Anyone charge cell phone at TS resaurant?

[Simba's Mom]

Last fall, when I was eating at Tony's, the manager approached me and offerred to charge my cell phone while I ate. The only thing was I needed my own charging cord. He then put a small device on my table (I'll post a picture when I get home) and plugged it in. As I ate, he explained to me that this was a test and I was the very first "subject". Tony's was the first restuarant, even-but it was also being looked at for several other TSs in the MK. After about 30 minutes, he had to take the device and offer it to someone else, but before he left, he took note of how much increase in charge I'd gotten, my reactions, etc. I haven't heard anything since. Anyone else gotten such a charging offer?

 

[mom2cinderella]

I just read this at wdwmagic:

Later this week the Magic Kingdom will be testing mobile phone charging lockers for guests use.

The secure lockers will be located in Cosmic Ray's Starlight Cafe and the Tomorrowland Light and Power Company, and will be available for use free of charge.

To use the charger, guests will swipe a credit card, which acts as an ID for the locker. The chamber door opens, and inside are a number of charger cables. The phone gets hooked up, and the door closed. On completed charging, the door glows green. To open the chamber, the same credit is used again.

Charging station are already available in the Magic Kingdom, but they require the guest to remain in place as there is no method of leaving the phone unattended. The increased use of My Disney Experience and reliance on guests own smartphones as park of the park experience appears to be driving Disney to helping guests remain powered up.

I'd prefer the restaurant option though.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I just read this at wdwmagic:



I'd prefer the restaurant option though.

That's what got me thinking about it. Here's the picture of it. It was such a nice option, right there while I ate-

 

[DisneyFive]

It's a nice offer,

...however we just preferred to purchase an external backup battery that my wife kept in her purse. Worked awesome, and was just a little bigger than a thing of lipstick. Plenty to fully charge her iPhone 5 from almost dead to fully charged.

With the new FP+ and MDE apps, it is (unfortunatly) more and more necessary to have a smart device in the parks allowing you to make FP+/MDE changes as necessary.

My guess is that many park guests are running out of battery more often now that these changes have been implemented, and this is a way to help with all the frustrated guests who are running out of battery.

Dan

 

[Andyman33]

i just bought one like that ... 40 bucks and will charge my phone 10 times without needing to be recharged itself

 

[elaine amj]

LOVE it.

One trip I forgot to charge my phone when I was back in my room for a break. I grabbed my cord with me planning to charge it at MK's Guest Services. First, we had dinner at 1900 park Fare. Coincidentally, we were seated at a table right next to an outlet! I had planned on asking our waiter if we could charge my phone nearby so this was incredible.

So much more convenient to get a quick charge while I was in one spot. Doing it at Guest Services would have been a hassle as I would have to go back to pick it up again (and I like to avoid criss-crossing the park too often).

Very smart of them to start offering this service. Very "magical"! My smartphone never made it any later than 2-3pm in the parks because I use it as a camera for phots and videos.

I have since gotten a portable battery pack but every once in a while, we forget to recharge or cords don't work properly so having an alternative is super helpful.

 

[mjohnson96]

i just bought one like that ... 40 bucks and will charge my phone 10 times without needing to be recharged itself

We have 3 of these, about the size of lipstick tube and works great

 

[mom2cinderella]

Is Ankar a good brand for the portable charger?

 

[MouseOfGold]

I carry my own charging bank with me. Mine is the size of a lipstick tube and can charge my phone 2X per day. Came in handy last trip.