Tour Guide Mike

[N2Disney]

I am planning a trip for Dec. 31 - Jan. 6 and can't decide if it would be a good idea to subscribe to Tour Guide Mike or not. We have been to Disney before but I felt as if I wasn't totally prepared. I want to be better prepared this time. Any opinions would be appreciated.

Also, any opinions on park attendance for this week would also be appreciated.
Thanks

 

[Synonymous]

Have used TGM every trip for the last few years. I'm making heavy use of it right now for our Xmas week trip. I think it's great.

 

[whimsey]

I agree. Used TGM for our Christmas trip in 2003 and the information helped us navigate with the crowds. We managed to get CP with Gary Sinise and the Rose and Crown during Illuminations. Got CRT for 8:00 am the day after Christmas and were able to do most of the "must do" activities. I genuinely think that following his advice paid off.

 

[dpic]

This thread brought to you as an unpaid advertisement by tourguidemike.

 

[karriern]

I've used TGM Three times now. My husband says, "Why did you by that AGAIN?" We go at a different time every year. DIsney is always changing!! TGM stays on the up and up. We LOVE TGM


This ad is an unreimbursed, totally free endorsement for TGM

 

[danny1649]

Folks with 1 post and couple of more poster's with less than 20 posts would endorse TMG where you pay for information, on a free site like the Dis.Is the Dis posted all over TMG site.If you like TMG let him know it over there so he can see it and appreciate it.I'm sorry but when I see someone's first post is on TGM I don't understand we will answer your questions for free.I don't dislike TMG never been to his site I never felt the need to.We will continue to let folks discuss TMG as much as they want here on the Dis.Do me a favor though please when you visit TMG don't forget to give the the Dis a small pat on the back once in awhile.

 

[DisFan2]

Unsolicited endorsement here as well (and I've got a few posts and been around a while). He really does have plans and information that I've not seen on the DIS. I'm sure it's here, or could be found if I posted the right question, but honestly, I now realize that there were questions I didn't even think to ask (i.e. I didn't even realize what I was missing/doing wrong). It's also very convenient to have all the plans and information tailored around your dates and family make -up.

 

[susykt4]

I love TGM because all the info is in one easy place. The touring plans are wonderful. I love all the free info on the DISboards, but will still subscribe to TGM for the January trip I'm currently planning. I thought the specialized info was totally worth the $.

 

[UrsulasShadow]

If it would make you feel better and more informed, subscribe. Just don't forget there IS a money-back guarantee if it isn't what you were led to believe, or if you find it too difficult to navigate. He honors his guarantee. That's about all the good I can offer about him.

 

[CamColt]

I find just by visiting the Dis and learning everything here, I am more than prepared for my WDW trips. I hardly ever wait in lines and I always get it all done.

 

[Danauk]

I too have subscribed to TGM for my Christmas week trip. I have been on the Dis for several years and have many posts as you can see, but I still learned a lot of useful info from TGM that I had not read here or any other WDW site. I like TGM and do recommend him.
As for attendence that week, the start of your trip will be very crowded but the crowds will ease a lot towards the end of your trip.

 

[NCombs]

Folks with 1 post and couple of more poster's with less than 20 posts would endorse TMG where you pay for information, on a free site like the Dis.Is the Dis posted all over TMG site.If you like TMG let him know it over there so he can see it and appreciate it.I'm sorry but when I see someone's first post is on TGM I don't understand we will answer your questions for free.I don't dislike TMG never been to his site I never felt the need to.We will continue to let folks discuss TMG as much as they want here on the Dis.Do me a favor though please when you visit TMG don't forget to give the the Dis a small pat on the back once in awhile.

"We will continue to let folks discuss TMG (actually it's TGM)"....

Do you make decisions about discussion topics on this site? I'm not quite sure what your statement is supposed to mean.

 

[danny1649]

Sorry for that,unless it is in violation of board guidelines.I feel I have the right to express my opinion on a post as long as I honor those guidelines also.This post by OP or replys by others is in no way in violation of board guidelines. Thanks Danny

 

[letterdavidman]

I used TGM for the first time for our most recent trip. I must admit that, when I first subscribed and saw all the info "tailored to fit" me, I was a little underwhelmed... but that was probably as much my fault as it was the fault of all the hype I had read about his site here on the DIS.

Anyway, now that I've actually put his info to use, I'd give an overall grade of B. As far as a park-by-park breakdown (in relation to TGM's tips for each park), here 'tis:

Animal Kingdom--A (His tips were golden, right on the money. Of course this currently is the easiest park, of all the parks, to tour; and, of course, it will be changing slightly, but significantly, in about six or seven months, so I'm curious how easy to tour it will remain.)

Magic Kingdom--B+ (His advice here was almost as good as his AK advice.)

Epcot--B- (Here he kinda dropped the ball concerning the newest attraction--I can't go into detail--and his advice just generally didn't seem to hold as much water at this park, as compared to the others.)

The Studios--B+ (This is, admittedly, our least favorite park, but his advice did seem to be pretty much on the money... although it does seem that this is a pretty easy park to tour as well--if you can overlook the haphazard park layout, that is.)

To sum up: Would I use TGM again? Maybe, maybe not. At its core, his "secret advice" really boils down to one simple philosophy. And, like other touring plans, it can be awfully hard on the feet.

But, I can see why so many people swear by his site. So, at the every least, check it out.

 

[NCombs]

Sorry for that,unless it is in violation of board guidelines.I feel I have the right to express my opinion on a post as long as I honor those guidelines also.This post by OP or replys by others is in no way in violation of board guidelines. Thanks Danny

Absolutely. I just wanted clarification on what your statement meant.

 

[safetymom]

Do you all promote the DIS on TGM? I can understand that it might be a great service but do you post on a GM board when you have a Ford?

I think the DIS has lots of great information. If you have a question about how you should approach a park just ask here and you will get the information. No need to pay for it either.

 

[henrylovespooh]

I used him once and really liked the site and the advice. If I were going at Christmastime, I think I would use him again just to get tips on avoid ing crowds, if that is possible.

 

[NCombs]

Do you all promote the DIS on TGM? I can understand that it might be a great service but do you post on a GM board when you have a Ford?

These are 2 different types of resources. It's certainly not a competition and I would say most people who use TGM also use the DIS. That's the great thing about the internet. There are a lot of resources.

Noone gets upset when people mention other sites like mousesavers or allears or guide books like UG or Passporter.

Why the questioning about TGM comments?

 

[safetymom]

I think if people looked around www.wdwinfo.com they would find the information that all these other sites have. The DIS and wdwinfo.com usually have the information posted when it is released. No need to look elsewhere when we already have it here for everyone.

It just seems to me that a lot of people are giving free advertising for TGM but do they support the DIS when they can?

 

[Kenswing]

Do you all promote the DIS on TGM? I can understand that it might be a great service but do you post on a GM board when you have a Ford?

I think the DIS has lots of great information. If you have a question about how you should approach a park just ask here and you will get the information. No need to pay for it either.

Hi SafetyMom,

I do believe that the DIS does have alot of great information. And yes it is free. But if you ask a question, you're going to get as many different answers as there are people that answer them. I would say that at least 90% of the people on TGM are also DIS members. In my opinion, we're all just folks looking for the Disney edge. I use just about every web based Disney site that there is. I don't understand why TGM gets so many people's hackles up. We all have one goal. Having a great Disney vacation experience.

Ken