Unofficial Guide or Touring Guide Mike?

[rseverhart]

After reading about TGM on these boards, I decided to purchase his service for our December trip. I LOVE it!! (thanks DISers!!! ) I also had previously purchased the UG and enjoy it as well. BUT...TGM's "Best Days to Visit the Parks" are sometimes directly opposite from UG's "Best Days to Visit the Parks". Has anyone else noticed this? What did you do? I don't know which one to listen to and for some reason this is really causing me to go insane I would sure love to hear what you guys think. Thanks!!!

 

[HillPete]

I would go with Mike's recommendations. The UG was published about a year ago and Mike was in the park today. If there is something you need to know to adjust your plans, Mike will have more accurate and up to the minute info. Don't get me wrong, I love my UG as well, but Mike is simply the more timely of the two. Enjoy your trip!

--H

 

[Brian Noble]

I think it depends on how you plan to tour the parks.

UG's best days are based on the peak wait times, which tend to be mid-afternoon. If you are going to be in the park all day, then UG's recommendations are fine. Mike's best days are based on how the park "feels" in the morning and late afternoon/evening, not just raw wait times, and since Mike is a HUGE believer in the afternoon break, the peak wait times are less important to his touring style.

Both TGM and UG say that even bad days can be good if you get there early, follow a good touring plan, and get out once the crowds get unmanageable.

 

[Brian Noble]

One more thing: if you go with UG's advice, make SURE you are using the most recent set of recommendations here: http://www.touringplans.com/BestDays.htm. The first '05 edition is quite out-of-date, and I believe they've changed further since the revised '05 edition was published. They are comparably "up to date" with Mike's advice. They just come from a different philosophy.

 

[gramjulie3]

Definitel TGM. My family (eight of us) were at WDW June 15th - June 25th. Ihad read over the UG a number of times but decided to follow TGM's advice, we never waited in lines or felt swallowed by crowds. We will never travel without TGM.

 

[DisneyMama629]

We were just there last week and used TGM. Our longest wait was around 8 minutes.

 

[Minky]

Thats great Robnkris!!!

Congratulations on your wedding!! You are a beautiful couple!!!
Another Diser that just got back last week said they had waits of like an hour or 2, the same time you were there, sounds like TGM rocks!

 

[JennaTX]

TGM definately works even with a 2 and 5 year old during peak season, could anything be much harder?

 

[jan&theboys]

For us, we used the TouringPlans site to decide on which days to make our 90-day reservations at certain restaurants and tours, but we basically relied on TourGuideMike for everything else. It was a big help with making the best of the parks, especially in the middle of July.

 

[LeesyUD]

There is a 2006 Unofficial Guide coming out this month...I'd say wait for that....I use both that and Tour Guide Mike....Unofficial Guide is straight and to the point where as Tour Guide Mike seems to have alot of extra babbling and gives you instructions on how to read every page. Both have great info but Tour Guide Mike I find to be alot more time consuming.

 

[UrsulasShadow]

Tried TGM for the holiday season as well. I think the reason the advice is opposite UG's is that TGM doesn't update his holiday schedule. You're looking at last years' schedule. When I asked him to update it, he got really mad at me and gave me my money back, saying I was insulting to him for criticizing his site.

There was a lot of good advice on TGM's site, but many of the links just brought you back to the same pages over and over. Many of the pages I needed hadn't been updated in some time. He had no pictures of the resort I was looking into. Not an easy site to navigate.

I think TGM would be very good for newbies, if they're patient with the way the site is set up, and take their time browsing around. Don't expect an itinerary to be worked out for you...you must devise one yourself based on his advice. But if you're looking for ideal days to plan your trip around, I'd stick with touringplans.com., which is UG's online trip planner. Much easier to get around, and much cheaper.

 

[GrandmaBarb]

There is a definite misconception here. TourGuideMiKE does indeed update his information daily. He is in the parks constantly with his VIP tours and keeps his web site updated as the information is verified. No mis-information is posted. Just the verified facts as soon as available. The only time anyone has a problem with the web site is if they do not follow the idirections given at the beginning. If you just skip thru willie-nilly you will become totally confused as there is just so much information there to absorb. You need to take it step by step, following the information provided and you can plan the most perfect WDW vacation ever. If in doubt. Please sign up and see for yourself. But - don't just skim thru, it doesn't work that way. Also, check out his forums as there are so many knowledgeable people there who are very willing and able to help with any questions and problems. Also, MiKE himself answers any questions and provides the needed answers. If you skip thru and don't follow his directions and are dis-satisfied, yes, he will fully refund your money. I have subscribed to TGM's AVP for two years, am a WDW visitor since the MK opened and learn something new constantly and always know what the latest information is and can depend on it being accurate.

