TourGuideMike...Which days at which parks & EMH ??

[Disneydreamer315]

I don't think Peter Pan is worth more than a 5 minute wait. I don't know TGM strategy but I don't even think Peter Pan is worth getting up for EMH to ride BUT

I guess if I had a screaming child that wanted to ride Peter Pan NOW I'd wait.



The cynic in me thinks one of the "secrets" to Mike's VIP tours is getting extra FPs from cooperative CMs or accumulating extra FP and assuming a cooperative CM will let an old FP slide.

Your Peter Pan comment has all of the tgm'ers rolling on the floor I am sure.

As far as the cynic goes -- if that is the case -- then why are there hundreds of TGMers who have gone during christmas, easter and thanksgiving, raving about how well the advice worked for them-- simple normal people. And why would he have SO MANY users that feel so passionately on how well this advise works that would brave confrontation on the dis.

And if you think you can assess the quality and the nature of TGM with a 2 hr preview, I think you would be wrong. Short impressions can be misleading.

If I assessed the dis on 2 hrs yesterday morning, I would have learned that bringing a nanny to WDW means you are a bad parent and can't handle your kids, the the CP is offensive to many people, and March next year is going to be much busier than easter at WDW.

 

[NewEnglandDisney]

I'm sorry, this is where I got the impression that you had met Mike. I can understand that you do not like his website, and I certainly am fine with that. That you can assert that you do not like someone you have never met certainly makes it easier to dismiss your opinions.

LOL.

You obviously haven't dismissed my opinions, since you seem to take such offense at them. But if you insist on debating semantics...

I do not care for the way he presents/advertises his business, I do not care for his writing style, and I do not care for his site.

I can bet that I wouldn't like to hang out with the man, since he says that he talks like he writes. I'd be looking for the nearest asprin within minutes.

If the phrasing of one personal note as an addendum to a discussion of the facts of the matter makes it easier for you to deny what I say, then by all means continue on. Unlike yourself I don't come here to dismiss people, but to try to see different perspectives and share some of my own. Some people just have a hard time at that, I guess. Again, I ask, if it's okay for you to say you like TGM, why is it not okay for me to say I don't?

N.E.D.

 

[NewEnglandDisney]

It takes more than a few hours to get a handle on TGM.

But I thought it was so easy?

N.E.D.

 

[Pedler]

But I thought it was so easy?

N.E.D.

The site is pretty simple but you do have to rethink the way you tour. I know that you think Disney is a relatively simple place to visit but to most it is a vast overwhelming destination. There is no way to do it all even in a week long vacation so it does take some to get a handle on it and how you want to tour it.

Of course some people could care less and are just happy to be there. Hey if that works for them then more power to them.

BTW it currently looks like 4 out 5 TGM subscribes are happy with the service so it must provide some value to people. Not all people but a hight percentage.

 

[Lewisc]

Gee, WDW has a Spiderman ride?

The answer to your question is no Spiderman is in Universal. My initial impression is that you're making a smart a-- remark and not asking a question.

My initial post said:

Universal and Disney have spent a lot of money theming the Que area.

and I assumed most guests know Spiderman is in Universal.

Glad I could help educate you.

 

[Disneydreamer315]

How did you edit your post without showing a 'this post has been edited by'? Is it because you are a sponser?

 

[Mickey Fliers]

I have read this entire thread and find it interesting that people are continuing to debate this topic. Just like anything else in this world, there are some people that like TGM and some that don't find the value in it. I have used TGM several times and felt that most of his advice was useful. For example, his touring advice for AK was right on, but I felt that the MK advice was nothing new. I did recently subscribe again for our December trip, but mostly for his info regarding MVMCP. I wasn't finding consistent, coherent touring advice for MVMCP and knew that I would find it on TGM.

I hope you all have magical vacations, whether you use TGM or not.


BTW, my DS3 just saw the "blue paw" smilie aw: and said "mommy, I see the clue!" Too funny

 

[mill4023]

How rude. So you're saying that my vacation simply will not be as good, no matter how much I love the people I'm going to be there with??????

There is an ENORMOUS difference between quantity and quality. I think we've all heard this our whole lives. And yet TGM promoters do nothing but QUANTIFY their trips ("we hit 26 rides while our friends hit only 19.") I'm sorry, but if we only go on 10 rides but we have a fantastic time in each other's company, WHO ARE YOU TO DEEM OUR VACATION NOT AS GOOD????????????????

