tourguide mike or unofficial guide?

[4mygrls]

I bought the unofficial guide to walt disney world. It's alot of info but i don't think I really like the touring plans. It seems to make it more like school. We have 8 days and I really want to take it easy and not rush through everything. It's me, dh and two young girls. I read about tourguide mike and was thinking about purchasing that. Is it alot like the unofficial guide? I don't want a touring plan. I just want to know what days are better to go to what parks and what are good times to do adr's at table service restaurants. Also, should we consider early morning entrance or late magic hours? I'm becoming so overwhelmed with the planning. I'm almost ready to throw in the towel and just wing it. I know I have to make adr's for ts restaurants though. Gosh, I'm wondering if this is all worth it?

 

[Skylarr29]

YOu can purchase tour guide mike if you want... the price is pretty reasonable but it is alot of work to navigate the site and you may feel even more overwhelmed. If you have enough patience and know what to expect and have the time to read through it all I Have heard it can be very helpful. I would say that if you dont want to purchase it just hang out here and read read and read. You can search for specific info and post questions. I think that is the best way to learn everything and you have plenty of time.

 

[Tissa]

I'm not sure how TourGuideMike is hard to navigate. All of the info pertaining to the time you are going is in one area. Articles, updates on best park days etc. Very easy.

 

[traciedee]

I'm with you. Don't want to follow a strict plan and I'm not one for guidebooks. But we are going during a fairly busy time with my mom who is 67 so I wanted to try and make this a little easier. I just got tour guide Mike today and it does have a lot of helpful info on when to go and what is busy when. You set your own schedule and go armed with your inside knowledge!

 

[ThreeMusketeers]

I loved my Passporter. It was perfect for storing things (has little pockets) and you can write down your dinner reservations and so on inside. Was really neat. I didn't try Tour Guide Mike last trip, but I am thinking Maybe this trip.

 

[Sinderelli]

I loved my Passporter. It was perfect for storing things (has little pockets) and you can write down your dinner reservations and so on inside. Was really neat.

I LOVE the Passporter! I don't even want to try anything else.

 

[ajleone]

IMHO all the guide books are way too overly critical, and try to turn what is a fun vacation into a very rigid stressful time. In the last few years we have learned that we love to "wing it" and just take our time. If we can't ride something today we'll ride it tomorrow. When it comes to the best days to go etc... I've found that most of these guides are never really accurate although sometimes they get lucky.If you go in with the attitude that you're gonna have a good time and understand it could be crowded you'll have do fine, and have a blast.

 

[MommyPoppins]

I would get TGM. I like it A LOT better than the UGs touring plans. TGM tells you the best days and he tells you WHY they are good or why you should avoid, his touring plans also go into great detail as to why you should go here instead of there. So even if you don't want to follow a touring plan TGM gives you the info to make a informed decision so you aren't just following the crowd, which will have you waiting in lines all day. TGM doesn't do lines, so his advice will have you whipping through everything without waiting more than a few minutes. It's priceless information.

 

[rie'smom]

You can get just the best days from TGM but to be fair, touring plans also has a crowd blog too. We use TGM. Last year was the first time for TGM. We had been going since it opened and Mike helped us to have our best trip. My husband said no more WDW w/out
TGM!

 

[mullertwin]

I love TGM and have had two very successful vacations using his advice and expertise. Why don't you give it a try? If you really hate it, he has a money back guarantee.

 

[LuvTheMagic985]

Ok I purchased the TGM guide and am planning on using some of his advice for touring, but I have to say.....almost 99% of the information he gives can be found online at various sites. Thing is u have to have the time and patience to find it. I've been researching Disney for the past two years to improve our touring and make better use of time and fun. After paying for his site I was disappointed to see that I knew much of the info before hand by reading it FREE at other sites. I think TGM is great but it has it's place....IMO...for those who don't frequent Disney boards and who don't have time to readily search the internet for information. He does provide alot of info into one convenient site (however it is somewhat tedious to navigate).

 

[GrandmaBarb]

Have been to WDW nearly every year since Magic Kingdom opened.
I still sign up for TGM every trip as there is always so much updated information that you cannot find anyplace else.
You just have to keep checking for all the updates after you have navigated the site.
Soooo much information, and it makes the trip so much more restful and enjoyable and yet you get to see and do everything without the stress.
Try it, you'll see.

 

[Brian Noble]

The best thing about TGM: you get one consistent opinion. Try using the DIS to decide whether or not you should go to an EMH evening in the Magic Kingdom. You'll get at least three different answers to a yes/no question! Which one should you listen to? It's never clear, especially for someone relatively new to the parks. With TGM, you get one answer---Mike's answer---plus his reasoning for why that's the answer. Since he makes his living as a paid guide in the parks, his answers tend to be well-informed more often than not.

