Scheduling with Ridemax - Help, please

[milan15]

So the days are rapidly passing by for my DW's and mine 4 year anniversary at DLR. We convinced ourselves that we are much more serious this year (we'll see how that goes over when we get there) and decided to purchase ridemax.

It's been awesome to play around with, but we're having some trouble figuring out what to focus on for each day we are there.

Here is our schedule and where we're having issues:
Sun - 7/15
- Plane lands LGB 12:45p
- Get to hotel 2p
- Head to parks 3p
- 7pm Dinner reservations @ Naples

Mon - 7/16
- APEE DL 6:30a
- Focus on DL with Ridemax (already have a great schedule figured out)
- 12p Lunch reservations @ Cafe Orleans
- 7p Dinner reservations @ Big Thunder BBQ

Tue - 7/17
- APEE DCA 6:30a
- Focus on DCA with Ridemax (great schedule here, too)
- 12p Lunch reservations @ Carnation Cafe
- 7:10p Dinner reservations @ Carthay Circle
- 10:15p WOC (get in line around 9:30-10)

Wed - 7/18
- 7p Dinner reservations @ Goofy's Kitchen

Thur - 7/19
- 7p Dinner reservations @ Blue Bayou

Fri - 7/20
- 5p Leave for LGB

So what would you suggest we focus on with ridemax for Wed-Fri?

What day(s) should we try to do shows?

We really want to hit F! this year, when would you recommend we do that?

What should we do for the day's we don't have reservations in terms of food?

Any other advice you possibly have

Thanks for your help in advance

6 DAYS AWAY!!!

 

[ArchOwl]

Sounds like fun! For Wednesday and Thursday, I would probably plug in some of my favorite rides into Ridemax and see when I should be collecting FPs and/or riding them. I would keep those days more flexible and allow for more "dilly-dallying".

DL/DCA have some nice counter service options. A few favorites of mine at DL are Plaza Inn for the fried chicken dinner (can easily serve two people), the Hungry Bear for either the fried green tomato sandwich or turkey sandwich, soup in a bread bowl from Harbor Galley or Royal Verandah, and of course a Dole Whip!

At DCA, you will be one step ahead of me, because I haven't been to Cars Land yet, but there are lots of new options there including the Cozy Cones and Flo's V8. There are also new spots on BVS that look good! I also enjoy the Boardwalk Pizza and Pasta and the Mediterranean Grill. It is counter service, but they have real silverware and real plates and lots of shaded seating in a pretty setting. I also enjoy the Pacific Wharf Cafe for salads and soups.

You could easily do F! on Thursday. I would do the second show so you don't have to wait as long for a good spot. Or perhaps think about the dessert option, it would be a nice way to see Fantasmic.

I would recommend you definitely check out Aladdin and perhaps some of the parades and other live entertainment. It sounds like DCA is really stepping it up with the entertainment. Perhaps focus on things like this on Wednesday and Thursday along with your favorite rides. Have fun!

 

[kayleigh83]

Hey there! First of all, have fun on your trip! SO soon!!

When I made my plans on RideMax, the first thing I did was decide on meals we needed to do, and then on shows. I tried to do about one show a day (we'll be in the parks for 5 days) and then worked them around where I wanted to be.

So for example, we're in the parks Mon July 22-Fri July 27, and here's our rough schedule:

Mon: All day in DL, seeing the fireworks at 9:30 pm.

Tues: Morning in DCA, late morning/early afternoon in DL, early evening in DCA, evening/night in DL. We plan to try and catch the neon sign lighting in Carsland at around 8pm (if you haven't heard about this, they light the signs in CL just like in the movie with that song and everything! They do it just after sundown, check this website to find out sunset times!) and see Fantasmic! at 10:30pm. I've heard if you don't have any little ones with you who might be sleeping (for anniversary I'm assuming no?) it's best to catch the late show - less crowded, and you don't need to be there as early to grab a good seat, just get there around 10 when the crowd from the last show is leaving the area and move in and grab a good spot!

Wed: Morning in DCA, late morning/midday at DL, evening at DCA. This day is mostly DCA because we want to see the Pixar Play Parade at 5 and WOC at 9 pm.

Thurs: Morning at DL, early evening at DCA, evening and night at DL. Seeing Mickey's Soundsational Parade at 6:30 pm.

Fri: Morning at DCA, afternoon and night are not scheduled but probably going to be mostly in DL. We'll be seeing the Aladdin show at 11:55am and the Magic, the Memories and You at 8:45pm.

I used the entertainment schedule on Disneyland's website to figure out all the shows I wanted to see, and then tried to spread them out fairly evenly. Working around those shows and the meals I had reserved, I was able to figure out which parks I should be in when! I also have all my RideMax plans printed out (no smartphone for me!) and on the top of each page I have what that days entertainment is for quick reference when I'm there.

Enjoy your planning!

 

[milan15]

we keep bouncing between doing F! on Monday night or pushing it back to Thursday night.

Monday night would be great in that it's our first full day at the park. Our dinner is in disneyland and that day we are focusing largely on DLwith ridemax. The cons of Monday, though, are that we have to get up early the following morning for our APEE in DCA.

Thursday is great because we are doing Blue Bayou for dinner, so we would be right there for the show (probably the second, but still close by). Though, it's later in our trip, so we might just be exhausted by that point.

Is there a noticeable difference in crowd sizes between the two days? Maybe that's what we use to make the decision?

 

[ArchOwl]

we keep bouncing between doing F! on Monday night or pushing it back to Thursday night.

Monday night would be great in that it's our first full day at the park. Our dinner is in disneyland and that day we are focusing largely on DLwith ridemax. The cons of Monday, though, are that we have to get up early the following morning for our APEE in DCA.

Thursday is great because we are doing Blue Bayou for dinner, so we would be right there for the show (probably the second, but still close by). Though, it's later in our trip, so we might just be exhausted by that point.

Is there a noticeable difference in crowd sizes between the two days? Maybe that's what we use to make the decision?

Monday sounds like a busy day already. I would be inclined to plan on Thursday and enjoy an extended dinner at BB. I don't think you will notice a huge difference in crowds between Monday and Thursday during summer.

 

[milan15]

Monday sounds like a busy day already. I would be inclined to plan on Thursday and enjoy an extended dinner at BB. I don't think you will notice a huge difference in crowds between Monday and Thursday during summer.

Thanks, that's what we are planning on doing.

Any other suggestions/tips on ridemax in general?
anyone?