Legal

Privacy Policy

Effective August 31, 2026

RateCoaster helps travelers compare Universal hotel, admission, Express Pass, and attraction wait-time information. This policy explains what personal information we collect, why we use it, and the choices available to you.

Information we collect

Information you provide

• Your email address when you create an account or request a sign-in link.
• Trip dates, watched hotels, rate preferences, and alert settings you choose to save.
• Messages you send when contacting RateCoaster for support or a privacy request.

Google sign-in information

If you choose to sign in with Google, we receive the basic identity information you authorize Google to share. This may include your name, email address, email-verification status, and a stable Google account identifier.

RateCoaster uses this information only to create or locate your account, verify your identity, prevent duplicate accounts, and keep you signed in. We do not request or access your Google contacts, Drive files, calendar, messages, photos, or other unrelated Google account data.

Information collected automatically

When you use the site, our servers may receive standard technical information such as your IP address, browser type, device type, requested pages, timestamps, referring page, and security or error logs. We also use an essential session cookie to keep signed-in users authenticated.

Advertising and cookies

RateCoaster may use Google AdSense to display clearly labeled advertising on public content pages. When advertising is enabled, Google and its advertising partners may use cookies, device identifiers, IP addresses, page activity, and similar technologies to deliver, measure, limit, and report ads. Depending on your location and choices, ads may be personalized or non-personalized.

Where required, RateCoaster will present a consent or privacy-choice message before using advertising technologies. You can use that message to manage consent, opt out of certain targeted advertising, or exercise applicable state privacy choices. Browser controls can also delete or block cookies, although doing so may affect some site features.

Learn more about how Google uses information from sites that use its services at Google's partner-sites privacy page.

Affiliate links

Some booking links are affiliate links. When you use one, RateCoaster records the merchant, the page the click came from, a product or link identifier, and the time of the click. We do not attach your account, IP address, or browser fingerprint to that click record. The affiliate network receives the link identifier so commissions can be attributed, and its own privacy policy applies after you leave RateCoaster.

RateCoaster uses Travelpayouts Drive on public content pages. Drive may analyze page content and aggregated link interactions, convert eligible travel links into affiliate links, and add or optimize travel-booking tools. It is not loaded on account, administration, authentication, signup, or legal pages. Travelpayouts states that its Content Analytics does not collect IP addresses or user-identifiable information. See the Travelpayouts privacy policy for details.

How we use information

• Provide accounts, saved trips, watchlists, and requested alerts.
• Authenticate users and protect accounts from fraud, abuse, and unauthorized access.
• Operate, troubleshoot, secure, and improve RateCoaster.
• Fund the free service through advertising and measure advertising performance.
• Send transactional messages, such as sign-in links and alerts you requested.
• Comply with legal obligations and enforce our terms.

How we share information

We do not sell or rent personal information or Google user data. We may share the minimum information necessary with service providers that help us host the site, operate the database, deliver email, monitor reliability, provide authentication, or serve and measure advertising. These providers may process information only to perform services for RateCoaster and under appropriate confidentiality and security obligations.

We may also disclose information when reasonably necessary to comply with law, protect users or the public, investigate abuse, enforce our agreements, or complete a merger, acquisition, or transfer of the service subject to appropriate notice and protections.

Google user data

RateCoaster's use and transfer of information received from Google APIs will adhere to the Google API Services User Data Policy, including its Limited Use requirements. Google identity data is used only for account authentication, security, and user-requested RateCoaster features.

Data retention

Account information and saved preferences are retained while your account remains active and as reasonably necessary to provide the service, resolve disputes, protect the service, and meet legal obligations. Authentication sessions expire, and security logs may be kept for a limited period appropriate to their purpose. We delete or de-identify information when it is no longer reasonably needed, subject to backups and legal requirements.

Your choices and deletion requests

You may stop alerts, sign out, or revoke Google access through your Google Account controls. You may request access to, correction of, or deletion of your RateCoaster account and associated personal information by emailing thrills@ratecoaster.net. We may need to verify your identity before completing a request. Revoking provider access does not itself delete your RateCoaster account, so contact us if you also want the account deleted.

Security

We use reasonable administrative, technical, and organizational safeguards designed to protect personal information. No internet service can guarantee absolute security, so please contact us if you believe your account or information has been compromised.

Children's privacy

RateCoaster is intended for trip planners and is not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. Contact us if you believe a child has provided personal information so we can investigate and delete it when appropriate.

Third-party websites

RateCoaster links to official booking sites and other third-party services. Their privacy practices are governed by their own policies, and this policy does not apply after you leave RateCoaster.

Changes to this policy

We may update this policy as RateCoaster changes. The effective date above will be revised when material updates are published. If a change materially affects how we use personal information, we will provide additional notice when appropriate.

Contact

Questions or privacy requests may be sent to thrills@ratecoaster.net.