Best place to buy phones at WDW?

[shushh]

I've never had to buy phones previously but need to this time around because of our numbers. Just wondering if anyone has any recommendations as to where we should go. We're staying at POR and we won't have a car, arriving MCO at around 6pm.

Thinking about either disposables or a prepaid SIM. Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

[aussietravellers]

I am really not sure. There is a walmart about 15 minute drive from DTD but somebody may know somewhere closer. I got ours in NY. I wonder if the bestbuys vending machines at LAX may have them for you to get it at the airport at LAX? When I go downstairs in a few hours, if I'm not half asleep and forget, I'll have a look and see if they have them in the vending machines.

 

[PrincessInOz]

I'm not going to be much help either. I picked mine up in LA - an AT&T prepaid GoPhone for about US$50. Phone/SIM came with about $10 included calls plus a welcome offer of $20 (so $30 in total).

Are you catching ME to POR or will you be taking a shuttle? I understand that the Mears shuttle will allow one stop on the way to WDW.

 

[kylieh]

We ended up getting one on ebay sent to us at home before we left. Couldn't activate until we were in the USA. Was around $50 including postage and included a heap of calls. We didn't end up using all the credit.

 

[shushh]

Kylieh, do you mind me asking which card you got? and which plan you opted for?

 

[mareeld86]

I am getting net 10 phone off the Net10 website and getting them shipped to the resort for me.
They have the best deals I have found so I am going with them since I have to Buy 12 Phones!

 

[PrincessInOz]

Shush - I forgot to mention. One of the shops in MCO sells prepaid SIM cards. They were either $30 or $35 and the voice rate was 9 cents per minute.

I also noticed a shop inside the terminal area that also sold prepaid SIM cards. Plus there were the Best Buy electronic vending machine someone in the terminal that sold either cards or cards/phone packs (sorry - we were running past and I didn't take a closer look).

You'd need to unlock your phone if you haven't already done so.

 

[heidispidi]

Do you unlock your phone before you go? So if I was to call Optus and unlock mine the day before I go, does that mean I can't use the phone again until I reach LA?

 

[PrincessInOz]

Before you go, the first thing you will need to do is check if your handset is a tri-band phone i.e., if it can be used on the frequencies/spectrum that US mobile calls are carried on. If you have a recently purchased handset, this should be tri or quad band; as Australia uses spectrum in the 1800, 2100 and 850 MHz region. The US tends to be 1900 and 900/850. A tri band phone will cover 900/1800/2100 spectrum and a quad band phone should cover 900/1800/1900/2100.
If you do not have a handset that can be used to roam on the US spectrum, there is no point unlocking it.
The easiest way to find out is to ring your carrier and ask them if you can use your phone for the US.

Some/most Aussie Telcos sell handset that have been network locked to their particular network. What this means is that you cannot "easily" jump from one provider to another and it is a way to ensure that you don't switch to someone else.

Unlocking your phone usually comes with an "exit fee". From memory, this is now around $35.

By unlocking your handset, you now have the choice to switch networks from one service provider to another. You will still continue with your existing plan and use your service as per normal.

When you get to the US, it just means that your handset is no longer set to a particular network frequency/carrier. You should just be able buy a SIM card, put it in and start making calls.

Your alternative to this is to turn on International Roaming. But the call charges are exhorbitant! You are not only paying for your carrier call charges AND the international carrier call charges; but you will also be paying for inter-carrier call charges. Usually ends up being over $2 per minute.

 

[shushh]

Shush - I forgot to mention. One of the shops in MCO sells prepaid SIM cards. They were either $30 or $35 and the voice rate was 9 cents per minute.

I also noticed a shop inside the terminal area that also sold prepaid SIM cards. Plus there were the Best Buy electronic vending machine someone in the terminal that sold either cards or cards/phone packs (sorry - we were running past and I didn't take a closer look).

You'd need to unlock your phone if you haven't already done so.

Thanks Princess!

 

[heidispidi]

Thanks Princess My handsets should be OK, but I'll get onto my provider before I go.

See, this is why I love these boards

 

[G'day Disney]

I am getting net 10 phone off the Net10 website and getting them shipped to the resort for me.
They have the best deals I have found so I am going with them since I have to Buy 12 Phones!

I have taken your advice and tried to do this, got a $25 phone for $20 with a discount code, free shipping, includes 300min credit, very happy, but I can't fit in the disney resort address with needing to put "Hold for Guest" etc How did you do this????

