Who has used Tour Guide Mike

[NCombs]

I was thinking of buying a subscription. In June I used Passporter and the Unofficial Guide. They were a tremendous help.

I'm thinking an online version of that type of thing would be helpful. If you have used Tour Guide Mike, what did you think of it? What did it provide you with other than a tour guide for the parks? How does it compare to the tour guides in the Unofficial Guide? Can you create your whole itinerary?

 

[got2travel]

I love TGM. I got a subscription for my first ever WDW trip last year. Then renewed once I decided I could go back this year.

On my first trip I used the Unofficial Guide and Tour Guide Mike. I found that I liked TGM better. It just seemed better organized and easier to read. Also, Mike updates the site regularly, so you get more up to date info since the UG is published a year ahead of time.

Also just ordered the 2003 Passporter since it was free and I wanted to compare. Other than a place to carry everything, the Passported did not give me nearly as much information as TGM.

 

[NCombs]

Thanks. The best part about the Passporter was having a place to organize my priority seatings and I loved the park maps. I would buy it again just to get those. We tore those out of the book and took them with us to each park when we were there in June.

 

[CarolA]

I used TGM last year for my Christmas trip and it was really useful. He had some great suggestions for that really busy time. (I don't use him for most trips, but did find the site fun and easy to use)

 

[crcormier]

I agree, I've seen his site and used it this past summer, very helpful tips and scheduling tools!

 

[gigi1313]

i used TGM for our aug/sept trip and found it to be a huge waste of money... having the UG and the Passporter and this website and allearsnet and a few other wdw sites (including the official) i learned absolutely nothing that i did not know before... to me it was almost like someone tossed all the other (free! or books) resources into the blender and regurgitated it... i was verrrrry disappointed!

 

[Noah122898]

I used TGM for our trip this summer and the tips were of an enormous help. From when to schedule priority seatings to when and what to see at the parks. We saved so much time NOT waiting in lines. He is always updating the info and the site is so easy to use. Go for it, you won't be sorry!

 

[sydsdad]

It's DYNAMIC!!!!!!!!

Updated REGULARLY!!!!!!!

You need info to be current not based on "when a book goes to press"

The BEST BEST BEST $$$$ I've spent on a "Guide"

Agreed.......you can pick up tips all over the web but TGM
helps make sense of them for YOUR SPECIFIC needs

I've said it before and I'll say it again......people spend soooo much $$$$$ for a WDW trip and it might be this +/- $20 that
can make it or break it!!!

Be smart...BUY it

P.S.--I don't work for TGM

 

[WaltD4Me]

I've been using TGM for our upcoming trip and I love it. The only thing is I wish his message boards were a little more active, but the Dis-boards keep me plenty busy so that's no biggie.

I'm not following his plans to letter (Sssssshhhh don't tell him! LOL!) but I have found tons of great tips and ideas. I suppose I could have found most of them here or on another Disney site, but they are much easier to look up and keep track of on TGM. It's been a time saver and it is not as rigid as the UG. I found it very easy to modify for our needs. I would definitely use it again.


Lisa

 

[dgaston]

I used TGM for last Christmas season and found his plans to be helpful for getting through a very busy time. I did think his site required a little getting used to--navigation is not as easy as it seems, you need to spend time there getting the hang of it.

 

[NCombs]

I hear there is supposed to be an upgrade coming to his site so I'm waiting a few days for that to come out. I got an email that said there will be a special price promotion for it.

 

[tjkraz]

I've signed up for it twice. The first time it was helpful--got a few tidbits that I hadn't read elsewhere. But this second time, it hasn't been of much value. In fact, our resort, Saratoga Springs, was just added to TGM's planning system about 4-6 weeks ago. That's about 4-5 months after the resort had opened.

About the only thing I've used this time around was the PS notification system. It sent me emails daily to remind me to make my PS for the upcoming trip. That was nice, but I could have accomplished the same thing putting reminders in my Outlook calendar.

