Canadian iPhones in Disney World?

[Tiger926]

DH and I just got an iTouch, and being that we can't use some of the awesome apps, we are researching iPhones. Anyone have an iPhone and use it at WDW? I'm sure the monthly fees are high, plus the roaming/long distance?

Any info from Canadian iPhone users would be appreciated! Thanks, Tiger

 

[TreesyB]

I didn't use my iPhone at WDW except on Wifi in the resort (I brought my Wifi router).

I had called Telus beforehand and they told me that if I was going to download data it would be $3/MB, or I pay a $10 fee and it would be $1/MB. No way!

I didn't even have my phone on because I bought a US prepaid cell phone instead (for $9). And I was going to be charged $1.45/minute for calls, and 60 cents for text messages.

I did send an emergency text message, and that cost 1 cent (which seemed wierd), but then I shut it down again after.

Seemed pricey for anything but WiFi

 

[gizmom29]

I would appreciate any info on iphone use in Florida as well from any Canadian users. We are signed with Rogers. Thanks!

 

[ABCanada]

We turn off the data roaming and use a wireless router in the room for email etc.

Rogers has temporary Travel Plans where you buy a minimum number of minutes that are good for one month and all additional minutes are the same per minute cost. You can get this for data as well.

The cost is a bit more than a US disposable but we found it more convenient.

http://www.rogers.com/web/content/add-ons/travelwithyourphone

 

[Marcy Mouse]

We bought a track phone at Walmart that comes with double minutes. It was about 15 dollars for the phone and we bought a 40 card that gave us 400 minutes. That works out to 10 cents a minute. We have used that phone several times now.

Marcy

 

[Sue M]

You may be able to buy a roaming package for data and phone. We are on Telus. I just bought an i phone this week, but had my old cell phone in Florida last week and got a $40 roaming pkg-for phone calls only. My cell died while I was away

 

[dangler]

We turn off the data roaming and use a wireless router in the room for email etc.

Rogers has temporary Travel Plans where you buy a minimum number of minutes that are good for one month and all additional minutes are the same per minute cost. You can get this for data as well.

The cost is a bit more than a US disposable but we found it more convenient.

http://www.rogers.com/web/content/add-ons/travelwithyourphone

Just wondering how you turn off the data roaming?

 

[ABCanada]

dangler

It is under
- Settings
- General
- Network
Data Roaming - off

We just leave it off.

 

[2gr8DisneyKids]

We turn it off when we go to the states as well. In fact, we have it set up with Rogers that when we cross into the States the phone only looks for cell coverage unless we force it to look for data. It will auto look for WiFi, but not data roaming.

 

[Cdn Friends of Pooh]

DH and I just got an iTouch, and being that we can't use some of the awesome apps, we are researching iPhones. Anyone have an iPhone and use it at WDW? I'm sure the monthly fees are high, plus the roaming/long distance?

Any info from Canadian iPhone users would be appreciated! Thanks, Tiger

Don't do it ... data use in the US is expensive, not to mention some very expensive roaming charges. Last trip I had to use my phone to check some things on the internet (flights, etc) and I came home to a huge bill. You're better off to buy a cheap cell phone down in the US.

 

[minnie56]

DD just got an I-Phone in November and is heading down to WDW to work for a year in the Cultural Rep Program. She is disappointed that her phone cannot go...I will use it till she comes back and she'll either get another one in Florida or a Blackberry. That will be a pain...but not much we can do.

 

[Tiger926]

Thanks all - we thought it would be very expensive. Good info, Tiger

 

[Torinate]

Could it be that bad? I've used a BB in Vegas before (got the plans with Rogers before hand) and, well, it was fine.
I was planning to get the US plan through Rogers with data. But, now i'm a little turned off too... I don't really want to get another pre-paid phone...

 

[monkey30]

for the prepaid roaming plans its not to bad, we paid 0.75 per txt, but data roaming is apperently really expensive, and we turn our data roaming off as well and leave it off as it will not pick anything up but Rogers. It is great incase I forget, and hit the wrong button on the iphone.

We just went to dennys or starbucks and hooked up to the free wi-fi to check email and such when we needed a fix, it was actually nice not having internet for a week i only checked my email 2 times!

 

[gizmom29]

Could it be that bad? I've used a BB in Vegas before (got the plans with Rogers before hand) and, well, it was fine.

Wouldn't using the Iphone be the same as using a BB? Has anybody that used there iphone had the us plans added on to their package prior to leaving the country? Or, are the high charges being experienced due to not having a us plan in place on the iphone prior to going away?

 

[gizmom29]

Sorry Torinate, I didn't know how to do a proper quote so I just copied & pasted . My dh just showed me how so I'll know for next time!

 

[ccudmore]

I used my iPhone a fair bit when I was at Disney twice last year. I went with the Rogers pre-paid Roaming plan - you can buy so many minutes (for talk time) or Megs (for data) at a reduced price. It's a lot cheaper than going with the off-the-shelf roaming rates for both.

 

[Torinate]

How much did you use the phone? Did you find that you used much data?

Is there anywhere at Disney with wifi?

 

[Daddio]

Be very cautious when using any data transfers, including e-mail. I always have a US Data (2M) plan when travelling to WDW so I can get my e-mail. But my last trip, I forget to change my e-mail download settings to grab only the first 5k of a message and left it on full message download. I noticed it in the first few days but not early enough to eat up my 2M and have a $327.00 overage charge.

David

 

[TagsMissy]

We bought a track phone at Walmart that comes with double minutes. It was about 15 dollars for the phone and we bought a 40 card that gave us 400 minutes. That works out to 10 cents a minute. We have used that phone several times now.

Marcy

hubby and i both have pay as you go phones too... from TMobile.. we pay 1x a year and the minutes last a year and if we add more minutes before the year is up the minutes roll over. WAY cheaper than the roaming minutes! We call home with the phone and each other as we often split up. Plus we have friends in the US we call and chat to since the phones have nationwide calling.

We have unlocked google phones so we can swap chips if we want and use data via tmobile on our google phones. Hubby does that, I just use the phone that I got with my tmobile account because it's really small and fits nicely in my pocket as I am rather minimalist at WDW.