RideMax Users Thread (FAQs Linked in First Post!)

[BlueFairy]

The hours probably won't change.

Thanks. I checked Steve Soares for the dates through 5/1 and they are the same for the shows we have chosen. Hopefully we're in good shape.

ETA: Actually, RideMax did have British Invasion performing on Thurs., 4/22, but they are not scheduled to perform on Thurs., 5/29 according to Steve's site.

 

[mickey916]

Just want to report that I just returned from 7 days in the Disney parks and we used Ridemax plans for all seven days - it was great! We got on everything we wanted with very little wait time. Sometimes we got behind schedule but then sometimes we got ahead of schedule. We never felt rushed or panicked that we wouldn't get stuff in. The first day we used the plans at MK I had a little disagreement with my DS11 who wanted to ride Splash MT instead of getting a FP like Ridemax suggested (which Ridemax even mentioned would be a temptation) but I convinced him to stick to the plan and no one ever questioned anything after that. Ridemax WORKS (and it's fun to play with too!)

 

[baler31]

I am using Ridemax for the third time and am having a problem with my Epcot days that I don't remember having before.

On one of the days (May 8th) it has my fastpass return time at 8pm something for Test Track and the park hours for Future World are listed as closing at 7pm on the Disney Web site ? I don't have problem with any other parks/or even other days for Epcot.

What am I doing wrong ?

 

[mickey916]

We found that many of the rides in Future World were open beyond the 7:00 p.m. closing time. We rode Spaceship Earth at 9:00 when Future World closed at 7:00 and also rode Test Track I believe after 8:30 on another night that Future World officially closed at 7:00. I'd trust Ridemax to give you accurate times for the rides.

 

[bellebookworm9]

I am using Ridemax for the third time and am having a problem with my Epcot days that I don't remember having before.

On one of the days (May 8th) it has my fastpass return time at 8pm something for Test Track and the park hours for Future World are listed as closing at 7pm on the Disney Web site ? I don't have problem with any other parks/or even other days for Epcot.

What am I doing wrong ?

We found that many of the rides in Future World were open beyond the 7:00 p.m. closing time. We rode Spaceship Earth at 9:00 when Future World closed at 7:00 and also rode Test Track I believe after 8:30 on another night that Future World officially closed at 7:00. I'd trust Ridemax to give you accurate times for the rides.

The only things that really close at 7 are Innoventions and Ellen's Energy Adventure. This comes from friends currently working at Epcot.

 

[baler31]

Thanks, we have used before without a problem but my DD noticed the discrepancy and made me paranoid. I usually don't pay that much attention but my daughter is old enough now that she is playing around with it and this has made things much more complicated.

 

[wdwobsessed]

Can I REALLY trust that it is going to give me accurate FP times?

For example ... on my arrival day June 22nd (a recommended DHS day) it tells me that Fast Passes will still be available for R&RC at 2:30??

I thought they would be out much earlier in the day.

Should I trust it?

In fact ... it has me WAITING 1.5 hours to get a FP for if after my arrival. (I guess to work the return time around the shows I put in.)

What to do??

Thanks

WDWO

 

[rie'smom]

Can I REALLY trust that it is going to give me accurate FP times?

For example ... on my arrival day June 22nd (a recommended DHS day) it tells me that Fast Passes will still be available for R&RC at 2:30??

I thought they would be out much earlier in the day.

Should I trust it?

In fact ... it has me WAITING 1.5 hours to get a FP for if after my arrival. (I guess to work the return time around the shows I put in.)

What to do??

Thanks

WDWO

It's done this on my plan before too but I ignore it and get whichever FP is most important right when we get to the park.
RnR FPs may not run out as quickly not that TSM has become the ride at DHS. On your DHS day, I'd get my group to go to RnR while I run to get TSM FPs. It's been our experience that if the girls ride RnR, they can go straight to ToT and ride it w/in 20 minutes. By that time, it's almost time to ride TSM. This is if we arrive before rope drop.

 

[wdwobsessed]

It's done this on my plan before too but I ignore it and get whichever FP is most important right when we get to the park.
RnR FPs may not run out as quickly not that TSM has become the ride at DHS. On your DHS day, I'd get my group to go to RnR while I run to get TSM FPs. It's been our experience that if the girls ride RnR, they can go straight to ToT and ride it w/in 20 minutes. By that time, it's almost time to ride TSM. This is if we arrive before rope drop.

