Ride Max Question?

[S. S. Columbia]

... the cost of finding all of those things out....has been $0.

Mrs. Bee,

You mean DL lets you in for free?! No wonder you like DL so much!

 

[Quest4fun]

I missed the part where you show where the data is available anywhere.

FWIW, I am not saying that a RideMax itinerary allows a person to get on more rides than a seasoned pro like yourself. That is why I rarely use RM myself - as I know I can get more done and have more fun without following RM. But that is because I am not trying to experience a fixed list of rides or follow a specific itinerary. If I was then I know from experience that RM would shorten my wait times.

What I am saying is that RideMax will allow a person to get a fixed list of rides done in less time than a seasoned pro - especially if the list of fixed rides is large (which is why I chose 30 rides).

On our last summer trip we toyed with the idea of trying to ride all the DL rides in a single day. There are about 42-44 of them. We decided not to partly because the Nemo subs made it very difficult. The only way I saw to get in all the rides was to get in line for Nemo at 11:59PM and then wait two hours to ride it. We would thus be at DL from 7AM until 2AM and that did not sound like fun to us and would ruin our next day at DLR.

If we do ever decide to do all the DL rides in a day I will use RideMax for sure.

I've been to the park enough times know what the lines are like on a given day. I can use generalized information and customize it for time of day, day of the week, month, and crowd considerations if there is a promotion going on like the 2fer. I can compile this into a basic database and then use Crystal Reports to tabulate it into a report for a specific day or days. No custom app needed.

We can argue about it all day long. I think it's okay for people to prefer not to use Ridemax. There is nothing wrong with choosing to ask DISboard members for alternative methods of navigating the parks and getting the most out of their day. There is no better way to do it. Ridemax is not superior and neither is doing without it. People can spend their money however they want. It's a free country even though most everything costs money. How ironic.

I can see you're a little bothered by people who do not think Ridemax is a good value. While I am on the side of those who think that way I don't think it's fair to discount their opinions because you endorse the product. Obviously, if they didn't believe in their methods they wouldn't argue against it.

 

[Mrs. Bee]

Not sure how you did it for $0. For me to find out about touring DLR I had to buy tickets to the park and visit many times. I am sure it cost many thousands of dollars over my lifetime. And for me it too was fun - for the most part. The parts where I stood in long lines were kind of fun, but not as much fun as I have now when I avoid those lines and get on more rides.

I said I spent $0 finding out all the info. I didn't say I spent no money on my trips. That would be absurd. I figured it would be common sense that I spent money on the parks. I had a premium annual pass so in the end...it was a great deal. I spent $359 on about 50 or 60 visits (at least) to the park. So each visit cost me around $6.50. And since you want to be nit picky, yes...I also spent money on food. And this was all money well spent. I didn't go out of my way to do "research" on park trends. I went about my usual park visits and just gained the knowledge by having a great time in the parks.

And I, personally, don't have a huge problem with lines. I've waited in my fair share of long lines (it's a theme park, afterall.) And I'd say every time was well worth the wait. And if I look at a line and the wait time says 90 minutes...I decide if I feel like waiting that long. If I don't...I just move along to something else. I didn't need something like ridemax to help me figure that out.

I really do feel a bit sorry for the people that get upset about long lines. What a waste of a good trip to Disneyland. If lines make you crazy...you shouldn't go to a theme park.

"Perhaps said person is visiting DLR for the first and only time in their life and they want to get on all the rides?" --Perhaps, this is still possible without ridemax

"Perhaps said person does not want to spend the many hours needed to troll Disney forums to learn or many hours to read guide books." --Perhaps that's partly laziness.

"Perhaps said person has young children who will melt down in fits if they spend too much time waiting in lines with the sun shining on them and make their trip not fun at all." --Then perhaps they should wait a few years until their children can handle it better. And perhaps go during a cooler time of year.

