Tour Guide Mike

[reneempayne]

Any one use tour guide Mike? I know he is a sponsor, but is it worth it and does it work???

 

[harleyquinn]

I used him last year (August) and when I followed the plan everything was fantastic.

The days we strayed (because DH didn't want to be tied to a plan) it was terrible. DH already told me to buy it again for this year.

You'll hear a lot both ways on this board. If you do a search there are a million threads.

I think it's great for people who aren't necessarily park pros or know every trick from these boards. That said, we'd been 3 times before and most of the stuff I read on TGM I knew from these boards. The best/worst park day charts were the thing I'll keep going back for. Even if he just confrims what I've reasoned out to be the best plan.

Bottom line...if you are new to WDW, it's the best $20 you can spend in prep for your trip IMO.

 

[GatorLady]

The best/worst park day charts were the thing I'll keep going back for. Even if he just confirms what I've reasoned out to be the best plan.

I totally agree. We love TGM

 

[lady browning]

Our Sept. trip will be our first with TGM, I still feel like it was the best $20 I've spent in preparing for my trip. As the previous poster said, I would buy it again just for the most busy park days. I figured if I'm gonna lay down almost $7000, $20 bucks was nothin.

 

[mouseman41]

Just got back and used TGM for the first time! Best $$$ I ever spent. His info was dead on! We were there during oneofthe busiest times of the year and when we followed his advice we never spent more than 10 min in line. When we strayed from his advice it was a disaster! You have to be willing to get up early and be at the parks when they open. If you are one of those that like to sleep in it will not be worth your while! We had a wonderful trip and were able to flow right thru the crowds.

 

[tx2tn]

We used TGM last year. If you are one of us SUPER planners, then he is GREAT!

 

[P&B's Mom]

Our June trip will be our first to WDW and using TGM. I agree--with the money we are spending for a family of 6 to stay at BCV, what is another $20?

One complaint I have read and even had myself, at first, was that there was not a "magic" touring plan that I could just use. You must be aware that you will have to do a lot of the work/research yourself. There is a lot to read, but once you understand that he is teaching you how to tour, you will be able to figure a lot for yourself.

The forums are great and the people are very nice. I posted my itinerary and made adjustments based on what others had to say, but keep in mind that each family is different. I am an ultra-organized person and love that I have my touring plans ready to go, with a lot of help and advice from the forums.

Good luck to anyone who signs up--money well spent!

 

[MAGGIED]

YES YES YES YES... worth the VERY small investment.....

 

[jcc0621]

I am in the minority on this one. I find the Unofficial Guide website to be just as good, if not better than TGM and the proce is alot less than TGM. The Unofficial Guides best days match TGM's day for day.

 

[ChrisAlli]

I am in the minority on this one. I find the Unofficial Guide website to be just as good, if not better than TGM and the proce is alot less than TGM. The Unofficial Guides best days match TGM's day for day.

I have found UG best days not to match TGM exactly for my trips. Close but not exact. TGM has never let me down on best days and his info is great. He teaches how to tour the parks and WHY to tour this way and how to adjust. I've learned a lot over there and will use him for all our trips. My brother in law and I actually had sort of an argument as to where to go one of our days because UG and TGM are actually different. TGM reasoning has one out. It made more sense.. I guess we'll see who was right after the trip, but my money is on TGM.

 

[MinnieGi]

We used TGM over Thanksgiving week '07 and his advice gave us an amazing trip on one of the most crowded Disney weeks. I am already signed up and using it to plan our '08 trip!

 

[Mamiamjo]

I used to spend $$ every year buying the newest Disney books (UG, Birnbaum etc), then we found out about TGM
Our first time using TGM we hardly had any wait times, rode everything we wanted to (most multiple times) and got to spend more time then ever in the pool relaxing. My wife thougt I was crazy at first planning everything out, but after a couple of days using TGM she declared that it "Worked like a charm!"

Since then we have and will continue to use TGM for our WDW planning purposes

I definitely recommend spending the few dollars for the TGM membership

 

[shendley]

A big thumbs up from me for TGM. There's an awful lot of info and so you have to be willing to spend some time with the site to get everything you can out of it. But the info is laid out very well for you to dive in about as deep as you care to with any particular topic. The touring plans are great and easily tweaked for your own interests. And the general tips he gives for touring are easily worth it. I would personally never even think of going to Disney World again without TGM. We've used him twice before and subscribed again at the end of last year for a trip this July.

 

[karensi]

Another TGM'er here . We have used him several times in the past and am now using his advice for our upcoming trip in April. I am just starting to figure out my park touring itinerary. Already have the least crowded days down and from there was able to make our ADR's.
TGM is $$$ well spent, especially as others have said, in relation to what you are already spending on the trip.

 

[schnerk]

Any one use tour guide Mike? I know he is a sponsor, but is it worth it and does it work???

I am a travel agent and I have been to WDW 7 times in the last 4 years. I swear by Tour Guide Mike, and recommend his site to all of my clients. There is SOO much amazing information that is not available anywhere else.

It is truely the best $20 you can spend.

 

[Millie12591]

Just got back and used TGM for the first time! Best $$$ I ever spent. His info was dead on! We were there during oneofthe busiest times of the year and when we followed his advice we never spent more than 10 min in line. When we strayed from his advice it was a disaster! You have to be willing to get up early and be at the parks when they open. If you are one of those that like to sleep in it will not be worth your while! We had a wonderful trip and were able to flow right thru the crowds.

That being said, he (TGM) helps you to plan on being out of the park at some point and time during the day to rest, he doesn't want you to worn out because he wants you to keep going through out the week. He's big on helping you to have the best trip ever, he's not all about just getting to the park early and going totally commando the whole time your there.
My dh didn't like the getting up early and being at the parks at rope drop, he says that's not a vacation to him (I can understand that),but my thoughts are you can sleep when your at home, so this next time I'm going at the time TGM says to be there and what everyone else wants to do is up to them, but probably by the time they are in the park, I'm back at the room or going resort hopping and taking a break form the parks because I've hit all the rides I'm can hit for the day. he he

 

[OB1]

you will find a lot more answers to TGM if you search. I know I have answered probably 5-10 times in other posts. You will also finds discussions pro & con. I still use his info after 25 trips. I have subscribed for the last 4 years.