TourGuide Mike

[donnajon]

We just got back from a 10 day trip and waited in ONE line for 20 minutes - and that was by not following Mike's advice. We knew we were getting on Small World at the wrong time but the kids wanted to do it. Everything else was 5 minutes - 10 max and that was usually waiting for something to start. It really got DD5 spoiled. If we got in a line with 20 people in front of us, she would whine and say, "I don't want to wait in this line!"

 

[Dreamer04]

I just purchased TourGuideMike's plan yesterday. I love it. I've already learned so much. I could fly to MCO today and know exaclty what I'd be doing for the next 3 days!
We would not be cranky, tired, thirsty or sore.

I highly recommend it!

 

[ChipNDale]

Ok so i decided to get TGM.

After reading it i still dont understand how it works or how to use it. I am very confused and wondering how this will help on my trip July 2-9. ?????? PM me if you think you can help me figure it all out.

 

[T1130]

I also got it. Time to start reading and planning. Any helpful tips.

 

[Liz]

I got TGM before our trip (just returned) and the info was very helpful and I felt it was worth the money I spent on it. However the site is confusing and I almost dreaded wading into it to try and get the info. I read other comments about it being hard to navigate before I signed up and I have to agree. But in the end I did think I got useful info from it and probably will renew for our next trip, although I haven't decided for sure.

 

[Amirah95]

After you read the AVP Help you shouldn't have a problem navigating TGM's site.

 

[funcinderella]

My advice, if you have a printer, is to print everything you need (you can click the upper left hand corner for a print friendly page.) (Also, switch to black and white draft form in your print settings, so you don't use a lot of ink.)

This is what I did, and put it in a notebook which I brought with me on the trip.
It's easier to read and find again when you have it printed out. I used all of his information to design my itinerary for each day. You might not want to go to each and every attraction, so you can fine tune his itineraries.

Then, for each morning, I pulled out my personally designed itinerary for the day, folded it up and put in my pocket, using it to refer to throughout the day. This may sound like a lot of work, but it's really not. It's fun to plan it, and once you're there, there's no effort/arguing/discussion. You know exactly which ride you are hitting when, etc., and you know you will not be waiting in a line (or very minimal lines.) So many other people are just standing around staring at their maps on Main St., wasting time. You won't be doing that!

 

[ChipNDale]

I like the Printer Idea. I will have to do that.

It seams like alot now i am not as worried.

Thank you all on Dis and TGM your great.
: )

 

[missypie]

We just got back from a 10 day trip and waited in ONE line for 20 minutes - and that was by not following Mike's advice. We knew we were getting on Small World at the wrong time but the kids wanted to do it. Everything else was 5 minutes - 10 max and that was usually waiting for something to start. It really got DD5 spoiled. If we got in a line with 20 people in front of us, she would whine and say, "I don't want to wait in this line!"

That is so funny. We were recently at WDW for 10 days - including Memorial Day weekend - and the longest line we stood in was 17 minutes...FOR SMALL WORLD!

TGM was great. I felt like I had a secret key or something. All over the park, peopel woudl be waiting in long lines. And we'd just sail through.

 

[Marseeya]

We just got back from a 10 day trip and waited in ONE line for 20 minutes - and that was by not following Mike's advice. We knew we were getting on Small World at the wrong time but the kids wanted to do it. Everything else was 5 minutes - 10 max and that was usually waiting for something to start. It really got DD5 spoiled. If we got in a line with 20 people in front of us, she would whine and say, "I don't want to wait in this line!"

Same here! What were your dates? We just got home tonight, but we'd stopped over in Hilton Head for a few days

We waited in one line for 15 minutes, but that's just because we had like a half hour to blow before dinner at Akershus and decided to ride the Maelstrom while we were waiting. My DD kept saying, "Tour Guide Mike this, Tour Guide Mike that... I'm so tired of Tour Guide Mike!" I'd just laugh and tell her, "YOu owe Tour Guide Mike a big thanks for the great time we've been having not waiting in THOSE lines" and then I'd point to a long line.