As far as lines are concerned, I can see how families who get stressed out by lines would want to avoid them. Well, we don't get nearly as stressed by lines as others. We are all HUGE talkers, so we would probably end up having a great conversation cut off by a short line. But what we ARE is a family that gets stressed out by schedules and rushing. We HATE rushing. I was hoping there would be plans to help us cope with that. So far I haven't really found what I was looking for.

Bottom line, it is absolutely not at all for you to judge how great my vacation is or isn't. Wahoo for you for hitting 15 more rides than we do. You won't be with my kids or my husband, so as far as I'm concerned, I wouldn't trade vacations with you for anything.

I stick to my statement that no guide can make my trip better. Only my family can. Guides can make it more efficient and increase the quantity, but the quality really will be determined mostly by how we get along and appreciate our time together.

JMO and JMtrip!

Shel

Wow, get defensive much?

I really didn't intend to offend you and I have no idea why you would think I'm being rude. I never said you can't have a great vacation without using any guidebooks and I never criticized you for your opinions. I was just disagreeing with you in my opinion that TGM and the UG can make a vacation better. If stating a differing opinion about what can make a vacation better is so judgemental and offensive to you, why in the world are you a member of a forum who's primary goal is to have discussions and share advice, opinions, and information about how to make a vacation at WDW better?

Perhaps you misinterpreted my tone because I think we agree on more than you think. To me, the most important thing about a vacation is spending NICE, RELAXING, NON-RUSHED time with my wife and kids. I think that using advice from TGM and the UG did make our vacation better. It made the time spent with my family less tiring, less stressful, and more fun.

Just so you're clear, TGM is NOT about quantity. It's about quality. His primary goal is for you to enjoy your vacation as much as possible. That does NOT mean running from ride to ride to see as much as possible. To him (and me), that means seeing all the best attractions without waiting in long lines, rushing, or doing so much that you get tired. TGM is far less "commando" style than the UG.

 

[TheWho]

THIS IS WDW DAVE. I'm on a different computer and didn't have my log on.
You feel better now, I've been on this board for 5 years.

I'm just trying to give my honest assessment on TGM vs. other sites.
Stop being so cynical, I guess I'll take my discussion somewhere else.

 

[Jennygt]

I am leaving in 19 days, should I bother with TGM or am I too late? I have been to WDW 12+ times amd I think I have a handle on it but I am always open to new info!

 

[Lewisc]

If I tell you when Mike recommends you go through those stores to avoid the crowds, then I'm violating his intellectual property.

Gee I go through the stores to avoid crowds, rain, heat and sometimes even to shop. I didn't need TGM to suggest that.

I'm not sure how that information is anyone's intellectual property.

 

[Pedler]

I am leaving in 19 days, should I bother with TGM or am I too late? I have been to WDW 12+ times amd I think I have a handle on it but I am always open to new info!

You should have enough time. Check out the express planners. If it doesn't work for you then there is the money back guarantee.

 

[Ardenne]

Adding my query to Jennygt's -- how much does any of this *really* matter during non-peak times? I can see where insider advice that helps reduce wait times might be really useful during the summer and holidays, but are there times of year when crowd levels are so low it doesn't help much? (Though I can imagine the crowds might not be as sparse as usual during the traditional low periods this year, with the free dining promotion going on.)

 

[Brian Noble]

Jennygt: I'm a happy TGM customer, but if you already have a plan, and you are happy with it, go with your plan. I think the stress of having to incorporate yet another set of advice with the plan you already have may not be worth any improvements you might find.

On the other hand, if you don't have a plan, and you want one, you can probably get enough out of TGM in a couple of weeks to make the $20 a fair investment.

If you want to try it out, save it for your next trip, and give yourself some time to plan from the get-go with TGM.

Disneydreamer315: I've edited my own posts without a note being added, too, so it's not to do with sponsorship. I think there is a time limit (no note within the first so many minutes/hours/days, note placed after that.)

 

[mill4023]

My comment on the ques is obvious directed to attractions like test track, Spiderman and even Splash Mountain.

I don't think Peter Pan is worth more than a 5 minute wait. I don't know TGM strategy but I don't even think Peter Pan is worth getting up for EMH to ride BUT

I guess if I had a screaming child that wanted to ride Peter Pan NOW I'd wait.