I'm curious to see what this upgrade will consist of, but at this point I don't anticipate subscribing again.

 

[flyball]

We used TGM for our Aug/Sept trip this year and I thought it was extremely helpful. We used Passporter and the UOG last year, but I thought TGM was better. The advantage to TGM is that your itinerary is custom tailored to coincide with your trip. You'll get up-to-date information about events for your specific dates, as well as advice on how to best use your time. It does take a little while to get comfortable with navigating the site, but it's well worth the time. We've been to DW quite a few times, but I still learned some tips from TGM. I think TGM really helps you condense the information you'll need for your particular trip. I'd definitely use the service again.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

I would love to do this, if they would make a personalized touring plan, giving you the best strategy for seeing the things you want, and for working in your meals. Please, let me know if they ever start doing this. Thanks

 

[javaj]

My family loves TGM. For our trip last year, I got TGM, the Passporter, and the UG. As soon as we got back from our trip, I renewed our TGM subscription for our next trip. I won't be getting the Passporter and UG again, they were helpful but I got more out of TGM. It is true that navigating through the site takes a little bit to get used to, but it is great once you've gotten the hang of it.

 

[NCombs]

This board is so helpful. I really appreciate all the responses. I just wish we could get back to DW sooner!

 

[Lollipop Mom]

Another thumbs up here! We found his site as we were planning our last minute trip last year for the week between Christmas and New Years. The trip was a Christmas gift from my parents and between making the decision to go and the time we had to leave I didn't have much time to plan. I can give it no higher praise than to tell you that even though that week was the single highest attendance week in WDW history and we saw outrageous wait times of up to 4 hours, we didn't wait more than 20 minutes for any attraction. Honest. The longest line I stood in was to buy lunch at a counter service place at Epcot!]

I know there are people who say the same advice is available here or in other books for free but I respectfully disagree. Maybe for "regular" times but for really busy weeks like holidays or spring break, his advice can not be beat. Those guide books are written for the 85% of the year that isn't "peak crowded" holiday weeks are different. TGM publishes a holiday survival guide for any holiday week. That info is priceless! You get a chart of least crowded parks per day and night (we saw a HUGE difference in crowd levels when we followed this advice) and it is VERY different from what you see recommended here. Actually, the very best tips for Christmas week were things that were in direct contradiction to what I saw recommended on the boards.

The new update is going to be very helpful in navigating the site. It makes things a lot more intuitive. There is a TON of information to be found there. Everything from least crowded parks to sample touring plans, recommendations on getting hard to get PSs, parade and fireworks viewing tips to things like how to prepare your children for things that might be scary.

As far as personalized iteneraries. Honestly, with the way he presents the info it's a snap to personalize it. He doesn't just say "go here, then there, then get a fast pass for this and stand in line for that." He explains WHY he is recommending things. He also gives a chart that lists the best time(s) of day to see any given attraction. Between the explanations and that chart you can easily customize a touring plan to your needs.

Definitely worth the money!!! We're headed back for Christmas week again this year and we've already got our subscription lined up!

 

[arkansasdisneyfan]

I have used TourGuideMike, the Unofficial Guide, and Passporter. I gave my UG away, kept my old passporter for some reference and the nice little pockets, and renewed TGM for the second time. He has just rolled out an update and it is much easier to navigate now. I highly recommend TGM!!! The other guides are good, but he gives you up to date info that you can't get in a printed guide book. He also has wonderful hints I have not seen any where else...... I am totally sold on his program!!!! I recommend you subscribe and study it from top to bottom. It will be one of the best investments you make toward your trip. TGM saves you time and money!-NO, I don't work for him either.

 

[northern michigan]

Does anyone have a link to his site? Do you buy a one year membership? How soon prior to a trip should you plan to subscribe? We're leaving in 29 days. Is it too late to make good use of TGM? I do have the Passporter.

 

[NCombs]

www.tourguidemike. The subscription is good until 60 days after your trip, so it's not an annual subscription. In your case, it would be less. For me, it will be about 18 months.