RideMax Users Thread (FAQs Linked in First Post!)

[disney4us2002]

Is this only for Disney parks or is Univ or IoA included too?

 

[DaveStroem]

Has anyone else had trouble downloading the program? I purchased it today and downloaded the program, and when it tries to open and download data for the wait times, it gives me an error message that says I may need to disable my internet filters. How do I do this?

You probably either have your internet settings on max protection, or have a firewall that is not letting the software seek the data and download it. I would email Mark and I am sure he will help you out.

Is this only for Disney parks or is Univ or IoA included too?

Only Disney.

 

[HillsboroHoppers]

Any idea why Off Kilter is not showing up in the May 1-15 plans? It lists other WS performers but not them, and they are the ones we most want to see!

 

[chicagoshannon]

Any idea why Off Kilter is not showing up in the May 1-15 plans? It lists other WS performers but not them, and they are the ones we most want to see!

I'm not seeing any performers for that time period. The only things I can choose are the WS tours, Maelstrom, and Gran Fiesta Tour.

I think the individual performers and shows will show up closer to May.

 

[KatInHat]

I am thinking about trying this out for our trip in Sept. but it sounds really complicated. How hard is it to use?
How far behind can you fall on the plans and still be ok. (Does that make sense?) ex. what if I tell the program that we will be at the park for rope drop and we don't make it there until 30 minutes after rope drop? Will the ridemax plans then not work? or what if someone has to use the bathroom at a time that we are supposed to be at an attraction?
I haven't even ordered it yet so I'm sure that once I order it and get more familiar with the program a lot of my questions would be answered. Just thought I would ask you guys first. Thanks

 

[singingpixie]

I am thinking about trying this out for our trip in Sept. but it sounds really complicated. How hard is it to use?
How far behind can you fall on the plans and still be ok. (Does that make sense?) ex. what if I tell the program that we will be at the park for rope drop and we don't make it there until 30 minutes after rope drop? Will the ridemax plans then not work? or what if someone has to use the bathroom at a time that we are supposed to be at an attraction?
I haven't even ordered it yet so I'm sure that once I order it and get more familiar with the program a lot of my questions would be answered. Just thought I would ask you guys first. Thanks

They suggest that you print out a couple plans- if you're planning to arrive at rope drop, start with that. Then, print out a second one that starts 20 or 30 mins later, as a backup plan.

 

[mrstomrice]

My only concern mow is that we'll feel too scheduled. Do you feel that way, or is it so convenient you don't mind?

 

[DaveStroem]

I am thinking about trying this out for our trip in Sept. but it sounds really complicated. How hard is it to use?
How far behind can you fall on the plans and still be ok. (Does that make sense?) ex. what if I tell the program that we will be at the park for rope drop and we don't make it there until 30 minutes after rope drop? Will the ridemax plans then not work? or what if someone has to use the bathroom at a time that we are supposed to be at an attraction?
I haven't even ordered it yet so I'm sure that once I order it and get more familiar with the program a lot of my questions would be answered. Just thought I would ask you guys first. Thanks

Using RideMax the way it is intended to be used is very easy to figure out. The problem is some of us with OCD can't just leave it at that. We try to figure out how to use it the way we want to use it rather then just leaving it be. This is not a knock on RideMax but on myself.

As to your question if you don't make RD, it will make your plan for when ever you get there.

 

[ekatiel]

They suggest that you print out a couple plans- if you're planning to arrive at rope drop, start with that. Then, print out a second one that starts 20 or 30 mins later, as a backup plan.

This is exactly right. Also, they list some attractions in bold, which are very time sensitive, and some not in bold, which you can fudge a little on the time (a little bit later is ok, but not sooner). I haven't used it at the park yet, but people who have usually say that you tend to get a bit ahead of schedule b/c sometimes the wait times listed are a bit longer then the actual wait times. So, there should be time to take a potty break or two. My plan is if we get behind, to just skip the next attraction and move ahead on the schedule. We'll be there a full week, so if we miss something, we can always come back later and do it. --Katie

 

[ebloom]

Loving this thread, I am excited to use RideMax, but I don't go until October, so I have some time to wait. Thanks for all the tips.