I'm tempted to just sign up for TGM, spend a few hours and if I don't find more than one or two things I don't already know get my refund. Alas I doubt there are any SECRETS, ride the low capacity rides very early, don't use your FP until you get your next one, take advantage of the lower lines during parades and so on really aren't secrets. Members of DISBOARDS have been promoting an afternoon break for as long as I've been reading DISBOARDS.

The cynic in me thinks one of the "secrets" to Mike's VIP tours is getting extra FPs from cooperative CMs or accumulating extra FP and assuming a cooperative CM will let an old FP slide.

You capitalized and quoted the word "secrets" as if you are implying that the word was used by TGM or one of it's members.
I don't recall ever seeing the TGM site claim to have secret information and I don't recall seeing anyone on here claim that he has secret information. So if you would kindly point out where that claim was made, I'd appreciate it.

It's not about secrets, it's about advice and opinions.

 

[JohnNJ]

I am leaving in 19 days, should I bother with TGM or am I too late? I have been to WDW 12+ times amd I think I have a handle on it but I am always open to new info!

Here's my advice:

Subscribe to TGMike today.
You'll find a box titled "Express Planners" on the left of the main AVP page.
Click on October.
Follow the steps (links) to the most important information.
Read through and print out what you want.
Go on your vacation.
When you get back, decide if you want to exercise your money back guarantee.

Post any questions on the TGMike forums. Have a great trip.

 

[Pedler]

Adding my query to Jennygt's -- how much does any of this *really* matter during non-peak times? I can see where insider advice that helps reduce wait times might be really useful during the summer and holidays, but are there times of year when crowd levels are so low it doesn't help much? (Though I can imagine the crowds might not be as sparse as usual during the traditional low periods this year, with the free dining promotion going on.)

We were there during a slow time and I did wonder how much it helped until I spoke to some other people we knew afterwards that were there around the same time. We just seemed to do more in a more relaxed manner than they did and we spent more time on a resort experience.

The best comment I can make on how relaxing a trip we had while still doing a lot is that on the way back home we ended up with some delays including an engine failure and over 5 hours in crowded commuter airport terminal with a seemingly endless 15 minute delay cycle that kept us from getting the kids any type of real food. Our whole travel time was over 14 hours for something that should have been only 6. This was after 7 nights at Disney and doing quite a bit of rides. So you would think we would be beat, the kids cranky etc. You know the usual you need a vacation after the vacation type of thing. In our case not at all. The kids were fine, no melt downs, everything went well. Partly becuase we did have some activity books for the kids and because we were not all tired and cranky from our vacation at Disney. Instead we were relaxed and rested as if we spent our entire time at a resort. Of course using the TGM approach we did have, as he says, a "True resort vacation experience". Aside from all of the tips and techniques that is the one thing that TGM is big about and even during the slow time I think it helps.

Just my .02.

 

[HaleyB]

Wow, it is interesting to see how much time and energy some people will put into bashing a website. I think the OP was asking about using EE/EMH mornings. The answer depends on her partys likes and dislikes and what time of year she is going. It also depends on the ability to get up and going for the EE mornings.

Here on the dis I find there are a few conflicting sorts of advice on this topic:

I am not getting up early on my vacation!

Yes go! They are great.

They are too busy go the day after/day before instead.

So I am not going to sort through pages and pages of TGM bashing vs TGM praise, because that is pointless. I just wanted to post and ask, did we ever get to the OP's question and really give a good answer? Can you guys put your sticks and stones away please- this is suppossed to be a fun place where Disney lovers can come and talk DIsney.

 

[Jennygt]

I have a plan, my ADR's and MNSSHP tickets already, I think that I might get too overwhelmed or try to chang plans that are too late to change now, so mabey I will stay away from TGM this trip but I would like to check it out for my next trip. Thnaks for all the advice guys I appreciate it!!

 

[Ardenne]

Thanks, Pedler. That's exactly the kind of info I was looking for. I'm in a similar position to Jennygt -- leaving in the fairly near future -- and trying to decide whether it's worthwhile to buy the UG, subscribe to TGM, subscribe at touringplans.com, or anything else along those lines that I haven't heard about yet. (Yeah, I know, I should have gotten organized sooner... but we've had some family crises that resulted in postponing the planning I ordinarily would have wanted to have completed by this point.)

We'll be there the first week of October, which I understand is usually fairly slow -- but with the combo of free dining, the food and wine festival, and MNSSHP, I think it may not be as slow as I had hoped when I first decided to go in October. So some of that info may come in handy -- I'm just trying to evaluate which info option would work best for us.