Cell Phones in DL

[heatherleigh]

Does anyone else notice their cell phone uses up an exceptionally large amount of battery while in the parks? This was my observation on our last trip in 2010.

I had an iPhone then (not sure which model), but I remember having to use it sparingly throughout the day. Despite the fact I decreased usage, it was dead by 1P every day. I was never able to use the Mousewait ap for long, because of this. I am hoping this was just my particular phone, and not the norm. I have found this to be the case at Sports Authority Field in DEN as well. Maybe I need to upgrade my phone?

I do not talk on the phone in the parks, but the battery still continues to decrease rapidly from texting.

 

[BMICKEY]

Mine drains fast too. I turn off everything that pushes - emails, Mousewait, Facebook, Twitter - everything you can think of...I tend to take a lot of pics to post on Facebook (hey, I gotta share my love with the peeps at home!) and text throughout the day.

Mousewait actually has a section that tells you where the charging stations are in the park. What they really are are outlets - for instance, in the Fire Station on the back wall is an outlet.

Batteries in phones only have a 1-2 year life before they start draining faster than brand new. Try to only charge your phone once it is completly dead and always turn off your phone once a day to refresh it's little computer brain.

 

[sonnyjane]

Also remember that some of the waiting areas don't have cell service (like Space Mountain, Indiana Jones, or inside Tower of Terror sometimes). During that time your phone is wasting battery searching for a signal and it drains quickly.

 

[DizMe]

Same problem here. Two things helped greatly, I found. First, I turned off the Mobile Data. That allowed me to get and send emails, texts and phone calls but no internet (so no Mousewait). My battery lasted just fine but at the cost of having a smartphone! Then I tried just shutting off the WiFi, which I didn't remember was on, and that worked even better because I could still do everything and the battery didn't drain like before.

I have a Samsung Droid Charge.

 

[Eeee-va]

I had this problem with my incredibly old not-remotely-smartphone with its very old battery. Buying a new (not-quite-as-dumb) phone fixed the problem. The battery still drains faster than usual, but it will definitely get through a day. I'm guessing it's because the phone spends a lot of time searching for signal, as sonnyjane mentioned.

I'd guess a phone probably drains something in the ballpark of twice as quickly at DL. If so, then if you HAVE to charge your phone nightly normally, it might not make it through a DL day.