Tour Guide Mike vs ************

[tinkamom]

I've been thinking of subscribing to TGM but since I already have a subscribtion to UG's touring plans I'm not sure if its worth it. All I'm really interested in is the crowd calander and best park days. Ug's seem a little strange-almost all 5's and 6's but then a random 8 on thrusday 4/23 then back to 5 for friday. Should I get TGM or are the crowd calendars the same? Which one is more accurate historically?

One more question for the TGM pros! I have two trips planned for this year, one in April and one in September. Will I be able to see the crowd calendar and best day predictions for each trip?
Thanks for any help with this!

 

[jadedbeauty14304]

I trust the UG's crowd calendar 100%. That is just me though.

 

[collcass]

I would sign up using your september trip. The AVP you receive will be customized for September, but each month is listed fot the "least crowded park days". Just goto the April link to get the info need for april.

I can't vouch for how well it works since this is our first family trip and it isn't until July, but it has helped quite a bit in the planning.

 

[reelmom]

I agree with the previous poster about signing up for September and using the info for your April trip. We used TGM for the first time December 19-23, 2007 and loved it. We didn't wait in any lines over 10-15 minutes. His site gives you the how to tour and why to do it that way information. We found it really helpful. If you sign up, be sure to use his forums also. A lot of TGM experts.
I have never used the UG so I can't compare the two.

 

[TammyC]

I like the UG and have used it for a couple of trips. My theory about the higher crowd number for Thursday is that the numbers are based on the average peak wait time at Space, Splash and Big Thunder and Thursday is usually an EMH day for MK thus bigger crowds for this day.

T

 

[tinkamom]

I like the UG and have used it for a couple of trips. My theory about the higher crowd number for Thursday is that the numbers are based on the average peak wait time at Space, Splash and Big Thunder and Thursday is usually an EMH day for MK thus bigger crowds for this day.

T

That's got to be it! It is EMH that day!

 

[tinkamom]

I trust the UG's crowd calendar 100%. That is just me though.

Good to know!

I would sign up using your september trip. The AVP you receive will be customized for September, but each month is listed fot the "least crowded park days". Just goto the April link to get the info need for april.

I can't vouch for how well it works since this is our first family trip and it isn't until July, but it has helped quite a bit in the planning.

I agree with the previous poster about signing up for September and using the info for your April trip. We used TGM for the first time December 19-23, 2007 and loved it. We didn't wait in any lines over 10-15 minutes. His site gives you the how to tour and why to do it that way information. We found it really helpful. If you sign up, be sure to use his forums also. A lot of TGM experts.
I have never used the UG so I can't compare the two.

I'm glad to hear I can use it to plan my Sept trip but still check Aprils crowd calendar since its really too late to use it to actually plan the April trip!

 

[jeast]

I like both, but started using TGM for my next trip. I really LOVE how he sets up his best/worst days. He tells you WHY one day is better than another for a particular park.

I spend a lot of money for my trips. Shelling out an extra $20 was worth it to me for that info alone.

 

[dddisrunner]

I used UG only on our August 06 trip and it worked fine. For our trip in April07, I used both the UG and Tour Guide Mike. I have to say that I love TGM's info as to the "why" and his best days. I will always use BOTH from now on. They are not always in agreement either. Good luck and have a great trip

 

[myladyisatramp]

I used TGMike last trip in November, it was great, using him again this November trip. But what is UG"s might like to try this also.

 

[MJMcBride]

I love the UG. Its the best guide hands down. However, I have never tried Tour Guide Mike. I'm sure he's fine. Its just that he's always smiling and that freaks me out a little.








look....he's still smiling

 

[Robo]

I love the UG. Its the best guide hands down. However, I have never tried Tour Guide Mike. I'm sure he's fine. Its just that he's always smiling and that freaks me out a little.

look....he's still smiling

If you can't picture TGM not smiling...

 

[Tam1067]

TGM does not update information on his cite regularly, and the AVP is hardly as personalized as you'd expect from the descriptions. Customer service is spotty. He's got fans, but IMHO that service is not so good. I got a refund (which he gave me after my THIRD request for one) because I was so frustrated with the old information on there.

His theory is "This is what works for me."

UG counts people and wait times and really gets the numbers down to a science. They explain the WHY, too, but that "why" is not listed with each day on the crowd calendar. Their touring plans work like a charm though. I love their stuff!

 

[JPG]

I would also point out that there is plenty of info in the UG that is not properly updated each year.

I think when you consider how much there is to keep up with involving WDW, both do a good job. It's just that there is no one all perfect guide, IMO. That said, we use both TGM and the UG each trip for our planning purposes. Happy planning with whatever you decide!

 

[alldiz]

4-23 is probably very crowded because it is my DD's birthday and we
will be at the M.K

Seriously....kids are out of school and rumor has it that they will have
a P&P party on that night.
there is not many nights for spectro and wishes that week between the
parties and grad nights.
Kerri

 

[The Disney Bunch]

What is UG?

 

[JPG]

What is UG?

The Unofficial Guide

 

[Disney Khi]

What is UG?

It's the Unofficial Guide book. It has a website: touring plans dot com.

I subscribed to TGM to prepare for my trip next week. I only booked this vacation last month and I haven't been to WDW since 2000, so I thought I might need some help. I have really enjoyed using it. There is A LOT of information on the website. I have been lurking on the Disboards for a long while now as I thought about planning a trip, but I feel like I got a lot of really good touring tips from TGM that justified spending the money.

I just went over and looked at the UG site's crowd calendar and compared it to my TGM calendar. The biggest difference that I can see between the two is that TGM gives best parks for mornings and for evenings not just one park for the whole day. That way if you like to hop, you would have an idea of a good place to go for later in the day. I saw a few differences between the recommended UG parks and TGM parks for the days that I am going. TGM has explanations for why he picked the parks he did, so that makes me lean toward using his picks. His logic for why he does the things he does always makes sense to me.

I haven't toured using TGM yet, but after my trip (leaving in 4 days!) I'll have more info to share.

 

[atpatt]

I'm on my third TGM trip and I love it. Lines have yet to be a factor at all for us. I've tried UG and Passporter plans, but Mike's line up is what works best for us. I LOVE the way the UG site lets you plug in info, but I don't necessarily like what I get back. I'm sure it works for some people tho!

 

[te2077]

we were just at the world over presidents weekend. We were there the 13th-19th. I was very worried about crowd levels. I used TGMs best park days and strategies. We never waited for more than 10 minutes for a ride. This was one of the best and most relaxing trips we had and we did everything we wanted to do, rode the big rides several times and even took nice breaks. I will be using TGM on every single trip I take. I am very impressed.