Inexpensive way of using your cell phone in WDW?

[JerseyJanice]

On our trip, we'll have a bunch of people in our group, and I'm sure we'll want to use our cell phones to reach each other at the resort, parks, and what-not.

My cell phone plan covers only usage from Maine to Virginia, not in Florida.

So I guess I'm wondering--if I use my phone in Florida to call a cell phone that is from my home area, will I encounter extra charges? If so, is there a pre-paid plan or something I can do to lessen the fees?

 

[QuickGold]

Yes, if you physically use your phone outside of your calling area(which in your case is Maine to Virgina), you will suffer HEAVY charges for roaming on another cell phones network. My advice is if you use a national cell phone company(Sprint, Verizon, Cingular, etc) Upgrading your plan to cover the nation usually isn't that expensive. Many people purchased cell phones a year or more ago and at that time, the specials were not there. Nowadays, you might be able to pay the same rate and get national service as service plans do change often.

In response to your second question, the only cell company that does "prepaid" or anything to that extent is Voicestream, but again, if your out of your phyical calling area, your still out of luck.

My advice is upgrade your plan to either cover east coast or nation(All of sprint's service plans cover the entire United States)

 

[JerseyJanice]

I'm on Verizon. I guess I should call them and ask if I can upgrade to national or east coast service for a month. You think they can do that?

 

[QuickGold]

Definetly! Here's a great trick also. Call them and ask to upgrade your plan to cover either east coast(if that available) or the country(which they definetly have). Now, if they give some rhetoric like "Uhhh....we cant do this" or "You'll have to pay alot more" then threaten them with a "friend" who told you that Sprint is offering nationwide service, and keep rambiling about how Sprint sounds great, you've heard their service plans are better, blah, blah, blah. Verizon HATES Sprint and most likely will give you a break. I've done this scam with Sprint and it works, so I assume Verizon can also. If they cant, give Verizon the boot and go with Sprint. But like I said, they more than likely should be able to help you.

 

[Sheree]

Verizon has america's choice which covers new hampshire to florida and to california.

leaves off maine!

right now I have the same plan as you maine to virginia 1300 min for $100, america's choice is 1200 min for $100 plus 3000 night and weekend. also if you have another phone on the plan its another $20 but there's 250 min cell to cell

I'll be switching to that plan prior to our august trip!

 

[bethsg]

I just upgraded to an America's choice plan with verizion. Since then, I have traveled to New York and Vermont on separate trips, and had "local" coverage on both trips. The great thing about that plan is I can use it at home, on weekends to make my long distance calls to friends and family, and pay no long distance charges. It's a great plan, and could help save money off your regular phone bill.
PS I don't work for Verizon, this is just a good plan that works for me, and I know other carriers carry a similar plan.

 

[Jen80370]

Voicestream's plans have free roaming included...

 

[QuickGold]

right now I have the same plan as you maine to virginia 1300 min for $100, america's choice is 1200 min for $100 plus 3000 night and weekend. also if you have another phone on the plan its another $20 but there's 250 min cell to cell

Yowzers! $100 for 1300 minutes? Those plans you outlined are just plain rotten. I hope those are anytime minutes because otherwise your paying up the wazoo, in which case, can I offer you a trial subscription to My Thoughts, for only $29.99 a month? You'll get a listing of all my wonderful thoughts for that small price.

 

[Sheree]

it's 1300 day minutes PLUS 3000 night and weekend minutes!

Since I work from home and my car, I do use the day minutes a lot! Don't come close on the night and weekend minutes!

It's a great plan and much cheaper than others with less minutes. I've had sprint and their minutes are mostly night and weekend

 

[idontknow]

LOL Matt!

I've got Sprint only because we live in NE Indiana and go to Orlando quite a bit. We pay $35 for 200 daytime and 1000 nights and weekend minutes. Sprint covers a huge area on the east side of the country. Going west it get spuratic, though.

