Cellphones in Disneyland: My observations

[jenpace]

Honestly, when I'm at DL I try not to pass judgment on other guests.

Having an 8 y/o daughter with an invisible disability who needs a wheelchair to get around the parks gives me a different perspective I guess. You just never know why someone is on their phone texting, updating to Facebook/Twitter or even why a kid is playing an electronic game. It's really none of anyone's business but theirs, is it?

 

[TheColtonsMom]

Honestly, when I'm at DL I try not to pass judgment on other guests.

Having an 8 y/o daughter with an invisible disability who needs a wheelchair to get around the parks gives me a different perspective I guess. You just never know why someone is on their phone texting, updating to Facebook/Twitter or even why a kid is playing an electronic game. It's really none of anyone's business but theirs, is it?

Good Point...

 

[Funball]

Honestly, when I'm at DL I try not to pass judgment on other guests.

Having an 8 y/o daughter with an invisible disability who needs a wheelchair to get around the parks gives me a different perspective I guess. You just never know why someone is on their phone texting, updating to Facebook/Twitter or even why a kid is playing an electronic game. It's really none of anyone's business but theirs, is it?

exatly. it's no ones business why really who person A is texting or what person B is sending to Facebook, they may have family members that are watching there trip via facebook .. who knows..they are connecting with friends or family via the cellphone and i say more power to them!

 

[joeysmommy]

I agree, I really noticed the increased use of smartphones/texting while in line for rides on our trip in February. My kids are not allowed to bring their DSi into the park becuz that is antisocial, we are there to be together not tune each other out.

My mom and niece couldn't come on this tip so a few times a day I would let the kids take a picture with my phone and send to them. We played a a "where in disneyland is this item?" It was pretty fun for all of us.
But if I did reply to a text I waited til we were back in our room...nothing is that important unless its a true emergency
My kids enjoyed checking mousewait before heading over to a ride but otherwise I try to limit cell phone/texting while with family in the park.

 

[JH87]

I just got back from a trip where I was the only one in my little group with no smartphone! And a lame battery that dies very quickly. So i understand the sort of frustration. As we were in line for rides i was the only one not burriend in a cell phone. and i was kinda glad. sure it would pass the time to get on FB or something, but it's fun to just enjoy the people around you and the environment. the only time i was happy that my friends had smartphones was to check mouse wait! other than that it was quite annoying. i mean, this is DISNEYLAND for heaven sakes!! it's not like it's a boring place.

 

[barefootmomma]

We returned from another wonderful trip to Disneyland about a month ago and I noticed a real difference this time in the use of cellphones. Everywhere we went it seemed, whether lining up for a ride, walking through the parks, watching fireworks, people were either on their phones, texting, or I assume on facebook. twitter, etc.

Now, I don't discount the convenience and fun of technology or the benefits of being "connected" at all times. What disturbed me about it all was how "unconnected" many of the users were with their park companions, children, and the experience of Disneyland itself. It stuck me as kind of sad that people can't just enjoy the experience of Disneyland and the company of their companions without needing to either tweet about it or check Facebook.
I actually saw one mom of 2 daughters entirely ignoring them while on her Blackberry in Space Mountain. The 2 daughters were in the queue for one row and she was in for the next row. The little daughter (4-5 maybe) actually went toward the car when it wasn't time and the older daughter had to pull her back behind the gate. Mom was oblivious.

Thoughts?

Yep, yep, and yep yep. I've not read any of the other responses, but I absolutely agree with you. People can of course do whatever they choose, but my time at Disneyland is sans phone unless absolutely necessary for immediate communication with another person in my group if we're separated, or to check the time for a quick moment.

 

[Mom2aJessieGirl]

Being self employed, my phone is my lifeline. Everything is a virtual office for me. I get my personal calls, business calls, emails, faxes, all info right to that little device on my hip. It is that technology that allows me, and affords me the ability to go to the park as much as I do. I have no issue when I am there with someone checking or replying to an emial or checking a voicemail. I love using the Mousewait app and love to ability to look up if the Mark Tawin is a real steam boat or when a ride was installed...makes for a fun trip!

