do people actually use the umbrella spotters and wave phone holders?

[ImDMous]

If you are on the wi-fi on the ship and haven't paid for it, you are only getting local info. You can use the app to get the navigators and text other people on the wi-fi. No one from home will be bugging you. It's so much easier to use my phone to text if I need to then to use the wave phone. Nothing outside of their app will have a connection.

 

[tinkerone]

while i do have a smart phone dh does not so i can see where that application would not work for some. having said that, we never use the wave phones, the quite annoy me. a few cruises ago one started to beep in the middle of the night. seems it needed to be charged and the charger had been unplugged. very very annoying.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

while i do have a smart phone dh does not so i can see where that application would not work for some. having said that, we never use the wave phones, the quite annoy me. a few cruises ago one started to beep in the middle of the night. seems it needed to be charged and the charger had been unplugged. very very annoying.

We unplug, and turn off the Wave phones and put them in a drawer until the end of the cruise.

 

[tinkerone]

We unplug, and turn off the Wave phones and put them in a drawer until the end of the cruise.

do they not still beep even though they are turned off? we talked with our room steward and he seemed to think they needed to stay plugged in and on the charger however it was his first week as a room host so maybe he just didn't have the correct information.
this is good to know.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

do they not still beep even though they are turned off? we talked with our room steward and he seemed to think they needed to stay plugged in and on the charger however it was his first week as a room host so maybe he just didn't have the correct information.
this is good to know.

They can only beep if the power is on. We've had no beeping with turning them off, removing them from the charges, unplugging the charger, and placing all the equipment in a drawer.

We bring them back out, and plug the charger in the last night, placing one of the phones in the charger.

 

[anricat]

I haven't been on a cruise yet but fail to see the big difference between carrying a smart phone or carrying the wave phone - apart from the fact most people already have at least one smart phone in their family.

Differences:
1. The wave phones are large and bulky.
2. The wave phones texting is the old-school press 2 three times to get the letter c, press 3 twice to get e, etc.
3. The wave phones are expensive to replace if something happens to them. Many people can get a replacement cell phone just by signing another two year contract.
4. Most people's cell phones can take photos, thus eliminating the need to also carry a camera.
5. Many people (like my DH) like to use the Navigator on their cell phone to look up activities, character meet and greet times, dining room menus, etc. The Wave phones can't do that.
6. If there are more than 2 people in a stateroom, you can't all have a phone.

There may be more, but that's all I can come with off the top of my head.

 

[aggiedog]

all of what anricat said.

The wave phones are basically cell phones from the 1990's.

 

[mhconley]

I carry my iPhone everywhere on the ship. I unplug by turning off the cellular service. It's great to have the Navigator and a map of the ship always at hand. This trip will be the first with the texting feature. It will be fantastic as DS(12) also has an iPhone and will be able to text us from the Edge, Club/Lab or wherever he is on the ship.

Martin

 

[moogiepet]

We are giving my daughter an old iPhone (with the SIM card removed) with the DCL app on it to communicate with us. I made her this to carry her phone in. It would also hold a wave phone. I might make one for myself to hold my phone and stuff while on board. More attractive than a fanny pack! http://www.mesewcrazy.com/2013/08/running-belt-diy.html

That is so cute! I wish I could sew! Wonder if they are sold on Etsy!

 

[littleblackegg]

The reason I cruise is so I can't be contacted...is that mean?

No. I leave the stupid phone buried at the bottom of my bag and will only use it if I've broken both my legs. I like to go screen-free on holiday!

 

[Seamama]

I carry my iPhone everywhere on the ship. I unplug by turning off the cellular service. It's great to have the Navigator and a map of the ship always at hand. This trip will be the first with the texting feature. It will be fantastic as DS(12) also has an iPhone and will be able to text us from the Edge, Club/Lab or wherever he is on the ship.

Martin

This was exactly how our family did things (except our kids have iPods instead of iPhones). We LOVED that they could text us easily from the clubs/edge, and we had almost no trouble getting messages immediately (except when we were on Decks 9/10, which our messages were delayed). I did see many kids on Wave phones throughout the ship during our recent trip, and believe they should still be an option for those who prefer them.

I was very nervous about not accidentally ending up w/ roaming charges at sea, but managed to do everything correctly so there weren't any surprise costs. I was worried that having my phone on me all the time would feel like an intrusion (I don't want to be bothered by real life- I'm on vacation!) but it wasn't an issue at all b/c I had my phone in Airplane mode, so in essence it wasn't even acting like a phone- the only people I was texting are my family and I wasn't getting on any real internet for email/news, etc.

 

[Minniemiss]

I am seeing some cute stuff on etsy, do people use them?

Some people do. But I would think the umbrella spotter thing would be frowned upon due to the "no saving of lounge chairs" policy.

We use the Umbrella spotter. Getting out of the water at the family beach or coming back from the potty and being able to find our things is great. They have a no saving policy at the pools but not a Castaway.

 

[Kathyeba76]

Just letting you know if you cruise a lot or your kids go to water parks a lot I found a google place online that sells prescription googles for 25 bucks. I've taken mine all over DCL and the Disney hotel slides and never have been told to take them off. For so cheap it may make the time between glasses and beach play easier on your kids.

Could you share that site please?

 

[wilkeliza]

Could you share that site please?

I hope I do this right. http://www.swimoutlet.com/prescription-swim-goggles-c9623/ That is the actual page where all their prescription googles are. They came fast and I had no issues. I bought the Speedo Vanquisers. I even have 2 different prescription strengths but found that buying the lower of the two prescriptions was perfect for swimming. My eyes are only like .5 off each other though. I wouldn't suggest that if you are more than 1.0 difference in both eyes. For that I was told to buy 2 pairs and then make two sets in the right prescription. I carry mine with me on every vacation and even just keep them on when lounging by the pool etc because then I don't have to worry about my glasses. Some people look at me weird but they act as my sunglasses and googles.

If your little ones want to ever go snorkeling I also got snorkel equipment in prescription but I got it from somewhere else. I got my snorkel kit form http://www.snorkel-mart.com/?gclid=COS87r-7_8cCFUYXHwodMdsHBg It is more expensive of a set up but they are awesome and really were worth it for me to be able to join in on the snorkel fun over the past 3 years. After not actually taking care of them it is time to replace my snorkel gear.

Just realized they only seem to come in - prescription strengths. I think I read it is because it is the type of sight. Those with + prescriptions won't typically need prescriptions in their googles.

 

[MissMeidak]

I am seeing some cute stuff on etsy, do people use them?

We've got a Guard Dog Pluto Umbrella spotter, just because it was too cute and I couldn't resist!

 

[Rogillio]

This is why you need the wave phone.....

 

[tinkerone]

This is why you need the wave phone.....

View attachment 124455

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eta--shows now.

 

[DisneyNurse19]

Although the waves phones are bigger and old fashioned they do seem to work better with txt's. My daughter decided to try out the app on our phones and sent me a txt but some took about 10 minutes to come through and some i didn't even receive and she was sitting right next to me.