like!) DH was feeling under the weather and I figured I'd give him some peace and quiet and take the kids back to a park and let him get a peaceful nap that evening. Since we were staying at FW, it was just a fast boat ride across Bay Lake. Sounded simple enough, right?? Well, I hadn't checked Mike's advice for the evening and in the 3 hours we were there, we got onto 2 rides and ate a Dole Whip. I could not believe the mob scene!! When we got back into the cabin when I couldn't take anymore, I grabbed the sheet I printed off his website... there is was, plain as day.........DO NOT GO!! After that, I was darn sure to check his advice daily!!

 

[UrsulasShadow]

I followed touringplans "Best Days" and had a wonderful trip...no waits, or at least very few, and those I expected, and took the risk anyway. And I went the absolute busiest week of the year...Christmas to New Years! Walked on Space & BTMRR, FP Splash, got into Philharmagic when it was practically empty, same with HM, saw parades, ate in the castle, RAN into PoC...I couldn't figure out what all the fuss about this week was! The same with the other parks...no problems. So go with whatever touring plans you like...as long as you have them, and read them, and follow them to whatever degree pleases you, you'll have a magical trip!

 

[chris7]

I have not seen touringplans.com, but we used TGM on our Dec. 17-26th trip. After the trip I'm 100% sold on Mike's advice, it was really the trip of a lifetime. That being said, I spent months on his site absorbing everything. I used it the most for planning what days to be in what parks, and the order of rides and attractions we were going to do (we have small kids, so their enjoyment was the focus). His advice was spot on and worked like a charm. I think,though, that you really have to spend the time on his site to get the most out of it.

 

[Selket]

I've used TGM for 3 trips and never been disappointed. I don't like the UG commando style (or cynicism for that matter although I always buy the darn book! LOL!). I found Mike's advice to be accurate and with young children (one of which has significant health issues) there is NO way I can keep on a schedule. With Mike I can just follow along and when we get off-track, so to speak, it is easy to pick back up finding attractions with short waits, etc. You do have to spend some time.

I suggest getting TGM and UG and whatever looks interesting to you and see which YOU find fits your mind-set better. Most people spends thousands on their WDW vacation to throwing $50 towards some guides really is a wise investment!

 

[Mainebound]

We have used both, we prefer touringplans.com/UG. We have young children -- they are now 6 and 4, and we are planning our 4th trip in 4 years with them. We also travel with my 68 year old mother. I have NO IDEA what people are talking about when they say touringplans.com requires a commando style. I assure you my little boys and my elderly mother would not be going for that.

I also have absolutely no idea what TGM people mean when they say TGM provides a "why" but UG doesn't. Obviously these people have never read the UG, because there is a ton of information about ride loading time, tendencies of crowds and crowd movement in the parks, the design of the parks and how it affects crowd flow, etc. in the UG, as well as how the outflow of one ride impacts the intake of another ride, and on and on and on. If you look at touringplans.com and the "crowd blog" you may just notice that Len Testa is basically a PhD on the subject and bases his predictions on no fewer than 30 odd variables that may impact crowds and crowd movements. If anyone needs a better or more thorough explanation of why touringplans recommends the order of attractions they do, they need to have their head examined.

Finally, with regard to the OP -- the touring plans are very (some might say "remarkably") similar IMHO (I subscribed to TGM in 2004 and 2005), although UG and TGM crowd level predictions/best parks best days may differ. Why do they differ? Because Mike is in the parks and making his judgments in a qualitative way, not in terms of qualitative research. He is using knowledge he has gained by experience in the parks. The UG researchers have this too, but add to it significant quantitative research, some results of which have been published in peer reviewed journals in statistics, etc.. They also study a much wider data set -- weather, school closings in Florida, car travel numbers from AAA -- than TGM.

I should also point out that touringplans.com makes it clear that "best days of week" for the parks has a relatively minor impact, compared to the major touring impact of getting there by opening, for example, so you shouldn't stress out over it.

I personally think the UG is a better value for your money and gives better advice, but you can purchase TGM and get a refund if you don't like it. Have a great trip!

 

[4DisneyfansinNC]

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??

I ditto this exactly! I was thinking maybe I just spend too much time on the DIS and I know everything else because aside from the green days and touring plans I'm not getting anything else out if???? I guess that info is worth the price though.

 

[zachnlucy]

Here's the link for the discount:
http://www.themouseforless.com/membersavings/Benefits/TourGuideMIKE.shtml

 

[MommyPoppins]

I feel more confident now to just stop looking at touring plans "best days" and go with TGM this time. If all goes wrong....then next time back to touringplans.com.

 

[ntengwall]

Being the obssessive person I am when planning a trip, I have numerous books--including the UG AND I signed up for touring plans.com AND I signed up for TGM and I just ordered the Passporter last night

I have to say that so far, I have found TGM's site to be the most helpful. Yes, his site is a bit overwhelming (with lots of articles to read), but once you surf around for awhile (like the 3 hours I did last night!) you get the hang of it. I especially liked his article on what to take to the parks in your backpack (info you can surely find other places too) and also his sample touring plans of MK and AK with kids.

I also LOVE his sense of humor and he had me LOL several times last night as I read