Magic Kingdom Charging Stations being discontinued.

[BuzzinDownToDisney]

http://blogmickey.com/2014/09/magic-kingdom-charging-stations-discontinued-september-13th/

Personally I never even saw them last week, but had no idea this was only a pilot program.

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

That's unfortunate. They're a great concept but I'm guessing people don't want to be away from their phones.

 

[agavegirl1]

This is not surprising since another site (I think Josh's) reported that out of the 12 available near the Tangled Bathrooms, none were operational. They were all broken.

 

[mjhannaf]

This is not surprising since another site (I think Josh's) reported that out of the 12 available near the Tangled Bathrooms, none were operational. They were all broken.

Josh did report that, but those are staying along with the ones in Storybook Circus. It's just the charging lockers that are affected.

 

[nkereina]

Good idea in theory but with the increasing popularity of portable/external chargers - many that are small and easy to carry around, coupled with people not wanting to be away from their phones for a few minutes - it makes sense they are discontinuing it.

 

[MaleficentEvilSister]

We just brought our charger with us and charged our phone with any outlet we could find while relaxing and people watching.

 

[L&Lfan]

I read the title as "MK CHANGING Stations being discontinued".

 

[JaimeA]

We never saw them either but I wasn't looking for them. I bought 2 portable chargers from Jackery. I think the concept was OK but I wouldn't want to leave my phone on one end of the park just to charge while I am at the other end and then come all the way back for it. ( I am lazy incase you haven't noticed)

 

[BuzzinDownToDisney]

That's unfortunate. They're a great concept but I'm guessing people don't want to be away from their phones.

I think that's it. I feel like I'm gonna start twitching in the parks if I don't have my phone since it doubles as my camera. I too used the Jackery portable ones.

 

[boufa]

Many of our phones take several hours to get a decent charge. Can't walk away from it for that long. Plus as someone already pointed out, external batteries are cheap, and effective.

My phone can last easily a full day on a charge, but my wifes phone will struggle in the evening. Just picked up http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EETOTWS/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 and I'm good for at least hte rest of the day.

Its barely bigger than a lipstick, or about the size of 1.5 C batteries stack on top of each other. Painless, and cheap.

 

[HopperFan]

I tried the ones at Space Mountain. Even though it was small there were no issues with an available spot. Problem was that once I plugged it in and attempted to start the process, it keep saying there was no phone plugged in. I tried several times - and there was that panic something was wrong with my phone as it had died. (I had completely forgotten my portable battery and charging cords that day). When I got to hotel and plugged in my phone, it was fine - so the charging station was having issues.

Honestly it never sounded viable, having used it - you are better off just bringing your cord and taking a break by an outlet if you don't want to spend the money for a battery pack. They just need more standard plugs.

 

[Dan Murphy]

When I see these phone charging threads, I think of the Wall Hugger commercial.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUfvZs01ePI

I like to be able to just swap out my battery on my Galaxy for a fresh one, takes 30 seconds, while walking. No cables, wires, chargers.

 

[DisneyFansInNYC]

We too brought a portable charger and it worked great. Had it charging in my pocketbook. Only needed to charge it one additional time per day.

 

[Jenn55]

I just asked for an outlet near a table when we stopped for dinner at crystal palace back in January. They were very accommodating and even tho I didn't get ken right at the table, it was within eye sight so I felt it as safe while I grabbed my food

 

[NotUrsula]

When I see these phone charging threads, I think of the Wall Hugger commercial.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUfvZs01ePI

I like to be able to just swap out my battery on my Galaxy for a fresh one, takes 30 seconds, while walking. No cables, wires, chargers.

Ain't that the truth. Also, being able to put several movies on a mini-SD so that we can swap them around in the family whenever we want.

 

[Ellwood970]

Used one at tomorrowland terrace during the 24 hour party. Very useful, they should put more in not take them away. The phone got a good charge while we rode everything in tomorrow land. Someone in the arcade at space mountain had a couple strip chargers plugged in and there were a bunch of people resting on the floor waiting for their phones to charge. That was funny to see.

 

[agavegirl1]

Well, basically being a person who prepares for the inevitable, I have purchased a cross body purse to support a lot of what you ask. I am bringing, in an outside pocket, a separate charger and cord for my phone. a Jackery Giant which should charge my phone and pretty much anything else. I tested it recently at the state fair. It still has an almost full charge. So....you are not the only one and there are solutions.

 

[bumbershoot]

Someone in the arcade at space mountain had a couple strip chargers plugged in and there were a bunch of people resting on the floor waiting for their phones to charge. That was funny to see.

Camaraderie.

We were at Disneyland last week and there were teen girls in a bathroom, sitting on the changing table (ew, in short short shorts, ew) with their phones plugged in at the outlets that, I assume, are mainly used by the janitorial CMs. They were just hanging out! I couldn't help but think that there had to be nicer places to do that in, but they didn't seem to mind. (and no one walked in needing the changing table while I was in there, so I saw no evidence that they would be rude or not-rude if their "bench" was needed)

 

[boufa]

So now with Apple Pay... you may have to wall hug for a while, so that your phone has enough charge to pay for your meal or purchase. That could be fun to watch!

(Not to spin this into an apple commercial/bash fest... but they proudly announced that the iPhone 6 would have at least comparable battery strength to the iPhone 5! Wow!! the iPhone 5 are the ones searching for outlets all day, good luck to you)

 

[mjhannaf]

By the way, if anyone is looking for an alternative, I go to the parks almost every day and I use the Anker Astro Mini portable charger: http://amzn.to/1qLdm05

I get 1.5-2 full charges out of it and it allows me to tweet and take pics/vines as needed without worrying.