On the fence re: Ridemax

[mermaidwannabe]

We're now leaving in 13 days!! I'm planning on being at the parks 30 minutes before opening, utilizing FP with all the great threads (including HydroGuy!), taking breaks and having one MM day.

I know it's only $15, but at this point, every $ is counting towards our trip especially since we're going over a month earlier than expected! With the $ we're spending on gas to get there, you'd think it'd be a moot point, but my DH has turned me into a skin flint at heart. (is that a hick phrase, or what?)

SOOO, with a family of 5 including 3 DDs (11, 8 and 5), do you all think I should spend the $15 to play around with for the Mon, Tues and Wed I'll be there?? HOJOs does have the two computers in the lobby I could use...

Thanks!

 

[vbecky]

I was skepticle last year using it but I now plan to use it everytime I go especially for the first part of the day. We didn't use it to a tee in the late afternoon and evening for by this time we already had a lot of extra fast passes that we kind of just used those and hopped on rides that we wanted. This was the Last week in June last year prob. didn't wait much more than I would say 20 min. for any ride. I don't know about using it on a hotels computer though you have to install the program and are only allowed to my understanding 2 computers to have it installed on. So I don't think you could use it there but you could plan out a few days from home and print out schedules and take with you? Hope this helps.

 

[avalon451]

I dunno, with less than 2 weeks to go, I guess I wouldn't think it's real crucial to have Ridemax. You know how everything works, and Hydroguy's tips sum it all up pretty well. Ridemax is fun to play with but there's some drawbacks. You tend to want to get it to print out this nice, neat, pretty plan for you that you will carry with you and you will follow, but it takes a lot of tinkering to get it the way you want it, and it sounds like you don't have a lot of time left for tinkering. I had fun playing with it for 2 months before our trip, but I still ended up making our own itinerary (I called it "Gail's Ride to the Max Plan" ) based on several I printed out from Ridemax, to allow for shows, parades, meals and breaks when we needed them, etc. AND Magic Morning which they only give you an outline for, not a schedule.

I also found that Ridemax didn't allow for maximum FP collection, which was crucial for me. They would often have you going for a ride or even two first, before you collected your first FP. For me the rule is ALWAYS go get that Space or Indy FP right at opening. Then you can get your second one just 35-45 minutes later.

HTH! Bet you're getting psyched! You'll have a wonderful time!

 

[mermaidwannabe]

Thanks to you both - I probably won't due to the computer needing the Ridemax software and because I have been a RELIGIOUS ZEALOT spending time on this board!!! I guess I just need to finetune my own plan, forget about losing those 15 pounds before Disney and start figuring out my packing list! Thanks!!

 

[joeysmommy]

I just subscribed to Ridemax again last week.
It is so much fun to play with and plan out the trip.

I used Hydro guys tip and made a spread sheet for wait times for each ride of the entire day. It helps with spur of the moment "let's ride this next".
While waiting in line I let the kids look it over and decide what is the shortest wait of their favorites.

We usually go in September when Ridemax isn't really needed, but after last November's Thanksgiving crowds we'll be prepared this time too.

 

[mermaidwannabe]

I just subscribed to Ridemax again last week.
It is so much fun to play with and plan out the trip.

I used Hydro guys tip and made a spread sheet for wait times for each ride of the entire day. It helps with spur of the moment "let's ride this next".
While waiting in line I let the kids look it over and decide what is the shortest wait of their favorites.

We usually go in September when Ridemax isn't really needed, but after last November's Thanksgiving crowds we'll be prepared this time too.

THanks for the info - I had to laugh when I read that you took a spreadsheet with you in line. If I had seen that, I would DEFINITELY have asked if you were a DISer.

 

[joeysmommy]

THanks for the info - I had to laugh when I read that you took a spreadsheet with you in line. If I had seen that, I would DEFINITELY have asked if you were a DISer.

I know! I even laminated it so it wouldn't get all crumpled and wet on SM and GRR. My husband was teasing me..but then "Honey, can I have a look at your Ridemax thingy?"
Me: "Oh the thingy you were just making fun of? ...No."

I know it sounds OCD but my kids don't wait in line very well so it's almost a necessity. I Spy and Hidden Mickeys gets old real quick for my 4 yr old!

