Anyone use iPhone to tour

[drcmk]

The last time I went to WDW, I didn't have an iPhone yet. Now that I have one, I think I should be able to tour without my stacks of paper cheat sheets. Has anyone used their iPhone to organize your touring plans? Is there a particular application that you use? What tips do you have for me?

Thanks,
drcmk

 

[Cool-Beans]

I used it to remember my hotel room numbers and parking spots.

If I do another trip with a plan, I'd totally use it for that.

 

[drcmk]

I used it to remember my hotel room numbers and parking spots.

If I do another trip with a plan, I'd totally use it for that.

For sure! But I feel like there should be a way for me to store all of the information I'd usually bring with me--park hours, show times, ADR #'s, EMH hours--on the phone. I could just copy it all into the "notes" app, but maybe there is a better way. I store that sort of thing in an excel file now.

 

[marciemi]

I also downloaded several apps for it just this week. You can get each of the park maps ($0.99 each), which show and tell about all the attractions, restaurants, and restrooms (well, it doesn't tell all about those! )

I also downloaded a dining menu app for the same price which shows pretty much any menu for any restaurant (including food courts at the resorts, etc.). Probably a little bit out of date always in terms of prices and complete offerings, but it gives a really good "on the run" look if you're considering where to go. I love this app and have been pouring over it at work whenever I'm bored (easy to look casually at my phone; harder to pull up the DIS on my computer! ).

Finally, I downloaded another app ($1.99) with all kinds of tips and secrets about WDW. Yes, you probably can find most of them on this site or other places online, but I'm thinking it will be cool to read while we are in those places (it's arranged by park and land), on the buses, or standing in line.

If you're looking for any of these, I just searched the app store for either Disney World or WDW.

(Incidentally, I've had my iphone for 8 months and these were the first appls I've ever downloaded! )

 

[disneymomofmyca]

I would like to know too. I was going to type the ADR's into the notes just to have handy but I can't bring myself to sit and type all of my stuff in it. Takes too long! Wouldn't it be nice if there was an app that you could copy and paste files from you computer right into the phone? Did you guys get the WDW Dining app? I love it! Has all the menu's and prices. It is going to be my best friend for counter services meals so I can scope out where to eat before hand. My daughter is a vegetarian and not all CS offer vegetarian meals. Now I can look before hand!

 

[marciemi]

For sure! But I feel like there should be a way for me to store all of the information I'd usually bring with me--park hours, show times, ADR #'s, EMH hours--on the phone. I could just copy it all into the "notes" app, but maybe there is a better way. I store that sort of thing in an excel file now.

Couldn't you email it to yourself shortly before you go and just save the email? I'm not sure about attachments, but you could at least cut and paste all the info.

Also, I'm thinking the map apps will be more convenient to carry around than actual maps since we always have our phones with us but always seem to leave the map sitting on the dresser before we head out!

And just as a tip for those traveling in the (rainy!) summer months. We've found that you can put your iphone in a basic ziploc bag and the touchscreen will still work, but give it protection from rain or water rides.

 

[wdwfab3]

This is exactly what I did for our upcoming trip! I have all my info stored on my ipod touch including ADR's, itineraries, menus, etc. There is a free app called Discover Wifi that will allow you to put files from your PC onto your ipod/iphone. Once it is stored on your ipod/iphone you don't need the internet to access it. I used Microsoft Word, but I imagine excel would work also. There are also apps with the disney park maps that are great too. Each of these was only 99 cents.
Hopefully this will cut down on the amount of papers etc that I need to carry around. I also loaded a couple of movies onto the ipod so my 4 year old DS will have something to do in case of long lines!

 

[drcmk]

I also downloaded several apps for it just this week. You can get each of the park maps ($0.99 each), which show and tell about all the attractions, restaurants, and restrooms (well, it doesn't tell all about those! )

Finally, I downloaded another app ($1.99) with all kinds of tips and secrets about WDW. Yes, you probably can find most of them on this site or other places online, but I'm thinking it will be cool to read while we are in those places (it's arranged by park and land), on the buses, or standing in line.

Thank you Marciemi. Do the park map apps include park hours and show times?

 

[drcmk]

There is a free app called Discover Wifi that will allow you to put files from your PC onto your ipod/iphone. Once it is stored on your ipod/iphone you don't need the internet to access it. I used Microsoft Word, but I imagine excel would work also.

WDWfab3--When I read an excel file on my iPhone it is really just too small to see well (or too big to see all of it if I zoom). When you use Discover Wifi, does the file display at a good size to read?

 

[marciemi]

No, they're just basic, generic park maps. Just a one time download. I think most of the park hour and show information isn't usually available (well, shows at least) until about a week beforehand, right? Guess I'll be cutting and pasting from Steve Soares' site right before we go and emailing it to myself!

I'm also interested in the Discover wifi app, although it's probably beyond my ability to install.

 

[wdwfab3]

drcmk - yes, the font is fairly small, but I could easily zoom in by tapping the screen.

 

[wdwfab3]

Actually, within the past couple of days I got an update to my park maps that added the park hours, including times for the parades and fireworks each day.

 

[marciemi]

How do you access that feature? I saw I've gotten updates on all of them in the past couple days, but didn't figure out what it was or how to find it! Thanks!

 

[marciemi]

Oh, wow - cool! I just played with it and never found the More & Calendar buttons before. Looks like it shows park hours through June, along with the more "set" things (Illuminations, 3pm parades, etc.), then if I look a week out or so, it show everything (WS shows, etc.). That is so cool - thanks for pointing it out! (Better to find it now rather than after I return!)

 

[disgrajak]

Do you guys love/like the iphone??? I've been thinking about getting one, but really know only the basics. The Disney stuff would be awesome (if I can figure out how to use the thing by the time we leave for our trip).

 

[wdwfab3]

Marciemi - I found it by pure luck actually! You touch the 'More' button at the bottom right, and then the 'Calendar' at the top left. You should then be able to pick the month and day.

 

[wilde_oscar]

google "steve soars" his site has pretty much all the info you'll need while in the parks for schedules.

 

[LisaZee]

Do you guys love/like the iphone??? I've been thinking about getting one, but really know only the basics. The Disney stuff would be awesome (if I can figure out how to use the thing by the time we leave for our trip).

LOVE LOVE LOVE my iPhone. In fact, my USB ports on my old laptop just died (fried motherboard) and I bought a new laptop pretty much simply to support my iPhone! Lol.

When is your trip? There are rumors of a new iPhone that will probably be announced in June and released in July - I'd hold out if you can. If not, you'll be able to upgrade the software. Do it!

 

[teruterubouzu]

I loved having my iphone with me at the parks. It was invaluable, though my traveling companion did get a bit annoyed that I kept futzing with it.

I emailed myself all of the travel details and also downloaded the touring plans files to my phone (saved as a jpg). I could zoom in and out so I could see all of the details. Here's a screenshot.

 

[Nicole786]

I put all of my WDW itinerary on my iPhone since i've had it july 2007. I've written a tutorial for a few Dis members that you can find in my pre-tr!

Just to give you an idea: