Inexpensive way of using your cell phone in WDW?

[disneyfan551]

I'll be glad to tell you about my plan! (which we did upgrade to before our Disney vacation!!) We have Verizon for $35/month & receive 350 daytime minutes & 3000 night and weekend minutes! This is the "Americas Choice" plan, which you can read about on their website (which I probably can't post...if you can't find it, pm me!) Anyway, there will be NO roaming while we are at Disney in 4 more days... It really is a good program!

 

[Disneyolic]

Quick - feel free to unsubscribe at any time. These threads are for everyone who wants to share info with. If you read through all the threads, many others were interested. Those are aren't - there are enough other forums to read and enjoy.

 

[Disneyolic]

Quick - feel free to unsubscribe at any time. These threads are for everyone who wants to share info with. If you read through all the threads, many others were interested. Those that aren't - there are enough other forums to read and enjoy.

 

[Lewisc]

The "best cell plan" has very little to do with the priceing the real question is which carrier gives you better coverage (fewer dead spots) where you plan to use your phone. Where I live Verizone seems the best. Voicestream claims they don't charge roaming, that is a VERY MISLEADING STATEMENT. They don't charge roaming but for the most part their phones can't connect on other networks (most of their phones are GSM and don't have analog) in other words you don't pay roaming BUT YOU CAN'T GET USE YOUR PHONE in areas.

 

[Poohbear123]

Thanks for the info, I will check on that! QUICKGOLD: Don't be upset, this is NOT a DEBATE thread! Have a GOOD day!

 

[Jen80370]

Lewis, I understand that most people do not understand Voiestream's policy on GSM, but Orlando is A GSM city so as for using a cell at Disney, it is a moot point.

As for me, I have Voicestream's family plan...it is two phones (My DS and myself) we share 800 anytime minutes...we have unlimited weekends...but the nicest of all, unlimited calls to anyone else with Voicestream, anytime. So it costs nothing to call each other, plus our other friends with Voicestream are free.

My husband has their Get More plan...it is 500 anytime minutes plusunlimited weekends nationwide.

Hope this helps.

 

[npall]

My biggest issue with Sprint is getting signal...my phone does switch to analog roam but if I make a call boy do I pay for it...I think it's like 55 cents a minute.

Keep the suggestions coming..


Naomi

 

[jgates]

Our provider is USCellular. They are centered mostly in the mid-west. Their normal consumer plans start at around $25 for 100 minutes a month (anytime). Several levels above that. Their 'SpanAmerica' plans give you nationwide coverage for x.xx per month. I know 800 minutes nationwide anytime is about $90 per month. They have just begun offering 'regional' plans also.

Our business plans are 11.75 mo plus .10 per minute - 1st incoming minute is free. For all of our employees but the 'chatty-kathy's' this is the most cost-effective rate. Pay for what you use. We have the option however, to change plans for any period of time and then change back. You end up with a higher bill the first month of the change but then it drops way down because you receive a credit back for the prepaid service you just used at the higher rate. These rates are for 25 lines or more per month. We get one bill, hand everyone their sheet and charge their checking account (we're a bank).

My plan is to switch one of our 2 phones to the lowest SpanAmerica plan for Florida and then switch back when we get home.

Being in the middle of nowhere (not really-but close) we have multiple dead areas, but they are planning on new towers near us so normally it isn't far before you get a signal.

 

[cynjam]

We're leaving in about a week for Disney and currently don't have any cell phones. I would like one for the trip down( driving) and two or three for our stay. I keep going back and forth between renting there or signing a years contract here. I don't even know what company rents cell phones, just figured I look in the phone book after I arrived. So, if anyone has any advice, please let me know. Thanks

 

[Mickey0330]

I just switched plans with Sprint. I called the day before my service begins a new billing cycle & said I wanted to disconnect my service. They said, why & I said I am going to switch to U.S. Cellular & rambled off what they were going to offer me. Sprint gave me 600 anytime/anywhere minutes; 500 anytime minutes to any other Sprint PCS phone; 3000 nights & weekends for $30 month. Then I also get a discount because my hubby works for American Airlines. So with tax it should be just under $30 bucks. Not bad!!

