Getting separated?

[JenniferW]

Ok, need some quick ideas/info since we leave on Wed and I need to know...

We are a party of 10 and plan to split up at some times. Not worried anyone would be "lost" but trying to minimize confusion and help our communication. We will plan to pick a spot and time, but... you never know.

Our group only has one cell phone so if we get separated figured they could go to a pay phone and call the cell.

At guest services at the front of each park will they let you leave a message for someone to pick up later? I just figured that I could tell our group, get a taxi back to the hotel if we get separated, but would hate to wait around too long for them wondering if they had left. We are a party of all adults and a couple toddlers so no kids getting separated here!

Have tried walkie talkies before, but we don't have many channels and it edned up we couldn't talk to each other much.

Anyone know? Any ideas?

Jenn

 

[Barb D]

Honestly, I would get another cell phone or two before you go. Maybe you could add them to your family plan. Even my older kids (14 and 12) have their own cell phones. Or get some of those pre-paid phones.

We tried radios one year, and to me they were more trouble than they were worth.

 

[bicker]

Another vote for using cell phones. Walkie-talkies aren't reliable enough, in my experience, nor is relying on leaving notes for each other.

 

[SnowBound]

Cell phones are great, and if you don't want to go to a great expense with them, try the TrackFones (sp?). You buy the pre-paid minutes and would be great for this application.

I know you said no to the Walkie-talkies, but we did have good luck with the ones from Radio Shack, and they were not that expensive, (under $40.00, if I remember). They come in a four pack, four different colors, and are called MAXUS. We took them on a cruise with us and worked very well unless you were on deck 3 or below, which was not very often.

Hope this helps.

 

[JenniferW]

We have 1 phone since we only need one phone and the whole rest of the group is from England, they all have cell phones, but they don't work in the US. I don't want to add a phone just for this one month/one trip and we leave tomorrow anyway. Does anyone know if Guest Services will let you leave a message and pick it up. I want to use it as a back up just in case. I may bring the walkie talkies and see how it goes...

We don't have any children in our group that are going alone or else I would make sure I had contact for sure. It's my MIL 60 something, SIL 27 and BIL 32 and their significant others and BIL's daughter.

Jenn

 

[LynnTH]

When we went a few years ago with group of 12. We would always split up during the day and then just meet up back at the hotel when we were done or at a fixed time for dinner. Seemed to work out well as we had the younger child and mom and dad stayed with us and my brother had the older kids and hung out with my other brother and their wives. We also did have cell phones to keep in contact if needed.