Tour Guide Mike

[HELPDESKGUY]

Is tourguide Mike worth the money?

 

[Chuck S]

Moving this thread from DVC boards. I would imagine a higher percentage of folks on the Strategy board have experience with TGM.

 

[cwf1028]

I just subscribed last night and have just glanced over some things. I think it will be worthwhile. It is a lot of reading and a lot of information. Yes, a lot of it is well known, but as I am not a frequent visitor, it put into a format that is helpful to those not as familiar with the parks and the rides to choose first or wait until later for. I like things spelled out for me and this is a good resource for that. Kind of takes all of the hits that you can find and puts them in one place, plus some bonus stuff that is not as commonly known. You do have to jump around a bit and I think it will take some time to really navigate though the information effectively, but I think it will be well worth it when I am done. Either way, he does offer a money back guarantee if your not happy.

 

[Marseeya]

When planning for our first trip, I spent around $75 or so for planning books/sites, including TGM. This year, planning for my second trip, I've spent $18... for TGM.

Totally worth it, IMO!

 

[mommykds]

We have been to the parks 5 times since 1998. I think I know the parks pretty well but was interested in anything that helps touring the parks more efficiently...Would TGM be helpful (or tell me something I don't know) to a family who knows there way around already? Thanks!

 

[dgaston]

After about 14 trips I first joined TGM when planning a family Christmas week trip, including staying off-site. I liked it so much, I've joined once more since then, and will again shortly!

 

[dizcrazee]

TGM is definitely worth the money to me. I've learned a lot from his site. I've always been an Unofficial Guide devotee, but TGM has given me additional in-depth information. I'm now in the process of comparing and combining advice from both sources (I know its very OCD of me...but to me its just fun!) I think between TGM and UG I have all the info I could ever need to educate myself on the best touring approaches/techniques for WDW.

Most of their advice concurs, but where they diverge (fastpass techniques, for instance), we'll use the advice that seems more workable for our particular needs.

Another fun thing to do is to print TGM material and make a binder with dividers for the different sections. My whole family laughs at me for doing this (good naturedly, of course), but I'll be vindicated in May when we're zipping through the parks, having a ball and missing the crowds!

 

[Micheme]

Tour guide Mike is AWESOME. even for those who know their way around Disney.

We used Tour Guide mike for our past Oct trip and it was so worth it. I am the planner of planners... guides, excel spreadsheets etc but I wanted to simplify and plan right since we brought a toddler with us the last time.

TGM gives you an understanding of how the crowds work in Disney and how to AVOID them. It was great, we barely waited in line and got to see everything. We even rode dumbo like 3x without a wait... a miracle in itself.

If you have an aversion to being up early (for park openings) some of his stuff may not be for you. But it gives you a great deal of info and helps alot.

 

[TomD]

TGM is worth IMO. I go to 2 sites this one and his. Both are informative and both are great sites

 

[aunt kelly]

We have been to the parks 5 times since 1998. I think I know the parks pretty well but was interested in anything that helps touring the parks more efficiently...Would TGM be helpful (or tell me something I don't know) to a family who knows there way around already? Thanks!

I was wondering this same thing. I finally decided to subscribe. What I like about Mike's site is that you can click on your specific dates of travel and he will give recommendations as to which parks to visit based on his estimates of which parks will be the least crowded and which will be the most crowded. For example, we are going March 12-19. I can click on March 13th and Mike will have recommendations as to which parks to visit that morning and which to avoid. He gives his reasons for these recommendations and they are very date-specific reasons. He tracks big groups (cheerleading competitions, etc.) which will be visiting during your trip and he advises you as to how to avoid these groups. (Not that I have anything against cheerleaders-I just don't want to wait in line for 90 minutes to ride space mountain because they are at MK the same night I am ).

I did change my itinerary based on his recommendations. In fact, I changed my whole touring strategy after I read his.

Yesterday, I read some of his dining recommendations and was surprised by some of his comments. I am going to follow some of his dining recommendations. I figure he is in the parks almost everyday, so he must know which restaurants are consistently good.

The one thing I have to say I'm disappointed with is that he has not updated the touring advice for the dates I will be there to include recommendations about the soft opening of EE. I've e-mailed him about this and I am hoping I'll see an update soon!

 

[johnvree]

There is another recent thread on TGM you might want to check out:

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1028730

I just joined and like his site.

 

[Amy&Dan]

I think it is totally worth the money. I have used it three times now, for our second, fourth and now fifth trips. I never feel like I am wasting money. I look at this way, when I add up my total amount spent on each Disney trip, that roughly $20 is chicken feed. And since it adds ease and success to my trip than its priceless. Using this site allowed us to have a great time and not wait in any long lines the week between Christmas and New Years. He has a money back guarantee so you can't lose. My only complaint is that with his growing popularity and following, I am afraid the whole world will catch on and learn the secrets that make it such a valuable too! Also for park hours and entertainment schedules his site is way easier to use than Disney's.

 

[HydroGuy]

I think it is totally worth the money. I have used it three times now, for our second, fourth and now fifth trips. I never feel like I am wasting money. I look at this way, when I add up my total amount spent on each Disney trip, that roughly $20 is chicken feed. And since it adds ease and success to my trip than its priceless. Using this site allowed us to have a great time and not wait in any long lines the week between Christmas and New Years. He has a money back guarantee so you can't lose. My only complaint is that with his growing popularity and following, I am afraid the whole world will catch on and learn the secrets that make it such a valuable too! Also for park hours and entertainment schedules his site is way easier to use than Disney's.

