Calling to Canada from Disney

[goofyintoronto]

Im looking for the cheapest possible way to make phone calls to Toronto from Disney. I found the phone cards to be very difficult to use from the pay phones. I dont wanna use my room phone cause you get charged. Any ideas?

Right now im with Rogers and i find their long dist plans pretty pricey.

 

[pigletto]

I was never charged for using the calling cards from our room phone. That was the whole point of getting one. Is this new? We didn't use them on this trip though I had a calling card. Just didn't need it.
But we did use them last August and didn't have one cent on our bill. It was by far the cheapest option as our US cell rates are ridiculous.
The other option is to by a pay as you go phone in the States. We bought one and didn't set it up. Again, never really needed it.

ETA) Th calling cards we have used are the long distance PC ones from NoFrills. I noticed the Walmart ones are even a few cents less. I have been charged a fee for them in European hotels but when I've used them at Disney there were no extra charges.

 

[goofyintoronto]

I was never charged for using the calling cards from our room phone. That was the whole point of getting one. Is this new? We didn't use them on this trip though I had a calling card. Just didn't need it.
But we did use them last August and didn't have one cent on our bill. It was by far the cheapest option as our US cell rates are ridiculous.
The other option is to by a pay as you go phone in the States. We bought one and didn't set it up. Again, never really needed it.

ETA) Th calling cards we have used are the long distance PC ones from NoFrills. I noticed the Walmart ones are even a few cents less. I have been charged a fee for them in European hotels but when I've used them at Disney there were no extra charges.

Thanks for the info. Maybe i'll try that next time, calling from my room phone. I thought the calling cards were a great idea until it came time to use it from the pay phone. OMG what a hassle that was! It just dont work from the phone. I dont get why!?!? Thanks so much.

 

[pigletto]

You're welcome. It was really easy from the room phone. Just follow the instructions on the back of the card. 2 years ago while we were at Disney my son was hospitalized. Of course being in a panic I called home to talk to relatives from the room (my husband and I took shifts at the hospital because we also had to be with dd). I thought "How bad could it be?" and just dialled direct to Canada from the room.
Less than 90 minutes of phone calls were over 100 dollars. I was SHOCKED but it was all listed right near the phone.. I just was too upset and didn't read the info.

So... long story short I always use the cards now and one 10 dollar card has lasted more than 2 trips!

 

[Tower]

Not that I needed it while at Disney, but while I was in Cambodia in January, I called every day via Skype off my laptop for no charge.

If your contacts back home are on Skype, and you have a wifi computer, POR had free wifi for us to potentially make calls.

 

[goofyintoronto]

You're welcome. It was really easy from the room phone. Just follow the instructions on the back of the card. 2 years ago while we were at Disney my son was hospitalized. Of course being in a panic I called home to talk to relatives from the room (my husband and I took shifts at the hospital because we also had to be with dd). I thought "How bad could it be?" and just dialled direct to Canada from the room.
Less than 90 minutes of phone calls were over 100 dollars. I was SHOCKED but it was all listed right near the phone.. I just was too upset and didn't read the info.

So... long story short I always use the cards now and one 10 dollar card has lasted more than 2 trips!

Wow, $100 for less than 90 min? Cant say im surprised thou. Hotels are a rip! I use to work at a hotel, and at that particular hotel, and most actually, you will be charged even if its a 1-800 number. If you need to dial out, you will be charged. But the good thing is even if disney charges me, it will only be 75 cents worse case scenario. Thats not bad!!! Those cards can save me a ton of money! Now im not as worried. Thank you!

Not that I needed it while at Disney, but while I was in Cambodia in January, I called every day via Skype off my laptop for no charge.

If your contacts back home are on Skype, and you have a wifi computer, POR had free wifi for us to potentially make calls.

This is a great idea, and i thought about it. only problem is that I dont have skype, and neither does the person im going to call.

Its my son, he has to call his dad during his trip (according to his dad)....every trip we take ....its annoying, but oh well.

 

[monkey30]

most of the resorts including values now have wifi! So skype or facetime if you have apple products.

We have unlimited North american calling at home so I would text and they would just call our room, no extra charges that way.

 

[sjsjbrook]

Its my son, he has to call his dad during his trip (according to his dad)....every trip we take ....its annoying, but oh well.

You could have him call your hotel room at certain times, this way you won't have any costs.

 

[Evelyne]

Hi,
I always use calling card when I'm in the World. I buy one for me, and for each of the kids, they keep it in their pocket and in case of emergency (let's say I loose my daugter again...)they can call me on the cell. phone. I usually buy the cards of 5$ and I have plenty of minutes. When I come back home I use it here. It is true that it is a little bit longer to place the call because you have to dial all these numbers but it is much cheaper than using my cell phone. You have phones everywhere in the World.
I know that with Rogers you can buy a US package, I checked 2 or 3 years ago it was, from what I can remember 45$ for 60 minutes. That might be an option, but you still get a better deal with the card. Avoid the ones in Walmart, I did it one year and for 5$ I did'nt have half of what I get with the ones in Maxi( grocery store in Québec), same branch as Loblaws.
Have a good trip.

