Touring Guide Mike - is it worth it?

[SnoWhiteRabbit]

Mike's advice for the least crowded parks alone is worth the money. We've been over 25 times and I still find his advice helpful. BTW,I've used the UG too and their best days advice is not as on target as TGM. Maybe it's because Mike is in the parks everyday.

Bingo. I agree with you, rie'smom.

I use the DIS boards, TGM, and hard copies of Birnbaums and the Passporter (new books every year), and some UG materials (old hard copy plus on-line resources).

Some people have a hard time paying for TGM as an online resource...but to me it's like an on-line book. I am willing to pay for a copy of the Passporter each year/trip - likewise I am willing to pay for TGM each year/trip.

Some people feel they have access to free online info (like the DIS boards), so why pay for online info....I feel the DIs boards is a different kind of info. People's opinions and stories about their experiences (which I love and value!) but TGM is a professional opinion, tons of info, compiled by one individual (with myabe some helpers, but not he general public...). I value that too, and am willing to pay for his experience and expertise the way I would for any other guide book.

A definite TGM fan here...

HTH!

 

[dixiedizfan]

We also had an incredibly unexpectedly MOBBED day at AK -- our worst -- on our May trip, despite TGM recommending it as a good day. However, Everest had just opened.

However, I can't say whether I got bad advice for that day (maybe AK was actually the least crowded park!). I don't like to draw inferences without data. So while others praise TGM (or whomever) with getting them to low crowded parks, I do not. On the other hand, I don't blame them when we hit a crowded park they recommended either. There are just too many variables.

We didn't just happen on a crowded park one day ... every park was crowded that week. That's why I said he should have known better (instead of telling us we'd be "glad" we went to MK on Wednesday or Friday ... MK was jam-packed both those days!).

 

[dixiedizfan]

well, if your account is still good, i'd go ahead and log on and post about it in the forums. make it public if you need to. you'll get resolve soon enough.

Thanks, I will.

 

[Mainebound]

We didn't just happen on a crowded park one day ... every park was crowded that week. That's why I said he should have known better (instead of telling us we'd be "glad" we went to MK on Wednesday or Friday ... MK was jam-packed both those days!).

Ok, Dixidisfan, I see your point now. I'm sorry you didn't get a helpful response to your concern, but from others who have posted on this issue of response to customer complaints, I am not too terribly surprised.

 

[labattblue]

We didn't just happen on a crowded park one day ... every park was crowded that week. That's why I said he should have known better (instead of telling us we'd be "glad" we went to MK on Wednesday or Friday ... MK was jam-packed both those days!).

When it comes to the MK, if it's a busy season(or week), that park is going to be crowded every day of the week, EMH or not. To me at these times of the year, you can throw out "best park of the day" advice for the MK. Instead get there at opening and utilize FP all day long knowing that the crowds will be large.

 

[sebamt]

I agree with labattblue... the outdated content in TGM is really annoying... Since he is in the parks every day, he should update his website more often!

 

[PortieOwner]

Yes, it is worth it. Research is cheap compared to the price of a WDW vacation (I figure a trip to WDW costs about $20/hour per person in my family, that's $60/hour for every waking hour). I subscribed last year, but only 10 days before going. I'd recommend joining at least a month or two before your trip. This is the order I would spend money on WDW travel resources:

1. Unofficial Guide
2. Unofficial Guide Web site (*****************)
3. Tourguide Mike
4. Passporter Guide

 

[SnoWhiteRabbit]

We didn't just happen on a crowded park one day ... every park was crowded that week. That's why I said he should have known better (instead of telling us we'd be "glad" we went to MK on Wednesday or Friday ... MK was jam-packed both those days!).

Perhaps Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday were even more so jam packed...

 

[dixiedizfan]

Perhaps Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday were even more so jam packed...

Nope, equally packed, all week. The thing is, in his job with his experience, he should have known the parks would be that crowded that week. He said the crowd level for the second half of that week would be a 3 out of 5, or average. WRONG!

 

[Dan Murphy]

Very much worth the few dollars.

 

[Amyg]

Guess I was lucky, we went in early July (read Independence Day = busy) and following TGM was a life saver for us. The days he recommended MK we walked onto Star Tours and then onto Buzz 3 times in a row!

