American "pay as you go" phones????

[the_green_machine]

Hi everyone, I live in a rural Canadian town with very limited cell phone coverage. I only have a "pay as you" go phone as it doesnt make sense to put money into a plan that I cant use. That said I have found out that my phone will not work in the U.S. over my Jan. 20th to 27th WDW trip. We are staying at Pop Century and more than likely will not be spending much/any time outside of the resorts. Is there anywhere in the airport/resort where I can pick up a "pay as you go" phone for use over my holiday?

 

[TagsMissy]

I know there's an I-Wireless somewhere in the airport, can't remember where though.

Just go to the MCO website, there's a list of stores you can get and a map as to where they are.

 

[the_green_machine]

I know there's an I-Wireless somewhere in the airport, can't remember where though.

Just go to the MCO website, there's a list of stores you can get and a map as to where they are.

Thanks a lot, I just emailed the company for info.

 

[Gigi22]

OP, could you please post the information here? Inquiring minds want to know! Thanks

 

[dancin Disney style]

You can order one online and have it shipped to the resort. Which is most likely the easiest way to do it.

Check out....
Tracfone
Net10
Virgin Mobile USA
Radio Shack
Target
Walmart

 

[Kazzy1548]

A stupid question from a non-tech girl. Can you just buy a minute card from the states and add it to you existing cell phone???

 

[the_green_machine]

OP, could you please post the information here? Inquiring minds want to know! Thanks

Well, I-Wireless is located near gates 100-129 at MCO. I have emailed them and when I recieve a reply I'll post same.

You can order one online and have it shipped to the resort. Which is most likely the easiest way to do it.

Check out....
Tracfone
Net10
Virgin Mobile USA
Radio Shack
Target
Walmart

I just checked out www.radioshack.com and I think that I'm just going to contact them and see if I can have it shipped to Pop Century. I'll post once I know more. I guess I would just order off the site and give Pop Century's address for shipping????

 

[glendalais]

A stupid question from a non-tech girl. Can you just buy a minute card from the states and add it to you existing cell phone???

Not really. None of the Canadian mobile carriers operate cross-border. You may be able to add minutes in Canada and use them in the US. However, you should check with your mobile provider before doing so, as special (read: more expensive) rates may apply.

If you have a GSM phone (i.e. one that uses the little SIM Card you insert in the back), you may be able to purchase another SIM Card from a US Carrier such as AT&T or T-Mobile and purchase minutes through them.

 

[scherbee]

Stop and pick up a pay as you go cell at Wal Mart when you get to orlando. They are cheep think mine was $30. Only thing is you will need to know a US Zip code to get a phone number.

 

[Gigi22]

I purchased a $20 Net10 in August. I got a couple of cards to add minutes, but am now purchasing minutes using their automated phone system. You register your credit card, and buy minutes as needed. You do have to supply a U.S. Zip code--I made one up.

 

[Stan Solo]

Hess Mart is just a short walk from DTD and they sell the pay as you go TrackPhones and TrackPhone cards. The phones sell for $20-$30. You cannot buy phone cards anywhere at the Orlando airport believe me I looked.

The good: with TrackPhones you can call from the US to Canada and only get charged for local minutes. You can by cards and load them up without the use of a PC. Check the web before you go their are web sights that post codes you can use to add bonus minutes to your phone.

The bad:do not use your TrackPhone in Canada! I would suggest taking the sim card and the battery out before entering Canada.

I bought two of them in the US before our trip. I took them back home to charge up and try out. When I turned them on I got a message that my sim card was invalid or something like that. I never did get them to work in the US or Canada but have been told they work quite well in Disney World.

Hess Mart is a must do for us. We load up on snacks, water, fruit, milk, and what ever catches our eye. We just bring a couple of reusable cloth bags with us.

 

[webworm]

I have an unlocked phone which you can get done on the cheap through Ebay. I bought the AT&T Samsung A107 at RadioShack for $10.00 so I could stick the Sim card into my unlocked phone. I then bought $15 airtime and elected the $2.00/day unlimted long distance within the US & unlimited text within the US & unlimited text to Canada as well. This worked perfectly for the week in the US. Note $2.00/day** ONLY on days used. The $15 is good for 30 days.
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=10933232
http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-ph...k=1-005ZH4-0-1&WT.svl=title&_requestid=101520

 

[newdeal]

I got a pay as you go from bestbuy. It cost $10 and uses AT&T. They have a nice thing where everyday you use it it costs $2 but you get unlimited texts and calls that day. Since the lowest card value is $15 it works perfectly for a 7 day vacation. I am pretty sure it even includes calls and texts to Canada

 

[DisneyRookie2007]

I have 2 Tracfones that I purchased on our recent trip to Bangor. We'll be attempting to use them for our upcoming trip in March. They were only $9.99 each so not a huge investment.

