What about TourGuide Mike

[ntengwall]

Just wanted to add that I also have the Passporter, the Unofficial Guide, numerous other books and I also signed up for TouringPlans.com. Mike is STILL my favorite and the one I feel I got the most useful info from. Like a previous poster said, his Fast Pass info differs from most other books/guides and makes much more sense (not that I would have thought of it on my own though

 

[Servants of Evan]

That being said...My question...those of you who aren't big fans of TGM, can you please share what you think the down falls are? Being a newbie with Mike I'd like to know what to look out for .. no slamming Mike--I'm just wondering if it is that you feel there is so much info to navigate through, or you already feel pretty well versed about WDW. Thanks in advance.

I'm a fan so I can only pass along the gripes I've heard. There seem to be people who think two things: that the $20 will result in a personally customized multi-day tourplan that Mike personally whips up for you out of the great big blue with little or no input from you (but they expect that Mike will know exactly what they want to do). There are a few of these people, but not many. The other problem primarily has to do with navigation on Mike's site. When you sign up, Mike has a few things for you to read first -- it kind of gives you the "lay of the land." I personally believe the people who are having the problems either didn't really read the initial stuff or instead just "dove right in." I understand this as my FIL has never read a set of instructions in his life. I on the other hand, figure that someone was paid a decent sum of money to write that instruction manual and just maybe there'd be some tips and information which would help me later on. It all comes down to starting at the beginning, taking your time, and working your way through. There are some truly wonderful people there (just as here on DISboards) who are happy to help with any question -- if you simply give them a chance.

 

[SeattleMark]

Absolutely worth it. We've used his advice and were amazed at how well it works, even during peak seasons. We never waited more than 10 minutes for any ride at Disney World when we followed his plans! I'm a believer and have renewed for this year as well.

The good thing about him is that he's in the parks every single day giving tours, so you get constant updates about crowds, changes, etc.

If you go to his Automated Vacation Planner (AVP) Preview Tour at http://tourguidemike.com/tour/index.asp, you can type "HE7KD-8GA" in the Promotional Code section of the purchase page. You'll save $3 off the normal purchase price of $21.95!

We'll never do Disney World without him again.

 

[IluvmyPrincess]

Thanks, the promo code worked. I was going to post a question about tour guide Mike, but someone beat me to it. Thanks to this page and all of the suggestions to use TGM, I purchased a subscription. Now on to plan my wonderful vacation!

 

[dawnball]

Well, I wasn't a fan of TGM, but I wasn't so completely dissatisfied as to ask for my money back either. It just wasn't a fit for our touring group. My big complaint is that the information for entry to the parks other than right at rope drop was severely lacking. I thought his updates regarding MNSSHP were slower in coming than promised, and I found his organizational and conversational styles annoying.

However - we were traveling with two toddlers. They normally slept a good bit later than was required to get to MK XX minutes before rope drop while using Disney Transportation. Tired, cranky toddlers do *not* a happy vacation make. Especially since a lot of TGM's advice made them more stressed because of more crowds or waiting around than we would have otherwise been involved in. They ended up not eating well, not sleeping well and we just trashed the TGM info and did it the way that made sense to us. I think we may have kept the day/color info, since I didn't bring alternatives to that with me.

I've actually heard his FP advice (and a really cool FP/babyswap scheme) from a Disney employee and some non-TGM subscribers, so I'm not sure that I would cuont it as original.

As a guide-book equivilent, it was fine. I didn't find it to be particularly outstanding beyond that.

As a point of reference, we never waited in line more than 5 minutes anyway, and without TGM had some really fascinating encounters that we would have missed if we worried about grains of sand.

dawn *bounce*

 

[Amyg]

Well, I
I've actually heard his FP advice (and a really cool FP/babyswap scheme) from a Disney employee and some non-TGM subscribers, so I'm not sure that I would cuont it as original.

dawn *bounce*

It's not so much that ALL his advice is "original" but that you get tons of great up-dated advice and tips for touring in one place from someone who worked for Disney and goes there pretty much every day now as a WDW tour guide.