Two Wave Phones Per Cabin, Right?

[ChicosWife]

Has anyone let their 10ish year old child keep one of the wave phones, while they are in one of the kids' clubs, so they can call you, if they need to?

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Two is standard, it's four in concierge, you can rent extras. Kids do use them, the App on smart phones is better.

 

[afyoung]

Has anyone let their 10ish year old child keep one of the wave phones, while they are in one of the kids' clubs, so they can call you, if they need to?

The kids club will call you on the wave phones- in fact they tell you that you "must" have one with you at all times when you drop your kids there.

 

[squirk]

If you (the parent) are going to be using the DCL app (or any other app) on your phone anyway, why carry around a second phone (i.e., the wave phone) unnecessarily? If your 10-y.o. doesn't have a phone (mine doesn't), you can always get a $30 pay-as-you-go crappity-crap Android phone just for the cruise and communicate with your child via the app's texting feature.

True, you can't place a voice call to your child, but texting seems just as efficient, and you won't have to worry about the $250 fee if the wave phone is lost or broken.

We did this on our last cruise (locked the phone down so she couldn't do much else with it) and we found it was a far superior solution to the wave phones.

 

[birdmom]

I was wondering about this but I also hear of people getting huge cell phone bills because their phone decided to use a roaming feature because it was left on. Can you leave your phone in airplane mode and the app still work?

 

[squirk]

I was wondering about this but I also hear of people getting huge cell phone bills because their phone decided to use a roaming feature because it was left on. Can you leave your phone in airplane mode and the app still work?

Yes. Just turn off cellular and bluetooth, but leave the wifi on. And if it's a pay-as-you-go phone, just don't activate it. You can also remove the SIM so that it's impossible for the kid to activate cellular in any way.

 

[ChicosWife]

Yes. Just leave the wifi on. And if it's a pay-as-you-go phone, just don't activate it. You can also remove the SIM so that it's impossible for the kid to activate cellular in any way.

Good idea!

 

[ChicosWife]

We have old phones (after we upgraded) that have no actual service, but can connect to wi-fi! Or we can just give DS one of the wave phones. Good to have options!

 

[squirk]

Yes, but again, if he loses/breaks one of the old phones, who cares? If he loses/breaks a wave phone = $250.

 

[ChicosWife]

Yes, but again, if he loses/breaks one of the old phones, who cares? If he loses/breaks a wave phone = $250.

VERY good point!!!!

 

[bumbershoot]

Any device that gets wifi should work with the app. Ds has a SIM-free phone (I call it a fauxn) that we downloaded the app to. He takes that to the Lab with him and texts us through the app when he's done. (We haven't yet been comfy with him signing himself out)

It's so much easier than relying on those wave phones. Yea the counsellors will send a message if the kid tells them they are ready to go but wow I hate those things. I'd rather just use the navigator app.

Airline mode then turn wifi on. It won't connect to the paid wifi for the app, and if someone tries to "go" elsewhere than the app it won't automatically just change to paid wifi.

 

[ChicosWife]

Any device that gets wifi should work with the app. Ds has a SIM-free phone (I call it a fauxn) that we downloaded the app to. He takes that to the Lab with him and texts us through the app when he's done. (We haven't yet been comfy with him signing himself out)

It's so much easier than relying on those wave phones. Yea the counsellors will send a message if the kid tells them they are ready to go but wow I hate those things. I'd rather just use the navigator app.

Airline mode then turn wifi on. It won't connect to the paid wifi for the app, and if someone tries to "go" elsewhere than the app it won't automatically just change to paid wifi.

Our old phones are Windows Phones and the Navigator App is not yet available for Windows phones, so Wave Phone it is, I guess.

