TourGuide Mike ?????

[maslex]

Alright. I basically have just found this site and I'm soaking in as much info as possible right now. I've also been checking out the tourguidemike site and it seems pretty interesting. Got a question though. If soooo many people are using his methods in the parks, then wouldn't it seem that "everyone" is not waiting in lines for more than 10 minutes? Did that sound right? It seems that if so many people will be using these methods, then we'd all be in the same boat of saving so much time in lines, etc. What's your take?

 

[Adrienne]

too many people are what we call on FlyerTalk as "SHEEPLE" they will just go where the crowd goes... its that group mentality, if everyones going there then there must be something worth seeing doing.

Therefore the smart ones follow TGM advice and win out in the end... best 18 bucks american that i spent so far in planning this trip.

Adrienne

 

[Quinn222]

The number of people who read TGM in the park on any given day compared to those that don't read TGM is huge. Maybe everyone who reads TGM and is going the same day I am to the MK will be at Peter Pan at the same time I am but I doubt that will make for more than a few minutes wait.

 

[DebIreland]

Got a question though. If soooo many people are using his methods in the parks, then wouldn't it seem that "everyone" is not waiting in lines for more than 10 minutes? Did that sound right? It seems that if so many people will be using these methods, then we'd all be in the same boat of saving so much time in lines, etc. What's your take?

I don't know if you're familiar with the book, The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World. They have touring plans too and at the start of the book the author, Bob Sehlinger, deals with that exact point, for readers who are wondering if the plans will still work once the 'secret' of the touring plans gets out there. He points out that the plans require that people be at the parks at opening and many WDW patrons simply won't get up that early. He also says that less than 1% of any day's attendance has been exposed to the plans - too few to affect results. Lastly, many groups customise the plans, skipping attractions they're not interested in, so that lessens the 'crowds' of touring plan people even more.

I had the exact same concerns as you but that info in the Unofficial Guide put my mind at rest and I'm pretty sure the same reasoning could be appled to TGM (which I'm a member of). I know others (besides ourselves I mean) who went to Florda for a Disney holiday and they kinda looked at me skew-ways when I mentioned that we were researching it and planning our days there etc. to the point where I had to stop telling people. Most people honestly think I'm crazy for putting any thought into planning an itinerary as the vast majority of people I know just pick up the phone, call a travel agent, ask for prices, take the best value holiday they can get and that's that, no planning at all!! Hopefully that will continue.

 

[TinkyWinky]

Alright. I basically have just found this site and I'm soaking in as much info as possible right now. I've also been checking out the tourguidemike site and it seems pretty interesting. Got a question though. If soooo many people are using his methods in the parks, then wouldn't it seem that "everyone" is not waiting in lines for more than 10 minutes? Did that sound right? It seems that if so many people will be using these methods, then we'd all be in the same boat of saving so much time in lines, etc. What's your take?

That's funny you asked this! I was telling my DH the same thing just the other day! The same thing goes for that touring plans site.

With everyone reading the same info, I bet pretty soon Monday won't be the big busy day for Magic Kingdom anymore....

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

Believe it or not, we are the minority here! Most people might have a hazy idea of what attractions they want to see, but no sense of order or anything. A friend of mine was taking his daughter to Disney a few years ago. I got to worrying because he did not have a plan! Finally, I bought him a book. He was surprised that there were books written on hte subject. He read it on the plane!

 

[CuteKatCar]

I know so many people in my town who have gone to WDW and none of them do the planning I do. They are not even interested in reading this website. That's why so many of the plans still work. We are a minority here. For me, it's an obsession.

 

[Kick Save]

With everyone reading the same info, I bet pretty soon Monday won't be the big busy day for Magic Kingdom anymore....

I guess the way they've set up the EMH's at other parks on Mondays, and moved MK's away this is already becoming the case...which means us touring folk can start going to MK on Mondays now.

As for the OP's question, the % of people who plan out their day is so small that the "hoards" of people using a touring plan of some kind or another are in the vast minority. (As has been said, already.) Even at that, there are four parks to spread that minority over, so you may see a few familiar faces as you tour, but you're still going to beat the main herd when it comes to waiting in line.

Personally, I've yet to use TGM's or the UG's plans in the parks, but when we were there last summer we did use wdwinfo's "Touring the MK with small children" plan and the benefits were unreal. We'd seen all of Fantasyland and ridden the Indy cars and Buzz by 11:30. It was great, and I was sold right there...just didn't find out about the UG or TGM until this past winter. Can't wait for August.