"Perhaps said person would rather plunk down $15 (while they are already paying $2000 - or more - for their family to visit DLR) and have an itinerary print out for them which will help them avoid those lines" --That's all find and dandy for them. But perhaps not all people want to use something like ridemax. Perhaps they'd be missing out on some of the fun of exploring the parks.

 

[Mrs. Bee]

Mrs. Bee,

You mean DL lets you in for free?! No wonder you like DL so much!

If you actually read what I wrote...you would know that I said "and the cost of finding all of those things out....has been $0."

I did not say "the cost of going to Disneyland was $0"

Common sense people!

Oh...and FYI: I am not a relative of Walt Disney or John Wayne.

 

[DangerMouse]

Perhaps said person would rather plunk down $15 (while they are already paying $2000 - or more - for their family to visit DLR) and have an itinerary print out for them which will help them avoid those lines" --That's all find and dandy for them. But perhaps not all people want to use something like ridemax. Perhaps they'd be missing out on some of the fun of exploring the parks..

This person has found out that plunking down a measley extra $15 (the cost of a churro each for my family) was definitely worth it to avoid the long lines, which in turn, gave us a whole lot of extra time to have fun exploring the parks.

Hydro, you about ready to say Uncle? I would have long ago. . . Oh how I miss the days of a Disboards where there weren't these ridiculous debates.

 

[trodrigue]

$0 heck, I'd like to figure out how to go for the $2000. Going Disney is truly an expensive venture, but for me, worth every cent of it. It does make me really sad that some kids will never get to experience the magic, with RM or without!

Hey, there's an idea...
Maybe Mark could donate a bit of the proceeds from his (in my opinion, whether I choose to use it or not) brilliant program to send disadvantaged kids to DL every year??

 

[Mrs. Bee]

This person has found out that plunking down a measley extra $15 (the cost of a churro each for my family) was definitely worth it to avoid the long lines, which in turn, gave us a whole lot of extra time to have fun exploring the parks.

Hydro, you about ready to say Uncle? I would have long ago. . . Oh how I miss the days of a Disboards where there weren't these ridiculous debates.

that's cool if it worked for you. i'm not disputing that it doesn't work for some.

it's just that hydroguy doesn't seem to understand that his way doesn't work for all people. and that there are OTHER ways besides his.

 

[HydroGuy]

that's cool if it worked for you. i'm not disputing that it doesn't work for some.

it's just that hydroguy doesn't seem to understand that his way doesn't work for all people. and that there are OTHER ways besides his.

Uhhhh, you will have to help me here and show where I said "my" way is the best for all people and or even any other person. Mostly what I have said is that I think some people will benefit from using RideMax. Mostly what I have heard is that RideMax does not make sense for you (and I never said it did) and so other people should learn what you have learned rather than buy RideMax.

 

[DangerMouse]

that's cool if it worked for you. i'm not disputing that it doesn't work for some.

it's just that hydroguy doesn't seem to understand that his way doesn't work for all people. and that there are OTHER ways besides his.

Wow, I've known Trey through these boards for quite some time, and I would say that is a most incorrect statement about his character.

But then again, it seems like you've been baiting him quite a bit since you've been over here on the Disneyland boards.

 

[HydroGuy]

This person has found out that plunking down a measley extra $15 (the cost of a churro each for my family) was definitely worth it to avoid the long lines, which in turn, gave us a whole lot of extra time to have fun exploring the parks.

Hydro, you about ready to say Uncle? I would have long ago. . . Oh how I miss the days of a Disboards where there weren't these ridiculous debates.

Usually I am smart enough to not even get this far. Not today though. I just got back last night from a conference with major manufacturers where "optimization" was a big topic. I guess I am feeling a bit enthusiastic about the topic and willing to argue more than I usually do. Plus I feel that some of the posts in this thread are inaccurate.

With that said, I will take your suggestion and bow out. Whatever points I wanted to make I have made.

 

[Mrs. Bee]

I am done with this thread.

I sent a PM to the person that apparently has the difinitive word on all things Disneyland.
Am I suppose to worship him and believe all he says and only think his info is accurate? To me...he's just some dude on a message board that's been to disneyland/disneyworld less times then me.