We are arriving at 1pm so this is why I am curious. I figure we will mostly do the shows ...but I know my boys will want to hit R&RC!!!

Thanks

WDWO

 

[rie'smom]

We are arriving at 1pm so this is why I am curious. I figure we will mostly do the shows ...but I know my boys will want to hit R&RC!!!

Thanks

WDWO

Get your RnR FP as soon as you walk into the park. Have a great trip!

 

[michelle06]

I'm having trouble and hoping someone can help me. I put in a 3hour block of time at Epcot. No matter how I do it, I can not get it to generate a plan for me. It says I have too few attractions. If I had one thing, it then says "too many attractions". If I add 5 minutes to the plan, then it says "too few attractions". If I then add another attraction, it's back to "too many attractions". I keep adding or deleting attractions. I added half an hour when I had too many attractions! I wish it would just give me a plan with down time (too few attractions) so I at least can see what I'm working with. Help?

 

[bellebookworm9]

I'm having trouble and hoping someone can help me. I put in a 3hour block of time at Epcot. No matter how I do it, I can not get it to generate a plan for me. It says I have too few attractions. If I had one thing, it then says "too many attractions". If I add 5 minutes to the plan, then it says "too few attractions". If I then add another attraction, it's back to "too many attractions". I keep adding or deleting attractions. I added half an hour when I had too many attractions! I wish it would just give me a plan with down time (too few attractions) so I at least can see what I'm working with. Help?

I would leave the hours from open to close, and delete any breaks. Then add in only the attractions you want, then narrow it down from there. It could be the things you're adding after the fact take up a lot of time (Ellen's Energy Adventure, Innoventions). Can you tell me what your 3 hour block is, what rides you want, and what day and I'll see what I can get from it? You can PM me if you'd like.

 

[bangzoom6877]

We are going in mid-July to WDW, and I am wondering how to work this thing out. I purchased the 3-month version of Ride-Max a couple of weeks ago. I downloaded it, and the calendar only goes through the end of June. I have been playing around with it to get to know the features and it has been fun! I am assuming that within the next few weeks July will be there too.

One question though...since I already downloaded Ride Max and saved it to my desktop, when they add July to the calendar, will it automatically appear when I open it up, or will I have to download it again? I know this sounds stupid to ask, but I am not all that great with the computer! If I need to download again, what exactly would I have to do? Thanks!

 

[bellebookworm9]

We are going in mid-July to WDW, and I am wondering how to work this thing out. I purchased the 3-month version of Ride-Max a couple of weeks ago. I downloaded it, and the calendar only goes through the end of June. I have been playing around with it to get to know the features and it has been fun! I am assuming that within the next few weeks July will be there too.

One question though...since I already downloaded Ride Max and saved it to my desktop, when they add July to the calendar, will it automatically appear when I open it up, or will I have to download it again? I know this sounds stupid to ask, but I am not all that great with the computer! If I need to download again, what exactly would I have to do? Thanks!

The July calendar should be out in the next week. It will automatically be there, no need to re-download. Just click the arrows above the May and June calendars and July will be there when it is available. Have fun!

 

[bangzoom6877]

The July calendar should be out in the next week. It will automatically be there, no need to re-download. Just click the arrows above the May and June calendars and July will be there when it is available. Have fun!

Excellent, thank you!!! I hope it is out next week like you said...we finally have some free time next weekend so I can play around with it and knowing me I will have it all done so I can work on my packing list!

 

[mthds]

I am thinking of getting RideMax for our summer trip. I have a tech question. If I download it to one computer is that the only computer I can use it on Or is it internet based where I can sign in from any computer. I like working from my lap top but do not have a printer. I know I can hook my lap top up to our main printer but was wonder can I just sign in at the computer that is already hooked up to the printer after I have worked on my lap top?

Also, does RideMax offer that much different info than UG or TGM? Or, is it best for actual schedule to follow in the park? Just wondering if it is worth the money.

