Cell Phone Vs.Pager in the parks?

[Laz]

I was reading in a previous post about how cell phone usage in the parks is getting to the point of being annoying. With that in mind, here is my situation:

This June, I am traveling with a group of my High School students to WDW for the National Leadership Conference of the Future Business Leaders of America. In order to be available to them if they need me, should I rent a pager from the Swan/Dolphin business services, or should I just use my cell phone? The students can use any phone from almost any location in WDW to page me for free. Four years ago I used a pager and never got paged, but I only had six students. I could have over 10 this year including some 9th graders.

Your thoughts???

 

[bbowers]

Set your cell phone to vibrate and keep your voice low!

 

[Leota]

Cell phone seems more convienent to me. I use mine to meet up with friends/family when I'm there & it always works fine.

 

[robyn323]

Yeah I have to agree. Set it too vibrate. I myself have to have my cell on when not at home. I have a elderly mother at home that I worry about. although my brothers and sister assure me everything will be fine while were gone I will still worry.

 

[Talking Hands]

Cell phone and tell them to text message you. Most high school students know how do that now days. Then you don't disturb anyone.

 

[G00fyDad]

I just bought a new phone that has the ability to go silent/vibrate with 2 button pushes. Maybe yours has this. When you dont want to disturb people just hit the buttons quickly and when you're done (off the ride) set it back quickly. I also have a template set up that is set for my wifes cell that simply says "call my cell". I can get to that and send it with 4 button pushes. That way she can call at her convienence.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

I agree about using the cell phone but I have a caveat. I never heard the ring or the vibrate. The background noise in the park is pretty loud although it doesn't seem like it. The only time I heard the phone was when I was holding it.

 

[madalex]

I was reading in a previous post about how cell phone usage in the parks is getting to the point of being annoying.

While I would suggest that cell phone usage everywhere in America is getting pretty annoying, I can't say that I have experienced or heard about this at WDW. What exactly is being said in this regard?

 

[MUFFYCAT]

The cell phone is definetly the way to go. As long as you have it on vibrate it won't annoy anyone. I never had a problem with them at the parks.
They are so much better than those 2-way radios that you would her every other kid in the park except your own.

 

[G00fyDad]

Just use a cell phone. Turn it off/silent when you go on a ride. Chances are that most rides you wont be able to hear or even use the thing while riding anyway. But if it is a quiet ride then please respect others and turn it off/silent. It isnt hard to make one silent. And IMHO if you dont know how to do this then you have no business owning the technology.

 

[BethC1952]

The real problem with cell phones happens when people have non-urgent, extended conversations in the middle of a show--"Hey, guess what! I'm at Epcot and watching the American Adventure and this is what they're saying now", then repeating the ENTIRE show as it happens, very loudly, after yelling (loudly and rudely) at someone in the row ahead to turn off a video camera because the little red light was distracting from their enjoyment of the show!

If you need it for urgent purposes, by all means, carry it. It's so much easier than a beeper! Just set it to vibrate if you can, or to ring as softly as possible. If it rings during a show, either leave the theater or tell the caller you'll call back at the end of the show.

Beth