Tour Guide Mike.... Yes or No?

[MissionMouse]

If you are not one for project planning or gathering data from multiple - free - sources then a service like Mike's might be for you.

 

[Crazy4Disney06]

My family enjoys the lack of planning we do on our trips. We go during quiet times so there are never crazy waits and we have been on all of the major rides before. If we get to something, then we get to it- if we don't, we don't worry; there's always next time! I could not imagine getting up for rope drop and running from ride to ride. Our favorite part about the parks is enjoying the beauty and atmosphere. Buying a planning guide would just drive us crazy To each his own, but there's my $.02.

We are the same way. I would rather get to the parks around 11:00am or noon and stay late in the parks then be there at rope drop. I do have Birnbaum's Guide as well as UGWDW, so maybe I should just stick to those and the awesome info. here on the dis boards.

How long does a subscription to TGM last?

 

[portia9]

I found TGM very helpful.

 

[bigAWL]

Add my vote for TGM. I'm using his site to plan my upcoming trip, and since it's been a LONG time since I've been there, I consider myself to be a WDW newbie. I'm counting on the best days charts to work for me. I'll be sure to report back on how it went. The rest of the site is pretty convoluted and spread out. I've been reading it for several months now, and still haven't fully figured out the organization of it all. Spending the time to sift through it all has been worth while for me just for the confidence I now have in my plans. But probably the only reason I would re-subscribe would be to get the best parks chart again, assuming they work for me on this trip (I'm too lazy to try to figure that out on my own).

 

[rie'smom]

His customer service, IMO, is terrible. I've sent emails and whoever answers has not responded. I am about to send another and ask for my money back.

That's a shame. I've never had any problems getting emails answered.

 

[kat777]

I think people should be warned that the "best days" information that many people sign up for won't necessarily be available in time to plan an itinerary/make ADRs at the 180 day mark, but I did enjoy reading the rest of the site...spent some fun hours over there.

 

[Dan Murphy]

I like it mostly for the best days/best park advice. Never has failed me yet.

 

[OKW Lover]

You can get all the info you need right here on the DIS for free.

 

[vicki_c]

I know this is not true for everyone, but $20 is so insignificant to me, I would spend that for the park recommendations alone, even if it was a 1 page pdf. That information, combined with the vast amount of other information, and the forums, are well worth a $20 investment.

As for customer service, I never had an issue - I came back from my trip and renewed and had no problems and didn't get charged wrong or anything else.

As for the late publishing of information, I'm pretty forgiving on the crowd charts because WDW was so late in putting out their information for October. Additionally, people have complained that park recommendations changed for some upcoming months, but I believe that is because WDW changed their park schedules recently.

I do not think it's okay that some of the touring plans have not been updated to include some attractions that have been around for a while. But, I make do and rely on the forums for advice if I need it.

It's not perfect, and I use the UG book as well (I don't like the UG web site at all except for checking their crowd levels - I did pay $8 to see those for December). Tried RideMax and requested a refund for that. Passporter is great for maps, but the rest of the information wasn't that helpful to me. So, in my opinion, TGM is still the best thing out there for a reasonable price. We have been to the World at least 11 times, 10 since 2001, and I agree it's not rocket science, but it's still worth $20 to me.

 

[teach22180]

I've never paid for TGM. I've done enough research online and through books that I can figure out the better days for each park. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know Mondays are busy in the MK?!? I don't need a touring plan as we don't usually like the "big" rides anyway. Never spent more than 30 minutes in line except to see the princesses in the tent in MK, and that was a mistake I knew I was making, but still chose to make. The research is a big part of the fun for me, anyway!

 

[beachgrl001]

Give it a try If its not for you You can get a refund, Thats what I did. I tried it but it just wasnt for me, I am more of an unnoficial guide gal.

 

[jimmalru80]

TGM can be very helpful, but we have been to WDW so many times, we know what we want to see, when we want to see it.

 

[Tracie]

No offense to anyone in my months vaction club on TGM, but there is not much posting going on in that forum. I signed up for this trip, to see the best park info and I do read through the articles. I do enjoy the boards over there, but I didn't pay for other subscribers to tell me the info I paid for Mike to put the info on the site.

I do use and enjoy the site but I won't need it for another trip.

PS: I have been planning great trips since 2000 using the Dis and other resources I found out about on the Dis!

 

[mdoc]

I've been to WDW well over a dozen times in the past several years and I consider myself a pretty accomplished park-tourer. Frankly, before I joined TGM I already toured the parks the "TGM way." That said, I still join TGM before every trip we take and I think it is worth every penny.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I really like that he explains his reasoning behind his tour plans.

Plus I got emails when it was time to make my ADR's. I signed up for the month I'm going and also get emails when the calendar came out or when things change.

I've really been enjoying reading through all the articles. TGM gets a from me.

 

[Tam1067]

I voted no--

Old information which is not updated at all. Confusing site navigation. Lousy customer service.

 

[CaliforniaDreamin]

We just got back and it was pretty crowded. A LOT of Europeans, Canadians and Australians capitolizing on the weak American dollar. All along we had been worried about US schools spring break, but didn't even consider how our weak dollar would entice people from other countries. They got a bargain.
That said, this was our first trip using TGM and in order to give it a fair shot, I tried to follow his advice to the letter. I'm now a believer. My biggest brag: Magic Kingdom last Tuesday. We did Space Mtn., Buzz Lightyear, BTMRR, got a fastpass for Splash, and did Jungle Cruise and Pirates in less than three hours. That's six major attractions in less than three hours on a very crowded day. We probably could have done Splash, but got fastpasses because it was a little cool that day and we didn't want to chance getting wet that early in the day. Now that I think about it, we may have gotten Haunted Mansion in within the three hour period, but can't remember. All the people who brag about not waiting in line more than 15 minutes on the worst days...well I can brag along with them. It really worked. The longest we waited was about 40 min for Rock N Roller Coaster and that was because they had problems and shut the ride down while we were in the queue. So that doesn't really count.

 

[MariDisney]

Personally, I would never visit WDW without TGM's least crowded park charts.

 

[jamstew]

Couldn't vote since I think it was worth the $20, but I rely just as heavily on the Unofficial Guide, so I can't say I wouldn't go without him

 

[Redbudlover]

I am with the Thumb's up people for TGM. I think I am a pretty darned good planner, but last year I took my 19 month old DGD and my lovely DDDIL and DS for the first time. I wanted it to be as smooth as it could be so researched TGM carefully for best days parks and for touring guides for toddlers - it worked great except when we deviated - and then it was a mess. So at Christmas - over Christmas - the busiest time of the year and a time I thought after reading everything here and hearing from folks already in the park about the crowds that I had erred badly by going at that time of year I went again to TGM. I couldn't believe it. 15 and 20 minutes wait at Crhistmas? I followed him to the letter and it felt like going at a slow time.... There is a lot you can learn here but it doesn't come close to the benefits of TGM. I spend thousands going to WDW - $20 to make the trip a success? Priceless....