I've honestly never seen such crowds in my life, but following TGM's advice, we never waited in lines and we never even got on a too-crowded bus.

 

[Katems]

What exactly IS Tour Guide Mike? Just touring plans for each park? Or is it like Pal Mickey that you carry around and he tells you where to go? Where does he get his info? How is it updated? How does it apply to your own trip dates? Clueless here.... How did you avoid such lines over Memorial Day? Was it just by getting Fastpasses and riding during parades?

 

[donnajon]

Same here! What were your dates? We just got home tonight, but we'd stopped over in Hilton Head for a few days

We waited in one line for 15 minutes, but that's just because we had like a half hour to blow before dinner at Akershus and decided to ride the Maelstrom while we were waiting. My DD kept saying, "Tour Guide Mike this, Tour Guide Mike that... I'm so tired of Tour Guide Mike!" I'd just laugh and tell her, "YOu owe Tour Guide Mike a big thanks for the great time we've been having not waiting in THOSE lines" and then I'd point to a long line.

I've honestly never seen such crowds in my life, but following TGM's advice, we never waited in lines and we never even got on a too-crowded bus.

We were there June 6 - 15. It was great!
Mike is a former WDW employee who still gives VIP tours in the parks. His website - www.tourguidemike.com - basically tells you how to avoid to crowds by doing the opposite of what most people do. They zig, you zag! And he gives you the whys of why he recommends doing what he does. I highly recommend him!

 

[NCombs]

We were there June 6 - 15. It was great!
Mike is a former WDW employee who still gives VIP tours in the parks. His website - www.tourguidemike.com - basically tells you how to avoid to crowds by doing the opposite of what most people do. They zig, you zag! And he gives you the whys of why he recommends doing what he does. I highly recommend him!

It does so much more than just giving information on avoiding crowds.

It's really an online guide book. There is information about each resort, the restaurants, ride descriptions, touring advice, transportation information, etc. Anything you would find in a printed guide book would be covered in TGM and there are lots of great hints and suggestions.

 

[DisFlan]

I just had a funny thought - the next book to come out might be Hints & Help: Using Walt Disney World Guide Books and Sites.

"Help for the stranded, overwhelmed newcomer. You want to get the best vacation guide value for your money. Which site or book is best for your family? This handy guide will help you decide which one is right for you. What does each site or book have to offer? We'll tell you that...and MORE! Only $15.95 at major book retailers. Or find us online at WWW.WDWguidetoguides.com."

DisFlan

 

[darlene9947]

We were in the parks May 21 - 29, and the only line we waited in was for Soarin' (30 inutes) but only because I CHOSE to wait. I just had to try it!!

This was our best trip ever!! Star Wars weekends were a blast and my grandson had a ball.

I re-signed for an upcoming 12/2007 trip before I left home in May!! I will NEVER go back to the World without Mike!!

 

[caribbeanme]

Another thumbs up for TGM! I have gone on two trips with him and am planning a third.

 

[maccumby]

Another thumbs up! I bought it for our trip we just returned from (June 5th-June 12th) My husband and I had each been to WDW as children but this was our first family trip. After I bought TGM I wasn't sure I liked it. However, I followed his advice and we waited in one or two lines the entire trip. Everyone else has been reporting that they thought the parks were incredibly crowded but we didn't think so at all! This trip made me a big fan of TGM!

 

[cour10ee]

OK, I was waffling on TGM and after reading all the testimonials here I thought NO BRAINER. I do have the UG and love it but the touring plans do seem kind of do or die. I want DS2.5 and DD4.5 to really experience the magic on their first trip, not be dragged around. If Mike can help us with that, it's worth every penny.

 

[Castillo Mom]

Made our trip last August a success. I just renewed for our next trip in '07.