I told Sprint exactly what I was going to get from another company & they went a little better. But you have to call & act as if you are going to disconnect. Sprint also gave me $130 credit towards a new phone.

I have had Sprint for over 3 years & it works fine for me at Disney World.

 

[SleepyatDVC]

Jen,

We also have the Voicestream family plan - 3 phones (2 free - 3rd free after $50 rebate on each phone), shared 800 anytime minutes, unlimited weekends, free Voicestream mobile2mobile - for $79.99. The anytime minutes were sufficient for us because we make alot of calls to each other and those are free. Reception seems fine in the NYC area, especially, near where we live. Reception in Orlando seemed o'kay too - except I did have weak signal while indoors at VWL. I moved out to the balcony or right up to the balcony doors and the signal was fine.

We used to have SprintPCS and while I loved my phone, my dh had problems with his. But most importantly, the customer service was awful! After hours on hold and unhelpful & disinterested reps, my dh said he was never going back to SprintPCS. They did offer us incentives to stay when we cancelled but dh said they weren't enough to make him stay. I thought SprintPCS was fine, although, the reception was a bit weak in MY OWN HOME!

At the time, SprintPCS and Voicestream were the only companies offering family plans with NO roaming charges and FREE long distance in my area. Maybe there are more choices now.

 

[jimmie2daughters]

Spare a thought for us poor UK people.

Even if our cellphones work on the US frequencies, It will cost us 80 cents/minute to phone the UK and 1 dollar a minute to phone a local Florida number.

Can you pick up prepaid SIM cards in Florida at a reasonable price that we could use instead (phone permitting) for local calls ?

Jimmie L
England

 

[BraveMom3]

by Jen80370: "Orlando is a GSM city"? What does that mean? Can I use my cell phone at WDW and US/IOA? I'm planning to carry it for safety in case one of my 3 children gets lost, they can give the # to a CM to find me!

 

[ncbyrne]

We've had a few different plans over the past few years and found that the taxes and surcharges on all of these plans are a rip off! They tell you it's $39.95 per month for a certain area, with so many minutes. Well...even if I never picked up the phone, it's costs WAY more than that per month! They should tell you the bottom line figure.

 

[safetymom]

AT&T has a prepaid plan. You can also choose between local and national minutes. My kids have them for their cars. You can buy minutes in $10, 25, 50 $100 amounts. They do expire after 45 days but if you buy more before they expire you can keep your extra minutes. We are very happy with them.

 

[DMRick]

We've had a few different plans over the past few years and found that the taxes and surcharges on all of these plans are a rip off! They tell you it's $39.95 per month for a certain area, with so many minutes. Well...even if I never picked up the phone, it's costs WAY more than that per month! They should tell you the bottom line figure.

Has it been awhile since you phone shopped? They (Verizon) told me my phone was $35 plus ~$6 taxes, etc, and it has been just that every month. I use mine a lot...especially on nights and weekends with my laptop computer while camping.

 

[HorizonsFan]

"Orlando is a GSM city"? What does that mean?

GSM is a type of wireless phone network; very popular in Europe. Voicestream is the only company in the US (I believe) that uses GSM. If you have a Voicestream phone (like me!) you will be able to use it at WDW without roaming charges. My wife and I are on the Family Plan and calls to each other will be free. We like to be able to split up and pin trade (me) and shop (her).

 

[Minnie's Mate]

Sorry if this is a repeat, but I didn't have time to read all of the responses. Currently, Cingular has a promotion that includes 1200 anytime minutes and 3500 nights and week-end minutes for $99.99 in the Atlanta area. All minutes include Nationwide long distance for free. Detailed billing, caller ID, call forwarding, 3 way calling and voicemail are included for no additonal fee. Additional minutes are $.30/min. I have this info in front of me because I just upgraded my rate plan. I know its a pain to change numbers, but you might look into the new rates to see if they are valid in your area.

 

[homebrew]

Nextel with direct connect, the only way to go. NAJASC

 

[SalandJeff]

Cingular plans are the best deal for nationwide coverage, and we've shopped around. We've used 2 way radios in the parks, also. This works out okay, but there are so many people using them now, that you're constantly hearing other conversations, not sure if it's your people trying to reach you, having to listen to teenagers who just want to chat with each other, etc.