RideMax Users Thread (FAQs Linked in First Post!)

[bellebookworm9]

My ext. family is suddenly talking about going 2/19 through 2/23. I am a big planner and used Ridemax last trip. (LOVED IT) But I am not going along on this trip so will not renew RM subscription now to plan my parents trip with my brother's fam - plus I cannot imagine my brother's reaction to me "planning their trip"

I also have UG membership so i know the crowd calendar and recommended parks. I shared that info with my Dad and gave him UG itineraries for Tweens (8 and 10 yr old nephews) to make life a little easier on my parents. My parents were initially going to just take the kids but my brother and sis-in-law decided they want to go too and are paying their own way.

Anyway... wondering if there is any additional advice I should give them since none of them have been before. I dont mind providing general advice but will avoid detailed RM itineraries/etc.

They are staying at Caribbean Beach - I have never stayed on site either but have heard it will be best for them to drive to the parks day rather than take DIS transp. and wait in lines for that (they will have two cars as they are driving from ATL). True?

I tried to explain the FP system to my Dad - I think he's finally getting it
And of course I said arrive at RD and hit the faves first similar to UG Touring Plans and what RM what say. Then I said, anything after that is icing (dont want to freak them out too much about needing to plan)


Any other tips I should share?

Thanks,
Sydnerella's Mama

I think that your advice sounds pretty good. If they stick to the UG touring plans, they should be fine. One thing about the transportation: They will more than likely be fine driving to Epcot and DHS, as they're very nearby to CBR. But in reading the UG, they recommend taking Disney buses to MK and AK. MK, so it isn't necessary to park at the TTC, and then wait for boat/monorail-this eats up a large chunk of time. AK because the parking lot apparently doesn't open until 15 minutes before the park, which obviously throws off schedules-I don't know how accurate this is though. I've stayed at ASMu and Kidani Village at AKL and never had serious problems with the transportation. The only thing I've heard about CBR is that it can take a bit of time because of all the stops, but that would also depend on what village they're in.

 

[Delilah1310]

I didn't see this in the FAQs, probably because it is not something that comes up frequently

We are going to WDW in September 2011.
Our extended family is taking a group trip to DL in May/June 2012.

If I purchased a year subscription of RM (like in July / August 2011) for WDW, could I transfer it to DL after our fall 2011 trip to get ready for the 2012 California trip?

Would it be better to get the 3-month option for WDW, and then purchase a different 3-month option for DL?

Any advice on how to do this?
We've never been before to either WDW or DL.

thanking in advance.

 

[Cindy-rella]

I have a question. Does Ride Max make you run to much from one side of the park to the other? Can you just add attractions from say, Frontierland and Adventureland in the morning and do the other side of the park on another day or in the evening? Thanks for the info.

 

[CarrieR]

If you set your touring speed to slow, it should help a lot with the park crossing. Or, yes, you could make two separate plans for the morning and evening, or different days, but I would try just making a plan including everything first.

 

[sandym718]

If you set your touring speed to slow, it should help a lot with the park crossing. Or, yes, you could make two separate plans for the morning and evening, or different days, but I would try just making a plan including everything first.

Yep, what Carrie said!!

 

[Sydnerella]

Hi,

So now my family is joining my parents and nephews for Pres Weekend at WDW!!

We have a group of 10 and I will be renewing my RM subscription but I have some questions as I am planning for a much larger group than I have previously.

DNs are 8 and 10 and my kids are 4 and 6.

8AM Arrival at MK on Sun 2/20 will send us to Tomorrowland and I assume Space Mountain first. Since my DD4 cannot ride, I am debating the best strategy here:

1. Do I take her to Astro Orbiter which she does want to ride (after grabbing some Buzz or SM FPs) and hope we get through quickly enough to meet the SM crew for the next ride in our itinerary?

2. Or do we all wait in line and do child swap so a couple of us get extra ride in and then Dad and another adult could take DD4 and maybe some of the other kids (i think all would enjoy it too) during the extra ride to Astro Orbiter and we can meet when we all get done hopefully in time to get back to an itinerary...

Part of option 1 that concerns me is if the other kids would want to hit AO too or if DD would be bummed to be the only one going on it... too many peeps to please! Anyway, I just am not sure how to factor Child Swap or splitting up into the RM plans and I know AO has a longer wait time but she deserves a chance to hit her interests too! Advice is appreciated!

Sydnerella's Mama

Thanks!

 

[sandym718]

Hi,

So now my family is joining my parents and nephews for Pres Weekend at WDW!!

We have a group of 10 and I will be renewing my RM subscription but I have some questions as I am planning for a much larger group than I have previously.

DNs are 8 and 10 and my kids are 4 and 6.

8AM Arrival at MK on Sun 2/20 will send us to Tomorrowland and I assume Space Mountain first. Since my DD4 cannot ride, I am debating the best strategy here:

1. Do I take her to Astro Orbiter which she does want to ride (after grabbing some Buzz or SM FPs) and hope we get through quickly enough to meet the SM crew for the next ride in our itinerary?

2. Or do we all wait in line and do child swap so a couple of us get extra ride in and then Dad and another adult could take DD4 and maybe some of the other kids (i think all would enjoy it too) during the extra ride to Astro Orbiter and we can meet when we all get done hopefully in time to get back to an itinerary...

Part of option 1 that concerns me is if the other kids would want to hit AO too or if DD would be bummed to be the only one going on it... too many peeps to please! Anyway, I just am not sure how to factor Child Swap or splitting up into the RM plans and I know AO has a longer wait time but she deserves a chance to hit her interests too! Advice is appreciated!

