Friend I'm going with doesn't have cell phone - alternatives?

[ttintagel]

Most pay phones have been removed from service.

Have you tried to find one recently?

Came here to say this. There used to be a few dozen pay phones in our downtown area. Now there's one, and that one is usually out of service.

 

[heyitsmejosh]

you need to have an intervention and get them to join the rest of us in 2012

 

[erincon23]

you need to have an intervention and get them to join the rest of us in 2012

Believe me, I agree -- their kids go to college in Illinois and Oregon, and they live in MA -- don't know how they do it (I loved to get just quick texts from my son when he was in college!). But that's their business. Calling from the room -- or even pay phones, if she can find one -- might not be cost -effective -- it would be a long-distance call! And I don't really have a problem if she wants to spend time by the pool, as long as she doesn't expect me to be there as well (unless my feet give out --I have arthritis in my left foot, which has caused problems at Disney before) -- this was originally scheduled as a solo trip, and I don't mind having some solo time. But I don't want to spend time waiting for her at a designated spot if she's stuck on a bus, or knocked down by a rampaging ECV or stroller... I'll have to investigate the go-phone thing.

 

[chartle]

I wonder how we survived before cell phones?

I'm sure they said the same thing 80-90 years ago before wide spread use of land lines, remember those.

 

[chartle]

I don't disagree - cell phones have become a necessity today. But, only because we've made them indispensable. You're right, ka-ka occurs. We used to deal with it, now we reach for the cell phone and are lost if we left it home. I didn't have a cell when I was in high school nor did I have a car. I walked. If something happened and I was going to be late I would call from a phone booth. Can't do that now, why? Cell phones.

I would say not because we made them indispensable but that in today's world they just are. Oh and I'm in the very slightly plus 50 group and remember a lot of wasted time when things went ka-ka. I hated those days.

 

[cyros]

My husband and I don't have cell phones that will work in the states. Can anyone advise somewhere handy to Disney World or the airport to pick up one of these cheap phones? The gang is renting a house off-site and will have a car.

 

[Robo]

My husband and I don't have cell phones that will work in the states. Can anyone advise somewhere handy to Disney World or the airport to pick up one of these cheap phones?

The Kissimmee Walmart is very near WDW.

The phones can also be found at many full-line Drug Stores
that are plentiful in the business areas in Kissimmee.

 

[DISHoppy]

and the owner can just toss it out after the trip,

*GASP* Recycle it, please.

-Kevin

 

[cyros]

The Kissimmee Walmart is very near WDW.

The phones can also be found at many full-line Drug Stores
that are plentiful in the business areas in Kissimmee.

Thank you so much!

 

[DISHoppy]

Most pay phones have been removed from service.

Have you tried to find one recently?

I know of a couple located in Epcot in the UK pavilion...

Actually WDW still has many of them is numerous locations through out the parks and the resorts. Perhaps due to the number of foreign travelers to WDW.

-Kevin

 

[sharadoc]

I think this is the winner! Your friend can contact you whenever she is ready and you can continue to do your thing until then.

ETA: using the room phones, since pay phones have gone the way of the dinosaur (as Robo points out)!

calling your cell from the room would probably be a long distance call. Just one of those would potentially cost more than a disposable cell phone. Only call room to room, but room to cell - nah!

 

[Raenstoirm]

My husband and I don't have cell phones that will work in the states. Can anyone advise somewhere handy to Disney World or the airport to pick up one of these cheap phones? The gang is renting a house off-site and will have a car.

They may even have them in the airport stores. But any grocery or drug store will have them.

 

[DISHoppy]

They may even have them in the airport stores. But any grocery or drug store will have them.

I have never seen them in a grocery store near me (even the Kroger that sells furniture and stuff), or in the Publix near WDW I visited back in 2009. However, Target and Walmart near WDW or a nearby CVS or Walgreens will have them. Not sure about most airports, but Port Columbus (CMH) does not have them. I'll take a quickie look tomorrow in IAD when I am there.

-Kevin

 

[Robo]

I have never seen them in a grocery store near me (even the Kroger that sells furniture and stuff), or in the Publix near WDW I visited back in 2009. However, Target and Walmart near WDW or a nearby CVS or Walgreens will have them. Not sure about most airports, but Port Columbus (CMH) does not have them. I'll take a quickie look tomorrow in IAD when I am there.

You should never buy anything like this at an airport.

$ $ $ $ $ $

 

[chimilady]

That is exactly what they should do.
Very inexpensive and practical.

Uhh, why? They don't seem to have a problem with not having a phone, the OP does. There is a reason I don't have a cell phone, and I don't care if it's only $25, no one SHOULD have to buy one to make someone else happy.

 

[mtopaz]

We used walkie talkies..bought them at best buy..used them at disney.then returned them to best buy......yikes

 

[erincon23]

At Best Buy online, you can get an AT&T Samsung phone for $9.99, including 3 hours of talk time. I may get that for her. Cyros, you might want to see if you can order a couple of those and have them sent directly to your hotel! And chimilady, yes, this is my problem, not my friend's and I'm willing to acknowledge that -- I'm not faulting her and her DH for not having cell phones in general, but I've lived through WDW communication problems, and on this short trip, don't really want to deal with them -- it's worth the $10 for me to get this for her!

 

[jlevis]

I'm sure they said the same thing 80-90 years ago before wide spread use of land lines, remember those.

I rememberr hand cranking a phone to get an operator who would make your connection for you. I remember party lines and when a long distence call meant someone died. I remember my father going to the local grocery to make a call. I remember writting letters in long hand cursive and connecting with people. I have a cell and I use it. You'll not convince me that we are better off.

 

[subtchr]

Uhh, why? They don't seem to have a problem with not having a phone, the OP does. There is a reason I don't have a cell phone, and I don't care if it's only $25, no one SHOULD have to buy one to make someone else happy.

But it's not to make the OP "happy", it's to make connecting more convenient. So the OP doesn't waste time on what is already a short trip waiting for her friend who might be having transportation or other problems when meeting up.

You are exactly correct, it's your choice whether to have a cell or not. But when that choice inconveniences others, and there is an inexpensive solution, I know I personally would consider it.

As to the person who wrote that cell phones have become indispensable because we have made them that way, I look at it a little differently. My take is that they have become indispensable because they are a valuable tool and have made our lives easier.

 

[k3chantal]

If they're alright with not having a cell and apparently are used to making it work they may not see the big deal. If it would make your vacation better and more relaxed for them to have a phone then grab a Go Phone for them and "loan" it to them for the weekend. If spending the $10-$25 would make your trip better then it's well worth it

I agree; if you 'loan' them a phone then the pressure is off them to spend additional money your friend is not use to and you are less stressed.

Ironically enough, in four days I am meeting a friend and her family at the Magical Express. Her husband has a phone, she doesn't and it is one of those things I am 'stressed' about. But since she will either be with me or/and her husband, I am hoping that it will work out. Except for the fact that she too, would like to spend the afternoon by the pool and I have no intention of doing that; sounds like our friends might like each other . But since I have three kids in the mix, so I will just 'blame it on the kids' that we have to go into the parks.