Make sense to buy Fuel Rods Online?

[bwbuddy5]

Taking a party of 9 to WDW later in the year. Is there any reason not to buy at the fuel rod website -- $20 each, and $5 shipping regardless of quantity (at least up to 9)?

 

[SureAsLiz]

The fuel rods you purchase online (or at an airport or anywhere else) will work exactly like the ones purchased at the park.
In your case, you would be saving $85 by purchasing ahead of time

The big thing is that you are trading convenience for power. I never get a full charge out of mine (S7/S8) but I am in the parks so often that the convenience factor was more important to me.
There are better battery packs out there in the same price range, but you have to remember to charge them at night (which I never do). So whether or not to purchase fuel rods or some other brand is dependent on your priorities

Also, if anyone in your party has the Galaxy S8, the Fuel Rods do not have an appropriate adapter, so you will need to either purchase one or a separate cord

 

[peg110]

I bought an inifitive powerbank last time I was in Florida from Wal Greens similar to this one https://www.amazon.com/External-Por...3984682&sr=8-2&keywords=infinitive+power+bank

Mine was 10,000 mAh and was around $25.00. It's fairly lightweight. I charge it at night and I am able to keep my phone, DW's phone and Kid's phone charged thorughout the day. I personally don't like the "Swap" model of the Fuel Rods. I just have this underlying fear that I will go to "Swap" and there won't be one, or the one I am swapping is garbage or something else.

That's just my 2 cents on it. For the money, I buy one. I own it, I am responsible enough to take care of it.

 

[peg110]

Now that I look at the link of the one I provided, mine is not near as bulky as that one appears. My 10,000 mAh is smaller then my LG G3 phone (with it's otter box on it)

 

[peg110]

Here is the exact one I got (in store... Not available on line) https://www.walgreens.com/store/c/infinitive-power-bank-10000-mah/ID=prod6337922-product

 

[CAS239]

I personally wouldn't go with the fuel rod, you can get way more bang for your buck. Unless there's higher capacity ones, a typical fuel rod is about 1,100 mah. An iPhone 7 plus would need a 2900 mah charger to reach a full charge.

For less money, or roughly the same price, you can upgrade and get a portable charger with 10,000 mah. This will allow you to get multiple charges before recharging the portable charger, and in some cases able to charge 2 devices at once.

I got my 12,000 mah Power Bank off Groupon for $10. I recommend checking Groupon and Amazon.

 

[yulilin3]

I love my fuel rod but I am streaming at the parks 4 times a week so I use it a lot. It is small and lightweight.
I do have the block types that can charge up to 2 phones at the same time but they are bulkier, only use it when I have an hour that I can put my phone in my purse to charge

 

[keishashadow]

The fuel rods you purchase online (or at an airport or anywhere else) will work exactly like the ones purchased at the park.
In your case, you would be saving $85 by purchasing ahead of time

The big thing is that you are trading convenience for power. I never get a full charge out of mine (S7/S8) but I am in the parks so often that the convenience factor was more important to me.
There are better battery packs out there in the same price range, but you have to remember to charge them at night (which I never do). So whether or not to purchase fuel rods or some other brand is dependent on your priorities

Also, if anyone in your party has the Galaxy S8, the Fuel Rods do not have an appropriate adapter, so you will need to either purchase one or a separate cord

Available @ Disney store - MCO?

Couldn't find link here as to 'where' in each park you can trade them in for a new one. Any options @ DTD or resorts?

We have several already, including a big one to power multiple devices. I forgot to charge them often though, have taken to bringing a 2nd set to always have one ready to go.

Thinking this would be good option to try to be able to leave bulk of them at home.

 

[Bobb_o]

I would go with an Anker or another brand you buy online. The swap feature isn't worth having the low capacity on it.

 

[yulilin3]

Available @ Disney store - MCO?

Couldn't find link here as to 'where' in each park you can trade them in for a new one. Any options @ DTD or resorts?

We have several already, including a big one to power multiple devices. I forgot to charge them often though, have taken to bringing a 2nd set to always have one ready to go.

Thinking this would be good option to try to be able to leave bulk of them at home.