Sydnerella's Mama

Thanks!

I'd go with Option 2, so you can all do SM.

 

[sandym718]

Anyone know how quickly RideMax usually updates park hours? there have been major changes to March hours but so far the old hour are still on RM. Having to redo a lot of our plans, just wondering how long I'll need to wait.

 

[bellebookworm9]

Anyone know how quickly RideMax usually updates park hours? there have been major changes to March hours but so far the old hour are still on RM. Having to redo a lot of our plans, just wondering how long I'll need to wait.

They are normally pretty good about updating quickly, but it could take a few days. If it's not updated soon, you can always e-mail them to alert them that the hours have changed.

 

[Sydnerella]

I'd go with Option 2, so you can all do SM.

Thanks!
At that time will AO take too long to follow the itinerary? I worry that the queue will get too long (sim to Dumbo though I know not as popular) such that we would get behind in the itinerary.

 

[bellebookworm9]

Thanks!
At that time will AO take too long to follow the itinerary? I worry that the queue will get too long (sim to Dumbo though I know not as popular) such that we would get behind in the itinerary.

Try making the plan with Space Mountain, Carousel of Progress, and the People Mover. Make the end time and start time close together (like 2 hours max). This should give you an idea of how long Space Mountain will take, then add in another 10-15 minutes for the rider swap. The make another plan, substituting Astro Orbitor for Space, but making the start time for whatever the time was you determined it would take to do Space while rider swapping. Adjust the end time accordingly, and it should let you know how long Astro Orbitor will take.

 

[sandym718]

Wow, RM is on the ball!! They just sent me a PM here to let me know the March hours had been updated. I've been so busy this week, I haven't had a chance to even check it again. Great customer service!!

 

[Sydnerella]

Try making the plan with Space Mountain, Carousel of Progress, and the People Mover. Make the end time and start time close together (like 2 hours max). This should give you an idea of how long Space Mountain will take, then add in another 10-15 minutes for the rider swap. The make another plan, substituting Astro Orbitor for Space, but making the start time for whatever the time was you determined it would take to do Space while rider swapping. Adjust the end time accordingly, and it should let you know how long Astro Orbitor will take.

Ok really!?!?!? Does your business card say RM genius - cool. You are awesome - what a great suggestion to get the times set, THANK YOU

I will try that tonight!

"It's a great big beautiful tomorrow!" The last and only time I went on CofP it got stuck and kept repeating the two middle scenes when they were done - LOL Carousel of not-so-much Progress!

 

[sl_underwood]

Would ride max help with star wars weekends? Dhs is really the only area we r having trouble with. Dd wants star autographs and pics. Ds wants character pics. We all want tsm. Plus there is a ton of other stuff they are wanting to do. If ride max can help I am more than willing to pay for it.

 

[bellebookworm9]

Would ride max help with star wars weekends? Dhs is really the only area we r having trouble with. Dd wants star autographs and pics. Ds wants character pics. We all want tsm. Plus there is a ton of other stuff they are wanting to do. If ride max can help I am more than willing to pay for it.

No, it doesn't help with special events. If you make a plan and use the blocks of free time to meet the characters/get autographs, that would work, but there's no guarantee that the meet & greets will match up with the free time. I know that many of the Star Wars characters require FPs to meet them. Are you planning to spend more than one day at the studios? You could go one weekend day to just do Star Wars & characters, and/or minor attractions. Use a non-weekend day for the major things you want to do.

 

[Sydnerella]

If Ridemax does not have us get an FP before riding SM should we or will that take too long? Also, if you get a FP for SM right at park open (brisk walk) what is the earliest window it can be used? And once that window begins (not ends) I can obtain another FP correct?

 

[bellebookworm9]

If Ridemax does not have us get an FP before riding SM should we or will that take too long? Also, if you get a FP for SM right at park open (brisk walk) what is the earliest window it can be used? And once that window begins (not ends) I can obtain another FP correct?

It shouldn't take too long. Our plan was for me to power walk to Space, get FPs, then meet at Buzz. It took maybe 5 minutes, but I was also one adult who can move quickly and weave in and out of strollers. Yes, when the Space window begins you can get another FP, and if you give me an hour I can look up my un-used FP and let you know the window.

 

[Sydnerella]

It shouldn't take too long. Our plan was for me to power walk to Space, get FPs, then meet at Buzz. It took maybe 5 minutes, but I was also one adult who can move quickly and weave in and out of strollers. Yes, when the Space window begins you can get another FP, and if you give me an hour I can look up my un-used FP and let you know the window.

Wow, thanks! An unused SM FP??? That is crazy talk but the GAD promo sure helped folks out with those and I recall you mentioning you had some.

We have a party of 10... we will be using 2-3 adults to get the FPs at SM so it does not take too long.

 

[bellebookworm9]

Wow, thanks! An unused SM FP??? That is crazy talk but the GAD promo sure helped folks out with those and I recall you mentioning you had some.

We have a party of 10... we will be using 2-3 adults to get the FPs at SM so it does not take too long.

Yeah, it was just me riding, and I found it to be too jerky to do it twice. We only used the GAD at DHS though. I picked up the FPs at 9:05 and the window was 9:45-10:45; I don't think it opens any earlier.

 

[Cindy-rella]

I am 93 days out from my trip!! I have been looking forward to getting RideMax. We are going for seven days. Should I go ahead a buy at the 90 day mark or wait till day 83?