 

[mermaidwannabe]

I know! I even laminated it so it wouldn't get all crumpled and wet on SM and GRR. My husband was teasing me..but then "Honey, can I have a look at your Ridemax thingy?"
Me: "Oh the thingy you were just making fun of? ...No."

I know it sounds OCD but my kids don't wait in line very well so it's almost a necessity. I Spy and Hidden Mickeys gets old real quick for my 4 yr old!

No, it doesn't sound OCD; it just sounds like the most of the people on these boards, including me! Hey, I already know the low tides at Cabrillo Nat'l Monument so we can go tidepooling when we're there the last week of June!

 

[joeysmommy]

We'll be there June 16-19 staying at Hojo's..can't wait to get on the computer later and play with my Ridemax different scenarios!

 

[Leofoenget]

The one thing that bugs me about ridemax/fastpass collection is actually getting them. It will have you riding say Indy, then it will say "have runner collect fastpass for Space Mountain" (all the way across the park) then go on say Pirates, then have you get a FP for Roger Rabbit. The criss crossing back and forth across the park gets very exhausting.

other than that, I like it.

 

[GrandCanyon]

This is an exceptional tool, and lots of fun. Sure, it doesn't maximize Fastpasses--but you should know how to do that yourself. However, it's tips and inside information on each ride is invaluable. For example, it mentions on one of the rides that divides into two lines, which line to take for a shorter wait, or a better ride. For $15 it's a small investment for a costly vacation.

 

[LVdisneyChick]

i bough ridemax 2 mos ago for my trip in august. before i found this website i was obsessed with it. now i have a general plan of what my days will be like and a few days before i go i will make up my final plans...i am so excited to see it in action!!!

 

[tofubeast]

I also got Ridemax for my trip next month. It has been so much fun toying around with the software and making the perfect plan! Using tips I have got here and their software, I think I just might have the perfect plan!
And if the lines are short like they seem to be this summer, we might even have more EXTRA time than the plan has given me... so awesome!

 

[PRINCESS VIJA]

how far in advance of your trip would you recommend getting ridemax?

 

[Leofoenget]

how far in advance of your trip would you recommend getting ridemax?

It depends. September is not even up yet but August is. If you are going in August I would get it now. If you are going later than that I would wait.

 

[PRINCESS VIJA]

It depends. September is not even up yet but August is. If you are going in August I would get it now. If you are going later than that I would wait.

thanks

 

[CarrianneB]

We got it for our trip at Spring Break this year (week after Easter) and it was great. We rarely waited in lines, and I think it really helped. I did modify for FP a bit, but overall it was well worth the $.

 

[tofubeast]

how far in advance of your trip would you recommend getting ridemax?

I signed up for it in early June and did the 3 month subscription, which is the least amount of time you can sign up for. This is perfect for our trip in August. It gave me time to get a good feel about how to work the software. I just suggest that you play around with it, but don't truly PEN down your plan till at least a couple of weeks before your trip. They update the software frequently based on crowd patterns, which I have seen make my tentative plans change a bit in the last few weeks.

 

[Leofoenget]

I used it at the end of June. At one point I was 2 HOURS ahead of the plan. I got in everything on my plan plus a few things not on the list or some repeats of some rides. What I did with my plans. It got too confusing to keep printing out plan after plan. So when I would run a plan, I would copy it to word document and save it to my "ridemax itenaries" folder. Then when I FINALLY settled on a plan that I really liked but needed just a little tweeking, I could edit it in word then print it out: Here is an example:

12:37 PM Runner Get Thunder Mtn FASTPASS Adventureland 2 Min 1 Min 8 Min
12:48 PM Free Time/ DCA
9-11 PM Fireworks & Fantasmic
11:00 PM Haunted Mansion New Orleans Square 3 Min 8 Min 4 Min
Switch HM and Pirates If you want
11:15 PM Pirates of the Caribbean New Orleans Square 1 Min 16 Min 1 Min
11:30 PM BTMRR USE FASTPASS Adventureland 12 Min 5 Min 0 Min
11:30 PM Use INDY FP if you still have it 5 Min 8 Min 0 Min
TOTALS 110 Min 160 Min 37 Min

See I was able to put Fireworks and Fantasmic into my plan,(which ridemax would not indicate, it would just give you free time) plus indicate to myself "use INDY FP if you still have it" I pretty much followed it all day.

 

[LVdisneyChick]

hey leo... how was your expeience with the fantasyland rides. did you do mm or regular?