RideMax Users Thread (FAQs Linked in First Post!)

[jamstew]

We were told by one of the CM's at Kali that they only offer FP on certain days of the week. Since our AK day was a Sunday, I had to use a different day of the week for planning. If our AK plan had been for a day other than Sunday, I don't know if the program would have recognized the variation in FP days. Since I subscribed for a year, I may play with it to find out.

 

[vicki_c]

We were told by one of the CM's at Kali that they only offer FP on certain days of the week. Since our AK day was a Sunday, I had to use a different day of the week for planning. If our AK plan had been for a day other than Sunday, I don't know if the program would have recognized the variation in FP days. Since I subscribed for a year, I may play with it to find out.

The times guide from 6/14-6/20 said no FPs for KRR on Fridays (maybe one other day as well). We were there on a Friday and I had already sent my husband to get them when I noticed this. I called him on the phone, and he said the machines were operating and he already had the FPs. So, in some cases -- no information is going to be that reliable other than your own eyes!

 

[jamstew]

The times guide from 6/14-6/20 said no FPs for KRR on Fridays (maybe one other day as well). We were there on a Friday and I had already sent my husband to get them when I noticed this. I called him on the phone, and he said the machines were operating and he already had the FPs. So, in some cases -- no information is going to be that reliable other than your own eyes!

Interesting. I used a Friday to plan our Sunday, so it looks like RideMax ignores the possibility that you won't be able to get a FP, which is probably the safer way to play it. My son went to get Kali FP for everyone but me, found out there were none, and went ahead and got Dinosaur FP instead. That would have been fine, except that he didn't have my ticket. I ended up going for my own FP while the rest of the group did one of treks, so we did get to ride together later in the day.

 

[flipflopmom]

If I leave in 11 days, do I have time to get this together with everything else I have to do? I have debated back and forth, used UG to get what I hope to be solid plans.... BUT! this is our first trip with kids (ages 9 and 2), and it is July!!!

Can you take Rider Swap times into account?

 

[Donald Applecore]

Bumping
I've noticed a couple new ridemax threads lately - thought I would bring this helpful gem back to the top.

 

[vicki_c]

If I leave in 11 days, do I have time to get this together with everything else I have to do? I have debated back and forth, used UG to get what I hope to be solid plans.... BUT! this is our first trip with kids (ages 9 and 2), and it is July!!!

Can you take Rider Swap times into account?

I cannot see any way for it to account for rider swap times. Even if you enter the attraction in 2x, it's not going to put riding them 2x in a row in most cases. I thought about adding a break after you made your first plan (see how long the ride takes, then add a break in right after it for the same amount of time), but then when you re-made your plan, it will probably shuffle everything around again due to the break time, which pretty much defeats the purpose of that. Of course, you don't have to do the baby swap thing right away, do you - so maybe just adding the attraction in 2x would work. But it also might tell you to get a FP for your 2nd time, and you wouldn't need that. (I guess I'm glad we don't have to worry about the rider swap thing - we just mostly skipped things altogether when our kids were too small to do something)!

 

[ekatiel]

I cannot see any way for it to account for rider swap times. Even if you enter the attraction in 2x, it's not going to put riding them 2x in a row in most cases. I thought about adding a break after you made your first plan (see how long the ride takes, then add a break in right after it for the same amount of time), but then when you re-made your plan, it will probably shuffle everything around again due to the break time, which pretty much defeats the purpose of that. Of course, you don't have to do the baby swap thing right away, do you - so maybe just adding the attraction in 2x would work. But it also might tell you to get a FP for your 2nd time, and you wouldn't need that. (I guess I'm glad we don't have to worry about the rider swap thing - we just mostly skipped things altogether when our kids were too small to do something)!

I posted a question about Rider Swap a few months ago, and Mark (the creator of Ridemax) actually PMed me with an answer. Here was his reply (and don't worry, I asked his persmission to share if the topic ever came up again!):

Hello ekatiel,

I saw your question regarding using RideMax with the child swap pass, and thought I'd chime in!

For the most part, rather than scheduling a second round on each attraction, I typically recommend collecting the child swap passes when the first "group" rides, at the time shown on the RideMax plan. Rather than using the pass right away, however, I recommend holding onto them and using them during the large block of "free time" that many RideMax plans include in the afternoon hours.

This has the advantage of allowing you to stay "on schedule," as well as using the passes during the busy afternoon hours when they give you the most advantage over the larger crowds that exist at that time. (This may also involve a bit of extra walking, but hopefully you'll find the tradeoff worth it.)


