UG vs. Tour Guide Mike Plans

[texnmickey]

I was wondering what everyone thought of these two sites. UG is much cheaper than mike, but who has better information? Also how need are they?We'll be traveling with 7 people the Second week of June. We have 6 adults and a 4 year old. Which touring plans are better. We have the Universal Guide Book with the plans in the back, so part of me is thinking maybe we should just use those. We already have our dinner reservations and show times. So do we need either one of these sites at all? What are your thoughts?

 

[goodferry]

I have never subsribed to UG online, however I do buy the book before each trip, and I have used TGM so I will tell you my experiences based that. When we went in June of 2004 I used the UG only, bringing the clip out plans with me. By the end of the third day, my family had hidden the book and the plans and refused to tell me where they were. It seemed like all we did was run from one end of the park to the other, and it didn't seem like we were saving that much time really and the kids were exhausted. The kids thought it wasn't a "fun way" of doing things.
In August of 2005 DH and I went alone to celebrate our 15th anniversary. I used Mike's guides to what parks to visit on what days and what attractions to see at what times. His information is updated VERY regularly, so as things change at the parks, he passes that info on to you. He or his employees are there almost daily touring with VIP guests, so he really is up on his data.
When we went on our trip I knew what park to go to, what time to be there and what attractions I could visit without a line at what times. You can follow and strict touring plan, which he offers, or you can follow his best times guide, which is helpful if you would rather have a rough outline than a set in stone plan.
By the end of the second day my husband, a die hard cynic, was convinced.
We were there in summer and we never waiting more than 10-15 minutes for anything and we had a great time!
In December of 2005 we went back again with the kids, and we had a ball. Once again we followed is guide to what parks to go to on what days, and what attractions to see at what times. Sometimes we followed his touring plans to a T, other times we didn't, that's the beauty of his plan, if you fall behind, you know right were it's best to go based on the best times to ride guide.
I hope this makes sense to you! We have been 6 times, I have spent countless hours on the Dis and have read every planing guide out there and nothing even comes close to Tour Guide Mike for us.

 

[rie'smom]

We've used both. Sort and sweet:
Tour Guide mike-minimum waits
UG- take your chances

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

If you get the UG, you need to read rather than just getting the plans and trying to implement them. There are many more plans than those in the book on the site also. Some are free and some are paid. We make our own plans using the principles outlined therein and never have to wait more than 15 minutes in a line unless we want to and we don't criss cross the park. The book gives you the foundation. The site gives you the updates free and has some more info if you pay. Some of the new plans on the site are designed around less walking. We don't use the pay stuff on the site because we've pretty much designed our own. Without the book and the knowledge of the whys, just getting a plan is more than doing nothing, but you'll still run into trouble. The why's mean you can know what to do if ooops you slept in and are late or Haunted Mansion is next, oops a show let out at HOP just before we got there. Those types of things can shred even the best of plans if you can't adapt.