Any tips re: internet connection & maximizing iphone battery while in the parks?

[sherezada]

1) What things can we do to maximize iphone battery while in the park? Features to turn off, etc? We don't plan to use them to take pictures but will like to use the MDE app and make FP+ selections during the day (and you all know they could be long days)

2) How's Disney's wifi?I've heard some negative reports regarding it being slow/not working. Can I just use my phone's data plan, or will I not get signal in there or something?

 

[IrishNYC]

I would turn off locations on all apps except MDE while there, set your email so it doesn't update until you open it, etc. (You can't make FP+ selections from your phone, only change what you have already, including 4th, 5th, etc.)

Wifi is supposedly getting (or already got very recently) upgraded.

We're bringing a Jackery Giant phone charger, just in case.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I usually shut off my data and wifi. Turn in wifi when needed. If that is inadequate, I will pop data on.

Checking you settings to see what APs are always trying to connect to the internet and shutting down their access helps.

I have my husband's old phone. His angry birds--all gazillion versions--were "connected".

Wifi wasn't working too well in EPCOT on Sunday afternoon.

Oh--and MDE sucks a lot of power. I take pictures of our plans so that I can just look in my pictures rather than need to use wifi or data.

I also lower the brightness of my screen.

 

[CampbellzSoup]

My iPhone 6 lasts me at least 7 hours with features turned off - agreed with anyone else. Turn the brightness down, turn off location and wifi and you should get the most out of your battery.

Bring a camera and only use the phone when needed - easiest way.

 

[Ambear]

Put your phone in airplane mode while not using WiFi.

I just bought a portable battery, it's small and will fit in my purse so I'm hoping that helps me out with battery drain.

 

[xlxo]

Another vote for an external battery. Don't be a wall hugger.

When choosing an external battery...

• small portable mah batteries may only be good to charge your phone partially
• I prefer 6000mah or larger batteries to charge the phone multiple times and perhaps a tablet
• look for additional USB ports to charge more than one device at the same time

 

[Jfsag123]

Put your phone in airplane mode while not using WiFi.

I just bought a portable battery, it's small and will fit in my purse so I'm hoping that helps me out with battery drain.

This. Airplane mode will be your friend. Camera and other phone features will still work. When you need to use MDX, just turn off airplane mode. I brought an external battery to use, but never ended up needing it.

 

[lilclerk]

Oh--and MDE sucks a lot of power. I take pictures of our plans so that I can just look in my pictures rather than need to use wifi or data.

Last year, I would take a screenshot of the My Plans section for the day that showed our FP+ & dining reservations, then made the screenshot my lock screen background. That way I would just need to turn the screen on for a second to see what we were doing, rather than unlocking the phone, opening apps, etc.

I know on Androids, you can also turn on Airplane mode, then turn WiFi back on. It just turns WiFi back on, so your data will still be off.

 

[AngiTN]

1) What things can we do to maximize iphone battery while in the park? Features to turn off, etc? We don't plan to use them to take pictures but will like to use the MDE app and make FP+ selections during the day (and you all know they could be long days)

2) How's Disney's wifi?I've heard some negative reports regarding it being slow/not working. Can I just use my phone's data plan, or will I not get signal in there or something?

1. Put it in Airplane mode until you actually need to access something on the WiFi or your Data.

2. Still slow/spotty. I just use my data.

 

[ArwenMarie]

I bring a portable battery pack. It's very handy to have.

This is the one I bought...Works pretty well so far

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00NB8Q7Z0/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[JanaDee]

Put your phone in airplane mode while not using WiFi.

I just bought a portable battery, it's small and will fit in my purse so I'm hoping that helps me out with battery drain.

A note for those that may not realize this, but putting your phone in airplane mode will not allow any calls or texts to come through. It may not be a practical suggestion for everyone if you need to be reachable.

 

[Ambear]

A note for those that may not realize this, but putting your phone in airplane mode will not allow any calls or texts to come through. It may not be a practical suggestion for everyone if you need to be reachable.

Very true!

The way I use it is I put my phone in airplane mode during times I can't respond to calls or texts anyway, like on a ride or during a show or dinner or something. Then at least during those times its not expending more energy than necessary. Any texts/calls will be queued and received when I turn data back on. On an iPhone it's as easy as swiping up and hitting the airplane icon so I like it better than going through the phone settings.

 

[maxiesmom]

Bring along a portable battery charger. Most are very small and portable. I now have 2--one to use in the parks and one to have charging in the room.

 

[JanaDee]

Very true!

The way I use it is I put my phone in airplane mode during times I can't respond to calls or texts anyway, like on a ride or during a show or dinner or something. Then at least during those times its not expending more energy than necessary. Any texts/calls will be queued and received when I turn data back on. On an iPhone it's as easy as swiping up and hitting the airplane icon so I like it better than going through the phone settings.

I just turn off my ringer. Easier.

 

[kadrachb]

When I had an iphone (this was before I went to disney last year, and my iphone battery was pretty much shot at that time, but I still used it during disney with my S5) I had a portable battery that I carried with me in my back so the phone could charge when I needed it to. One of the ones I have has two ports, and the one my boyfriend has, has four. So everyone can use it, and mine now being a year old (if I only use it during the day when I really need it) tends to last me 3 or 4 days before I need to recharge it. You can also try turning wifi off and only turning it on when you need it, because my iphone's battery drained a lot if it was switching between data and wifi constantly.

 

[North of Mouse]

1) What things can we do to maximize iphone battery while in the park? Features to turn off, etc? We don't plan to use them to take pictures but will like to use the MDE app and make FP+ selections during the day (and you all know they could be long days)

2) How's Disney's wifi?I've heard some negative reports regarding it being slow/not working. Can I just use my phone's data plan, or will I not get signal in there or something?

We recently spent two weeks at Disney, and not once did we need to use our portable phone charger. We would check our MDE app occasionally, update FP's, make ADR's, but never ran our batteries down.

The park WiFi was great while we were there this trip - they have certainly improved it - never had any problems.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

A note for those that may not realize this, but putting your phone in airplane mode will not allow any calls or texts to come through. It may not be a practical suggestion for everyone if you need to be reachable.

This is why I shut off data and wifi. Text and phone capabilities are needed when our group splits which will happen often for the foreseeable future.

 

[ktlm]

In 2013, the park wifi was horrible and the app was virtually unusable on it. In fall 2014, we noticed that the wifi still had issues, but it was significantly better than the year before. If you start getting glitches, errors, or lock ups on MDE, turn your wifi completely off on your phone, and that tends to help. The app will still glitch, but it will be better.

 

[staceyeileen]

I second the recommendation to bring a portable battery and not have to worry about running low on battery. I use a Jackery bar.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

When we are together as a group I will keep my phone on airplane mode.

We do midday breaks so I'll charge my phone then.

I have the iphone 6 and my phone has really good battery life.