Unfortunately, I have an actual God in my life that I choose to worship instead.

And I'm not a groupie either.

If anyone has anything they need/want to say to me...feel free to send me a PM. I'll read it but I may not always respond.

 

[DangerMouse]

I am done with this thread.

I sent a PM to the person that apparently has the difinitive word on all things Disneyland.
Am I suppose to worship him and believe all he says and only think his info is accurate? To me...he's just some dude on a message board that's been to disneyland/disneyworld less times then me.

Unfortunately, I have an actual God in my life that I choose to worship instead.

And I'm not a groupie either.

To answer your question, no you aren't supposed to worship Trey. According to my Bible, you are only to worship God (it's a commandment, as I'm sure you know).

Mrs. Bee, you have to understand that for quite some time (long before you even registered at the Disboards) Trey has been giving his time, energy and general knowledge to many, many people here. We don't worship him, but we sure do appreciate his time and kind attitude to everyone. I have never seen him as anything but courteous. I don't know if your plan is to "dethrone" him or prove that he isn't as smart about DLR as he says he is, but if it is, then I think you are going down a futile path. There are many people here who appreciate him -- including me. Does that make me a groupie? No, it makes me a friend. He is the first to admit that he doesn't know everything about DLR or WDW, but his tips have helped so many, so many in fact that they have stickied them at the top of this page, and he doesn't ask for anything in return.

I think a few people have expressed that here at the DLR board of the Dis, we consider ourselves a "kinder and gentler" kind of message board. Debates are very popular on other disney fan sites like Miceage, but in general they make people over here kind of nervous. We like helping each other, not tearing each other down. Just a kind word from one DLR fan to another.

 

[Quest4fun]

 

[Spokker]

With 30 rides on a busy day? I doubt that very much.

I've done it. And to be honest it wasn't that great of a trip in my opinion. I prefer strolling along the Rivers of America and watching the Mark Twain roll by. To me that is more exciting than riding Buzz Lightyear for the 100th time so I can say I got on 30 rides that day and it was really busy and look at me I'm a super Disneyland expert!

And some people do not have the interest or time to "do a little research". Are they out of luck?

Doing research is the job of any smart traveler, but Disney would be smart not to make going to Disneyland so complicated. RideMax probably came about because of Fastpass and even the unlimited all-day pass, things that make a day at Disneyland more complicated. The trams, the two parks, the ticket options, and the inconsistency of information make the whole thing even more frustrating sometimes.

In the excellent book "Designing Disney" by Jonh Hench, which is a must read for any Disney fan by the way, Hench talks about how Disneyland was designed to facilitate decision making. The hub is one such feature that allows groups of people to huddle up and make decisions about where to go next.

I thought the ticket book system was perfect then, as you never put up any money for a ride until you were sure that's what you and your group wanted to do. With the unlimited all day pass and now Fastpass, there is an element of time involved, and everybody is racing against the clock in order to make their ticket a good value. The more time you spend making decisions the less time you have to ride rides, see shows, just walk and smell the flowers, or "people watch".

RideMax does not charge for information you can get for free. I know of no other place than RideMax where one can get wait time data (hard numbers in minutes - not "short, medium or long lines") for different days of the week, days of the year, etc. Do you? Where?

I believe the information, while interesting, is really inconsequential to the whole Disney experience.

Don't want to wait in a long line? Don't do it! It's that simple. Get a Fastpass, do something else, go get something to eat, whatever you feel like doing.

I find questions like "Why do people who spend thousands of dollars on a vacation wait in hour long lines?" silly, because you have no idea what kind of vacation they want. Running around Disneyland like a maniac trying to get on the most rides isn't everybody's idea of a great vacation. Sure, everybody complains about lines but they aren't entirely uncomfortable when you've got good friends and good people to talk to.

If you are willing to help people then you should have started your own business. You didn't. They did.

I have no desire to start a business. I dispense advice about Disneyland for free to those who want it. I do so with humility and knowing that there is no one way to enjoy Disneyland.