My parents have their own business and when I was younger I could tell you where every pay phone was located at WDW! He would get a page, and we'd have to track down a pay phone.

We joked around on our last trip to DLR this summer that it was a TOTALLY different experience not having to run down a pay phone every time my dad got a page. In fact, he was able to do much of his business through texting!

 

[Mama Who]

I actually saw one mom of 2 daughters entirely ignoring them while on her Blackberry in Space Mountain. The 2 daughters were in the queue for one row and she was in for the next row. The little daughter (4-5 maybe) actually went toward the car when it wasn't time and the older daughter had to pull her back behind the gate. Mom was oblivious.

Thoughts?

While she should have been paying more attention, my first thought is that perhaps she's texting Dad who is elsewhere with other kids regarding a meet up. DH and I frequently call each other at the park because we split up. I like to enter the park early, he likes to sleep in along with DS. Anyone offended by the fact that he's on the phone to me while walking in with DS probably needs to take a deep breath and get over it. It isn't hurting anyone else and we are capable of figuring out what works best for our family.

 

[groovygirl927]

The one time at disneyland where I can say the use of a cell phone bothered me was inside the haunted mansion a teenage girl was trying to check her messages (we were in the house not in line) enjoy your time at the park. In line my and my kids talk and joke around talk to others in line. That is what I did when I was a kid at Disneyland.

There are two reasons I carry my cell phone with me at the park 1. if we seperate and need to contact to meet up again and 2. if I am there without my kids (they know to call for emergencies). I am not a big cell phone user and didn't have one for years. The only reason I have one now is because of my kids-They were starting to do to many activities on own and with friends that I wanted them to be able to reach me.

 

[lapdwife]

Well there are families who spend time together whether in the park or not I see no problem with one bringing technology with them to the parks....

 

[Piglet99645]

Lots of interesting points in this thread.

I'll be using mine only if we get separated as a group, to take photos, or to check wait times. I'm just happy to hear they work in the park!!!

 

[jenpace]

Well there are families who spend time together whether in the park or not I see no problem with one bringing technology with them to the parks....

This exactly!! I know that for my family, keeping in touch with dh while we spend the day at DL is really important for our daughters on trips when he can't get the time off to join us, makes us all feel like he's able to enjoy the park with us.

I'm really a bit sad after reading some of the replies to this thread. In my mind the more disturbing behavior isn't using your cell phone or kids having their DSi with them at the park but all the judging. This thread started out talking about phones at DL and has morphed into a discussion on the evils of dvd players in minivans!

Unless someone is being rude or inconsiderate with whatever they're doing (cell phone or otherwise) just enjoy yourselves people, you're at Disneyland! Stop worrying about other people. I just don't get it

 

[bethy]

For us a vacation is not a vacation unless we are unplugged. We have to fly to DLR and so for us a visit there is a vacation. I can see how our situation might be different if we were local and did frequent day trips throughout the year.

We have cheap prepaid basic phones that we purchased just for travelling - for emergencies and so that we can communicate with each other if we get seperated. We leave our smartphones and laptops at home. Quite honestly we know ourselves well enough to know that we wouldn't have the self discipline to leave them alone if we brought them with us.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

We don't tweet or facebook, but the first time we went to DL with our iPhones, it added so much to the park expereince. There was a local band at Tomorrowland Terrace that we really enjoyed, so while waiting to hop the train, we checked them out on Wikipedia. The next night, the lead singer at TT announced that he was doing a song in honor of Les Paul, who had just passed away. The death was news to us, so it was great being able to get the details immediately. -- Suzanne

 

[blackjackdelta]

We don't tweet or facebook, but the first time we went to DL with our iPhones, it added so much to the park expereince. There was a local band at Tomorrowland Terrace that we really enjoyed, so while waiting to hop the train, we checked them out on Wikipedia. The next night, the lead singer at TT announced that he was doing a song in honor of Les Paul, who had just passed away. The death was news to us, so it was great being able to get the details immediately. -- Suzanne

I remember 8/12/2009 very well, we were headed to the park when a friend (Steve Vai) called and gave me the news. He was a master above all and a great human being. Our kids use their phone to keep in touch with each other while around the park and look at wait times, never in line.

