Cell phones or two-way radios? What's best?

[Snow Orange]

We'll be there on April 14 -- one of the busiest weeks ever it seems. We have a diverse age and interest family so we plan to split up sometimes.

What is the best way of communicating? We had planned on using the cell phones - on vibrate in pockets, of course, but will we be able to hear each other? Should we invest in two way radios?

Or go back to the -- meet us at (insert certain time) at (insert certain lamp post or bench)!?! That's what we did with my parents 30 years ago. There were also a few less people interested in going in the 70s and it was not near as crowded.

 

[LavenderPeach]

I would think that cell phones would be better than 2-way radios, especially since you already have them. We've done 2-way radios at DL before and they worked fine but that was back before we had a cell phone. It might be good to agree on a meeting time and place too if you know a general time you want to all join up again so that you have a plan and aren't just waiting around for the other people to call you to decide what to do next.

 

[ratherbe@disneyland]

CELL PHONES! LOL. We took 2 way radios once, and there were all these kids on there just talking and screaming and stuff. And you couldn't even tell if they were someone you knew. I highly recommend cell phones!

 

[SeansMom]

We used two way radios and it was REALLY hard to hear when somebody was calling you. (Also, teens seem to find it vastly amusing to mess with other people's communication, not always in a mean way, but still!) With a cell phone, you could text or leave a message; very convenient.

We also had a back up plan; where to meet if we couldn't get in touch, which worked out well.

 

[glendalais]

Indeed, April 14 is right smack in the middle of our Spring Break peak period, it will be packed.

There are pros and cons to each.

Cell Phones are much less annoying than radios, and can also call 911 in an emergency, but they do tend to get lost (which poses a whole other set of issues).

Radios, on the other hand, don't have those many issues if they're lost, but you do have to deal with the very real possibility, particularly during your dates, that all the radio frequencies will be taken up by other people. It can and does happen. Not to mention that they're quite loud.

If you do go with a radio, take this page from the Disney CM Handbook: get an earpiece, preferably with an included microphone. It allows you to use a radio without having everyone within earshot hear the details of what's being said, sorta like a cellphone, and you can hear it quite clearly compared to without an earpiece. You also don't have to keep reaching for the thing every time you want to say something. And, the cool thing, if you ever need to quickly exit a conversation, you can just get this blank look on your face like you're hearing a message on the earpiece, say something random, and walk away .

Yes, I do use those things way too much in the course of work, lol

Or, if all else fails, you can leave written messages, such as where to meet, for other members in your party at City Hall on Main Street USA at Disneyland Park, or at the Guest Relations Lobby in Sunshine Plaza at Disney's California Adventure Park.

 

[magicallyDisney001]

Personally, I'd prefer cell phones. If hearing is a problem (which it always is in Disneyland!), and you have a texting plan, texting would be very convenient, especially if you type out and save some messages beforehand. (ex. Going on a ride, meet you in 15 minutes.) Even without texting, I would still suggest cell phones. Two-way radios can be bulky and tiring to carry around. Have a great trip!

 

[wideeyedwonder]

What is the best way of communicating?

Texting, with vibration "on" worked really well for us. Then again, we have cell phones with a mini keyboard, so it was easy for us to keep up. Kids seem to be able to text really fast using only the phone number keys!

 

[Sherwin]

Radios, on the other hand, don't have those many issues if they're lost, but you do have to deal with the very real possibility, particularly during your dates, that all the radio frequencies will be taken up by other people. It can and does happen. Not to mention that they're quite loud.

I will agree with this. I've seen plenty of folk use radios before, and who knows who might be chattering away on your frequency. Besides, you don't want to end up messing with security or police airwaves!

 

[Grumpy'sWife4Ever]

I agree that cell phones - and particularly if you have a texting plan - are the way to go. Not to mention that if you happen to come across a photo op and your camera isn't handy you can use your cell camera in pinch! (And then send the photo to all your friends back home to really rub it in that you are at DL and they aren't......)

 

[avalon451]

Cell phones. It's hard to hear all over the parks because there's ALWAYS music and background ambient noise, so 2 way radios would be even harder to make out than cell phones. Like the PPs, we found it easiest to keep the phones on vibrate (or I'd never hear mine ring!) and text each other.

 

[LuLusApple]

Years ago we used radios and ended up on the same frequency with another family similar to our own. We thought we were speaking to our two boys making plans where to meet for dinner. Only to be speaking to someone else's boys who were obviously confused about our plans. My DH was getting very upset at these boys who had apparently been promised a "parent free" evening.
Well we didn't get this straightened out for hours. Hours of us thinking our kids were nuts! Finaly we happened to run into our boys who were starving and couldn't figure out why we were ditching them for dinner
No more radios for us..... Just texting quiet and almost foolproof

 

[Sherwin]

Years ago we used radios and ended up on the same frequency with another family similar to our own. We thought we were speaking to our two boys making plans where to meet for dinner. Only to be speaking to someone else's boys who were obviously confused about our plans. My DH was getting very upset at these boys who had apparently been promised a "parent free" evening.
Well we didn't get this straightened out for hours. Hours of us thinking our kids were nuts! Finaly we happened to run into our boys who were starving and couldn't figure out why we were ditching them for dinner
No more radios for us..... Just texting quiet and almost foolproof

That is HILARIOUS!

 

[PinkBudgie]

We used cell phones last time too. The secret with radios is to use code names and/or passwords so you know who you are talking to.

 

[Snow Orange]

Great advice and stories. Sometimes I don't know what's better to read - your experiences or the funny stories - it's nice to get both. Thanks!

 

[pixiewings71]

We use cell phones and if for whatever reason the kids go off on their own they take one of our phones with them.

 

[firefly87]

We all used cell phones on our trip. The only thing I noticed was that when I had the phone in my pocket on vibrate, if I was walking around or sitting on a ride, I sometimes didn't notice the vibration. I just kept checking my phone every so often to see if I had missed any calls.

My kids used those 2 way radios when we went on a ski trip a couple months ago. They heard all kinds of things on it! There is a certain chair lift at our favorite ski resort that tends to have things hanging in the branches, like mardi gras beads and there are some girl thong panties and a bra. Well I had always joked with my husband that I was going to bring up a pair of some big ole granny panties to throw up in the tree (but I never did). Anyway, my kids heard some lady talking on the radio that she was going to throw some big panties in the tree. They started cracking up and the next time they rode that chair lift, there were certainly some big giant panties hanging in the tree!!

 

[lntsmom]

I agree...cell phones! We used radios on our last trip and the one time we needed them there was so much chatter going on that we couldn't get through to each other.

This time we're going to do cell phones for sure!

 

[nunzia]

Cell phones for sure..we tried radios once and kept picking up other people..work crews, etc..very confusing. We would pre set up a meeting place and when we got called (because someone was riding a ride others didn't want to or shopping or whatever) we wouldn't even answer, we'd just know it was time to head to the hub or whatever. Worked very well..

 

[SGTGoofy]

definatly go with cell phones! being in the military i thought I would be all "high speed" and take radios with ear pieces only to find out that everyone and their dog had the same idea and ended ditching the radios and went to the cell phones put them on vibrate and also used blue tooth ear pieces for when we needed to actually talk. as pointed out before with phones you also have the added convience of an additional camera and the ability to call your bank, emergency personel, or anyone that you may need to call.

 

[Teki]

I use a combo of cell's and meet me here type deal. That way if I find myself playing phone tag I know that eventually Ill find the person. Two way radios always lead inevitably to talking to someone else group as well and that can get pretty confusing.