Of course, if you have attractions on your plan in the evening AFTER the afternoon break this won't apply, but it should help with rides earlier in the day.

I hope this helps!

Regards,
Mark Winters
RideMax

I hope this helps to answer some of your child swap questions! --Katie

 

[mwerner2]

We just got back from he world yesterday and used RideMax plans for the whole week we were there.

I thought they worked especially well in the Magic Kingdom. We got onto an unbelievable number of attractions considering the crowd level and the fact that we started at 5pm that day

They worked pretty well in the other parks and also taught me to think differently about our touring patterns. For instance, I have always thought that Safari Ride in AK must be done first thing in the morning, but the plan called for it later in the day so we decided to try it. We saw just as many animals as we always did.

Be careful about your speed. RideMax can get you around to a lot of attractions, but this time of year (HOT) it might be better to use the slow speed. We walked at our regular speed and had no trouble keeping up with the plans, but as the week progressed we found ourselves going slower and slower!

 

[jana616]

Bumping!

 

[AliVal]

Someone in a chat room suggested this to me,and I don't get what it is. HELP!

 

[mwerner2]

From earlier in this thread--

It costs $18.95 for a 90 day subscription and $29.95 for a year subscription. And you're exactly right-- you tell it what rides you want to ride and what shows you want to see for a specific date-- you can even put in breaks or ADRS, and then it spits out a plan for you that minimizes wait time. It is really very cool!

This is the website:
http://www.ridemax.com/index.php

 

[Rags]

Is it worth it to get the full year subscription or should I wait untill our 90 day mark???? TIA!

 

[mwerner2]

Ninety days was plenty for me, it's just not as much fun to play with until your actual days are ready for planning.

 

[Rags]

Ninety days was plenty for me, it's just not as much fun to play with until your actual days are ready for planning.

Thanks for the response!!! I guess I can add this to the waiting for 90 day list!!!!

I noticed you just returned! How did Ridemax work for you??? I hope you vacation was magical!!!

 

[jennyf10]

Ridemax worked beautifully!!! Not only were we able to ride everything we wanted with little or no wait, in some cases we were able to pick up fastpasses sooner than the plan indicated so could ride additional attractions or the same ones more than once. I highly recommend this software!!

 

[mwerner2]

I noticed you just returned! How did Ridemax work for you??? I hope you vacation was magical!!!

See my comments just a few responses up. On the whole we loved Ridemax and really got a lot done with little wait, despite the crowds,

 

[bgbthomas]

Can you only access this program from the computer you download it to? In other words would I need to bring my computer with me if I wanted to use it during my trip? (where I am staying has internet access and a computer already there)

thanks BT

Headed to WDW 7/17/09 - 07/25/09

 

[dbaker375]

We just got back from he world yesterday and used RideMax plans for the whole week we were there.

I thought they worked especially well in the Magic Kingdom. We got onto an unbelievable number of attractions considering the crowd level and the fact that we started at 5pm that day

They worked pretty well in the other parks and also taught me to think differently about our touring patterns. For instance, I have always thought that Safari Ride in AK must be done first thing in the morning, but the plan called for it later in the day so we decided to try it. We saw just as many animals as we always did.

Be careful about your speed. RideMax can get you around to a lot of attractions, but this time of year (HOT) it might be better to use the slow speed. We walked at our regular speed and had no trouble keeping up with the plans, but as the week progressed we found ourselves going slower and slower!

Just purchased RideMax for our upcoming trip 7/30-8/3. Do you feel like you are transversing the Parks to be able to use the itinerary? Or, does the software keep your rides all in the same vicinity? It's been so long since I've been to the World that I can't quite remember what rides are by each other.... or maybe the memory loss is due to turning 40!?!

 

[mwerner2]

Our plans were really good about keeping to the same areas of the park, or moving in a logical pattern across the park. The only exception is the Fastpass runners who might find themselves heading off across the park and back to collect fastpasses for everyone. Luckily I had two 18YO who were happy to do this. (Many times we would be holding 3 fastpasses at the same time)

 

[jamstew]

Can you only access this program from the computer you download it to? In other words would I need to bring my computer with me if I wanted to use it during my trip? (where I am staying has internet access and a computer already there)

thanks BT

Headed to WDW 7/17/09 - 07/25/09

You can download it to two computers for personal use. I have it on my primary laptop and my netbook, which travels with me.