 

[Hound 109]

Mrs. Bee said:

Am I suppose to worship him and believe all he says and only think his info is accurate? To me...he's just some dude on a message board that's been to disneyland/disneyworld less times then me.

Unfortunately, I have an actual God in my life that I choose to worship instead.

And I'm not a groupie either.



I don't worship him either.....but i do think he's kind of a rock star.

I guess that would make me a.....er.....nevermind.


But i agree with DangerMouse. HG presents facts & opinions (mostly facts) & says "use it if you want to"...."don't if you don't want to".

Most of us think his info is pretty spot on....which is why we got his back. His tip threads have saved my family hours of time at DLR & i suspect others as well.

& fwiw, i've never used RideMax & don't have an opinion on it. I'll probably do it next time though to see what all the fuss is about...or maybe go for the 42-44 DL rides in one day.

 

[HydroGuy]

I don't worship him either.....but i do think he's kind of a rock star.

If you ever heard me sing you would change your opinion real quick.

Now for the HydroKids, three of them play electric guitar and two of them play drums (we have a "music room" at our house). I think they are Jonas Brothers wannabees. Especially if it helps them meet Hannah Montana.

 

[Quest4fun]

I don't worship him either.....but i do think he's kind of a rock star.

I guess that would make me a.....er.....nevermind.

But i agree with DangerMouse. HG presents facts & opinions (mostly facts) & says "use it if you want to"...."don't if you don't want to".

Most of us think his info is pretty spot on....which is why we got his back. His tip threads have saved my family hours of time at DLR & i suspect others as well.

I could see that. He definitely has a Michael Bolton thing goind on.

Most of his info is spot on but from time to time he misses the mark by a good mile or so. I've noticed when people step in and provide more accurate information it's met with flack by his supporters and the people who are just trying to help are burned like witches.

Other people can be right as well and contrary opinions don't need to be lambasted in the manner in which they are. A simple, "Thank you for the additional information. I will keep that in mind when planning my trip." will suffice. I think a lot of the posts that are missing statements by Hydro, Dangermouse and Hound tend to be a little more balanced and have less arguments. It's just an observation.

There's room for more experts on these boards. Everybody should be able to post their opinions without fear of attack by board veterans.

 

[DangerMouse]

I think a lot of the posts that are missing statements by Hydro, Dangermouse and Hound tend to be a little more balanced and have less arguments. It's just an observation.

Funny how Hound and I have become villians for sticking up for Trey. It's ok, I know I'm in good company.

It's my observation that the DLR board was a little more balanced and had less arguments before . . . oh nevermind . . .

 

[S. S. Columbia]

... There's room for more experts on these boards. Everybody should be able to post their opinions without fear of attack by board veterans.

If the OP wanted to get comments about ridemax, I think she succeeded.

Anyone with a lot of experience in the parks can "simply use the resources at hand" and have a great time. If the question is: is it best to have lots of experience in the parks, then who would disagree?

Guidebooks and Discussion Forums will not give you experience. And Ridemax won't give you experience, either.

The OP has bought ridemax (see post #43) based on the previous comments -- so this thread is already post-OP .

But the OP mentioned that she is a WDW expert, but knows very little about DLR. She's going to DLR during (the very busy) spring break. She asked for comments about ridemax, since she has limited experience with DLR, and she only has 2 days. For most people, it usually costs lots of money to go to DLR, and who wants to spend 2 busy days inside DLR going through a learning curve?

Should the OP have been told that the only way to learn about DLR is through experience, and that she should ignore Guidebooks, Discussion Forums, and Ridemax? Some people may only visit DLR once or twice.

I'm going to WDW next summer, and I've never been to Animal Kingdom or Disney-Hollywood Studios. Even though I've read a lot about the two parks, I will spend $17 to see what Ridemax suggests.

But you may think that Ridemax isn't worth it. That's fine! Why would I flame you? We can agree to disagree.

