Touring Guide Mike - is it worth it?

[ronirp]

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

 

[bradk]

there are recent topics on this. he also offers a no questions asked 100% refund if not fully satisfied.

some will say no, it's not worth it. some will say it is. there's only one opinion that really counts.

 

[Amirah95]

TGM worth it to us because we don't like to waste time in the parks and with his touring plans we never waste time. We ocassionally stop to smell the roses, but our main goal is to hit up all the attractions and shows becuase that is what's important to us. To us, his touring plans are the best. I subscribe to his site for the touring plans and for his best days lists. We are park commandos, but you don't have to be a park commando family in order to be successful with TGM's plans. He has a few sets of plans for almost all family types. Like Brad said, you can get your money back after a number of days if you are not satisfied.

I also use other sources in addition to TGM...not what you wanted to know, but just letting you know that I don't roll with just one source.

I use the Disboards for complete Disney info, confirm Disney changes and what not, I like the fun and plus I'm addicted to the Themeparks forum. Ha!

I use Passporter for keeping my plans in order and the way their book is setup, you will not forget to plan any detail of your Disney vacation.

I use the Unofficial Guide book because it's informative, it has real user comments and it's overall entertaining.

 

[ronirp]

Thanks. I read those posts and still could not figure it out, maybe I just missed it... I cannot understand why it is worth it - what it provides above other guidebooks....

 

[bradk]

well, maybe it's not for you then.

i've read birnbaum, birnbaum's for kids by kids, unofficial guide, luxury guide, passporter, fodors, frommers, probably others, several email lists, a few websites, subscribed to touringplans and i'm a current and multiple-time customer of TGM

 

[dismom9761]

I found a lot of info on TM that I read nowhere else.I will use it everytime to help plan my trips.Like someone said you can always get a refund if it turns out not to work for you.

 

[rie'smom]

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.

 

[tomshortridge]

I have the UG and subscribe to TGM and touring plans dot com (from the publishers of UG).

So far the thing I like best about TGM is the day to day recommendations about which parks to tour. He does an AM recommendation and a PM recommendation, which is important especially if you do a split day with a nap or swim in the middle. MK can be great in the AM but stink that night if it's open late for resort guests etc.

 

[NeverBeen2DW]

what about if you are only going to one park for 3 days in a row? I wil be going to MK for 3 days in a row as this is the only park that DS4 wants to go to and one day at AK. I followed the passporter suggestions before and we did all the parks and it was very helpful. Just wondering what more I can get from his website. Also we are going in Mid March which I am sure will be crazy!

 

[Amyg]

Being that you don't have much time AND you already know that you will only be going to MK park I don't think this will be helpful for you.

First of all, TGM gives recommendations for each specific day you are at WDW and will tell you which park(s) is/are best for the specific day so that you can avoid crowds and long lines. TGM has lots and lots of information and it could take some time navigating; it took me several days to get used to navigating and I had 5 months before leaving to navigate though his site.

It was so very helpful and worth every penny and more! We mostly walked right onto most of the attractions. Because he is at the parks almost daily, he is always updating information on the site so you'll always know what's going on before you go. The two attractions that we waited at for more than 10 minutes were ones that we choose to go on were at times that TGM recommended not going.

BUT, on the other hand, there is the money back guarantee if you do not find it helpful so you won't lose out on any money.


Good luck in any case

 

[Parla]

I have been thinking of using TGM for this trip but was wondering if he included any information on DTD or DQ. Getting to the Lego Store this time around is really important to us and would love insider info on the best day for DTD.

 

[bradk]

i don't think signing up for TGM just to find out when to go to DTD is worth it to be honest. even i can tell you that the best time for DTD is during weekdays (to avoid locals who have weekends off coming in and shopping) and during the day when most guests are in the parks.

although that's technically my opinion and you may get a bunch of differing answers on here. it is much more focused on TGM, especially in the forums.

 

[Mainebound]

Thanks. I read those posts and still could not figure it out, maybe I just missed it... I cannot understand why it is worth it - what it provides above other guidebooks....

I think there's a level of detail that you don't see elsewhere.

To take one example, when we went in May there was a new ride that opened, and while other guidebooks said , "do that ride first cause it's going to be busy", TGM said something like, "stand here in the crowd, then get to the left of the crowd, then walk to the ride this specific way, then send a runner to get a fastpass, then the rest of you get in line, then pretend to drop something so your runner can catch up, then try to get such and such a seat, then notice X detail midway through the ride, then exit through this specific door so you can beat the crowds to the next ride." It's funny, because after all this specific detail with a lot of italics, bolds and exclamation points, it always says something like, "but don't worry if you can't do this. You'll have fun no matter what." !

I just looked at my printouts for the parades and I think I had 16 pages just on which evening parade, when and where to stand and how to beat the crowds out of the park. For ONE park.

I do think this is unique. Whether it is valuable depends on how much YOU would value it. I found it made me worry about things I never worried about before. Other people love it (they are obviously less neurotic than I am!).

As far as best days, I found they overlapped considerably with the Unofficial Guide recommendations. I tended to do the park they both recommended.

Hope this helps.

 

[dixiedizfan]

I subscribed to TGM, and really loved reading his advice. I printed out his suggestions of which day to go when, etc. Turned out his advice was totally useless, as he had greatly underestimated the crowd level the week we were there ... January 1st week. For someone like him who goes to the parks every week and observes how the crowds have picked up, especially after Christmas, the past couple years, he should have known better.

 

[bradk]

and did you post about this experience on his forums? considering after your trip you still have 2 months to access the site?

i don't recall seeing it or the responses. nor do i recall anyone complaining about the best days being off in Jan. of course I could have always missed it.

 

[labattblue]

To me, you don't need to spend any money on touring plans. I bought the UG, the associated touringplans DOT com and TGM. You can get by in terms of touring with a lot of research(what attractions are most popular, where they are located, utilizing fastpass and what you want to see) and common sense instead of carrying around a piece of paper seeing what is on your "touring plan" next.

I'll pass on TGM next trip.

PS The TGM loyalists will flame me, but the outdated content pissed me off. I don't care how much or how little there is, there is no excuse to have any outdated content that is more than a couple of weeks old. The same holds true for content yet to be added.

 

[dixiedizfan]

and did you post about this experience on his forums? considering after your trip you still have 2 months to access the site?

i don't recall seeing it or the responses. nor do i recall anyone complaining about the best days being off in Jan. of course I could have always missed it.

I e-mailed him about this and was sent a message saying it would be looked into and he would get back to me. He never did.

 

[Sebastian6027]

I wouldn't go without Tourguide Mike. His final plan for you is concise enough to shrink to 50% and take it with you. I think it is a must. S.

 

[Mainebound]

I subscribed to TGM, and really loved reading his advice. I printed out his suggestions of which day to go when, etc. Turned out his advice was totally useless, as he had greatly underestimated the crowd level the week we were there ... January 1st week. For someone like him who goes to the parks every week and observes how the crowds have picked up, especially after Christmas, the past couple years, he should have known better.

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.

 

[bradk]

I e-mailed him about this and was sent a message saying it would be looked into and he would get back to me. He never did.

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.