What about TourGuide Mike

[graciesam]

Worth the money or waste of time?

 

[princesstommi]

Have never done Tour Guide Mike myself, but these links may help you...

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1013158&
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1013611&
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1016563&
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1016563&
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1003842&
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=993901&

 

[Amyg]

Definately worth the $! Very good up to date info (although lots of reading & navigating). Personally, I look forward to using his strategy!

 

[kimbac3]

I used his advice on our last trip and it was sooo worth the money!!! I'm going to sign up again for my trip this year. As a matter of fact I'm going to do that now!!
Kimba

 

[Annette_VA]

I signed up for it for our Jan trip and thought it was a total waste of money. I know I'm in the minority in that opinion, though.

 

[grandma jan]

Last year I took DS, DDIL and 3 DGK. I signed up for Tourguide Mike and read everything on the site. I made out daily schedules for each park. We rode everything and saw almost every show. Only waited in line for POC for 30 mins and that was by choice and not a scheduled ride. I learned so much from his site and now have signed up again for my trip in June with the other DS, DDIL and 2 DGK. We rode POC about 5 times as that was oldest GS favorite. Never waited more than 15 mins for any other ride.

 

[mykidsluvLilo&Stitch]

Is Tour Guide Mike any good if I already have Passporter 2006 and the Unofficial Guide? I also already have all my adr's, and I was reading on his site that he gives you tips on where to eat.



Thanks!

 

[mill4023]

As another poster pointed out, there are a ton of threads on the subject.

Personally, I subscribed to TGM for our very first WDW trip last year and I thought it was well worth the money. We went the first week of May and never waited longer than 10 minutes for any ride. I renewed my subscription for our upcoming trip in March/April and I think his advice and plans will help with the spring break crowds. Although I do find I'm spending a lot less time on the site than I did for our first trip. I guess that makes sense since I had so much to learn for that first trip.

From what I've seen here, there are definitely a few people who didn't find it valuable, but I think the large majority give TGM a big thumbs up.

I would just say that it does require you to invest a decent amount of time in looking at all his information and going through the planning steps.

 

[Silverbelle990]

Is Tour Guide Mike any good if I already have Passporter 2006 and the Unofficial Guide? I also already have all my adr's, and I was reading on his site that he gives you tips on where to eat.



Thanks!

I think if you want tips on where to eat you hsould read the resteraunts section...there are great pics ....But i am also wondering about Mike..i have the passporter too and then heard about mike...should i get that too>??

 

[Tissa]

Is having up to date info a waste of time? I believe it's money well spent. I love TourGuideMike

 

[HaleyB]

Worth the money or waste of time?

If you like to research online, have not been so many times you have show times memorized, and like to plan TGM is great.

Some people find it overwhelming. Some people do not find too much they did not already know. Some people do not like the format.

I love TGM. What I find the most useful is his up to the minute advice for touring, alerts to changes in times or policys, and the message boards. There is a guy named Steven on the TGM boards who is an increadble resource.

Mike has a money back policy so why not give it a try?

 

[HaleyB]

Oh yeah, I guess I am spoiled rotten by TGM because I forgot to say- I never waited in a line over 10 minutes using his touring plans. They work and I think his philosophy on Fast Pass makes more sense than the one in the Unofficial Guide.

In fact his fast pass advice alone is worth the cost to join.

 

[bytheblood]

I am a personal fan of Tour Guide "Me"


You know, truthfully, I find it more enjoyable to do the research by visiting allears, themouseforless, the Dis and a few other boards, deciding what I want to do and trying it. That way, I am not seeting my expecations too high and flying in for a let down if somebody's else's opinion is not the best.

Having said that, I have never used TGM, but my friend has and says it was not a total waste of money, but she does better on her own from her own experience. That is half the fun.

 

[mill4023]

I am a personal fan of Tour Guide "Me"

You know, truthfully, I find it more enjoyable to do the research by visiting allears, themouseforless, the Dis and a few other boards, deciding what I want to do and trying it. That way, I am not seeting my expecations too high and flying in for a let down if somebody's else's opinion is not the best.

Having said that, I have never used TGM, but my friend has and says it was not a total waste of money, but she does better on her own from her own experience. That is half the fun.

TGM doesn't do everything for you. On the contrary, you have to be willing to spend quite a bit of time doing research on his site and putting together your own plan to really get the value out of it. It's just another resource like the UG or the Dis. What I like about it is that the information comes from someone who is in the parks hundreds of days per year. IMO, spending that much time in the parks makes Mike a more reliable source of information than many other sources.

Don't get me wrong, I love the DIS and I love being able to get lots of varying opinions about different things. But there is a difference between the observations of someone who goes to the parks once or twice a year vs. someone who goes to the parks 200 times per year.

 

[ajcolorado]

We used TGM in June and never waited more than 20 minutes for anything. This was our 5th trip and we're information junkies - we use this site, allearsnet, we buy a new UG every year, and we even keep a copy of Birnbaum around. The TGM information was very good.

 

[Servants of Evan]

I like Mike. It's really a no-brainer -- he's got a money back guarantee. If you think it wasn't worth your money, you aren't out anything but the time you spent reading the wealth of information presented.

 

[scoutsmom99]

I really like Mike and I consider myself a vetran. It takes some time to get used to the navigation of his site, but there are forums on his site and if you are lost people will help you out over there with what you need.

 

[Goofy Rulz]

I just signed up for TGM a week ago. I had previously purchased the Unofficial Guide & Passporter and then came across TGM via these threads (can never have too much info). Warning - initially you will be very overwhelmed when you sign up, as I was. But once you know where to look and what you need to look for, it is really quite easy. I have found his info to be very helpful and complimentary to the info in the books listed above. I was able to plan our days using his advice. My opinion is to use him.

 

[qtwns]

I am a Disney vetran, know the parks, feel pretty cocky about the info I know blah, blah, blah...I signed up for Mike a week ago and I already feel like I have gotten a big bang for the buck. I feel that it has already paid for itself.

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.

 

[ntengwall]

Without a doubt the BEST thing I have done for this vacation!!! My best friend also joined TGM and she was at Disney this past week. She has been numerous times in the past 10 years with her kids and said that Mike's info was invaluable! They never waited more than 5 min for ANY rides at ANY of the parks!

I think it is the best $20 I have spent, but I will let you know for sure when we get back next week!