Jack

 

[Mugglemama]

I remember 8/12/2009 very well, we were headed to the park when a friend (Steve Vai) called and gave me the news. He was a master above all and a great human being. Our kids use their phone to keep in touch with each other while around the park and look at wait times, never in line.

Jack

Steve Vai is your friend?!!! I'll bet *that's* fun to say! I don't know any famous musicians....well, my Dad's best friend played drums for Art Pepper...does that count, lol?

Anyway, as to the cell phone issue...I think it's pretty silly that anyone would even bother having an opinion about what other people do with their phones in the parks - as long as it doesn't impose on them personally in some way.

We've never actually visited the parks with a smart phone (just got one recently), but I'm really looking forward to being able to post to FB during our visit the next time we go! And as far as texting...I have 4 kids, and although only one of them currently carries a cell phone (19 and in college...), it enables me to talk to her at any moment of any day - which actually means we communicate MORE than we would if she didn't carry one, especially since she lives in a different state right now for school. Cell phones are awesome, IMHO. (and that's coming from a mom of 4 who seriously could not be accused of EVER neglecting her kids in ANY form, even for a moment - in a competition for "Most Attentive Mom" - I'd be very hard to beat! ). Cell phones also make it possible for DH and I to have conversations we couldn't always otherwise have in the parks...due to noise or privacy issues. So for our family, technology enhances our communication, and I don't expect it to be different when we're in the parks.

 

[blackjackdelta]

Steve Vai is your friend?!!! I'll bet *that's* fun to say! I don't know any famous musicians....well, my Dad's best friend played drums for Art Pepper...does that count, lol?

Anyway, as to the cell phone issue...I think it's pretty silly that anyone would even bother having an opinion about what other people do with their phones in the parks - as long as it doesn't impose on them personally in some way.

We've never actually visited the parks with a smart phone (just got one recently), but I'm really looking forward to being able to post to FB during our visit the next time we go! And as far as texting...I have 4 kids, and although only one of them currently carries a cell phone (19 and in college...), it enables me to talk to her at any moment of any day - which actually means we communicate MORE than we would if she didn't carry one, especially since she lives in a different state right now for school. Cell phones are awesome, IMHO. (and that's coming from a mom of 4 who seriously could not be accused of EVER neglecting her kids in ANY form, even for a moment - in a competition for "Most Attentive Mom" - I'd be very hard to beat! ). Cell phones also make it possible for DH and I to have conversations we couldn't always otherwise have in the parks...due to noise or privacy issues. So for our family, technology enhances our communication, and I don't expect it to be different when we're in the parks.

Not to hijack but Steve plays Ibenez,(have not said that in a couple of years, he is a friend and it is no big deal) but I met him thru another friend Richie Blackmore when Steve was getting started. Most folks would not have a clue.
I do not like people getting in my space with their phones. I am very hard of hearing and to get me going it takes alot. I think people need to be respectful of thers when they us them. 99% of my posts are written on an Iphone and I use it for the internet, but very rarely talk on it, it is my pocket computer.

Jack

 

[Piglet99645]

Oh, the Heytell app would be great at the parks. It works like a walkie talkie on your phone.

 

[Mugglemama]

Not to hijack but Steve plays Ibenez,(have not said that in a couple of years, he is a friend and it is no big deal) but I met him thru another friend Richie Blackmore when Steve was getting started. Most folks would not have a clue.
I do not like people getting in my space with their phones. I am very hard of hearing and to get me going it takes alot. I think people need to be respectful of thers when they us them. 99% of my posts are written on an Iphone and I use it for the internet, but very rarely talk on it, it is my pocket computer.

Jack

I only know who he is because I spent my adolescence hopelessly in love with Eddy Van Halen (blech!), so of course when Steve Vai replaced him, his name was burned into my brain forever, lol.

 

[CrazyDuck]

I use my phone to make better use of my time in DL... With apps like mousewait I can see how long the wait is to ride autopia and can then decide wether or not we should try and ride it without having to trek across the park... Instant Facebook updates are fun as well but I usually post those while waiting for DW and DD are off riding something... I save the big daily FB updates til after the kiddos are sleeping!