Disneyland: MB/day to use the phone app

[Reepicheep]

We just completed our yearly summer trip to Disneyland, and overall things went quite well. The new "instant fastpass" system was especially nice to use.

We've never used a cell phone during our yearly trips, but I realized on this trip that it would have been nice to have access to the Disneyland app for two reasons:

(1) to find out current wait times for rides, and

(2) to know the current times being give out by the various fastpass attractions.

My daughter's cell phone plan is with KOODO. Their basic roaming data plan costs $5/20MB which, from what I've read in other threads in this sub-forum, is on the expensive side.

I was wondering if anyone has an estimate of how much data they use, while at Disneyland, to use the Disneyland app? We wouldn't use the app for anything other than checking out ride wait times and fastpass times. If we would only use (say) 10mb/day of data, then the default plan is probably good enough for us. If we would use (say) 100mb/day, then the default Koodo plan would certainly be too expensive, and we would have to find a better alternative.

Any advice, anyone?

 

[westcoastminnie]

We recently had 10 park days at Disneyland. We used the app mostly when connected to the free wi-fi and then supplemented with data when we weren't in a hotspot. We barely used any data, definitely nowhere near 10mb/day. This was using it for checking wait-times/Fastpass return times only. I think if you're using PhotoPass or doing other things that can increase usage.

They launched MaxPass after we left, so not sure if that would have increased our usage a bit? However I have also heard that the wifi is improving.

 

[22Tink]

I'm in BC with Telus and pay $7/day for 'EasyRoam'. It basically uses my existing Canadian text/talk/data plan (I have 1GB per month) and just charges me the $7 per day that I use it for roaming. If the wifi is good enough and I don't have to turn my data on then I don't get charged. My daughters are with Bell and have a similar roaming plan. I thought most carriers offered some sort of plan like that but I guess not Koodo. My son is with Koodo so that's good to know as I've never checked roaming plans for him. I have no idea how much data the app uses but I'd think if you're careful (maybe download a data tracker?) and use wifi when you can you might be ok?

 

[Mama Bear Me2]

We just completed our yearly summer trip to Disneyland, and overall things went quite well. The new "instant fastpass" system was especially nice to use.

We've never used a cell phone during our yearly trips, but I realized on this trip that it would have been nice to have access to the Disneyland app for two reasons:

(1) to find out current wait times for rides, and

(2) to know the current times being give out by the various fastpass attractions.

My daughter's cell phone plan is with KOODO. Their basic roaming data plan costs $5/20MB which, from what I've read in other threads in this sub-forum, is on the expensive side.

I was wondering if anyone has an estimate of how much data they use, while at Disneyland, to use the Disneyland app? We wouldn't use the app for anything other than checking out ride wait times and fastpass times. If we would only use (say) 10mb/day of data, then the default plan is probably good enough for us. If we would use (say) 100mb/day, then the default Koodo plan would certainly be too expensive, and we would have to find a better alternative.

Any advice, anyone?

Hi ... we just returned from a July visit and used the Disneyland App to check wait times (note: NO Maxpass usage). We had 1 GB (GB not MB) of data and we didn't use much data. The 1 GB of data was sufficient for checking wait times. However, I'm not sure how much data would be used if MaxPass was used.

If you have an UNLOCKED phone, I suggest you look into Roam Mobility. We used them and were quite happy with the service. We were in the LA and Anaheim area. Service in the parks was good ... dropped service in rides such as Soaring and sometimes in buildings. If service was dropped outside it was quickly rectified by turning my phone on and off.

Roam Mobility has daily rates and also monthly rates (we used the monthly rate since it made more sense for our visit). Another plus is that Roam Mobility plans include calls to Canada which (I was previously advised by others on Disboards) some other carriers will charge for calls made to a Canadian number.

Here's the link if want more info on Roam Mobility:

https://roammobility.com/plans

Note: To check monthly rates, you will need to click on the monthly tab

Note: We bought our Roam Mobility SIM card at a retail outlet (paid CDN funds) and the plan was paid for online and in CDN funds

Note: You can keep the SIM card active and keep the USA number assigned to you if you keep a balance (ie. purchase a plan) ... people on DisBoard reported that they kept "moving forward" their activation date until they were ready to use the plan on their account

There's another thread re: Cell use in USA that you might want to check out:

https://www.disboards.com/threads/cell-phone-plan-in-the-us.3622676/

Good luck!

 

[Reepicheep]

Thanks for your input, everyone. I now have a much better understanding of what's involved in setting up "US Roaming". I found some additional Koodo plans, the most cost effective being a 30 day plan for $75 (750mb), so the roammobility plans would seem to be a much better deal, although I'm currently leaning towards paying more for the convenience and simplicity of using one of the Koodo plans. Our next Disneyland trip won't be until August/2018, so I have lots of time to figure out what to do.

In regards to daily data usage, from what Westcoastminnie wrote, it appears using the Disney app for checking wait times and fastpass return times will result in minimal data usage.

It occurred to me last night that, even though I'm in Edmonton, I should be able to test the app from here, in order to get an accurate estimate of data usage. I assume the data usage for the app from Edmonton wouldn't be much different from data usage inside the parks.

***********

I do have a follow up question. In regards to free Wi-Fi access from within the parks, it is my understanding that, other than being able to access the Wi-Fi of the Grand Californian hotel from very limited sections of California Adventure, there is no other free Wi-Fi available. Is this correct, or can we (for example) access certain free networks from the east side of Disneyland (for example, Wi-Fi from some of the hotels and restaurants along Harbor)?

 

[Sue M]

Hi ... we just returned from a July visit and used the Disneyland App to check wait times (note: NO Maxpass usage). We had 1 GB (GB not MB) of data and we didn't use much data. The 1 GB of data was sufficient for checking wait times. However, I'm not sure how much data would be used if MaxPass was used.