 

[squirk]

LG Optimus Exceed 2 (Verizon Prepaid) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00K2XX4OY/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_hozawbK630D21

 

[afyoung]

LG Optimus Exceed 2 (Verizon Prepaid) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00K2XX4OY/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_hozawbK630D21

I am not in any way advanced in the ways of technology, so bear with me. I can get this phone, not activate it, not pay for any service, but still use it to connect to wifi. Then I can download the app (using said wifi) and my kids can text me within the app while on the ship. They are "cool" because they are carrying cell phones, I don't have to worry about the wave phone, and we are all good. Can it really be this simple?

 

[squirk]

I am not in any way advanced in the ways of technology, so bear with me. I can get this phone, not activate it, not pay for any service, but still use it to connect to wifi. Then I can download the app (using said wifi) and my kids can text me within the app while on the ship. They are "cool" because they are carrying cell phones, I don't have to worry about the wave phone, and we are all good. Can it really be this simple?

Yes, so long as the phone can run Android 4.0.3 (KitKat) or higher, you should have no problem. I can't guarantee it, of course, but if you buy the phone and for some crazy reason it can't install the app, Amazon is pretty generous with its return policy. But again, I can't see how it wouldn't work with the phone listed above.

Bear in mind, it's a crap phone and will compare unfavorably in the "cool" department if other kids are toting current-gen iPhones or Galaxy phones, but it should be good enough for our stated purpose.

 

[afyoung]

Yes, so long as the phone can run Android 4.0.3 (KitKat) or higher, you should have no problem. I can't guarantee it, of course, but if you buy the phone and for some crazy reason it can't install the app, Amazon is pretty generous with its return policy. But again, I can't see how it wouldn't work with the phone listed above.

Bear in mind, it's a crap phone and will compare unfavorably in the "cool" department if other kids are toting current-gen iPhones or Galaxy phones, but it should be good enough for our stated purpose.

You lost me with the KitKat (isn't that a candy bar?). But if that particular phone you shared qualifies, then I am good. "Cool" is relative. They are my relatives, therefore they are cool . They currently don't own phones, none are in their immediate futures (8 & 9), so this would be super lucky for them to have the opportunity on the ship. I think we may actually have an old phone around somewhere that could work though.

 

[squirk]

You lost me with the KitKat (isn't that a candy bar?). But if that particular phone you shared qualifies, then I am good. "Cool" is relative. They are my relatives, therefore they are cool . They currently don't own phones, none are in their immediate futures (8 & 9), so this would be super lucky for them to have the opportunity on the ship. I think we may actually have an old phone around somewhere that could work though.

KitKat is the version of the Android software that the phone runs on. Like your PC runs on Windows 10 or your iPad runs on iOS 9.

Google refers to the different versions of its Android operating systems using candy and dessert names that go alphabetically. After KitKat ("K") there was Lollipop ("L") and the next one is Marshmallow ("M").

Look for an Android Phone running Kitkat, Lollipop or Marshmallow and you should be fine. I think the one I cited fits the bill, and for $20, I think it's well worth it to avoid those antiquated wave phones.

 

[afyoung]

KitKat is the version of the Android software that the phone runs on. Like your PC runs on Windows 10 or your iPad runs on iOS 9.

Google refers to the different versions of its Android operating systems using candy and dessert names that go alphabetically. After KitKat ("K") there was Lollipop ("L") and the next one is Marshmallow ("M").

Look for an Android Phone running Kitkat, Lollipop or Marshmallow and you should be fine. I think the one I cited fits the bill, and for $20, I think it's well worth it to avoid those antiquated wave phones.

Thanks for your help and explanations. I am not a fan of the wave phone, especially if I am carrying my own cell for taking pics and the app use anyway. It seems crazy to lug a bunch of stuff around while I am on vacation. And that lost wave phone charge...forget it. That's craziness.

 

[squirk]

Thanks for your help and explanations. I am not a fan of the wave phone, especially if I am carrying my own cell for taking pics and the app use anyway.

Exactly. And you're quite welcome.

 

[bumbershoot]

Our old phones are Windows Phones and the Navigator App is not yet available for Windows phones, so Wave Phone it is, I guess.

Drat.