 

[Hound 109]

I could see that. He definitely has a Michael Bolton thing goind on.

Had you put a , or a laughing similie, i would have assumed this was a clever snarky joke....since it is followed by the comment below, i assume you typed this in anger.



Most of his info is spot on but from time to time he misses the mark by a good mile or so.

Give 3 examples how he "misses the mark by a mile".



I've noticed when people step in and provide more accurate information it's met with flack by his supporters

If one presents information or opinions in a non-confrontational way here on the Dis..... (imo) they are always welcomed & encouraged to continue to post..... & personally I like reading differences of opinions.



and the people who are just trying to help are burned like witches.

If posts are being confrontational, or are being angry towards always pleasant posters... who have offered help here on the dis for months or years.....then (imo) most people ignore the confrontational poster,.....but some of us call them on their rudeness.



Other people can be right as well and contrary opinions don't need to be lambasted in the manner in which they are.

See my above comment. It's not the comments or opinions (which btw, i normally find informed & (imo) are welcomed); It's the snarkyness &/or confrontation.



A simple, "Thank you for the additional information. I will keep that in mind when planning my trip." will suffice.

Quest....i've observed your comments for the past 3-4 weeks. You are intelligent & informed. You (& i) are also sarcastic & snarky. For whatever reason you either choose not to (or forget to) use similies if you're being funny &/or sarcastic so (imo) it comes off as rude.

& regarding rude, I've observed 3 different occasions (off the top of my head) where you delivered informed (& probably correct) opinions....but then ended the post snarkily or rudely:

- a nice poster (don't remember the name) recommended a restaurant. You informed that the anyone who eats there would get sick & if sick the would be taken to a hospital & would surely not get appropriate care. WTH. If you're gonna post an opinion that contradicts, do it nicely (or if you're trying to be funny, let us know it's a d*mn joke).

- a VERY nice & long time poster who is also very informed & rather funny posted her experience with a waiter. You informed her that most waiters from the OC are kind of snarky (ok....i guess that's good advice) & then you commented that some people "don't have a sense of humor" to enjoy waiter's who are snarky. WTH.....you just told the poster that they don't have a sense of humor.

- This entire thread (above).

Dude, you & i never have used RideMax. It may or may not be of value to us. But how in the heck could you (or I) have an opinion on how it MIGHT help a DLR newbie with 2 days to enjoy Walt's park....in the summer.....& it's only $15 bucks. Then you are rude to people who don't agree with your uninformed opinion.

- You inferred in a thread (a couple of weeks ago) that visitors to SoCal shouldn't follow the advice from posters who aren't FROM SoCal. FWIW, many of us are who live elsewhere are actually FROM SoCal, but how would you know? More importantly, SoCal folks typically don't have as much airport/rental car/hotel, first hand experience that visitors (many who come several times a year) might have. But most importantly... ALL opinions are welcomed AND Who Died & Made You King... to decide which opinions are the most valid??




I think a lot of the posts that are missing statements by Hydro, Dangermouse and Hound tend to be a little more balanced and have less arguments. It's just an observation.

If i'm in the thread, i can assure you it will be unbalanced & lively.



There's room for more experts on these boards. Everybody should be able to post their opinions without fear of attack by board veterans.

Everyone here appreciates LOTS of opinions on all topics. If you perceive my comments as "an attack", then i'm not making myself clear.

Quest, you have a wealth of information & your many years of living in OC provide you with the ability to add so much to the discussion & the information pool. If you tone down the snark and/or add some happy faces (so we know you're joking...since we can't hear your voice inflections or see your smile), imo you wouldn't be "attacked".....in fact (imo) most posters would appreciatively say.... "thank you".

I hope you'll continue to share information because i value your opinions. I also enjoy Mrs. Bee's contributions. (loved her "what to do in DLR if you don't ride rides?" thread.) I don't agree with everything you all post, but enjoy both of your contributions.

BUT...if i perceive a post to be rude, I'm going to post my opinion & call you on it... (which i guess you perceive as "an attack").....because i can.

hound

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