Advise on a prepaid cell phone- no contract

[cyndik1111]

My sister's family and my family are going to WDW in October.

5 kids range in age from 8-13...none of them have their own cell phone

Was thinking of getting a cheap no-contract cell phone- like tracfone- for the kids to share. Just in case we get separated, or they go on a ride while we wait outside for them etc.

Years ago we used walkie talkies at WDW....but I remember the signal was terrible- cause everyone else was using them. It was hard to find a clear channel. I thought a phone might be better (texting, camera etc)

Wondering what your thoughts are on this? Anyone ever do this? Which plan is the best?

And we already looked into putting an extra line onto our plans (sprint)- much more money....need a 2 year contract to get the phone cheaply, have to pay $10 a month for the extra line, plus another $10/month for the "smartphone" plan- even though the extra phone won't be a smart phone.

It just seems like the no contract phone would be cheaper.

Anybody have a better idea?

 

[NYCDiane]

I would actually get a phone for each kid --- what if they get separated/lost from each other? What if kid A has the phone and kid C wanders off? There is no way, no how I would have my kid at WDW (or any venue/event) without her own phone.

Tracfone, from what I've heard, has the most reasonable rates. Not sure about their reception/service, but a lot of people seem to use them.

 

[cyndik1111]

Oh my, a phone for each? Interesting thought. But that would get expensive...
for 5 kids.
The phones are like $20 each plus the minutes cards.

Although, the kids would all LOVE to have their own phone. Not sure they are all responsible enough for a phone. (don't remember to charge it, break it, misplace it, etc)

They really won't be out of our site much... there will be 4 adults. The kind of situation I was think was ....if they all wanted to ride Tower of Terror AGAIN, and we didn't feel like it, we could wait at the exit for them. They could have 1 phone to share just to call us and say...."we're done".

I'll have to talk to my DH about it. He is totally against any of them having a phone, but the 13 year old is VERY responsible... heck she's more mature than the adults.

 

[Mic]

I second the tracfone suggestion. They almost always have some deal on their website for $20-30 that includes the phone and 60 minutes. I was able to snag one for $10 once that had phone and minutes; not sure they still offer those deals. And I would not get a phone for each child, just the older ones that may go to a different section of the park without adults. I would assume that the 8-year-old will be with someone that has a phone, and there is a plan of action should the 8-year-old become separated from that person (like a particular place in each park to meet).

 

[cyndik1111]

I second the tracfone suggestion. They almost always have some deal on their website for $20-30 that includes the phone and 60 minutes. I was able to snag one for $10 once that had phone and minutes; not sure they still offer those deals. And I would not get a phone for each child, just the older ones that may go to a different section of the park without adults. I would assume that the 8-year-old will be with someone that has a phone, and there is a plan of action should the 8-year-old become separated from that person (like a particular place in each park to meet).

Oh, I'll have to check their website. i was just looking at them in Target and Walmart to get an idea of price. Maybe I can get a good deal. thanks!

 

[tinkmom2]

Tracfone has a family plan too where there is one main phone and the rest get minutes. I can't remember the distribution but I think the main phone gets 80 minutes and the rest get 50 minutes. The phones they sell on tracfone have double minutes. You'll have to take a look at it. I think the cheapest tracfone is $9.99.

 

[friend2Figment]

My daughter brought her Tracfone last time we were at WDW and her phone had better reception than ours did. You can get simple flip ones for $10 and you get some minutes. But we used our phones for the simple where are you now to meet back up and in a week we each used about 100 minutes.

We just recently upgraded her phone to one with a touch screen and the new one gets triple minutes.

 

[MinnieForMe]

My daughter brought her Tracfone last time we were at WDW and her phone had better reception than ours did. You can get simple flip ones for $10 and you get some minutes. But we used our phones for the simple where are you now to meet back up and in a week we each used about 100 minutes.

We just recently upgraded her phone to one with a touch screen and the new one gets triple minutes.

Is this the LG800? Does it work well? Is it easy to use? I only want it for calls not texting but I thought the touch screen would make everything easier.

 

[happily single]

Just remember, no matter which phone you choose, you will be in Florida (not your local area) so you will be charged roaming and long-distance. I also recomend getting one that you can text on, as the parks can be loud and difficult to hear a phone conversation.

