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

[Andtototoo]

UGH - I remember our first trip to Disney and our cells didn't work too well. Were kept losing signal in AK! One time I waited a solid 30 mins in AK after picking up a FP trying to find my DH and kids. I told them EXACTLY where to wait - he misunderstood and waited somewhere nearby. This repeated itself at least 2 more times that day in AK. Insanely frustrating - particularly on a short trip with only 2 park days. After that, we avoided splitting up whenever possible. I love cells.

We must be married to twins. This "misunderstanding" of clearly stated meeting places (which I'd re-state as "failure to listen") is a lifelong habit of my husband's and is THE reason I bought him a cell phone. So frustrating and such a waste of time, especially on vacations.

I once waited THREE hours for him, unable to reach him because he didn't have a cell phone and I was stuck. ALl totaled, I swear I have probably wasted a year of my life waiting for him to show up places, only to find out he was some place else/wrong time quite sure he was right. And then we'd finally find each other and he'd get pissy with me about MY mistake. He'd not only do this at amusement parks or other vacation locales, but do this in a super Walmart or super Target too! I'd tell him I'd meet him in the garden area and he'd be in produce. "What? They're both full of plants!"

A cheapo cell phone is a small price to pay to ensure timeliness and to avoid "discussions."

 

[Andtototoo]

Never mind. Pig singing moment.

 

[erincon23]

Update -- my friend had no problem with the go phone idea. I picked one up at BestBuy for $9.99, and a $15 card -- can do a plan for $2 a day which gives me unlimited talk and text. That'll cover 7 days -- and we only need 5, so it works! I've programmed in all the numbers she'll need. Now I just have to make sure I don't forget it here. One week until we leave!

 

[k3chantal]

Update -- my friend had no problem with the go phone idea. I picked one up at BestBuy for $9.99, and a $15 card -- can do a plan for $2 a day which gives me unlimited talk and text. That'll cover 7 days -- and we only need 5, so it works! I've programmed in all the numbers she'll need. Now I just have to make sure I don't forget it here. One week until we leave!

I am so happy this worked out with everyone in your party happy.

Have a great trip!!

 

[fla4fun]

Most pay phones have been removed from service.

Have you tried to find one recently?

In the outside world, yes, they are more difficult to find than they used to be, but they can still be found around WDW. I'm guessing that's because there are a lot of foreign visitors who may be using phone cards to call back home. And as another poster mentioned, an alternative would be the room phone. However, either option could be expensive if the cell phone number they are dialing happens to be a long distance number.

Even though our family has cell phones, we aren't as attached to them as some people. We are used to making plans without them because most of the time they are either in the room safe or turned off so others aren't annoyed by them. Doesn't mean we are right or wrong for doing so - just as those who use phones to stay connected aren't right or wrong for doing so. Everyone needs to do what works best for their family/group (although I'd prefer they would be turned to "silent" in attractions and shows please ).

I am glad that the OP was able to work out the situation with their friends. Have a great trip!

 

[elaine amj]

We must be married to twins. This "misunderstanding" of clearly stated meeting places (which I'd re-state as "failure to listen") is a lifelong habit of my husband's and is THE reason I bought him a cell phone. So frustrating and such a waste of time, especially on vacations.

I once waited THREE hours for him, unable to reach him because he didn't have a cell phone and I was stuck. ALl totaled, I swear I have probably wasted a year of my life waiting for him to show up places, only to find out he was some place else/wrong time quite sure he was right. And then we'd finally find each other and he'd get pissy with me about MY mistake. He'd not only do this at amusement parks or other vacation locales, but do this in a super Walmart or super Target too! I'd tell him I'd meet him in the garden area and he'd be in produce. "What? They're both full of plants!"

A cheapo cell phone is a small price to pay to ensure timeliness and to avoid "discussions."

LOL!! I love it when it's always OUR fault - never theirs!! With a cell it will just be:

"Where ARE you?"

"Still waiting for you"

"I've BEEN here for 10 minutes"

"Well, Im here waiting"

"Where exactly are you waiting?"

"Near FOTLK, like you told me"

"I told you to wait at the BIG BLUE BEAR on the way to FOTLK"


"What Big Blue Bear? I'm right near some characters - a few mins down the path to FOTLK"

UGH!!!! It's a HUGE bear pointing the way to FOTLK off the main path! Why make me walk a looonnggg way down the path just to stop halfway to FOTLK? Especially at the end of the day

Update -- my friend had no problem with the go phone idea. I picked one up at BestBuy for $9.99, and a $15 card -- can do a plan for $2 a day which gives me unlimited talk and text. That'll cover 7 days -- and we only need 5, so it works! I've programmed in all the numbers she'll need. Now I just have to make sure I don't forget it here. One week until we leave!

So sorry - I've practically hijacked your thread. So happy to hear your friend is a agreeable to your buying her a cellphone to use! It will make life so much easier.

I do understand her not having one. Despite being techie folks, my DH carried a dumbphone with no texting plan until this year. I didn't start texting until 2 yrs ago. I was without a cellphone for a very long time until the time came when I needed to get one to operate my business properly. The cost savings was worth it to us until they became more necessary.

 

[katrina1122]

Think back to when none of us had cell phones. If you split up, just pick meet up times and locations to keep checking in.

 

[chartle]

Think back to when none of us had cell phones. If you split up, just pick meet up times and locations to keep checking in.

And as stated before it wasted a ton of time.

I lost entire day at Sea World Ohio because we had no way to contact the rest of my family. Don't have time to get into it.