 

[learnhome]

Hi! I am very very new. This is my first post. Would anyone who is more experienced please tell me what TOur guide Mike is? Should I invest in the unofficial guide???

Oh well.......let me know!!!

 

[wdwlvr629]

Hello & welcome from a fellow CT resident! Buying a guidebook is a great way to start, I have both the UG & Birnbaum's. I am actually trying to decide whether or not to buy TGM and that's how i ended up on this thread! If you're interested in checking out TGM, click on the top of the page where you see TGM as a sponsor, it'll bring you to his site where you can check it out. Good luck planning.

 

[Kick Save]

Hi! I am very very new. This is my first post. Would anyone who is more experienced please tell me what TOur guide Mike is? Should I invest in the unofficial guide???

TGM is a subscription site that has LOADS of information about setting up a trip to WDW. I've found it very helpful already and I've only been a member for a few days and haven't even had a chance to try it out in the parks, yet.

I also bought the UG, also a good resource for information. And when it comes to a trip of this size and potential cost, I don't think there's such a thing as too much information.

 

[asmarykay]

I haven't tried Tour Guide Mike as I am new to this site also. But I have always planned out a detailed itinerary for each trip (about 10 since 1996). The year that we went with my DSIL and family she thought I was crazy when I e-mailed her the itinerary in advance. But after a few days in the World she could see how much more we were able to do that friends of hers had. She liked the plan so much that she passed our itinerary on to a friend who went a few weeks after us.

Planning the trip for me is almost as much fun as actually being there!

 

[Servants of Evan]

One of the main plusses of TGM (at least to me) are the updates Mike provides. You can pretty much be assured that either Mike or one of his staffers is in the parks each and every day. If they start noticing a trend (people hitting this ride before that, a line growing faster than it has in the past) there will be an update on Mike's website within a day or so. Additionally, as others have said -- the wealth of information available is simply staggering. For some, it's almost too much --- but I HIGHLY recommend you follow the instructions you're given when you initialy sign up. It's like being in college all over again ... read it, and then read it again before moving on. The most important thing I've gained from his site is understanding not the "what" but rather the "why." It's not simply spitting out a "go here, go there, then go there" plan but rather a "go here because you want to ... Once you understand the "why" you can plan more effectively and REACT positively if something goes awry.

I'd never recommend that someone get the Birnbaum guide however. Once you read it compaired to UG or TGM you'll realize that Birnbaum never has anything negative to say. In that guidebook everything is always wonderful, the bathrooms are always spotless, the restaurants serve only perfect meals, etc. It must the price they pay for being the "Official" guide.

 

[Miller1412]

Think of it this way...

About 40,000 people enter the Magic Kingdom daily. If 10,000 Tour Guide Mike users all show up on the same day, that's still only 1/4 of the people in the park.

I joined TGM and I love reading all of his tips. I also find that his touring plans are very clear (he gives you the reasons WHY you are doing certain attractions). I like UG too, but the reasons aren't listed, so you have to be more trusting.

Honestly, It all gives me something to do while I wait for October to get here!!

 

[Miller1412]

I'd never recommend that someone get the Birnbaum guide however. Once you read it compaired to UG or TGM you'll realize that Birnbaum never has anything negative to say. In that guidebook everything is always wonderful, the bathrooms are always spotless, the restaurants serve only perfect meals, etc. It must the price they pay for being the "Official" guide.

It does have some nice pictures though.

 

[learnhome]

I guess I just NEVER realized the magnitude of going to disney with your family when we decided that the kids were old enough and we booked our condo... As I read the discussion boards, I am just overwhelmed at what Disney is now like (last time I went I was 9, back in the late 70's)......I am almost starting to feel a "negative" vibe about the whole thing, and maybe I am just getting too far ahead of myself. I will join TGM, and continue to learn all I can about planning the trip......I just feel my nerves are ALREADY getting frazzled, and my trip is about 9 months away.....oh well, thanks for the great tips I will keep going forward.....

Chris

 

[DebIreland]

As I read the discussion boards, I am just overwhelmed at what Disney is now like (last time I went I was 9, back in the late 70's)......I am almost starting to feel a "negative" vibe about the whole thing, and maybe I am just getting too far ahead of myself. I will join TGM, and continue to learn all I can about planning the trip......I just feel my nerves are ALREADY getting frazzled, and my trip is about 9 months away.....

