Cell phone use at WDW

[Tiger926]

So, I know nothing about cell phones, plans, etc... All I know is I want to be able to text dh while in WDW without paying $.25 per text!!!

Dh has a blackberry bold, I have an iphone 3 and we are with Bell (both phones are locked). Can we buy a prepaid phone while down in the US and just use that? Or do we need a US billing address? We just need to be able to communicate and not pay a fortune to do it - in this day and age, why is that so hard??

Anyone have any ideas??

As I said above, we just purchased a US phone a few weeks ago. You don't need a US billing address for most of the ones we checked on (actually went into the stores and spoke to the reps).

We bought Metro PCS, and it is no contract. We have set it up for automatic payment off of our credit card, but you don't have to do that. No US billing address is necessary.

You can even set it up through Target if you like, as they have a bunch of prepaid/no contract phones as well.

Good luck, Tiger

 

[Geodoc]

BREAKING NEWS for us Canadians...........free Wifi has been turned on at Magic Kingdom park.....others to follow soon.....we will investigate it on Monday Aug 6

http://www.foxnews.com/travel/2012/08/02/disney-rolls-out-free-wifi/

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[Kurby]

We just left yesterday and it wasn't in effect but hopefully it'll get all set up soon

We paid 3 to Skype for unlimited calls to Canada and it was great

We were able to call back home every couple of days and not worry about cost

 

[Geodoc]

Happy to report there was free Disney Wifi at Typhoon lagoon today....this post is coming from there!!!

 

[Geodoc]

Wifi is online at Magic Kingdom today. Using the mobile magic app on my iPhone!!!! Awesome!!

 

[sare]

I am so excited about the free wifi! This will allow me to keep in touch with my loved ones at home and send them some photos in real time of me and DBF enjoying the magic. Normally I wouldnt feel compelled to communicate with home in real time, however my family generously donated their airmiles so we could go and they certainly have earned smiling updates with the mouse

Any word of free wifi in other parks? So far I have seen MK and TL.

I have iPhone and had contacted telus and they told me apart from purchasing an add on plan (which Im not doing), the best thing would be to put a data and text block on my phone so I can use the wifi and not worry about 60cent texts incoming. :S

 

[Geodoc]

Message from Geodoc the intrepid wifi reporter!! Looks like there is free Disney Wifi at Blizzard beach as well. So both water parks and MK are covered as of Aug 11 2012.

 

[fdecker]

So an interesting question for those with 4G, have you tried to compare browsing and using apps like "lines" or the Disney magic app? Is the wifi faster even than 4G? I would think it should be, but who knows.

 

[Geodoc]

So an interesting question for those with 4G, have you tried to compare browsing and using apps like "lines" or the Disney magic app? Is the wifi faster even than 4G? I would think it should be, but who knows.

I found the wifi speed to be very good. The mobile magic app worked great at MK. For the most part I only needed to sign in once at MK. At the water parks multiple sign ins occurred. I was happy with the wifi service!!

 

[grover]

This is probably a silly question..but I will ask anyways

I won't buy a extra plan for my iphone in order to use it at Disney.
So is this what I should do/anticipate how it will work:

Switch it to airplane mode in order to turn off all the data functions?
When I go into the park the phone will automatically pick up on the wifi when I go to use any of my apps or check my email?

Just want to be sure I do things correctly to avoid any charges.

I am so glad they finally have wifi, Rogers charges a arm and leg for data! Between the wifi at the resorts and the parks I should be totally fine with not buying there travel packs!

 

[Maddysdaddy]

This is probably a silly question..but I will ask anyways

I won't buy a extra plan for my iphone in order to use it at Disney.
So is this what I should do/anticipate how it will work:

Switch it to airplane mode in order to turn off all the data functions?
When I go into the park the phone will automatically pick up on the wifi when I go to use any of my apps or check my email?

Just want to be sure I do things correctly to avoid any charges.

I am so glad they finally have wifi, Rogers charges a arm and leg for data! Between the wifi at the resorts and the parks I should be totally fine with not buying there travel packs!

Nope - not quite.

Turning your phone to airplane mode will disable wifi. You need to go into your settings and turn off data roaming instead. Airplane mode essentially turns your iPhone into an iPod.

The downside to your plan is that the actual "phone" part of your iPhone will still be working, so you run the risk of some fairly significant phone bills if you make or receive any calls.

I "think" (and you should double check this), that even with data roaming disabled, you will still receive text messages as well, the cost of which could be quite significant. I am not 100% certain of this though.