1990 to 1992, off site with DB+ friends 1994 off site with DB+ family/
1995 off site DB, DS (2) and DD on the way 1998 off site DB, DS DD/
1999 off site DB, DS, DD, + family/ 2000 to 2003 DB, DS, DD All star Sports
2004 to 2008 Pop Century with DB
(after 20 years, let’s say DH), DS, DD and family
2008 to 2009 Pop Century DH, DS, DD/ 2010 and 2011 Pop DH, DD and her friend
September 2012 DH and me alone for the 1st time.
Can’t wait to check inn at the POP!!!



http://www.**************/id/1348729281.jpg

 

[goofyintoronto]

last trip i bought one of the cards your referring to, and i could NOT use it from a payphone. It simply cannot be done. you dial the 1800 number but it gets you nowhere. i was so mad. i dunno why it never occurred to me to use the room phone. i guess i just assumed the cost would be high. i should try that next trip. thnx. and as for the rogers travel packs, omg the prices are ridiculous. the calling cards is def the way to go.

Hi,
I always use calling card when I'm in the World. I buy one for me, and for each of the kids, they keep it in their pocket and in case of emergency (let's say I loose my daugter again...)they can call me on the cell. phone. I usually buy the cards of 5$ and I have plenty of minutes. When I come back home I use it here. It is true that it is a little bit longer to place the call because you have to dial all these numbers but it is much cheaper than using my cell phone. You have phones everywhere in the World.
I know that with Rogers you can buy a US package, I checked 2 or 3 years ago it was, from what I can remember 45$ for 60 minutes. That might be an option, but you still get a better deal with the card. Avoid the ones in Walmart, I did it one year and for 5$ I did'nt have half of what I get with the ones in Maxi( grocery store in Québec), same branch as Loblaws.
Have a good trip.

1990 to 1992, off site with DB+ friends 1994 off site with DB+ family/
1995 off site DB, DS (2) and DD on the way 1998 off site DB, DS DD/
1999 off site DB, DS, DD, + family/ 2000 to 2003 DB, DS, DD All star Sports
2004 to 2008 Pop Century with DB
(after 20 years, let’s say DH), DS, DD and family
2008 to 2009 Pop Century DH, DS, DD/ 2010 and 2011 Pop DH, DD and her friend
September 2012 DH and me alone for the 1st time.
Can’t wait to check inn at the POP!!!



http://www.**************/id/1348729281.jpg

 

[EastYorkDisneyFan]

This is a great idea, and i thought about it. only problem is that I dont have skype, and neither does the person im going to call.

Just so you know Skype is free if you make a Skype to Skype call the only time that charge is for calling a number as a posed to a Skype contact and it is also very easy to install. You just need to go to their website and download it, ask your son to do it for you if your not sure how.

 

[pxlbarrel]

If i'm not using my American t-mobile phone, I use Skype on my iPhone. A few years ago (and I'm talking about 4 years or so), I put $15 into my Skype account. I've used Skype many times and I've still got over $6 in the account. It charges about the same or less than a good calling card and all you need is wifi.

 

[Diamondintheruff]

My dh will be thrilled to hear he will be able to call from the room phone using the pay cards. He's always walked to the payphones. Then again, maybe I won't tell him. I kind of liked the peace and quiet.

 

[elaine amj]

skype or good calling card (the asian grocery/convenience stores sell the cheapest ones!)

we ended up buying 2 t-mobile pay as you go SIM cards and unlocked our cellphones. works perfect as we can stay in touch with each other at the parks. Also, texting is 5 cents each, even to Canada. Calling Canada is just 50 cents a minute. Best of all, unlimited internet on our cellphone is $2-$3 a day. So nice to have data in the parks.

Buying a cheap throwaway phone also works very well.

 

[goofyintoronto]

you guys have a lot of great ideas! Im gonna try both skype/facetime and calling cards. I am familiar with skype, used it at work once. so it should be hard to do on my cell phone.

thanks guys!!!

 

[tgropp]

Another option is to buy a $20.00 Trac-Fone at Walmart (in the U.S.)that gives you 200 minutes. That way you do not have to call from your room and anyone can get a hold of you. Then you can just throw the phone away when it has expired....... which is 3 months, I think.

 

[Sue M]

I am on Telus cell so before I leave I get the US text Pass for 30 days. I have Shaw Home phone, and they sell calling cards, 4cents/minute and I use that to call home from our WDW room. Some hotels do charge for calling card calls, but not WDW resorts.

 

[dancin Disney style]

I've also used a phone card from the WDW resort room. I bought the card in the airport and I think it was $12....it lasted through 2 trips and expired before it was finished.

I also have a Tracfone and it's just OK....I bought the cheapest phone so that's probably why the call quality is low. However, it totally does the trick. The phone was $10 and then when I'm going to be in the US I add the $20 card with a bonus code. I'm debating getting a better one this year to have data.

 

[hockeymomNS]

I followed a few posts up to my last trip and bought the Tracphone.......wow, how easy was that??????

Apparently, I can reload it any time that I am in the US. The phone was $14.99 and worked great.

 

[slusher]

I'm with Bell at home and use their calling card. It gives me my package rate. Where I live we have few choices, it's Bell or nothing and every call is long distance so we pay flat rate monthly for all of North America. This actually worked out when going to FL, and I've always gotten a little thrill out of hearing "welcome to Canada" when calling their access number. You have to call Bell to get a pin code before you leave, and it shows up on your home phone bill.