When I go on-line to register the phones, it asks me for my address - but doesn't give me any Canadian options - only USA.

Has anyone had the same experience - did you just make up an address?

 

[DisneyRookie2007]

I bought two of them in the US before our trip. I took them back home to charge up and try out. When I turned them on I got a message that my sim card was invalid or something like that. I never did get them to work in the US or Canada but have been told they work quite well in Disney World.

Here's a quote from Tracfone, "When your TracFone is turned on you may receive the message "SIM card registration failed", "Unregistered SIM", or "No Service" because your phone has not yet been Activated. Please disregard this message, it will disappear once your phone is Active.

 

[dancin Disney style]

I have 2 Tracfones that I purchased on our recent trip to Bangor. We'll be attempting to use them for our upcoming trip in March. They were only $9.99 each so not a huge investment.

When I go on-line to register the phones, it asks me for my address - but doesn't give me any Canadian options - only USA.

Has anyone had the same experience - did you just make up an address?

I put in my real street address and city then Florida and a FL zipcode. My phone works just fine while I'm in the US.

I found that I could buy minutes online with my Amex but my other Canadian CC's don't work.

 

[dancin Disney style]

I just checked out www.radioshack.com and I think that I'm just going to contact them and see if I can have it shipped to Pop Century. I'll post once I know more. I guess I would just order off the site and give Pop Century's address for shipping????

When ordering online you put in your first and last name in the first name box. In the second box you insert, guest arriving XX/XX/12. Then the resort name in the first address box or in the 'company' box. The address in the following boxes.

Just about every time I stay in the US I get something shippped to my hotel. I call the hotel and advise them that a package is coming for me from FedEx or who ever. I try to have the package arrive the day of my arrival or a day before.

 

[redrosesix]

Hi everyone, I live in a rural Canadian town with very limited cell phone coverage. I only have a "pay as you" go phone as it doesnt make sense to put money into a plan that I cant use. That said I have found out that my phone will not work in the U.S. over my Jan. 20th to 27th WDW trip. We are staying at Pop Century and more than likely will not be spending much/any time outside of the resorts. Is there anywhere in the airport/resort where I can pick up a "pay as you go" phone for use over my holiday?

we have great plans for our phones in Canada, but when we're in the US we use phones we bought through Virgin Mobile US a few years ago. So much cheaper than roaming charges. We re-activate them for each trip on the day that we arrive (with Virgin you can do this online or over the phone -- and you can top them up with cards, a cc or with paypal online). We originally bought them for 9.99 each, shipping included so I'd say we've gotten ours moneys worth.

They actually have some for 14.99 available online now -- the cheapest models change from time to time, and sometimes they include airtime.

I have 2 Tracfones that I purchased on our recent trip to Bangor. We'll be attempting to use them for our upcoming trip in March. They were only $9.99 each so not a huge investment.

When I go on-line to register the phones, it asks me for my address - but doesn't give me any Canadian options - only USA.

Has anyone had the same experience - did you just make up an address?

We use the address of the place we're staying at when we activate them -- it is our address for the time that we're using the phones.

When ordering online you put in your first and last name in the first name box. In the second box you insert, guest arriving XX/XX/12. Then the resort name in the first address box or in the 'company' box. The address in the following boxes.

Just about every time I stay in the US I get something shippped to my hotel. I call the hotel and advise them that a package is coming for me from FedEx or who ever. I try to have the package arrive the day of my arrival or a day before.

This is good advice -- we also always have packages. Usually it's the dance shoes with free shipping to the US only. DD does actually need them when she's there, but I just love saving money

 

[the_green_machine]

I know there's an I-Wireless somewhere in the airport, can't remember where though.

Just go to the MCO website, there's a list of stores you can get and a map as to where they are.

OP, could you please post the information here? Inquiring minds want to know! Thanks

This is the response from I-Wireless that I recieved this morning....

Jeff,

Thank you for your e-mail. Our phones are only available at Kroger family stores. We have no kiosks at airports. Based on your timeframe, ordering a phone online is probably not a good option, because it can take 7-10 days. If we can be of any further assistance, please let us know.

Thank you for using i-wireless!

So, I guess the airport option is out.

 

[the_green_machine]

When ordering online you put in your first and last name in the first name box. In the second box you insert, guest arriving XX/XX/12. Then the resort name in the first address box or in the 'company' box. The address in the following boxes.

Just about every time I stay in the US I get something shippped to my hotel. I call the hotel and advise them that a package is coming for me from FedEx or who ever. I try to have the package arrive the day of my arrival or a day before.

I just called Radio Shack Customer service and they indicated that they cannot process a Canadian payment/Billing address???? Thats odd.