If you have an UNLOCKED phone, I suggest you look into Roam Mobility. We used them and were quite happy with the service. We were in the LA and Anaheim area. Service in the parks was good ... dropped service in rides such as Soaring and sometimes in buildings. If service was dropped outside it was quickly rectified by turning my phone on and off.

Roam Mobility has daily rates and also monthly rates (we used the monthly rate since it made more sense for our visit). Another plus is that Roam Mobility plans include calls to Canada which (I was previously advised by others on Disboards) some other carriers will charge for calls made to a Canadian number.

Here's the link if want more info on Roam Mobility:

https://roammobility.com/plans

Note: To check monthly rates, you will need to click on the monthly tab

Note: We bought our Roam Mobility SIM card at a retail outlet (paid CDN funds) and the plan was paid for online and in CDN funds

Note: You can keep the SIM card active and keep the USA number assigned to you if you keep a balance (ie. purchase a plan) ... people on DisBoard reported that they kept "moving forward" their activation date until they were ready to use the plan on their account

There's another thread re: Cell use in USA that you might want to check out:

https://www.disboards.com/threads/cell-phone-plan-in-the-us.3622676/

Good luck!

Do the parks have wifi?

 

[Sue M]

We recently had 10 park days at Disneyland. We used the app mostly when connected to the free wi-fi and then supplemented with data when we weren't in a hotspot. We barely used any data, definitely nowhere near 10mb/day. This was using it for checking wait-times/Fastpass return times only. I think if you're using PhotoPass or doing other things that can increase usage.

They launched MaxPass after we left, so not sure if that would have increased our usage a bit? However I have also heard that the wifi is improving.

How did you get a 10 day park ticket? Did you have to get an AP? I bought the Canadian ticket offer and was disappointed the longest option was 5 days. So we have 2 no park days on our trip. We will prob do a no park in the middle of our week and sleep in, enjoy pool, do DTD. Arrival day is also no park day.
Did the parks have wifi? With new maxipass I imagine they may have to.

 

[Sue M]

I'm in BC with Telus and pay $7/day for 'EasyRoam'. It basically uses my existing Canadian text/talk/data plan (I have 1GB per month) and just charges me the $7 per day that I use it for roaming. If the wifi is good enough and I don't have to turn my data on then I don't get charged. My daughters are with Bell and have a similar roaming plan. I thought most carriers offered some sort of plan like that but I guess not Koodo. My son is with Koodo so that's good to know as I've never checked roaming plans for him. I have no idea how much data the app uses but I'd think if you're careful (maybe download a data tracker?) and use wifi when you can you might be ok?

Are you surviving the smoke?

 

[22Tink]

Are you surviving the smoke?

Yes! I'm a little farther north than the worst of the fires, about an hour outside of Prince George but we're still getting our fair share of smoke from outlying fires here. It's a terrible summer for BC for sure. My son is on an Initial Attack crew here and they've been fighting fires like crazy!

 

[Sue M]

Yes! I'm a little farther north than the worst of the fires, about an hour outside of Prince George but we're still getting our fair share of smoke from outlying fires here. It's a terrible summer for BC for sure. My son is on an Initial Attack crew here and they've been fighting fires like crazy!

Hope your son stays safe. So horrible people have lost everything. Most man made We are in the lower mainland and the smoke here is horrible. My eyes have been burning for 3 days. I can usually see the mountains from our house, but smoke is so thick visibility is awful.

 

[22Tink]

Do the parks have wifi?

The parks do have wifi now, but reports have been varied on how reliable it is.

Hope your son stays safe. So horrible people have lost everything. Most man made We are in the lower mainland and the smoke here is horrible. My eyes have been burning for 3 days. I can usually see the mountains from our house, but smoke is so thick visibility is awful.

It's very sad for sure, especially the fact that many of the fires are man made. It amazes me how careless people can be!

 

[westcoastminnie]

How did you get a 10 day park ticket? Did you have to get an AP? I bought the Canadian ticket offer and was disappointed the longest option was 5 days. So we have 2 no park days on our trip. We will prob do a no park in the middle of our week and sleep in, enjoy pool, do DTD.

Yes, we upgraded our Airmiles 5 day Parkhoppers to AP's since we plan to do another trip before they expire It did mean we lost the discount but it still worked to our benefit since we used Airmiles. It was nice to be able to do a half day on our arrival day and get a few rides in on the morning of our departure day. There were also a couple of days that we did day trips away from Disneyland and then went to the parks for a couple of hours at night.

When we haven't had AP's we save the Downtown Disney stuff for the non park days. We'll also plan Trader Sam's, Tangaroa Terrace or Steakhouse 55 on those days. We don't do character meals but that's also an option at the hotels so you don't use park days.

 

[Sue M]

Yes, we upgraded our Airmiles 5 day Parkhoppers to AP's since we plan to do another trip before they expire It did mean we lost the discount but it still worked to our benefit since we used Airmiles. It was nice to be able to do a half day on our arrival day and get a few rides in on the morning of our departure day. There were also a couple of days that we did day trips away from Disneyland and then went to the parks for a couple of hours at night.

When we haven't had AP's we save the Downtown Disney stuff for the non park days. We'll also plan Trader Sam's, Tangaroa Terrace or Steakhouse 55 on those days. We don't do character meals but that's also an option at the hotels so you don't use park days.

That's what we plan, DTD on no park day, explore DL resorts, Trader Sam, and our arrival day may go to resorts or DTD too. But arrival day will be low key. We'll be flying in from 10 days in Ft Lauderdale on early morning flight. Will have to be at airport at 5:00am, and with time change since I'm sure at that point we'll be on EST, we will be pretty tired.
At some point I may get DL AP, not sure about this trip.