How can you save data during your trip?

[JustKeepSwimming93]

Hello all,

We recently took a family trip to Florida in June (WDW and Sanibel). My teenagers blew through the entire 8GB of shared data by the 3rd day of an 8 day trip. They were both watching movies and we were using Waze. Can you buy extra data just for a trip? Do you traveling tech-experts have any other tips?

Kate, Boston

 

[parkluvr]

Hello all,

We recently took a family trip to Florida in June (WDW and Sanibel). My teenagers blew through the entire 8GB of shared data by the 3rd day of an 8 day trip. They were both watching movies and we were using Waze. Can you buy extra data just for a trip? Do you traveling tech-experts have any other tips?

Kate, Boston

We had a similar problem in June at WDW. I received a usage alert from Verizon indicating that 75% of our data had been used. I called Verizon and they easily adjusted my plan to allow for extra data and set it up so that my data returned to it's normal amount at the beginning of the next billing cycle. I think it's only about $10 each extra 2gb. I also had my kids ensure that they were using the free Wifi at the hotels, which also helped out.

 

[k5jm]

Hello all,

We recently took a family trip to Florida in June (WDW and Sanibel). My teenagers blew through the entire 8GB of shared data by the 3rd day of an 8 day trip. They were both watching movies and we were using Waze. Can you buy extra data just for a trip? Do you traveling tech-experts have any other tips?

Kate, Boston

If you are on ATT you can buy additional 1GB chunks for $10 a chuck. Verizon has something similar. I have a Sprint Hotspot that we used 25GBs of data on our last trip, but I have an unlimited plan on my hotspot. I have cellular turned off on most apps on my son's phone and my wife and use the the hot spot, hotel data, or WDW public wifi to mitigate high data usage on our cellphones.

 

[Starwind]

We establish rules:

- no movies unless you are connected to wi-fi NOT cellular data (the only exception is if we are at the end f the trip and have data to burn, and then it is an individual decision on whether the movie is cellular data or wi-fi)

- no gaming except thru wi-fi

- no large downloads except thru wi-fi (e.g. on one trip my travelling companion downloaded the new issue of a magazine she subscribes to -- all 250 MB of it !! -- without realizing how big it was; with only 1 GB of data this was a problem... since then, magazines are downloaded before the trip or only via wi-fi)

- magazines are downloaded before the trip or via wi-fi

- we make sure we only run apps when we need them, closing them out when we are done with them

- we have automatic updating turned off for most things, but especially for things like OS updates

- we subscribe to a VPN service which we use when connecting to wi-fi, for added security


-SW

 

[RoyalMom]

We let the little ones use old phones & tablets that are off-network. They can still DL games or movies, but only if there is WiFi. Adults decide whether to set up a mobile hotspot for the kids when we are on the road.

 

[JustKeepSwimming93]

Great advice, really like the rules. Will also have to explore hotels with free wifi. We stayed at the Dolphin and opted not to pay extra for wifi.

 

[k5jm]

Great advice, really like the rules. Will also have to explore hotels with free wifi. We stayed at the Dolphin and opted not to pay extra for wifi.

Wifi is included in the mandatory resort fee at the Swan and Dolphin.

 

[Lewisc]

Paying for WiFi, if the hotel charges, might still cost less (and be faster) then cellular data.

 

[scm200]

wdw has free wifi at the hotels and at the parks, be sure you phones are set up to use wifi and skip the movies, you are on vacation why would you be watching movies at a theme park? just wondering

 

[WDWAurora]

Don't use waze or watch streaming content. Waze isn't that useful.

 

[k5jm]

Don't use waze or watch streaming content. Waze isn't that useful.

Google Maps now takes traffic data from Waze. in Houston, Wase is very useful. But most of the incidents that reported show up on Google Maps.

 

[OKW Lover]

If you are on ATT you can buy additional 1GB chunks for $10 a chuck. Verizon has something similar. I have a Sprint Hotspot that we used 25GBs of data on our last trip, but I have an unlimited plan on my hotspot. I have cellular turned off on most apps on my son's phone and my wife and use the the hot spot, hotel data, or WDW public wifi to mitigate high data usage on our cellphones.

Mike, do you like the Sprint Hotspot? I'm considering getting a hotspot for a potential future endeavor.

 

[k5jm]

Mike, do you like the Sprint Hotspot? I'm considering getting a hotspot for a potential future endeavor.

I do Jeff. When I go home today I will be using it because my Charter Internet is out! (You can tell my internet is out by the lack of signature in my post) When I was at the Dolphin and CR I was getting 15mb down and 7mb up. At the house, I get about 33mb down and 20mb up.

 

[longrf01]

Be aware, the parks WiFi does block certain "high bandwidth" sites - for example, (at one time) the App Store. Which really stinks when it's MDE you're trying to "purchase" and download.

Also blocks access to Windows Update and the Apple equivalent.

 

[k5jm]

Be aware, the parks WiFi does block certain "high bandwidth" sites - for example, (at one time) the App Store. Which really stinks when it's MDE you're trying to "purchase" and download.

Also blocks access to Windows Update and the Apple equivalent.

...unless you use VPN or an http proxy

 

[longrf01]

...unless you use VPN or an http proxy

True.