All parks, DS, some resorts and WWoS
If you look on MDE under guest services you will see the locations

 

[drinkme]

We bought the fuel rod on our last trip a couple weeks ago. We found it very convenient to switch them out daily or twice a day.

 

[CarrieR]

I bought a fuel rod at my local airport a few weeks ago. My phone battery is in the toilet and I liked having a smaller option than my "big" battery, plus the option to top up.

I found I got 3/4 of a charge (iPhone 5S) and never had to trade it in, just recharged at break & night. I only had to break out the "big" charger once (arrival day.)

 

[Accident]

I think a lot of people make unwise choices when it comes to batteries, especially if they've never used or needed one. I think the mentality is "I must have full power because that's what you do when you charge a phone". The reality is, your phone might get very low, but you only need enough power to finish the day and get it plugged back in, not another days worth of charge for the last hour or three.

I think many oversize their batteries. Some people need that and they know they need that. someone who hasn't had one or never needed one does not need a battery that can charge an iphone 7 time from dead to full. you just aren't going to wait to carry it around, it's like the weight of a small thin laptop and your only going to use a fraction of it's power if you even use it at all. Purchase somethign you can use when your not at disney. Something that just fits in your bag or pocket. Credit card or lipstick sized is perfect for day to day, just have it in your daily bag/laptop case/bookbag in case you need it. You can get many for very reasonable price these days and that's the way to go..

Now how many do you get? you don't get 9 of them for 9 people who dont need them in their daily life. What's going to happen is 1 or 2 will need it right away because they just didn't charge their phones last night. the pokemon player will need it periodically during the day. The adults probably wont need it but the ones who are doing a lot of video or photos might want to top it off by the time you see night entertainment. You'll be able to pass it back and forth so everyone can top themselves off. so you'll need maybe 3 of them.

Now this is where the fuel rod really helps out. because you can swap it for a fully charged one while at the park, the I slept with my phone person can use up the battery on the bus ride over and swap it right away.. then that will last the pokemon player the rest of the day but again you can swap it later in the day so the videographer of the group can top off with enough power to record fireworks and then hand it back to pokemon... 1 fuelrod, everyone had their phone last until you went back to the hotel... If you went with smaller other brands, they saved you money but you will need more than 1 to do the same thing because you can't swap them out for a new fully charged battery in the park.

So what should you buy? If you don't need one in daily life, don't buy anything.. If you need one at disney, buy the fuelrod for $30. You probably won't need it. When you do buy it, don't get everyone a fuel rod.. pass it around. The goal is all phones not dying.. not all phones fully charged so passing it around so everyone get can 5 or 10% more will be cost effective.. When you get home, charge it up and put it in your bag. every few weeks, recharge it and put it back in your laptop bag.. If your not a laptop bag carrying around type of person. Keep it on a charger and ready to go for whoever suddenly might need it heading out the door to grab and go with it.

however, you probably should get pokemon and the videographer one ahead of time.. they will use it while at disney. they can charge gopros as well.

Also are you going to universal? universal doens't have fuelrod so you want to be prepared for that, especially if your expecting 1 or 2 phones to call an uber at the end of hte day. you can use your fuelrod there but you can't swap it for a fully charged one.

 

[Westcoastwild]

I think a lot of people make unwise choices when it comes to batteries, especially if they've never used or needed one. I think the mentality is "I must have full power because that's what you do when you charge a phone". The reality is, your phone might get very low, but you only need enough power to finish the day and get it plugged back in, not another days worth of charge for the last hour or three.

I think many oversize their batteries. Some people need that and they know they need that. someone who hasn't had one or never needed one does not need a battery that can charge an iphone 7 time from dead to full. you just aren't going to wait to carry it around, it's like the weight of a small thin laptop and your only going to use a fraction of it's power if you even use it at all. Purchase somethign you can use when your not at disney. Something that just fits in your bag or pocket. Credit card or lipstick sized is perfect for day to day, just have it in your daily bag/laptop case/bookbag in case you need it. You can get many for very reasonable price these days and that's the way to go..

