Best Smartphone for MDE - and Dummies

[karly05]

I'm probably going to break down and get a Smartphone before my trip next year. My primary reason is to have MDE in the parks, lest I end up standing in lines at the kiosks.

Any preference as to what phone you find works best with MDE? (I'm on AT&T.)

Also, I'm not a complete Dummy, but I'm "resistant to change" and have a low tolerance for frustration. My IT guy at work swears by the iPhone, my sister loves her Android phone (a Motorola they don't make any more). Anyone want to weigh in on that debate?

 

[momof2n2]

No answers, but I'll confess I actually looked into a pay-as-you-go iPhone set up because of the changes Disney is making. My desire and fact-finding lasted about 72 hours before I flat out realized the only thing I wanted it for was MDE/FP+. Not a great reason for an investment for me. But I get why yer askin'.

 

[Fire14]

I will say Apple has a easy to use OS and things are pretty much the same from IPhone 4 to IPhone 5 in terms of how screens look, basic apps etc, etc. I have an android phone and a IPod touch. quicker. I personally like my android OS and am not ready to give it up. It just comes down to personal pref. how invested you are in "apple world"

Things I'd consider:
1. Do you want/have to have 4g only apple phone that I know is 4g is new iphone 5 at 200.00 ish even with contract, there are several android phones for free- 50.00ish with new contracts.
2. Most androids have removable memory in form of SD card, iphones have theirs built in ( more memory= more money).
3. Cases- there are tons of Disney cases for iphones , very few for android phones.
4. I personally see a lot more I products with cracked screens vs Androids.

 

[CoolDisneyCat]

iPhone is easier to learn to use than Droid phones.

 

[Sheilby]

Nothing could make me switch from my Galaxy S4. My trip isn't until November and I'm already on MDE every single day.

The thing is, there are Android people and iPhone people, and never the two shall agree.

 

[Sheilby]

iPhone is easier to learn to use than Droid phones.

In what way?

 

[Mousemommy1]

I currently have an IPhone 4S and previously had a Samsung Galaxy (Android). IMHO, the iPhone is 1000x more user friendly than the droids.

And I would certainly qualify as a tech dummy.

 

[jpessa]

In what way?

More of a learning curve on the Android. IPhone super easy and intuitive but more limited. It is indeed a bit of a "smartphone for dummies" (no offense intended, I swear!). These days all smartphones do the same things, it comes down to personal preference. You can't go wrong. It will take you a couple weeks before you are comfortable with the new phone, then you'll ask yourself how you ever lived without it.

 

[SulleyGirl]

I'm probably going to break down and get a Smartphone before my trip next year. My primary reason is to have MDE in the parks, lest I end up standing in lines at the kiosks.

Any preference as to what phone you find works best with MDE? (I'm on AT&T.)

Also, I'm not a complete Dummy, but I'm "resistant to change" and have a low tolerance for frustration. My IT guy at work swears by the iPhone, my sister loves her Android phone (a Motorola they don't make any more). Anyone want to weigh in on that debate?

I'm part of the Apple iPhone/iPod touch crowd.

 

[Wood Nymph]

I'm probably going to break down and get a Smartphone before my trip next year. My primary reason is to have MDE in the parks, lest I end up standing in lines at the kiosks.

Any preference as to what phone you find works best with MDE? (I'm on AT&T.)

Also, I'm not a complete Dummy, but I'm "resistant to change" and have a low tolerance for frustration. My IT guy at work swears by the iPhone, my sister loves her Android phone (a Motorola they don't make any more). Anyone want to weigh in on that debate?

I used my iPhone5 with the MDE app at WDW last February and it worked really well. I was even able to cancel a dinner reservation while standing in the stand by line at Test Track. It was great! The maps worked well, too.

This phone was my first Apple product. My former phone was a Blackberry, so it was a big adjustment. My number one reason for buying an iPhone5 was because it was narrower than a Galaxy 3. With the iPhone I can reach all the buttons while holding it. I don't need two hands to operate the phone. That was a huge factor in my decision to buy it. But I definitely was glad to have an iPhone in WDW, since I think the MDE app works very well with it.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Apple brand phones with iOS and the myriad of Android OS based phones are all very similar in how they work and learning how to use them. Apple phones are less flexible in making changes, but if you don't care about that, then not an advantage for Android phones.