 

[Geodoc]

This is probably a silly question..but I will ask anyways

I won't buy a extra plan for my iphone in order to use it at Disney.
So is this what I should do/anticipate how it will work:

Switch it to airplane mode in order to turn off all the data functions?
When I go into the park the phone will automatically pick up on the wifi when I go to use any of my apps or check my email?

Just want to be sure I do things correctly to avoid any charges.

I am so glad they finally have wifi, Rogers charges a arm and leg for data! Between the wifi at the resorts and the parks I should be totally fine with not buying there travel packs!

Hi Grover

Airplane mode will likely turn off your wifi! What you need to do is make sure data roaming is off.....for most iPhones the default is off....so no 3G data usage occurs unless you turn it on. Data roaming is found in settings/General/Network So for our recent trip.....I left my iPhone on as usual, and used the wifi at MK and the resorts. My wife and I did buy a texting bundle for texting home, and for when we were in non wifi areas. The price for that is reasonable if you need it. The only charges we incurred were for the US text package. There is no charge for keeping your phone on......of course making phone calls will be extra. Hope that helps!

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[grover]

Nope - not quite.

Turning your phone to airplane mode will disable wifi. You need to go into your settings and turn off data roaming instead. Airplane mode essentially turns your iPhone into an iPod.

The downside to your plan is that the actual "phone" part of your iPhone will still be working, so you run the risk of some fairly significant phone bills if you make or receive any calls.

I "think" (and you should double check this), that even with data roaming disabled, you will still receive text messages as well, the cost of which could be quite significant. I am not 100% certain of this though.

thanks for the tip ..I have not had to turn off the data for so long..I am glad I asked because I never would have gone into the screens you mentioned..I know I have in the past now that I checked it is coming back to me..lol! I rarely use my phone as a phone..so should be good there.

 

[grover]

Hi Grover

Airplane mode will likely turn off your wifi! What you need to do is make sure data roaming is off.....for most iPhones the default is off....so no 3G data usage occurs unless you turn it on. Data roaming is found in settings/General/Network So for our recent trip.....I left my iPhone on as usual, and used the wifi at MK and the resorts. My wife and I did buy a texting bundle for texting home, and for when we were in non wifi areas. The price for that is reasonable if you need it. The only charges we incurred were for the US text package. There is no charge for keeping your phone on......of course making phone calls will be extra. Hope that helps!

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

Very helpful! Thanks..you guys are awesome

 

[Geodoc]

More good news...EPCOT has free wifi..... http://www.orlandosentinel.com/busi...ism-disney-wifi-0903-20120903,0,4402263.story

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[MaMudduck]

Very helpful! Thanks..you guys are awesome

Hey Grover
I haven't spoking with you in ages...when are your dates for WDW. Looks like all us Cdn. go the same time when we return the WDW. We are going Sept 29-Oct 6.

 

[chimo2u]

Hey Grover
I haven't spoking with you in ages...when are your dates for WDW. Looks like all us Cdn. go the same time when we return the WDW. We are going Sept 29-Oct 6.

It's looking like it might be more busy than I thought! I too, will be there Sept 28-Oct 4.... Then move over to Universal Oct 4,5,6 and depart home Oct 7. I hope it's not toooo busy
Thanks for the cell phone tips. I am buying my son unlimited US text for $40 (Telus) for his iPhone, and I'll buy 200 outgoing, unlimited incoming text for $30 (BELL) for my iPhone. And I'll use wifi where I can....POLY, MK and Epcot....I figure that should keep us connected in the event we split up, and give me enough texts to say ui to DH who'll be holding the fort down at home with our FUR BABY/ FELINE!

 

[grover]

omgohs..Hi!! how are you?

lol..okay..i see now i have not updated my ticker that is from last year..lol! we are not going until next fall..plan to take my nephew!

Hey Grover
I haven't spoking with you in ages...when are your dates for WDW. Looks like all us Cdn. go the same time when we return the WDW. We are going Sept 29-Oct 6.

 

[HeatherLassell]

Yay! Thanks for posting how to turn off data! I'm not used to my iPhone yet!

I'm also going this month!!

Sept 29-Oct 10 at POR!

 

[sare]

I called Telus (my provider) and asked them the best way to avoid data roaming charges (iPhone), unwanted calls/texts while im in the park, and to still be able to use the wifi. They told me, outside of buying a travel package, what they can do is put a temporary block (1 week for me) on my data, calling, texting while I am away and this will insure no fees will incure. They also said that it may be possible for me to retrieve these texts when I return and cancel the block. They also said that this would be free of charge for them to do. My phone would still work perfectly with wifi for email, imessage, facetime, apps etc. Im sure Rogers will do a similar thing.