Ridemax for Non Commandos???

[Lissete]

Several folks on here have recommended Ridemax for our upcoming June trip. As I've mentioned before, we are Floridians and we visit WDW quite frequently. Since we are able to visit the parks regularly, we have the luxury of just passing on attractions if the line is too long.

Since we only have about 2 1/2 days, maybe 3 if we can, we will probably have to enter commando mode. We are very unfamiliar with this mode of touring and I'm not sure we will be able to do it, but we are willing to try. Maybe We are a family of 4, no young children. My girls are 16 & 17.

We have several strikes against us aside from our limited time. We are visiting in June, on a weekend, and are staying off site. It seems that this Ridemax thing may not only be an option but a necessity. Our problem is that we basically have ADD. We are easily distracted by our surroundings and we like just stop and absorb everything, sights, sounds & smells... as in yummy food.

So, all that being said, do you think that we will be able to follow a Ridemax itinerary?? Will it be too strict for first time commandos or can it be tailored to our specifics? All feedback is greatly appreciated!

 

[hlbtimes2]

I would plan on using it one day. It will insure you get all the rides in, that you want to. Then leave the other couple of days to just relax and take in the sights and sounds as they come. Might want to make it the middle day. That way you have a day to relax, and just go with the flow, then a high energy, commando day, then a day or 1/2 day to finish up and reride things you loved.

We found we could get most of the rides we wanted to, on the schedule in the first 1/2 the day, then the last 1/2 we had time to do what ever. Then there was usually one or two rides that ridemax scheduled late.

 

[azgal81]

I think ridemax is a waste of money personally but other people here swear by it. It seems like you are gong to DL in the summer which means you will have longer park hours. As long as you get there as soon as the park opens and use fast pass you should be able to get all the popular rides done before lunch time in DL. I have never had a problem getting everything in we needed to and it sounds like your kids are older so they will be less likely to need a nap in the middle of the afternoon.

 

[SunshineOR]

Hmmmm.... I did RideMax our last trip, but we went during an off-season week and didn't really stick with it since lines weren't too horrible. However, I didn't consider it a total loss of money.

Although we frequently got off the "official" RideMax schedule, we used it as a loose guideline and found it EXTREMELY helpful to organize maximizing fastpass use and knowing which attractions have longer lines at what part of the day.

Instead of doing all-day schedules, I'd do a morning schedule and an afternoon schedule so if we totally got sidetracked we didn't screw up the whole thing. If we got sidetracked and messed up the morning schedule, then after lunch we'd start over with the afternoon schedule. Also, I would schedule in frequent "breaks" for us that were actually just openings in the schedule so we could get sidetracked without feeling guilty. I think your personalities will work well with it because you'll be flexible and not obsessed with the schedule, but on your tight time on a summer weekend it could help you take in as much as possible. For me, it was fun playing with RideMax before we left--helped me study all the attractions and channel my excitement in a project!

 

[darph nader]

Inquiring minds would like to know. How much does this ridemax thing cost?

 

[BunnieGene]

Yep, I wanna know too...we're going this summer and will be there for 3 days.

 

[colbybug]

what is ridemax exactly?

 

[Lissete]

Thank you all for your responses. I will more than likely get the Ridemax and play around with it. If we feel like we can't follow the schedule we will use it as a guideline. I will definitely make up several schedules for the day as well, like SunshineOR suggested. As for the $, heck, it's like playing the lottery. If it works Wonderful! If it doesn't, well we lost $15 on the CHANCE that we can get something out of it. Compared to the $$$$ cost of the trip, it's nothing, especially if there is that chance that it can help us with our limited time.

azgirl81, you are right, my girls won't be needing a nap, but maybe I will.

As for those asking about Ridemax, the website is Ridemax.com. It's supposed to maximize your time in the park. Sorry I can't offer any more info, I'm just learning about it myself

 

[hlbtimes2]

what is ridemax exactly?

It is a software download that you get from www.ridemax.com It is about $17 for 3 months or $27 for a year. You plug in what days will be there, when you want breaks (meals, shows, parades, etc) and what rides you want to go on. It will give you a schedule of when the best time is to do each ride. It tells you when to get fast pass, when to get in line, how long the ride normally takes, and how long it should take you to walk from one ride to the next.

It helps you get past "herd" mentality, which is natural when you are in large crowds. Everyone enters and goes the same direction. By heading a different direction you will find smaller crowds, shorter lines. It also helps eliminate "what should we do now?" Which is a huge time suck.

The creators have spent years researching days, times, times of year, etc to compile the data. So, what it recomended to me for a Tuesday in Oct. is different then what it will tell someone else for a Saturday in July.