 

[MinnieForMe]

Just remember, no matter which phone you choose, you will be in Florida (not your local area) so you will be charged roaming and long-distance. I also recomend getting one that you can text on, as the parks can be loud and difficult to hear a phone conversation.

I didn't realize roaming and long distance charges still existed! We used the Verizon network in WDW last year and there were no additional fees. So, does Net10 charge these? I'll have to go check it out.

 

[jshuff1]

actually sounds like a good idea over walkie talkies

 

[bjscheel]

When you are roaming, I think Tracfone uses twice the minutes it normally would. My DD13 and I use Tracfone and it is a good deal for us. They worked fine at WDW. Texting only takes .3 minutes each.

 

[Mic]

If the phone is to be used just for the trip, use the Lake Buena Vista zip code to get a Florida number to avoid roaming. Tracfone allows you to use the zip code where the phone will be primarily used.

 

[cyndik1111]

If the phone is to be used just for the trip, use the Lake Buena Vista zip code to get a Florida number to avoid roaming. Tracfone allows you to use the zip code where the phone will be primarily used.

interesting idea.
But what if we then want to use it back home in NY? Can we change the zip code and get a different phone number?

 

[HM]

I'd skip it. You are likely not to get separated.

If you do get separated, go the old fashioned route and set up a place in each park before you get there to meet up if it happens. Make sure everyone is aware of where it is and to go there and wait if they 'get lost'.

 

[WardFamily]

Have you looked at AT&T wireless GoPhones?

A Samsung A107 sells for $10 at Walmart. It's not much just a basic phone but does the job. If your not going to use it a lot I would go with the .10/minute .20/text plan. Put $20 on the account and for a total of $30 they would have 200 minutes of talk time.

 

[mrodgers]

Have you looked at AT&T wireless GoPhones?

A Samsung A107 sells for $10 at Walmart. It's not much just a basic phone but does the job. If your not going to use it a lot I would go with the .10/minute .20/text plan. Put $20 on the account and for a total of $30 they would have 200 minutes of talk time.

200 texts for $5 is $0.025/text. Sure beats $0.20/text by not going with a "plan".

 

[friend2Figment]

Is this the LG800? Does it work well? Is it easy to use? I only want it for calls not texting but I thought the touch screen would make everything easier.

Yes it is a LG 800 touch screen. So far she has not had any problems. It is pretty easy to use I read the manual so I would know how to use it but my daughter knew how to use it right away. The numbers are a lot larger as they are on the touch screen and the keys for texting are bigger also if you set the default to display it larger. You can get apps also. My daughter mostly uses it for texting but when she uses it for calling she hasn't had issues.

 

[scrapquitler]

They really won't be out of our site much... there will be 4 adults. The kind of situation I was think was ....if they all wanted to ride Tower of Terror AGAIN, and we didn't feel like it, we could wait at the exit for them. They could have 1 phone to share just to call us and say...."we're done".

.

Well if you have four adults, I'm going to go out on a limb and assume that more than one of those adults has a cellphone.

So why not just say "Okay, you guys ride TOT again. Here's my cellphone, call Dad's Cellphone when you are finished"???

 

[cyndik1111]

Well if you have four adults, I'm going to go out on a limb and assume that more than one of those adults has a cellphone.

So why not just say "Okay, you guys ride TOT again. Here's my cellphone, call Dad's Cellphone when you are finished"???

Oh, I thought of this! But unfortunately most of us need our phones for work related things, and the others are addicted to constantly texting anyone they ever met! I forgot what my sister's face looks like cause we only get to see the top of her head!

One of the reasons I wanted to get a phone is for the 13 year old to have a "trial" with the phone. She is such a great kid and my brother-in-law thinks she is too young for one, but I think she needs one and we want to buy her one. I would never get her one without parental permission, so this is a way to show her dad how great this thing could be. My sister is totally on board with her getting a phone.

Oh, and before everyone jumps on me about a 13 year old being too young for a phone, let me just say they have some extenuating circumstances that make a phone for her a good idea. I'll spare you the details.

I was even considering a Firefly phone for her. But I thought it might be too "uncool"