Hi Amy&Dan, haven't seen you around lately. Are you Amy, or Dan (or both )? Been pretty cold around here lately, huh?

I joined TGM a week ago and know it pretty thoroughly now. We had a tentative trip for late Feb we postponed to early May (first time to WDW). Just me and 2 of our munchkins (10 and 11). I agree joining TGM is a no-brainer at $20 as compared to a trip that costs 100 times that much. Much of his advice can be found on DIS and MouseSavers, etc., but some of it is unique and all of it is pretty well organized. Plus I found a couple invaluable tips.

Keep warm.

 

[Amy&Dan]

Hi Amy&Dan, haven't seen you around lately. Are you Amy, or Dan (or both )? Been pretty cold around here lately, huh?

I joined TGM a week ago and know it pretty thoroughly now. We had a tentative trip for late Feb we postponed to early May (first time to WDW). Just me and 2 of our munchkins (10 and 11). I agree joining TGM is a no-brainer at $20 as compared to a trip that costs 100 times that much. Much of his advice can be found on DIS and MouseSavers, etc., but some of it is unique and all of it is pretty well organized. Plus I found a couple invaluable tips.

Keep warm.

Hey good to hear from you! I have wondered about you lately, haven't seen you in awhile, but I have quoted your Disneyland fastpass tips on the other side a few times recently! Yeah its awfully cold! We will be in WDW in early May too! We just got back from a quick trip to Disneyland last weekend where it was nice and warm. A week ago at this time I was sweating in line for Monsters Inc at DCA! Glad you got TGM, to me its just easier to have all the info on one site, he hasn't let me down yet. And I am Amy, still don't know why I made my dis name Amy&Dan, I used to have my own identity if I remember correctly! Dan just takes the trips I plan and reads over my shoulder when I am on the dis, no fair I gave him equal billing! Enjoy your first trip to WDW, you are gonna love it. And early May is nicer, warmer with no humidty.

 

[HydroGuy]

Hey good to hear from you! I have wondered about you lately, haven't seen you in awhile, but I have quoted your Disneyland fastpass tips on the other side a few times recently! Yeah its awfully cold! We will be in WDW in early May too! We just got back from a quick trip to Disneyland last weekend where it was nice and warm. A week ago at this time I was sweating in line for Monsters Inc at DCA! Glad you got TGM, to me its just easier to have all the info on one site, he hasn't let me down yet. And I am Amy, still don't know why I made my dis name Amy&Dan, I used to have my own identity if I remember correctly! Dan just takes the trips I plan and reads over my shoulder when I am on the dis, no fair I gave him equal billing! Enjoy your first trip to WDW, you are gonna love it. And early May is nicer, warmer with no humidty.

Hmmm. Let's see how good my memory is. You went to DLR last Sept. You were planning another DLR trip for June 2006 (?). You went on a quick trip last week to DLR. And you are planning a trip to WDW in May 2006. Geeez. How can anyone stand that much fun?

In truth, I am not a big Florida fan. I find the heat and humidity intolerable. I hope you are right about low humidity in early May. We are planning to do all four parks May 6-9. I would really have liked a fifth day, but DW said kids can only miss two days of school. We have a reservation at the Dolphin.

Now, back to topic (sorry everyone ). How do you "use" TGM and what have you found most valuable?

 

[2infinityandbeyond]

Now, back to topic (sorry everyone ). How do you "use" TGM and what have you found most valuable?

In addition to the whole TGM philosophy of WDW vacation planning (his Top 5 Itinerary Planning Principles), the most important two pieces of info are the least crowded parks and the least crowded times for the rides. Having three young kids, there was no way we could stick to a rigid itinerary or a "go here first, go here second, etc." ride plan. Using the sample park tours combined with the least crowded time chart allowed us to be spontaneous when something (bathroom break, snack break, get in line for characters, etc.) got us off course. Using this method, our wait times in all of the parks were slim to none. The longest was in AK at KS, about ten minutes in the FP line.

 

[AllNamesTaken]

I think it is totally worth the money. I have used it three times now, for our second, fourth and now fifth trips. I never feel like I am wasting money. I look at this way, when I add up my total amount spent on each Disney trip, that roughly $20 is chicken feed. And since it adds ease and success to my trip than its priceless. Using this site allowed us to have a great time and not wait in any long lines the week between Christmas and New Years. He has a money back guarantee so you can't lose. My only complaint is that with his growing popularity and following, I am afraid the whole world will catch on and learn the secrets that make it such a valuable too! Also for park hours and entertainment schedules his site is way easier to use than Disney's.

My trip is not until Nov. Is it better to buy his guide closer to the trip so he has more info on my specific dates? Or will he update you after he gives you the original info?

 

[2infinityandbeyond]

My trip is not until Nov. Is it better to buy his guide closer to the trip so he has more info on my specific dates? Or will he update you after he gives you the original info?

Sign up now so you have plenty of time to digest the basics. He'll update future months as they approach.

 

[momto2girls]

I think that Tour Guide Mike is probably worth it if you don't know the parks very well and/or you are going at a busy time during the year.

We have been to WDW more times than I can count and travel in the off-season, so TGM would be a waste for us. Part of the reason that we travel when it isn't crowded is so that we don't have to stick to a schedule. We love that we can wander around and still see everything that we want to see.

However, in the busy season, I'm sure his advice would be useful.

 

[Sammie]

We have been going forever, too many times to count and I found lots of valuable info on TGMike.

It was definitely worth the price.