How accurate is Ridemax?

[Mommy26]

I'm playing with the numbers instead of doing my dishes and I noticed that some of the etickets are showing 20 mins when the park opens. I remember Splash being walk on for the first half hour.

Also right before closing it is showing rides to be 30 to 45 mins. I thought the park was quiet by then.

Last, but not least it is showing Star Tours to be 65 mins this week and last week and Ive read on these boards that its been more like 30 mins.

What gives?

 

[ArchOwl]

I'm playing with the numbers instead of doing my dishes and I noticed that some of the etickets are showing 20 mins when the park opens. I remember Splash being walk on for the first half hour.

Also right before closing it is showing rides to be 30 to 45 mins. I thought the park was quiet by then.

Last, but not least it is showing Star Tours to be 65 mins this week and last week and Ive read on these boards that its been more like 30 mins.

What gives?

It is still Spring Break this week. What dates would you trip be on?

 

[Mommy26]

may 28th thru Jun 3rd

 

[blackjackdelta]

I have never seen ride max come up with anything that is UP TO DATE accurate based on people in to the park reporting back. I think it is waste of time and money, but if it makes folks feel better about thier trip, then use it.

Jack

 

[ArchOwl]

I have found Ridemax to be generally accurate in the wait times, with a slight tendency to err on the side of longer waits. This makes sense because they don't want to tell people it is a walk on and have it be 15 minutes.

These past few weeks have been busier because of Spring Break and I would not be surprised to see a 65 minute wait for Star Tours right now. Beats the 120 wait during last summer!

As far as your dates go, I would expect your first few days to be busy because of the holiday. You will probably see waits like today's. However, I would expect things to calm down a bit after that. But I doubt you will see many walk-ons during your dates like I would expect for mid-week February. Especially since DL will probably close early. In my experience, when the park closes around 9pm or so, not many people leave. They stick it out until the end.

 

[ArchOwl]

I have never seen ride max come up with anything that is UP TO DATE accurate based on people in to the park reporting back. I think it is waste of time and money, but if it makes folks feel better about thier trip, then use it.

Jack

Interesting, I have found them to be generally accurate and have used them quite a bit. Now Touring Plans on the other hand...

 

[blackjackdelta]

Interesting, I have found them to be generally accurate and have used them quite a bit. Now Touring Plans on the other hand...

Just what has been reported back to me by people i know going to the parks and wrting down time comparison. If I lived closer I would love to take the time to do the research on the accuracy, but alas I do not.
I have seen more frustration from folks when they buy into the prediction and the prediction goes south. Just an observation. Are the numbers +/- 1, 2, maybe 3 as standards of deviation? 2 could possibly a 5...

Jack

 

[Mommy26]

Okay, what is Indy, Splash, SM etc. like at 9 AM when the park opens in your experience?

I remember it being walk-on. But that was two years ago.

 

[ArchOwl]

Okay, what is Indy, Splash, SM etc. like at 9 AM when the park opens in your experience?

I remember it being walk-on. But that was two years ago.

Well, it really depends on the date, right? It was insane on NYE and wait times shot up almost immediately. But in February, there were some days it barely got crowded at all.

And you have some dates that are going to be pretty busy and others that probably won't be nearly as busy.

Memorial Day? BUSY! The parks will open at 8am and I would expect that at opening, you may get one walk-on if you are speedy. After that, I wouldn't expect any walk-ons for the popular rides.

Thursday, May 31st? Well a slower day for sure, but a Magic Morning day which impacts how the lines are at opening. For headliners, I wouldn't expect to walk right on at opening. Even though Indy isn't open for MM, there are lots of folks in the parks ahead of you who can beat you to the line.

I am guessing Wednesday, May 30th might be your best day. No MM, should be a slower day. You might get a few walk-ons. However, I am not very savvy regarding Grad Nites and how those impact the entire day.

It seems like every year that goes by, there are fewer un-crowded days. There is hardly a true off-season anymore. Just barely "off-days".