How do you call home?

[Portugal1000]

Just wondering how people called home. We were staying at FW last year and had bought phone cards to call but discovered that any of the phones in Disney took an extra charge on the card. Something like $10. My $20 card seemed to last about 5 minutes which I thought was outrageous. Called from the room on Xmas day and two 10 minutes calls cost over $60 each. Was thinking of maybe buying my family phone cards so they could call from the UK this year as we are at SSR and don't really want to have to travel somewhere just to make a call. Any suggestions?
Thanks

 

[Richard Bruvofetc]

We have used phone cards in the past but always used a public phone (never used them on the room phone for the reason you have given).

This year we bought a Tracphone ($14.98) and bought 60 minutes for $20. We will top it up again on our next visit.

 

[wayneg]

Not made a phone call for past 2 years now, always stay in a hotel with wireless connection(most free now) and send emails and photos home every evening.

 

[jen_uk]

Before we go I buy a £5 phone card and give the number to all my family and friends and then get them to call me. The card gives us about 1000 minutes!

 

[Hilary]

We always buy a phone card and use it from our hotel room phone (onsite and offsite)- and we've never been charged anything by the hotel There's always been a toll-free number to access, and it's been exactly that, toll-free.

The only time we've been charged a flat fee to make the call is when we've used a pay phone either within the resort or out and about. Pay phones don't seem to allow you to use the toll-free number, as far as I remember.

The last few cards we've had gave about 2 hours of calls to the UK for $5 . If we've used them for local calls, they eat up the credit as they're designed for overseas use and you get penalised for making local calls.

 

[wifey]

We've always used our mobile phones and changed the numbers slightly +44 minus the 0 of the area code and then the rest of the usual numbers . You will have to contact your service provider before hand and make sure you can use roaming while you are abroad. As long as you ask about a month or two before hand it should be okay if your mobile can be used in the USA.

 

[Dead-metal]

Not made a phone call for past 2 years now, always stay in a hotel with wireless connection(most free now) and send emails and photos home every evening.

Same here.

 

[acr4bbe]

We are very lucky and take our laptop which enables us to make VOIP calls. Typical price for a VOIP call from the US is 4p per minute and even if you have to pay for internet connection (typically $10 for 24 hours) provided you make all your calls in one go its still so much cheaper

 

[Goofyish]

In the past we have got phone cards from the local travel agents before we go (Lunn Poly I think). They cost £10 and we made loads of calls over our 2 weeks mainly from pay phones in the parks and in the resort.

We only called the in-laws and they don't have a PC so can't send them emails

 

[JohnnySharp2]

We always buy them from the Kennedy Space Center store at MCO Airport.
Good value for money and they look smart too.

Otherwise get them from the discount/grocery stores on the 192 in Kissimmee.

Most calls we make our from the rented villa.

 

[Claire L]

WDW usually charge a flat rate of $1 for a 1 800 number, but to be honest sometimes that charge doesn't even appear on the room charges, well it didn't at SSR in October! Never heard of the phone taking credit off the calling card in the way you mention.

Claire

 

[Merylj]

Before we go I buy a £5 phone card and give the number to all my family and friends and then get them to call me. The card gives us about 1000 minutes!

Where do you buy the card from - if you don`t mind me asking!
Thanks

 

[rpbert1]

We bought phone cards in Walmart, this year we called from our hotel using the phone card, where staying at Royal Pacific Resort. dialed the free phone number on the card and the hotel would charge you extra after about 5 mins i think it was , so we just timed ourselves on the phone and had no extra to pay.
depending where you are staying read the information they leave at the phone to see what any charges thety apply

 

[jen_uk]

Where do you buy the card from - if you don`t mind me asking!
Thanks

Local newsagents sell them

 

[Merylj]

Local newsagents sell them

Thanks!