The worst thing about TGM is, again, that there is only one opinion. If your style doesn't mesh with Mike's style, you can be on your own. For example, his touring plans assume you are willing to get to the parks at or before opening when necessary; there are only a few designed for later arrivals (and then only where it makes sense.)

My general advice about TGM is if you are a very experienced WDW visitor and/or have very firm ideas about what you want to do when when you get there, then TGM isn't as useful as it is if you are willing to try things his way. If you think it might be useful for you, sign up. If you don't like it, ask for a refund. My sense is more people are happy than not, but of course it won't be for everyone.

As for the OP's question of TGM vs. UG: I have (and rely on) both. They follow slightly different goals. UG's goal is to get you to see as much as possible, waiting in lines only when necessary---you can rest up after you get home. TGM's goal is to have you avoid lines, skipping marginal things that aren't really worth the time only when necessary---keeping you well-rested along the way. Our family prefers the more relaxed pace of TGM-style touring in most situations, but again, YMMV.

Either one will put you miles ahead of the average WDW guest, and the differences after that boil down to personal preference. If you're spending several thousand dollars on this trip (and you probably are) it's hard to argue that you shouldn't buy both.

 

[beachwarmer]

After doing comando style touring on our last visits to WDW, I knew I needed something different. I signed up for TGM for our two week Christmas trip. I have used DIS since 2000, UG and Passporter. TGM helped me do a relaxed trip with a three year old. I knew where to be and when I had to change plans I just looked up his suggested parks for AM/PM. When I was at the bus stops I knew I was doing things right by the length of the lines. The tour plans were amazing. A different way of thinking than the UG, not better just different. We even did MK on Christmas day (her birthday) and did Dumbo twice with no waiting, once before our CRT breakfast and once after. I am a convet to his touring style, and we got to do so much at a very busy time of year.

 

[HydroGuy]

The best thing about TGM: you get one consistent opinion. Try using the DIS to decide whether or not you should go to an EMH evening in the Magic Kingdom. You'll get at least three different answers to a yes/no question! Which one should you listen to? It's never clear, especially for someone relatively new to the parks. With TGM, you get one answer---Mike's answer---plus his reasoning for why that's the answer. Since he makes his living as a paid guide in the parks, his answers tend to be well-informed more often than not.

Just signed up for TGM two days ago, and for the most part I agree with you. But TGM does not have a consistent message about EMH. I noticed several places that conflicted. I think this is a result of Mike changing his mind about EMH over the last year (he says as much in one article). Some of the old thinking remains on the site.

Either one will put you miles ahead of the average WDW guest, and the differences after that boil down to personal preference. If you're spending several thousand dollars on this trip (and you probably are) it's hard to argue that you shouldn't buy both.

Agree 100%.

 

[Maria395712]

are there any discount codes to join tour guide mike
maria

 

[HydroGuy]

are there any discount codes to join tour guide mike
maria

I believe this is the one I used two days ago:

http://www.tourguidemike.com/tour/index.asp?promoCode=A82E8-2AH

 

[kutchyone]

I tried TGM and I'm not going to tell you what I thought of it. Yes I do have an opinion about the site - a pretty strong opinion as it happens. But I'm not going to share it with you.

You see, I happen to know that TGM readily offers full refunds. No explanation required, ask for a refund and you will receive it. The implications of this policy really should make any debate on this subject moot. Since there is absolutely no financial risk in trying TGM for yourself, the only thing you risk losing is the time it will take you to look around TGM once you have signed up. If it's not for you, get your money back. It’s a pretty simple concept folks.

Some people like TGM, some don't. I have no idea which group you will fall into. And neither do you, at least until you give it a try yourself. And since we've already established that there is no risk in giving Tour Guide Mike a try, that’s exactly what you should do. Make up your own mind. You don't need me or anyone else trying to convince you as long as you have the means to come to your own opinion.

 

[Mainebound]

So let’s stop these endless arguments on these forums. Some people like TGM, some don't. I have no idea which group you will fall into. And neither do you, at least until you give it a try yourself. And since we've already established that there is no risk in giving Tour Guide Mike a try, that’s exactly what you should do. Make up your own mind. You don't need me or anyone else battering you over the head with our opinions as long as you have the means to come to your own opinion.

Althouhg I do wish new DISers would use the "search" function a little more, I'm not sure any "battering" is happening here, and I don't think it is a waste oftime to ask people's opinions on a product before you purchase it. We do this all the time, at restaurants for example (hey, have you tried the pasta? is it good?). Sure, you can return things, but it's nice to try to make an informed decision in the first place, isn't it?

 

[traciedee]

I agree with Maine. I don't think there is anything wrong about asking for someone's opinion. Even if this has been discussed before, new folks join these boards all the time and everyone has a different perspective. Whether you use the advice provided is up to you and I personally am sort of enjoying comparing the different touring guides and forum postings on the same subjects. The way I look at it if you find something lots of people agree on, you have a pretty good idea it works!