 

[DMRick]

If you are with Verizon you can upgrade, at no cost, and pay the same $35 plus taxes a month. We just upgraded ours. They give you a code to put into your phone. For the same price, we now have home calling area from everywhere, and no long distance charges. I saw an ad that they have a new plan, and called, and it was the same price as my 13 or 14 states northeastern plan. Of course if we go over our 300/3000 minutes we pay calling charges.

 

[npall]

I live in FL but am with Sprint PCS and I HATE THEM! I have problems getting signal and grocery stores, down the street from my house. I am looking at changing them..
Right now I pay $67/ month for 700 anytime minutes. THAT'S IT! The reason is I need alot of daytime minutes because I am always on the road during the day but after 6pm I am home so I never use my phone on weekends or nights. I know..I know I am getting screwed.

I don't know if this can turn into a cell phone thread but I would love for anyone to give me advice as to who to go with.

Is Verizon the "Can you hear me now" commerical people ? I have heard you can get signal with Verizon anywhere... is this true.

Currently with Sprint I can literally walk to my back room in my house and lose signal but have great signal in my kitchen...it's terrible...

P.S. If everyone doesn't mind giving out how much they pay and for what plan/company I would be so grateful!

Thanks,

Naomi

 

[annie2871]

What about buying those 2-way radios instead of using your cell phone? I noticed them at Wal-Mart for around 30.

 

[Sheree]

Naomi:
we had sprint and had the same problem with lousy service areas, here in NJ. plus you didn't get as many minutes!

have had great luck with Verizon, the plans are good, I too use a lot of day minutes! and their cust service has been easy

 

[Disneyolic]

We just upgraded our plan with Cingular. We have shopped around quite a bit and found this plan to be the best. It is a nationwide plan - the entire country including Hawaii and Alaska. No roaming areas. 250 anytime minutes and 3500 night/weekend minutes for 29.99/month. Also, if you sign a 2-year contract now you will get an Ericsson phone (value 180.00) for about 40.00. The phone is great. It has voice activation and many extras. I love it.

 

[Poohbear123]

I have Cingular too, and found it to be the BEST plan to have! I pay about 55.00 a month for roll-over minutes(which they do not offer anymore) and free nights and weekends! I have an Ericcson phone, but cannot use it in my local grocery store! Whenever I am at Disney, I bring my phone with me, sometimes to the parks. When I go to use it, and ROAM comes up, I DO NOT make the call! I walk over to another area, and if ROAM does NOT come up, I use it! This is how I avoid extra charges!

 

[Disneyolic]

Poohbear - if you have the nationwide plan, you do not have to pay roaming charges even if roam appears on your phone. I have checked with the company and have experienced it firsthand - no extra charges!

 

[QuickGold]

I've had Sprint for about 3 years and I have no issues with them. They have the most competive pricing plans of any company. All their calls are local, so theres no long distance garbage to aggravate you. Plus, their phones are far superior to Cingular or Voicestream. Here's the bottom line, the initial poster had a question about using their cell in Florida. I think we solved that problem, so unless we want to create a Cell Phone forum here, I think we're done

And don't forget the low, low rate of $29.99/month for all my thoughts in your inbox!

 

[npall]

I am interested in finding a good cell phone with a good plan and I requested opinions on that, this is a budget board and I think that getting good pricing falls underneath that. If you do not want to get into a cell phone discussion, feel free to refrain from posting...

P.S I am glad to know you are happy with PCS, that wasn't the point.

My questions is no different than asking of a good cheap stroller...

NOW.. if anyone else is happy with their cell phone and service, please let me know..I would love to know who you use and how you like them.

Thanks,
Naomi

 

[npall]

I am interested in finding a good cell phone with a good plan and I requested opinions on that, this is a budget board and I think that getting good pricing falls underneath that. If you do not want to get into a cell phone discussion, feel free to refrain from posting...

P.S I am glad to know you are happy with PCS, that wasn't the point.

My questions is no different than asking of a good cheap stroller...

NOW.. if anyone else is happy with their cell phone and service, please let me know..I would love to know who you use and how you like them.

Thanks,
Naomi