Why do we need TGM or UG?

[MarkinNM]

I will not get into debates with others on any issue. I'll post as I see fit with judgments pulled from our experiences. If you wish to give someone money to predict your future, who am I to stop you but my personal opinion, it is a waste. I post my opinion, it's an open forum, please do not quote or critique my posts. Move on.

 

[Azree]

Open forum, eh? Good. Think I'll use it, too.

By reposting and reposting and reposting this, and especially using terms like "give someone money to predict your future," you are basically accusing those of us who like to plan of being naive, ignorant, superstitious sheep.

It's a devious little method when couched in the language of smiles and good cheer, and it's unfair. Point received - you think people who plan are stupid and easily conned. Got it. Move on.

 

[Pinkpony]

We used TGM on our last trip in November. We had only been to WDW once before and it had been several years ago.

TGM was very useful to us because we are such novices. If we had been dozens of times before, we could have used our past experiences to guide us, but we had no past experiences, save one.

We never waited over 15 minutes for an attraction, and usually it was around 5 minutes, and did most of them several times during the extremely busy Thanksgiving holiday week.

We got the hang of things pretty quickly using TGM's advice. It saved us time by not having to figure everything out for ourselves or sifting through hours and hours of Dis info, which is also quite helpful.

I would say after we have another trip or two under our belts, I'll probably wean us off of TGM.

The forums on TGM are really quite helpful too. That's what I would miss the most if I were to give up the subscription.

Again, I'd recommend it for newbies to WDW, but it sounds like you've been several times, so you're probably good to go.

Pink

 

[tarar714]

I like the least crowded days advice.

 

[ckdsnynt]

We've been to WDW more times than you can count. Still love it. Probably could write our own manual on how to tour the parks. But we like to buy at least one guide every time we go. Why? Because we like to have a new and updated list of the phone numbers, addresses, maps , etc which we pullout, laminate and make copies for each of us (there are three in our family) to use during our trip in case we decide to separate. Sometimes we enlarge the maps, sometimes we add things to them. Then we punch a hole in the corner and clip them onto our backpacks for reference. We also use the park maps that are handed out but sometimes we prefer the ones in the books. To each his own!

 

[skywaywaver]

What's really funny about this thread is the fact that I had just visited TGM's website through the banner up top and was debating whether or not it would help us, then decided to search and see if anybody had an opinion. This thread was on the first page!
It seems like TGM might be a bit of overkill for our family but I do buy the Unofficial Guide's newest edition whenever it comes out before a trip. I will buy 2010 this August. It is part of the planning and excitement for us. Buying an UG? That means we're really going!
However, I never knew that UG had a site so maybe I'll mosey on over there.
I know I don't know everything about WDW but I do have the patience to search and find my answers or post here and wait for an answer (well, not much patience there LOL).

 

[Anglefan]

So let me get this straight, does Pepe need someone to tell him how to run his vacation or not? I'm unclear. Maybe I'll get it the next time someone starts this thread.

Anyway, like I said earlier, I don't really understand what TGM is telling me my plan should be. I think I'm gonna ask on the forum for someone to give me an actual step by step plan of what he's trying to say. That'd probably be the best bet.

 

[MarkinNM]

So let me get this straight, does Pepe need someone to tell him how to run his vacation or not? I'm unclear. Maybe I'll get it the next time someone starts this thread.

Anyway, like I said earlier, I don't really understand what TGM is telling me my plan should be. I think I'm gonna ask on the forum for someone to give me an actual step by step plan of what he's trying to say. That'd probably be the best bet.

I agree in that we have a HUGE resource here on the DIS, with MANY members who have experienced WDW and really enjoy sharing their experiences, good and bad, with us, use it!! I have made our trip plans for our upcoming vacation on our member base advice/ recommendations whom have given me loads of awesome advice/help when asked!! I personally am not going to pay for a book to tell me the same info, but thats me, do what you feel you have to, go have fun and enjoy!!

 

[Pinkpony]

So let me get this straight, does Pepe need someone to tell him how to run his vacation or not? I'm unclear. Maybe I'll get it the next time someone starts this thread.

Anyway, like I said earlier, I don't really understand what TGM is telling me my plan should be. I think I'm gonna ask on the forum for someone to give me an actual step by step plan of what he's trying to say. That'd probably be the best bet.

Hey, Angelfan -

I agree that it's not real clear and easy on TGM's site. The best advice I got as far as using that forum for setting up a "touring plan" is to go to the AVP Forums, then go to Theme Park Touring, Tips & Questions. Post on there the ages of everyone in your group and what you're most interested in and there will be several posters on there that will help you set up an itinerary that you can tweak along the way. They're a very helpful bunch!

I used my touring plan almost to the detail on our first MK day, then on our second MK day I varied from it a little and it still worked great, but I applied what I had learned using TGM's articles.

Hope this helps.

 

[andrea2289]

I agree with a lot of what's been said but here is my opinion

With two older teens, we mainly just want the rides. We have been 20+ times so we don’t spend much time in the shops and have seen all the shows enough. With that being said, TGM CAN be a little wordy but he does provide a lot of useful information which is well worth 20 bucks to me. Having been so many times, I considered myself an expert, but he DID provide some tips that I didn't know about. The first time I used TGM was for an impromptu trip during crowd levels of 6-8. I followed his plan for the first part of our day and we did everything we wanted to do by early afternoon. I didn’t want our whole day to be ‘planned’ so we only used his plan to do all the rides as quickly as possible. We had ridden everything we wanted by early afternoon and still had our whole afternoon/evening open to do what we wanted. Knowing what I know now, I probably don’t NEED it again, but I'll spend the 20 bucks for updated information and crowd levels...IMO

 

[yxe dad]

I probably don’t NEED it again, but I'll spend the 20 bucks for updated information and crowd levels...IMO

That's how I feel about TGM, the best/worst park info is worth the money. It's only $20, I'd pay double that to avoid the crowds.