Long distance calls

[ChocolateMouse]

While I'm in Florida, I'm fairly sure I'll need to call back to Canada. I have a Telus cell phone, but it appears the roaming charges are $1.45 per minute. It's $0.95/min for the roaming fee and $0.50/min for the long distance charge.

Is there a cheaper way to call back to Canada? I've never bought a pre-paid long distance calling card at places like convenience stores. If I was to go that route, would I buy them in Canada or wait until I arrive in the U.S.?

 

[connorsmom911]

We've used pre-paid calling cards on the last 2 trips, both bought here before we left home. We've used both the AT&T card from Walmart and the PC card from Loblaws. Both were pretty much the same. You dial an 800 number on the back of the card from any payphone or room phone (you will be charged for the call from the room...75 cents I think), and then follow the recorded instructions entering the pin number off the back of the card (under the scratch area), then the phone number you are calling. It should give you the balance and the number of minutes you have for the call.

I think the rates are around 4 cents or 5 cents a minute, and if I remember right the PC card doesn't expire, whereas the AT&T card expired after 90 days.

This is definitely the way to call home. Don't pay the long-distance charges from the room phone, they are a fortune. You might want to check with your cell phone company though if you need to use it a lot. I checked with Bell Mobility before we left home and there was a package I could have added for around $20 that would have let me roam, but I knew we weren't going to be calling that much (although my funny moment was the 30 second call from the line-up at Wolfgang Puck express to my dh who was saving a table 100 ft away to ask him what he wanted for dinner...I think that call was a few dollars!!)

 

[Tiger926]

President Choice card is the cheapest way to go - 4.3 per minute, no surcharges (which AT& T Walmart cards have for using pay phones), or additional fees. The cards expire 6 months after first use, but you can add a small amount to keep it going or make a small long distance call and you get another 6 months. You can also automatically add to your card online - great for vacation!

Tiger

 

[MJGirl]

Whatever you do ... Do not call direct from your room! What we do (when calling home) ... is we call the person collect with the msg "It's me ... Call me back.". You have to make sure they have the hotel number before you go. You save on long distance charges this way! Sneaky ... but works!

 

[tribus121]

The PC phone card is the way to go we bought a $ 10 one made several un rushed calls home and still had $ 7 left it is great even for making local calls from payphones

 

[Reese]

We used the PC card also. We had bought a ten dollar one and still had eight dollars on it when we came home. I use it for any of my long distance now.

 

[eleanor]

We always use PC phone cards. We used them from the room and it was no problem. 4.3c a minute is really cheap. I now use it for all my long distance calls. It is only 4.9 to Germany where I make most of my calls

 

[Cdn Friends of Pooh]

Depending on how many calls you are going to make, you may want to call Telus Mobility and change your rate plan for the time you are in Florida to their Talk North American Plan for $75.

 

[ChocolateMouse]

Thanks for the feedback! I think buying the PC phone cards is the way to go for me!

 

[almacdonald]

Whatever you do, don't use your credit card or call collect from the payphones in the Pop Century lobby! 30 second call to voice mail = $9.50, 2 minute collect call = $15.00!!!!!!

Buy a phone card for sure, then i think you might even be able to use them free in your hotel room. Most places don't charge to call a 1-800 #.

 

[lisaviolet]

We always use PC phone cards. We used them from the room and it was no problem. 4.3c a minute is really cheap. I now use it for all my long distance calls. It is only 4.9 to Germany where I make most of my calls

Hi,

I usually use Cici cards. They expire six months from the first day of usage. But we've been very happy with them. Do the PC cards have an expiry date or are they open-ended? Because I will definitely go with them if this is the case. Thanks so much,

Lisa

 

[ChocolateMouse]

I bought a PC phone card last night. Note the fine print on the back: if your call originates from the U.S., there is a $0.05/minute surcharge. So actually, it costs 9.3 cents per minute, not 4.3. Lucky I saw that so I could pick up a higher denomination card.

 

[ChocolateMouse]

Hi,

I usually use Cici cards. They expire six months from the first day of usage. But we've been very happy with them. Do the PC cards have an expiry date or are they open-ended? Because I will definitely go with them if this is the case. Thanks so much,

Lisa

On the back of mine it says it expires six months from first use, but you can transfer unused minutes onto a new card.

 

[sammi]

ChocolateMouse the surcharge has since been waived ! We use the PC card all the time from US to Canada and it's always only 4.3 cents per minute! Also the PC cards expire too after 6 months from first use but you can add the remaining minutes to your next PC Card.

Here's an excerpt from their website:

4. Is there a charge to use the PC prepaid long distance card from the U.S.?
No. You may notice the back of your card says “Additional 5¢ per minute applies when calls originate from the U.S.”. We are pleased to announce that we have negotiated the removal of this surcharge with our network supplier so now your card has no additional or hidden fees.

 

[ChocolateMouse]

YAY!! That's great news! Although now I have twice the amount as I think I'll be using.

Did I read correctly somewhere that local calls on WDW resort phones are $0.75 each?

 

[mousy_in_canada]

I am planning on using the PC prepaid cards too, DO NOT CALL FROM YOUR ROOM! I did 2 one minute calls, (if that) to my mom and my mother in law the whole conversation went like this " Hi it's me we are in room 2514 at FT wilderness can you call me back?"
then the next day I got a call from the office asking me to come and settle my bill.. ??? so up I go and they wanted $45!!! For the calls... I really complained and the girl said it is not Disney's fault it was in international call and it is our contract with the carrier.. don't try to tell me that Disney did not profit from that $45.. lesson learned never call from room again! I really thought how bad can it be, it was 2 thirty second calls!
anyway.. use a prepaid card it will save you so much money!