Thanks heaps

 

[shushh]

I have taken your advice and tried to do this, got a $25 phone for $20 with a discount code, free shipping, includes 300min credit, very happy, but I can't fit in the disney resort address with needing to put "Hold for Guest" etc How did you do this????

Thanks heaps

If you don't mind me asking...Where did you find the discount code?

 

[G'day Disney]

If you don't mind me asking...Where did you find the discount code?

Not at all, I just put net10 promotional code into google, and retail me not came up, I was able to use "44477" for a $5 discount, if your spend is over $20 after you go through checkout the shipping for 3 day fedex is also free. But I can't get it to accept the credit card, I'm not sure if its because its not U.S. or to do with the address etc!

 

[shushh]

Thanks for that! I'm going to go check it out now.

That's a bummer about the credit card. I guess we'll have to wait and see what mareeld86 says and how she made it work!

I was going to wait until a few more weeks before I placed my order as we won't arrive at WDW until Dec 9. Is there a particular reason why you're buying it so early? I guess I'm paranoid that Disney might lose it?

 

[shushh]

Shush - I forgot to mention. One of the shops in MCO sells prepaid SIM cards. They were either $30 or $35 and the voice rate was 9 cents per minute.

I also noticed a shop inside the terminal area that also sold prepaid SIM cards. Plus there were the Best Buy electronic vending machine someone in the terminal that sold either cards or cards/phone packs (sorry - we were running past and I didn't take a closer look).

Princess I know you were only running past, but in the "terminal", could you be a little more specific? In particular, interested in the Best Buy vending machines.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Okay. Let's see if I can remember this.

In the main terminal, the SIM cards were sold at In-Motion entertainment. I asked for a brochure but they couldn't find one and I so wish I'd taken a photo of the counter-top collateral now. I think it was $35 for the SIM.

http://www.orlandoairports.net/images/flash/shopping_landside.swf

This is where I'm a little bit more hazy. Looking at the outside terminal layout, I think we must have been in gates 1 - 20 because I don't remember there being an InMotion store. I think it was the newsagent that sold the SIM card. The newsagent sells a $30 SIM card from MyTravelPin.com. When I get the chance, I'll take a picture of the brochure and load it up. It may be the weekend.

http://www.orlandoairports.net/images/flash/shopping_airside.swf

The one from the newsagent has the following:

Prepaid SIM Card

• Free incoming calls and SMS Text (but then that's what it's supposed to be!)
• $10 Airtime included
• No Personal Information
• No Contract
• No Credit Card Required
• Requires Unlocked GSM Phone (which I think is the 1900 MHz frequency)

There is a star bubble that says 9 cents per minute local and international calls. I can't see what the flagfall is and it may be worth checking up MyTravelPin.com to see what the other charge rates e.g., especially outgoing Text and if you are likely to use it, data charges; plus how to recharge/top-up.

I can't remember who was providing the SIM Card from In motion.

The Best Buys vending machine was in the outside terminal somewhere....I really didn't pay that much attention to it; but it was nearer the train bridge main entry.

Hope this helps.

 

[G'day Disney]

Thanks for that! I'm going to go check it out now.

That's a bummer about the credit card. I guess we'll have to wait and see what mareeld86 says and how she made it work!

I was going to wait until a few more weeks before I placed my order as we won't arrive at WDW until Dec 9. Is there a particular reason why you're buying it so early? I guess I'm paranoid that Disney might lose it?

It's only 4 weeks to go!! I've been sending things to the resort for weeks now Honestly I've been to Disney with kids before but never an 18mth old so trying to do as much as I can when I think of it. The more things I can get checked off now the better!

 

[austraveler]

We purchased two international sims here using a brochure from the flight centre. They were $25 each and came loaded with $40 of calls. We put the sims in the phones when we reached the US and it all worked like a charm. We only used about $20 each of our credit and we can re use this sims at a later time.

 

[G'day Disney]

We purchased two international sims here using a brochure from the flight centre. They were $25 each and came loaded with $40 of calls. We put the sims in the phones when we reached the US and it all worked like a charm. We only used about $20 each of our credit and we can re use this sims at a later time.

Do you know what they were called? I've tried searching on the flight centre web site and can't find anything at those rates. Thanks heaps.