One big thing for any phone, and especially for one that will be really put to the battery stamina test at WDW with MDE and all is it supposed to be, is how do you charge it back up when it is dying on you at 2 in the afternoon. Apple phones do not have a replaceable battery. You either need to carry a mobile battery recharger and cable with you, or commit to being tied down for some period of time at an electrical receptacle to recharge, with a charger and cable.

On most (not all) Android phones, the back pops off so you can insert a spare battery. I always have a spare with me. When/if it runs low, I pop the back off, take out the drained battery, pop a new one in, snap the back on and turn it back on, takes about 30 seconds, and I am good to go. If need be, a third battery, no down time or extra equipment to bring with. A battery is about the size of a credit card, the thickness of about two cards.

I use a Galaxy S4, previously had an S3. Very pleased with either. S3's can be acquired for just about free today.

 

[chasadchick]

It is the same on both iOS and Droid.

What kind of phone you want is really personal perference. I've had both, and personally love my current HTC. Iphone is a bit easier, if you aren't tech savvy, but that being said droids are more customizable (in general).

 

[jpessa]

Apple brand phones with iOS and the myriad of Android OS based phones are all very similar in how they work and learning how to use them. Apple phones are less flexible in making changes, but if you don't care about that, then not an advantage for Android phones.

One big thing for any phone, and especially for one that will be really put to the battery stamina test at WDW with MDE and all is it supposed to be, is how do you charge it back up when it is dying on you at 2 in the afternoon. Apple phones do not have a replaceable battery. You either need to carry a mobile battery recharger and cable with you, or commit to being tied down for some period of time at an electrical receptacle to recharge, with a charger and cable.

On most (not all) Android phones, the back pops off so you can insert a spare battery. I always have a spare with me. When/if it runs low, I pop the back off, take out the drained battery, pop a new one in, snap the back on and turn it back on, takes about 30 seconds, and I am good to go. If need be, a third battery, no down time or extra equipment to bring with. A battery is about the size of a credit card, the thickness of about two cards.

I use a Galaxy S4, previously had an S3. Very pleased with either. S3's can be acquired for just about free today.

This is an excellent point. IPhone battery lasts longer but still won't last you all day using MDE. With my Galaxy S3 I got 2 extra batteries plus wall charger on amazon for $30. So I carry 2 spares, they are tiny and weigh nothing, and never run out of battery. The iPhone though you can't take out the battery so you're stuck charging it near a plug or carrying a portable changer with you (heavier and bulkier).

Score one for Android.

 

[Sammi the Chihuahua]

We bought a prepay smartphone just to use on our trip.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Also adding, if you plan to use phone for photos/video, most Android phones have an SD card slot. I have a 64 Gig card in mine, no concerns about storage.

 

[HubbDave]

Battery life was never an issue for my iPhone 5 on this most recent trip

Long days, tons of pics and video, heavy use if Lines app, MDE

I brought a charger, never used it

 

[mom2rtk]

This is an excellent point. IPhone battery lasts longer but still won't last you all day using MDE. With my Galaxy S3 I got 2 extra batteries plus wall charger on amazon for $30. So I carry 2 spares, they are tiny and weigh nothing, and never run out of battery. The iPhone though you can't take out the battery so you're stuck charging it near a plug or carrying a portable changer with you (heavier and bulkier).

Score one for Android.

This is no small thing. Every now and then I consider jumping ship when the time comes. My son has an iphone5 and is away at school. I'd love to be able to Facetime with him. But I just don't ever see myself being held hostage to a battery charge. It's so awesome to just pop off the back an plop in a freshly charged battery.

 

[Missyrose]

If you're looking to use the smartphone only for Disney use, don't forget that an iPod Touch will do the same thing as an iPhone. Both connect to WiFi and both can use the MDE app. Why pay for the phone part of the hardware if you're never going to use it?

 

[jpessa]

If you're looking to use the smartphone only for Disney use, don't forget that an iPod Touch will do the same thing as an iPhone. Both connect to WiFi and both can use the MDE app. Why pay for the phone part of the hardware if you're never going to use it?

This is also a good point. I hope OP let's us know what they ended up getting.

 

[Overexcited]

I had a android and it was glitchy and froze a lot. It was explained to me that it is a phone with software layered on top witch causes glitches. iPhone was all one software.
Now my husband had the same phone with no problems.
We both now have iPhones and love them!
That being said I am not very tech savy and above was what a Verizon rep told me, take that for what it is worth!