 

[kathyfranklin]

I am thinking about trying this out for our trip in Sept. but it sounds really complicated. How hard is it to use?

I haven't used it in the parks yet - I really hope it works as well as I have heard.

That said, I had read here that the program was a little difficult to use and was a little concerend...but it is very, very straightforward. Not complicated at all. My kids like being able to see the attractions listed out, see the descriptions, and selecting what we will do. Also - as my kids noted immediately, RideMax rates each attraction with stars, and that has helped us figure out which ones to skip.

Also - the tips are very helpful.

 

[scrappinmom]

Do any of you know when the EPcot WS performers are loaded in? We leave tomorrow, and I was hoping to get my Epcot day for Monday the 23rd all finished...It's still only showing the performers thru Saturday the 21st.

 

[chicagoshannon]

Do any of you know when the EPcot WS performers are loaded in? We leave tomorrow, and I was hoping to get my Epcot day for Monday the 23rd all finished...It's still only showing the performers thru Saturday the 21st.

it would have to be any time. I'm not sure what the hold up is. I thought they did it a week or 2 ahead of time but it's only up through this week.

 

[tofubeast]

Do any of you know when the EPcot WS performers are loaded in? We leave tomorrow, and I was hoping to get my Epcot day for Monday the 23rd all finished...It's still only showing the performers thru Saturday the 21st.

check this site out in the mean time.

 

[DaveStroem]

Do any of you know when the EPcot WS performers are loaded in? We leave tomorrow, and I was hoping to get my Epcot day for Monday the 23rd all finished...It's still only showing the performers thru Saturday the 21st.

I emailed Mark about this yesterday. Here is his response:

Dave,

The way our system is set up currently, the Epcot showtimes don't go into RideMax until late Saturday evening for the following week.

The fact that Disney is now actually publishing these showtimes at this level of detail is fairly new, and is something we'd like to take advantage of, but the formatting of the new website isn't compatible with the system we have in place currently, so I'm not confident that we'll have this process in place before your trip. (Their calendar also is MISSING several shows that are included currently in RideMax, including the American Adventure show, Serveur Amusant, and both the Italy and UK World Showcase Players.)

I'm noticing as I look at the Epcot show schedule for next week that it seems to line up farily well with this week's schedule, at least for the handful of shows that I checked. If you're not planning on taking a laptop on vacation with you, my suggestion would be to create a plan using THIS WEEK'S data, using this week's Tuesday plan for next week's Tuesday, for example. (We're using the same "bucket" of wait time estimates next week at Epcot that we're using this week, so the FW stuff should work out OK doing this. Again, matching Tuesday for Tuesday, for example.)

I hope this helps... it looks like we may have some "digesting" to do with Disney's new calendar...

Thanks,
Mark Winters
RideMax

 

[scrappinmom]

Thanks everyone...

Mark emailed me and suggested I use this weeks as well...

Another A+++ for the RideMax customer service! I had my question answered before I was done folding the laundry!

Thanks Mark!!!!

 

[LittleDickensDesigns]

This is a really helpful thread!

 

[ScotnSteph]

I have copy & pasted the schedules into Excel, then saved them as PDFs then I open the PDFs in Photoshop and add maps etc....

I then print them out on 3 3/4 x 6 3/4 to fit in a day planner binder.

I have pages with the airline info, ME info, resort info, schedule at a glance, park hours, crowd calendar/best days, ADRs, touring plans, menus, DDP snacks, photopass locations, firework schedule, live entertainment schedule 7 weather forecast.

I am making 2 of these, one to use and a back up to defeat Murphy.

Dave - I am very impressed. You should teach a class on getting us all so organized! I just write my plans down on index cards.

 

[ScotnSteph]

Thanks to the OP for starting this thread. You're brilliant. I love RideMax. We used it in January (slow time) and I'm anxious to use it for our two week visit in June (not at all slow).

 

[deansara]

I just purchased RideMax yesterday for our trip to WDW April 6th - 13th. I am very much the planner. My question is, I am worried about how crazy busy the parks are going to be over Easter week. I have only done 1 RideMax plan so far for MK on the 7th, and there are no wait times greater than 12 minutes the entire day. Is that really accurate? I would expect the wait times to be much longer, especially later in the morning/afternoon.