Communication in the parks, cell phone question

[mommymanda]

I really don't want to pay my Cell provider for their 31day package when we are only out of the country for 10 days no matter how "great" the package is.

What options do we have? I know its free WiFi throughout parks (resorts?) and DH and I both have Iphones so we can Imessage each other with that correct? Really its an off chance we'll be separated, but just in case. Can we function with just the Wifi, home updates through Facebook or such? Is the connection decent enough?

If we should look into the roaming, what other options are out there? As mentioned my options are $7.99/day or a 31day package both of which x2 if we want it on both phones. I want something in between and they are not offering that as an option so I'd rather not give them any money.

 

[bdoyledimou]

everyone in our family downloaded the free skype app and used that while we were in the parks -- it works, and it's free for wifi skype to skype use

just turn on airplane mode, then enable the wifi.

 

[CanadianPaco]

everyone in our family downloaded the free skype app and used that while we were in the parks -- it works, and it's free for wifi skype to skype use

just turn on airplane mode, then enable the wifi.

Very cool!!!

 

[mcgrathkg]

I agree. The WIFI is pretty decent throughout the entire resort, although it can be a bit slow. If you live in an area where Wind Mobile operates, they have $15 unlimited US roaming including data, also. You'd roam on AT&T / T-Mobile.

 

[Tanooki]

We bought Tracfones that we use whenever we go. They were 15$ each at Walmart and you can add plans as little as 9.99$ for 30 minutes (that doubles since we bought the phones at W-M and it's a perk offered from Tracfone). Very useful since we drive down and it was nice when we did our big family reunion in 2 cars!

 

[formill]

We just bought a SIM card from roam mobility.........they had a buy one get one half price - not sure if that deal is still on. Shipping was free. We used it for a one day trip to Buffalo and it worked perfectly. Your phones have to be unlocked though. If wifi is good in the parks though and that is the only place you will be I would not bother with anything else. We stay offsite in Florida and travel often on day trips to the states- our cell phone plans are pay as you go with President's Choice so they have nothing that works stateside.

http://www.roammobility.com/sim-card

 

[CanadianPaco]

Okay next question : how do you unlock an iPhone ?

 

[bankr63]

Another for ROAM Mobility. It's a Canadian company re-packaging US cell service for about $4/day, but your daily data and voice allowances FAR surpass what Rogers/Bell offer. Free calling and texting back to Canada too. The other nice thing over US PAYG phones is that it's easy to keep your number active; I kept having to send the Tracfones to recycling because I didn't keep the plans active.

 

[bankr63]

Okay next question : how do you unlock an iPhone ?

If you bought your phone direct from Apple, it should be unlocked. If you bought it on a plan from a provider, it will be locked to that provider.

Safest way is to get your provider to do it for you if the phone is no longer under contract. They generally won't unlock your phone if you are still under contract. Eventually this unlock should be free in Canada if the bill ever passes in Parliament. For now you will have to pay them to unlock.

I am a techie, so I just unlock my phones (android) by purchasing and downloading the unlock code from the internet ($10-20). This can be done for any phone, whether on contract or not. There are simple instructions to follow along for any phone on the internet.

 

[minnie mum]

everyone in our family downloaded the free skype app and used that while we were in the parks -- it works, and it's free for wifi skype to skype use

just turn on airplane mode, then enable the wifi.

We have an android phone (and tablets). For other android users: could we do essentially the same thing using Hangouts?

 

[formill]

We have iphone, and android and last year in Florida we used BBM........we all had to get it on all our devices but it worked great........we had photos in there and I liked you could add all to the group so when I said "anybody want to go shopping" or something equally "important" I just did a one click sent to them all-we created a family group. For some reason we rarely talk or yell but are always texting even in the same house......have also used heywire for texting via wifi- my 2 younger that don't have phones yet but have ipods use that but they also have BBM on them too. Note- heywire gives you a US number and some providers in Canada will charge you to text a US number. I have not used hangouts for my daughter and dad complained about it too much-they did not like it. There are a lot of different apps for texting over wifi. I think you just have to find one you like using.

I paid $40 to Koodo to unlock my daughter's old phone so I could use it- tried an online one and it would not work. It's an android and just put in code and it was done. Any Nexus phones are unlocked though.

 

[pigletto]

We did something similar to the Skype thing.. but just downloaded Blackberry Messanger. None of us have Blackberries anymore.. 2 iPhones and a Galaxy4. Worked like a charm.

 

[goofyintoronto]

We have an android phone (and tablets). For other android users: could we do essentially the same thing using Hangouts?

I have android as well. I believe the answer is yes. As long as you have wifi, you should be fine!

In Florida, my son communicates with his dad (both videochat/facetime, text, AND phone calls) from the TANGO app. Download it for free, its wonderful! I love that disney has wifi everywhere. Before disney had free wifi everywhere, I used a calling card and called from my room (1800 #'s are free from disney room phones).

 

[minnie mum]

I have android as well. I believe the answer is yes. As long as you have wifi, you should be fine!

In Florida, my son communicates with his dad (both videochat/facetime, text, AND phone calls) from the TANGO app. Download it for free, its wonderful! I love that disney has wifi everywhere. Before disney had free wifi everywhere, I used a calling card and called from my room (1800 #'s are free from disney room phones).

Thank you! I'll check out that app.

 

[KateDrake]

Our family uses an app called Kik messenger. Works great! We use it all the time at home, since our family is still back in the US. Basically works like texting over wifi. We love it, and find that it works really well!

 

[EastYorkDisneyFan]

If everyone in your family has a facebook acount you can use the facebook messenger app to send messages back and forth over wifi and can even make voice calls for free over wifi otherwise normal data rates apply also it doesn't matter what device you have because it can be used on tablets as well as a phone.

 

[katt789]

Don't bother with a roaming thing, it really doesn't work out to be worth it.

Use the wifi, know that the Imessage isn't very reliable, as you both have to be connected to use it, I get messages hours after they're sent. We usually use facebook messages to keep in touch because it's that much more reliable.

I've used the "data/roaming" plan once and it ended up being WAY more costly than they said it would be!

 

[Sue M]

We ate on Telus. They have a $45 plan with unlimited texting, and I believe it's 150 min voice & 150 data.
Relying on wifi at parks is dicey after 12:00 ish when parks fill up. At resort wifi works great, but trying to get on MDE at parks after 12:00 I started taking screen shots of FPs each day before leaving room.

 

[Iralyn]

In my online research, it appears to me that texts without a roaming plan are 75 cents with many providers. So, I'm thinking that the Wifi messaging plus texts as backup could be a reasonable plan or am I missing something?

 

[iceprincesskcl]

We all use BBM to contact eachother over wifi! Mom has a blackberry and the rest have iPhones