I can relate to how you're feeling. I became overwhelmed last year when planning our trip. I did more Disney planning and obsessing than I did actual paid work! And you know what? When we got there I realised we didn't even have an actual proper itinerary at all. I did have all my information well organised like my PS numbers (ADRs), flight details, hotel details etc. but we ended up with only a vague notion of what way to tackle the parks, after all that planning!! So this year I'm going to trottle back a bit on the obsessing and focus on the park touring specifically and the thing about TGM is, it saves you trying to figure out where to go on what day so you can give your nerves a break!! I'm going to take his advice pretty much without any alterations. We're just gonna do his number 1 park choice each day except where we've already been to that park and even then, we'll still avoid the parks he says to avoid.

My advice to you is to get away from the planning if it's all getting too much. Take breaks and forget about Disney for a while and then come back again when you're relaxed and take the planning slowly. Also, another tip is to open a Word document or even have a notebook next to you and any little titbit of information that you read which seems relevant to you, write it down, whether it's a recommendation for a good restaurant, a tip about buying Disney souvenirs or whatever!

Enjoy the planning. I'd never have believed there was so much to it before we were planning our own trip. And here we are again.... lol!

 

[Ready to go in Ok]

I have UG, Passporter, and I am suscribed to TGM! Crazy I know, but my trip isn't for 7 months, and it gives me something to do. I love the planning.

 

[learnhome]

I can relate to how you're feeling. I became overwhelmed last year when planning our trip. I did more Disney planning and obsessing than I did actual paid work! And you know what? When we got there I realised we didn't even have an actual proper itinerary at all. I did have all my information well organised like my PS numbers (ADRs), flight details, hotel details etc. but we ended up with only a vague notion of what way to tackle the parks, after all that planning!!
Enjoy the planning. I'd never have believed there was so much to it before we were planning our own trip. And here we are again.... lol!

Thank you so much! That is actually very good, and easy advice!!! I started a Disney Vacation notebook, but - I guess I was more involved in hotel/flight/car rental, then the actual theme parks.....I got the free disney vacation DVD last week, and after watching it I was exhausted BUt, I am going to start thinking more about tackling the theme parks in the best way possible for our family, since we already have the place we are staying all set.....flights and car rentals are easy.........thanks for all the good advice! Do you suggest any other place on the discussion boards I should pay more attention to????

Chris

 

[mickeysaver]

I am almost starting to feel a "negative" vibe about the whole thing, and maybe I am just getting too far ahead of myself. I will join TGM, and continue to learn all I can about planning the trip......I just feel my nerves are ALREADY getting frazzled, and my trip is about 9 months away.....oh well, thanks for the great tips I will keep going forward.....

Chris

Oh please don't get frazzled. Yes, there is a wealth of information available on the internet about WDW. You will never be able to see or do it all in one trip, so don't even try. It's all magical if you will just stand back and let the pixie dust rain all over you. Below I have copied the most helpful links that I always give to my friends when they are planning a trip to WDW. Just remember....it's supposed to be fun and it will be if you plan a little and let your inner child come out to play when you get there. Happy planning! Maggie

Everything you ever wanted to know about Disney Vacations and then some!

http://www.allearsnet.com - hands down the best all around WDW resort information site

http://www.mousesavers.com - great tips on saving money on all aspects of a Disney vacation including airfare, tickets, hotels, and more

http://www.disboards.com - a wonderful lively messageboard filled with lots of people that are all interested in vacationing with Disney - there is no such thing as stupid question here.

http://www.pages.prodigy.net/stevesoares/ - This site has a breakdown of characters, shows, and streetmosphere characters and entertainment from all over the WDW resort including things that WDW doesn't actively promote!

http://pscalculator.net/allearsnet/pscalcae.php - the Priority Seating Calculator - a great tool to help figure out when you can start to make your dining reservations.

http://www.themouseforless.com/ - great common sense ideas on how to save $$$ on your WDW vacation - great printable stuff to keep your kids entertained on the road too.

http://www.*************/ - the best behind the scenes info on what's happening at WDW including great info on what's coming soon. (EDITED TO SAY - PM me for the link to this site. Obviously, there has been drama that I am unaware of that prevents the URL from being shown.)

http://www.tourguidemike.com - you are going to spend some major $$$ on a WDW vacation, you might as well spend $20 to get some expert advice and hand holding.