Cell phone horror

[ClarabelleCow]

Our nextels worked great at WDW in November, both of us have them and DSis and DBIL, so it was great when we split up. If it wasn't for Nextel, we wouldn't go away that much, we just got back from Vero, and our employees and builders didn't know we were away!!! hubby had his telephone to his ear alot, but we were away, he is now out west in Scottsdale (left today), and we can direct connect each other it works great!

 

[kda]

Have been in the same OKW area twice and did OK if I was on the balcony (Cingular digital). Also been in the same VWL area 3 times and always needed to use the balcony. Have called from a variety of other WDW areas (ie, Poly grounds, parks) and done fine. The trend seems to be that outside is best, if not mandatory.

 

[WOW]

Last year during 2 trips to OKW we had terrible cell phone service and we have Verizon. Called Verizon and they said that they don't know why---should have good service there. It didn't work at Sea World either. ....... Go Figure.

 

[manning]

freediverdude -- What model Nokia do you have?

 

[skelooch]

I just got back from BCV and had a very strong signal at the resort with Verizon, but in the parks it's not as consistantly good but I never had any calls dropped.

 

[ILPHIL]

and it worked fine outside all over WDW. From inside our rooms at the POLY & AKL signals were marginal.
We'll see how it works at OKW in June when we make our 1st trip home...

 

[freediverdude]

I have a Nokia 3595. This seems to be one of the models that is offered for free, or free after rebate, on a lot of plans nowadays. But the service person at AT&T recommended any Nokia phone as having better reception than others.

 

[DVCTX]

I remember reading recently that WDW is switching to Nextel for their internal use and is allowing Nextel to place some cells on property. That probably expains why so many people report that Nextel works well at wdw.


Larry

 

[dvc guy]

DW and I are on Verizon and the service at OKW and the parks is spotty. We both have Startac phones and sometimes one phone would work and other would not have a signal.

 

[Towncrier]

It depends where I am at OKW as to how well my phone does or doesn't work. I have had equally poor results with Verizon and Alltel wireless at the resort. Last year we were in the area of building 30 and I had to walk to the bus stop in order to get enough signal in order to use my phone.

I've never had any problems with my phone inside the parks, but I really don't pay a lot of attention to signal strength when I'm enjoying my time in the parks.

 

[DaveH]

I had a Nokia phone when I had ATT and it work fine most of the time. When I was in buildings it was hit or miss. I have a Motorola with Cinguar now, the service was fine most of the time outside, in the buildings, it was agin hit or miss. I have found that most phones work fine outside, with some areas a problem with each carrier, and inside is hit or miss.

 

[SueM in MN]

We have Verizon and have not had problems with reception or dropped calls at OKW, BCV or VWL. One thing we were told by Verizon is to make sure your phone's programming is up to date. You call a service number on your cell phone and it automatically updates the programming. If you don't have an updated phone, it can't find all the towers in the area and you may not have a signal.
Make sure your phone is not roaming though when you update it. On our last trip, DH updated his right as we stepped off the plane. His phone kept saying it was roaming even when he stood right next to me and mine was in our network. The service person told him he must have been roaming when he updated, so it didn't do it correctly, She said to keep checking the phone and as soon as it was out of roaming, to re-program it. He didn't get out of roaming until on the way home, when we were about 15 miles from home.
I have a Motorolla phone.

 

[manning]

You'll get a laugh out of this. I was just on the phone with ATT customer service asking if I need to reprogram my phone. I was on the land line.

Yep, I lost the call.

 

[Nick@ VB+OKW]

We have the Motorola T720(picture below) with Alltel. We never have a problem at WDW or at OKW.

Here is the link for the Motorola T720 below........
http://www.alltel.com/estore/wireless/phones/motorolat720/

 

[DemoBri1]

I used my AT&T Wireless phone in December, and didn't really have that much of a problem. Service was great in the parks, and I believe I may have lost only one call and that was in our BCV room. I called the number back right away from the balcony and it was fine.

 

[MHopkins2]

Originally posted by snowiit
We have T Mobile and it's spotty at WDW... Esp when we were staying at the Polynesian. Very frustrating!
Anyone else with T Mobile experience? We're staying at BCV in May and wondering if I will have the same problem.

Nancy

My TMobile service was EXCELLENT at the All Star Music - one day, not thinking, I even got in the elevator during a call, and it was fine! Unfortunately, service at Pop Century was not so great. I had next to no service in the room, and had to go several feet away from the building to get to two "bars."

 

[Pinnie]

Verizon worked only on the balcony of OKW and the BCVs for me. Also, it took about 2 hours for a voice mail to show up there


pin

 

[pcryan]

We just got back Sat and our AT&T service was very spotty. Sometimes it worked in the room and others you had to go on the balcony. My husband tried calling while I was in the gift shop didn't work. Had to rely on it more for voice mail. My husband and I just bought new Motorola phones before going, got a new GSM National plan. One day we were standing next to each other, I had service, he didn't, same phone! Go figure!