 

[rosamindy]

oops..mispost.

 

[UrsulasShadow]

There is a definite misconception here. TourGuideMiKE does indeed update his information daily. He is in the parks constantly with his VIP tours and keeps his web site updated as the information is verified. No mis-information is posted. Just the verified facts as soon as available. The only time anyone has a problem with the web site is if they do not follow the idirections given at the beginning. If you just skip thru willie-nilly you will become totally confused as there is just so much information there to absorb. You need to take it step by step, following the information provided and you can plan the most perfect WDW vacation ever. If in doubt. Please sign up and see for yourself. But - don't just skim thru, it doesn't work that way. Also, check out his forums as there are so many knowledgeable people there who are very willing and able to help with any questions and problems. Also, MiKE himself answers any questions and provides the needed answers. If you skip thru and don't follow his directions and are dis-satisfied, yes, he will fully refund your money. I have subscribed to TGM's AVP for two years, am a WDW visitor since the MK opened and learn something new constantly and always know what the latest information is and can depend on it being accurate.

I wouldn't consider it a misconception, Grandma Barb, if some of his links were defunct, and the site no longer operated (I speak of the Orlando weather site), and when looking at the Christmas hours, he still had last year's dates posted. Now, I understand that there was no way of updating the actual dates until Disney released them...that would be asking too much. But to keep the old days/dates up could be misleading, especially for those who like to plan ahead of time. Every website has its glitches, dead ends, broken links, etc. But no need to get nasty when they're pointed out to you by a paying customer. That's poor business. He did make up for it by immediately refunding my money, though. That's good business.

 

[LeesyUD]

I honestly read over all the instructions on how to use his website, but I think the problem is he gives too many instructions, most of the pages are half of how to read it or what you will find on the next page...and also I feel the "Automated Vacation Planner" and the description he gives of what you will get before you sign up is rather misleading for some. Also I think that it is awfully arrogant of him to just refund money to someone that gave him constructive criticism.

 

[jeanyusjean]

I've printed three free tour plans from the site :MK TP for Girls 4-8 , MGM TP for small children and AK TP for small children. This will be our first trip to WDW & DD4 can't wait. Luckily for me the ones I printed our plans w/ kids but I have no idea about Epcot. I've checked out UG from the library that has several iteneraries but still can't decide. Does anyone have the touring plan from TGT?

 

[whacked]

I have not used TGM, so I can't comment on his plans.

I have been very satisfied with the info from UG for both Disney World and Land. I buy the book and read it cover to cover. (usually several times.) I also take it with me for planning while I'm at the parks, as we often change things on the fly.

My friends believe I am an over-researching Disney commando. They also will happily do anything that I tell them to because they see the crowds going the opposite direction we are to rides that we have been on so they can wait an hour in line.

Since I have a copier at home, I often copy the pages I think I might want in the park to take with me so I don't have to carry the bookin the park. Many people just tear out the pages they need, as they buy a new book before each trip.

I rough plan each day in the parks before we leave. I then update the plan as park times are announced. I then modify the plans based on what people want to do, the weather, how people are feeling, etc. while we are in the parks. It is easy to find most info in the book, and it goes to the parks with me.

That being said, if you arrive at the parks before they open, ride the headliners first, and take a nap in the afternoon, You'll do OK no matter what. I just like to optimize.

I have pre-ordered a copy of the 2006 guide (comes out tomorrow I believe) for each of the three couples going on our next trip. I ask people to read them before we go and decide what they are most interested in.

 

[Scottish-Helen]

I have always used Unofficial Guide and have been happy with it, however I am currently subscribed to Tourguide Mike and am finding all the extra information and explainations as to why we are to do things a certain way wonderful. I really feel that I am going to have an even better trip next year by following his advise.

I am not travelling until the end of April next year but find it very useful to have April/May 05's hours out so that I have a rough idea of what I can expect. This is helpful rather than a hindrance.

 

[TXTink]

How much is it to join Tour Guide Mike's site?

I have been to WDW many times, but I love to plan!! (It keeps my going between trips!!) I buy the Unofficial Guide (and love it!) every year, as well as Official Birnbaum's Guide (for the pictures! ). And, then there is also the fact that I am addicted to the DIS!! WDW changes all the time! With new hours, new EMH days, and refurbishment schedules, I always find something new to learn.

If it didn't cost too much, I think I would like to poke around there too.

 

[rseverhart]

TXTink: It cost me $21.95 (I think!) to suscribe to TGM's site. I love to plan also. For me, the planning stage is almost as fun as the actual vacation! I am also going to get the new UG 2006 and read it from cover to cover. Thanks everyone for all of your input. I knew you guys could help me!!!