Now how many do you get? you don't get 9 of them for 9 people who dont need them in their daily life. What's going to happen is 1 or 2 will need it right away because they just didn't charge their phones last night. the pokemon player will need it periodically during the day. The adults probably wont need it but the ones who are doing a lot of video or photos might want to top it off by the time you see night entertainment. You'll be able to pass it back and forth so everyone can top themselves off. so you'll need maybe 3 of them...

Now this is where the fuel rod really helps out. because you can swap it for a fully charged one while at the park, the I slept with my phone person can use up the battery on the bus ride over and swap it right away.. then that will last the pokemon player the rest of the day but again you can swap it later in the day so the videographer of the group can top off with enough power to record fireworks and then hand it back to pokemon... 1 fuelrod, everyone had their phone last until you went back to the hotel... If you went with smaller other brands, they saved you money but you will need more than 1 to do the same thing because you can't swap them out..

So what should you buy? If you don't need one in daily life, don't buy anything.. If you need one at disney, buy the fuelrod for $30. You probably won't need it. When you do buy it, don't get everyone a fuel rod.. pass it around. The goal is all phones not dying.. not all phones fully charged so passing it around so everyone get can 5 or 10% more will be cost effective.. When you get home, charge it up and put it in your bag. every few weeks, recharge it and put it back in your laptop bag.. If your not a laptop bag carrying around type of person. Keep it on a charger and ready to go for whoever suddenly might need it heading out the door to grab and go with it.

however, you probably should get pokemon and the videographer one ahead of time.. they will use it while at disney.

All great points. I have both fuel rod and battery pack. I liked fuel rod more at Disney because it fits in my pockets. Also I'm never really that far away from either fuel rod machine or my resort. If I'm somewhere like Europe- long days, lots of transit- I prefer the batter pack because I need the exta juice.

Probably half of those people won't run out of power. You've got to run apps or Facebook or listen to music to run out. If it's a family trip, lots of those people won't be doing it, at least if they're not all responsibke for their fast passes and ADRs. I'd get the Pokémon player a battery pack though and make it their responsibility. Fuel rod won't charge it fast enough anyway.

 

[Accident]

I'd get the Pokémon player a battery pack though and make it their responsibility. Fuel rod won't charge it fast enough anyway.

That's if you want them to be able to play all day.. a little creative without asking interference on your disney trip might not be a bad thing for the pokemon player ..

 

[Westcoastwild]

That's if you want them to be able to play all day.. a little creative without asking interference on your disney trip might not be a bad thing for the pokemon player ..

Good point!! I've got to say that I enjoy preoccupied sibling more than whiny sibling, though.

 

[peg110]

All very good points....

Me personally, I have a fear of "Swapping" and not get a Reliable replacement. (Maybe end of life, maybe not full charged, maybe defective, etc...) But that's me.

I have a battery pack that is actually smaller than my smartphone and can charge 2 devices at once..... Plus, It has enough charge to charge an iPad from empty to full (so it claims anyway. I don't have an iPad to verify). So for the luxury of keeping my phone and DW's phone (both of us use for pictures and MDE) charged as well as the DD12's phone charged, and not have to worry about where I can swap or even the quality of the swap.... makes it worth it for me.

Plus, when phones get down to 50%, many have "Power saving" features which for me are more of pain. The most "Notable" is the "Dimming" of the screen. Sure it saves power, but now I have to keep the phone on longer trying to get a better angle (from Florida sun) to try and see the phone. Net effect... Phone uses just as much (if not more) power.

Then it "Slows" apps down to save power.... But when I NEED those apps, it takes LONGER to run them.... Net effect, phone uses just as much (if not more) power.

So your argument that you don't need a full charge is sort of valid, but then again.... Depending on how you use the phone... maybe not so much.

I don't find my batter pack to be that much heavier then the fuel rod (or similar devices since I have never had a fuel rod) but I find the convenience absolutely wonderful. I have had my phone run down to near nothing, and it's very annoying to have to NOT use it when I want to just in case I need to call or text someone.

Like most things.... your mileage may vary... What works for me may not work for you and vice versa.