Cell phone question

[Luvmyfam3]

Hi All!

How strong are the cell signals in the parks? My daughters are 13 and I know that they'll want to venture on their own with a friend a few times. We both have Sprint, so I thought that that would be the easiest and least expensive way to keep in touch.

What do you think? Would it be better than the walkie-talkies that I see? And, on a different note, do you think that it's okay for three 13 yr. old girls to be walking around without parents? I always think of WDW as a utopia where nothing bad can happen....

Thanks! kim

 

[don8life]

I think if your girls are mature enough that is fine. Walkie talkies have never worked for us. Too many people using them. Could never tell when someone in my party was trying to get us.
I have never had a problem with verizon or cingular in the parks.
Good Luck!

 

[magicalmcwho]

Hi Luvmyfam3, (fellow texan)

I used the cell phone to call home (Houston) with no problem.
We also used walkie talkies one day just to try them and had no problem either. You do get alot of chatter on the walkie talkies but we had a call button we would use before we started talking.
the walkie talkies are a lot cheaper to lose than a cell phone.


Jim.

 

[mickey0216]

Rather than spending $50 to buy a set of walkie-talkies that may or may not work for you, use your cell phones since you already have them.

If your use is like like my family, we used them a few times on our last trip and it cost us less than $5 for the week.

 

[magsmom]

We have Sprint and our cells are our primary forms of communication at the world, for both us and all friends and family that have accompanied us over the past year and a half. I would be lost without our cells at the world. The cell signals are fine - there are some dead spots, most noticeably inside the resorts (CBR and POFQ) but inside the parks we had no problem.

 

[TerryU.]

We used cell phones when we went. We have the walkie talkies, we used them at the shore and there was too much chatter, someone actually yelled at me telling me to get off or switch to another frequency! I like the cell phones better.

 

[chyam]

We have never had a problem with Sprint in the parks or at the resorts where we have stayed, my friend on the other hand has verizon and always has problems with it from the resorts. I don't think you should be to worried about your girls as long as they stay in the park.

 

[lovethattink]

We have sprint PCS. The phone worked great at the parks outside. Inside some of the attractions I did not get a signal, but with all the sounds of the attractions it would be hard to hear anyone, anyway. The resort rooms must have thick walls, I could not get a signal from our room at Coronado Springs or PORS at the mansions. We did have a room at PORS alligator buyou and I got a signal with the phone if I kept it by the window. Standing outside of the rooms, I picked up a signal with no problem.

 

[crow11ad]

It all depends on what type of phone plan you have. If you have where you can call each other without a fee then go with the cell phones. We got married in April and went to Disney for our Disneymoon. We had the radios with sub chanels. They were fine and dandy but like everyone is saying that other people are using them to. Now I will say this, my dw lost hers towards the end of our trip. So not wanting to feel as though the radio would be useless, I turned it on and listened to the people talk. I was helpful though...some kids couldn't find their parents and I helped tried to leave the way, until I had the urge to have some fun. I got on there and said Mickey is by the Haunted Mansion. Lol....

But check with your carrier about what your plan is covered. We were told a while back when we had the evil "C" company, that we were covered and we explained that we were going to Disney for our Honeymoon and they said no problem. Well after we got back we got a $197.00 phone bill. Not once did our phones say roaming or have that symbol that shows. SO be warned.

But if you have sprint like we do, stick with those. Now whether or not you will be able to hear if it rings or not is a question. You might have to set it to vibe and ring. Plus if you have the sprint phones ( I am sure the others do this as well) we asked the sprint people about time change and all the fun stuff and they told us that the phones will automatically change. Nefty thing, technology is.

 

[cranbiz]

Sprint works very good except in just a few places (and that is mostly due to building construction)

Sprint is a major player in FL and it shows.

LY I was using Cingular and also got a huge roaming bill with poor service.

TY I have been to FL three times and to Disney twice so far with another trip in Dec, Sprint and Ready Link (Sprint Nextel type service) has worked great with NO roaming charges.

 

[TLinden16]

I have Sprint, and I usually have a strong signal when I am outside at the parks. If I'm inside, it's iffy in many places. I'd make sure you have the voicemail set up, and that everyone knows how to use it so that you can leave messages in the event that someone is on an attraction and doesn't have a signal.

Karen

 

[Luvmyfam3]

Thank you all SO much for the great info/ideas! I will definitely check to make sure we won't be charged for the calls (I don't think we will since it's Sprint to Sprint). Also, that's a great idea to set it to vibrate. I should get them a secure clip to wear so they don't lose it and make sure they check messages often.

Thanks again!! You guys are great!

Kim

 

[tiggersgal19]

Never had a problem with cingular.

 

[rcraw45425]

Our Nextels work great. I read somewhere that Nextel is the major supplier of the park and it shows. Great signal, even inside the resorts. I think I read where there was a Nextel tower around the Contemporary Resort tower. We had Sprint a few years back and the service wasn't so great there. Hopefully it has improved.

 

[Fastcars]

We have the Nextels and used them on our last trip. The walkie talking function was great and calling back home to check on things was clear signal from several locations.
We even could walking talkie from inside Space mountain with a clear signal

 

[brooke1]

I have a good one for you. I use cingular and my sister was calling me as I was almost ready to drop on the tower of terror already buckled up when she called and asked where was I and what were we doing, so i told her.

so anywho phones work just fine.
Brooke1

 

[Leota]

I have Cingular Nationwide & never have a problem outside. Inside some places is iffy, but again, not usually where I would want to be on my phone anyways.