With Passporter, UG, Birnbaums, etc. you cannot get your $20-$25 back if you don't find it helpful...TGM does have that great money back guarantee! IMHO that alone makes it worth at least an exploration.

I did like the Passporter maps but there was no way I wanted to carry more than a few 4 x 6 cards to point me in the right direction. The Passporter information was fun to read but it wasn't crucial since I was able to get very similar information plus other peoples opinions from their boards (and this one) and TGM has great info about restaurants and attractions, etc. The UG is always fun to read and it's free at the library!

 

[Magalex]

We are visiting WDW in June 2007(first time as adult June visitors). So it has been awhile since I was in WDW during the summer months. So I decided to subscribe to TGM. Plus we have one 6 1/2 yr old DS so I want tips for June touring with Star Wars weekends at MGM. (I do hope the SW data will be updated soon for this year). I already read some pointers about viewing areas for events. But I mostly read TGM just for the planning fun of preparing for WDW during the winter blues. It is a fun website. But I don't get into laminating tips and having a TGM novel with me at the park. Because I like to go with the flow plus with a child you never know when they will even with a easy going kid. Plus the greatest benefit will always try to stay onsite so if parks get to we enjoy the fun we can have at the Disney resort .Which on this trip will be the CBR.

 

[bytheblood]

I think so. I really like the forums on TGM as much as I like the information.

 

[Mamiamjo]

I used to buy all the books each year. I spent a lot more money then what TGM costs.

Last year, we used TGM for the first time over Memorial Day week. In all our visits to WDW we have never done more, waited in line less. We had never spent so much time relaxing at the pool either, while getting to see and do everything we wanted.

We are using TGM again for our trip next week over Spring Break.

IMHO, Its worth it,
Mike

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

I plan on purchasing the UG (I used it before and love it), so will alos have access to some of their information. I like having the book with me during our park visit so I can change the plans if needed. So would TGM be useful? necessary? I am not sure about what you get that you cannot get from the books and forums like this one. However, since we are going in late Dec. I want to have a good plan (even if we do not stick to it). Any thoughts? I really want to know
a) Is it worth it?
b) what sort of information does it provide that make it useful

If you are already buying and using the UG and it has been effective for you, I don't think you will need TGM . Same goes for those that use TGM that he's been effective for. They probably won't need the UG in addition to TGM. JMO.

 

[Mainebound]

Guess I was lucky, we went in early July (read Independence Day = busy) and following TGM was a life saver for us. The days he recommended MK we walked onto Star Tours and then onto Buzz 3 times in a row!

With Passporter, UG, Birnbaums, etc. you cannot get your $20-$25 back if you don't find it helpful...TGM does have that great money back guarantee! IMHO that alone makes it worth at least an exploration.

I did like the Passporter maps but there was no way I wanted to carry more than a few 4 x 6 cards to point me in the right direction. The Passporter information was fun to read but it wasn't crucial since I was able to get very similar information plus other peoples opinions from their boards (and this one) and TGM has great info about restaurants and attractions, etc. The UG is always fun to read and it's free at the library!

You make the good point that TGM has a money back guarantee. But he is not alone. You also have a money back guarantee with the touringplans website and with Ridemax. And if you buy Passporter or the UG and don't like it, you can normally return it to the bookseller (We are spending most of summer in the U.K. and I recently returned a couple of the travel books I bought at Borders, trading them for ones that suited us better).

These are all good products from good people who genuiniely love WDW and are trying to provide a valuable service to people who vacation at WDW. None of them will make or break your trip, cure your acne, or help you lose 10 pounds overnight. It's not that big a deal to just buy a couple of them and see which style you like best. If you are like me, you will probably find they each offer something unique and different from the other.

Happy planning!

 

[Funwith4kids]

I agree with previous posters - you don't need both UG and TGM. The most important thing is to have a plan regardless what planning tool you use (and it can be flexible as long as you plan for flexibility) so you can enjoy the parks.

Enjoy the planning!

 

[ronirp]

Since I am such a compulsive planner, and also enjoy reading all these posts and other planning books I decided to go ahead and subscribe. Since we are traveling in Dec. there are no plans for us yet, but I looked at the ones for last Dec. and liked his reasoning for the parks to avoid and the parks to visit - it made sense to me. I like to have a lot of information so his style does not bother me. I hope that I will find it useful as some of you have, but I already like some of the planning tools and remiders that he has.
Thanks for the help and advice!