 

[4under4]

I am thinking of getting RideMax for our summer trip. I have a tech question. If I download it to one computer is that the only computer I can use it on Or is it internet based where I can sign in from any computer. I like working from my lap top but do not have a printer. I know I can hook my lap top up to our main printer but was wonder can I just sign in at the computer that is already hooked up to the printer after I have worked on my lap top?

I have a similar issue... I prefer to work on my desktop at home, but will be taking my laptop to WDW. Ridemax is installed locally (though it connects to the internet with each use in order to download the latest data). I was told that I could install it on a total of TWO computers for the purchase price, so you should be fine. My DH is rather upset with me because I won't let him replace my desktop with a newly purchased one until after our June trip - I need my Ridemax!

I can't speak to whether or not it's better than UG or TGM since this is our first trip. But I really like it and once you figure out the quirks it seems to work very well.

 

[bangzoom6877]

I am thinking of getting RideMax for our summer trip. I have a tech question. If I download it to one computer is that the only computer I can use it on Or is it internet based where I can sign in from any computer. I like working from my lap top but do not have a printer. I know I can hook my lap top up to our main printer but was wonder can I just sign in at the computer that is already hooked up to the printer after I have worked on my lap top?

Also, does RideMax offer that much different info than UG or TGM? Or, is it best for actual schedule to follow in the park? Just wondering if it is worth the money.

I never used UG, but I have used TGM. The difference I see between TGM and Ride Max is that for TGM, you read through some vacation articles. You don't need to read all of them, just the ones that would benefit you. For example, I have 2 small boys so I read the articles and suggestions for families with small children. I don't bother with the articles geared toward teenagers or a couples-only trip. Ride Max seems less time-consuming and like something you would use much closer to the dates of your trip (we're going in mid-July and the July calendar was not up as of yesterday when I checked). IMO, TGM is better if purchased at least 3 months before your trip because it is more time-consuming since you have to read through several articles to decide on your final itinerary. TGM also has some brief versions of suggested itineraries, but it's not customized like Ride Max where you click on your desired attractions, put in your ADR times (and any CS dining if you want, you can estimate the time for that), and also put in any breaks you may take from the parks. With Ride Max, you could also put in FP preferences (whether someone in your party will separate from the rest of the group to get a set of FPs). TGM will tell you the best time to visit a certain attraction (as close to opening as possible, before lunch, anytime, etc.), whereas Ride Max will tell you the exact time, your walking time between attractions, estimated wait times, literally down to the exact minute. Ride Max also gives you some "free time" which is good for something like a bathroom break or a snack break or just to stop and take it all in.

 

[jjsdad]

Ok so i've read the FAQ post on this thread, and I apologize in advance for not going through and reading over this whole thing. I'm sure this has been answered somewhere in here so maybe someone could just send me in that direction if you wouldn't mind?

I am trying to plan out my day at the MK. Is there a way for it to not make me take free time in the afternoon? Is there a way to eliminate the "Free time" that shows up mid afternoon? we have our own way of doing things, we will eat breakfast at the park that mornign before opening, and bring our own sandwiches for lunch on the go and report back to the hotel around 2-3 so I don't need this program to force me to take this long afternoon break.

 

[sandym718]

Ok so i've read the FAQ post on this thread, and I apologize in advance for not going through and reading over this whole thing. I'm sure this has been answered somewhere in here so maybe someone could just send me in that direction if you wouldn't mind?

I am trying to plan out my day at the MK. Is there a way for it to not make me take free time in the afternoon? Is there a way to eliminate the "Free time" that shows up mid afternoon? we have our own way of doing things, we will eat breakfast at the park that mornign before opening, and bring our own sandwiches for lunch on the go and report back to the hotel around 2-3 so I don't need this program to force me to take this long afternoon break.

Are you doing a plan just until you leave around 2-3 or an all day plan? If your plan is just going until you leave for the afternoon, you'll probably need to add more rides if it's giving you a long break. Or, if it's giving you a break and then just 1 ride before you leave (say at 1:30), but you'd rather do it earlier, shorten your "day" in the plan. Try shortening it til 1 PM and see if you can get everything in and if doesn't change the wait times significantly. Then you can always shop, grab a snack or do whatever before you're actually ready to leave, or hop on something impromptu that doesn't have much of a wait. It may be due to Fast Pass return times that it's "forcing the break", though, and in that case you may need to rework the plan a bit.