No Cell Phones in the Parks!

[ariel326]

I used my cell phone to keep track of wait times on MDE and take some pictures.

I posted a couple pictures on facebook and texted my parents some pictures of my son a couple times as well.

I let my son play a couple games on my phone if we were in really long slow moving lines.

Other then that I left my phone in my pocket.

Different strokes for different folks.

 

[feistygalkmc]

I used to leave my phone in the room because people at my old job had a habit of calling me and asking stupid questions that they should have been able to answer themselves while I was on vacation.

This...yep, I've been on the bus to DTD practically yelling with frustration (ok maybe not yelling but the frustrated part yes) at a co-worker walking her step by step through a process. Did you do this? no...ok if you didn't then you wouldn't get that error. Well I didn't I did it exactly like you said. By the 20 minute bus ride to DTD that got no where over the phone I told her to forget about it and I would handle it when I got back. I was fuming and learned a quick lesson on not answering during vacation. I will be enforcing the rule this year mostly for myself. Work has a bad bad habit of calling me if I take a vacation day, whatever, whenever and wherever I am. Not this year. Like another poster said I am turning off Sprint and turing on wifi.

 

[gonnago]

I take my phone in case there is an emergency at home but I do not talk on my phone nor do I text while in the parks unless it is to keep in touch with other members of our party that are not with us at the time.

When I was there once with a group of friends i received a call from my brother who was taking care of my mother while I was gone(she was in a wheelchair and on dialysis and oxygen along with diabetes and heart problems she lived with me and I was her caregiver) that she had to be hospitalized,of course I was a wreck but he assured me she was in no danger and didn't even want him to call me but I was able to call her and put my mind to ease. If I would not of gotten that call/message until back at hotel late at night and would not of been able to call and speak to her I would of been a total wreck until morning.

Do whatever you feel is important for your family but please understand that there are circumstances that require people to have their phones with them even on vacation at all times.But then again I am not someone who has my face planted in my phone I love to people watch too much!

 

[yankeepenny]

I don't use it as a lifeline. some do- some don't.

I barely turn mine on each day.

I use the tv for nightly news, and read the paper. The computer in the house is modern, but not lugged anywhere.

I am part of the over 40 it is a convenience, NOT a necessity. but loads over 40 use it as a lifeline.


To each his own.

 

[fla4fun]

I don't take my phone to the parks. It's not a smartphone - it's basically for emergencies, and it stays locked in the room safe unless I am specifically expecting a call.

I use an iPod touch for MDE. All the benefit of the app without the phone interruptions.

I understand that some people have to be in contact every day - I'm just glad I'm not one of them.

 

[Kate and Family]

I will be taking my phone with me. It is my camera. I will use it if we split up (which helps me keep connected to my vacationing family). It is an emergency contact with family left at home (Caller ID is helpful, for ignoring calls). And, I suppose this next visit, I will be using it with the Disney App, and to check the weather when needed. Also considering using a marker to write phone number on grandchildren's arms, lol.

All of the adults in my family have phones (most have smart phones). Never, NEVER, has anyone chosen the phone rather than being engaged with the people around them. I have never felt it necessary to leave a phone behind out of fear that I would be tempted to be on the phone rather than enjoying my vacation (whether Disney or else where)

So while you notice the people around you on phones, realize that most of the people you see without phones, actually do have them with them, but they are enjoying the Disney experience, being with family and friends, and enjoy being away from home.

 

[Mom2Stitch]

DH owns a business, on vacation we (the family) allow him 1 morning call to get his employees going and 1 PM call to see how the day went. We figured out after WDW vacation #1 that we would have to do something like that to keep him off the phone all day.

We limit the phone use as much as possible for non-vacation related things. I guess with the way Disney wants to do things it will be used a lot more now.

This upcoming trip we will have dgs,6, I'm guessing the phone will get brought out a time or two while waiting in line or for ADRs. I see nothing wrong with it. We also will play our spelling games, name the character,movie, etc., but those can get old after a little while.

 

[Zeebs]

At the moment my only rule is no to using it to play games etc on while at dinner, but I do let the kids colour to keep them entertained so same thing different format. So I guess that makes me a bit of a hypocrite Plus that may change after 2 weeks of eating out.

and no in lines for the kids (they have to borrow mine or hubby's as they don't have their own). I may or may not update my facebook depending on how I am feeling and whether there is something good to make everyone jealous about not being there with me.

I don't care what other people are doing, my own family are exhausting enough to worry about others

Kirsten

 

[3Gsandme]

Don't get me wrong, I use cell phone on vacation to navigate, find restaurants, etc. Its just that in a theme park there's usually no reason to do anything but hang out together. Spending time next to your family is more important that splitting up because someone doesn't want to do one ride or another.

My kids are 14, 7 and 4. We can't ride all together and shouldn't have to. My little one hates dark rides. She's terrified of them and cries the whole time. I suppose I could make her go anyhow, so we don't have to split up for dh and my two older girls therefore not using my terrible, awful, no good, very bad cell phone, but since the point of vacation is fun (in my family) and not togetherness at all costs, we split up. My little one is also too small for someone the larger rides that my older two like to ride. I suppose we could make little one stand in line and really enjoy the family bonding experience of boring waiting, or she can ride other rides with one parent. The latter option is more fun.

You know, we eat dinner together at the table six nights a week. My oldest two have two after school activities and all three have an overnight with my Aunt once or twice a month. We get PLENTY of time with each other every single day. Why shouldn't we split up for more fun?

 

[lucyem]

I completely agree we should not have to have phones in WDW if we do not want them. It should be an escape, a vacation! The whole FP+ and reliance on phones/tablets bothers me. Not everyone has a smart phone. And I totally cringe when I see the big tablets brought out. Seriously we have found ourselves in situations more then once where we could not see something because a tablet was being held up.

But on the other hand I have a small farm. I have to have a phone on me. My phone is also my camera. My phone also allows me to quickly text my DH or even find him when we split up.

 

[EMode]

There is a difference between bringing your cell phone to the park and constantly being on it in the park. We bring ours, they are our phones and how we communicate with eachother when seperated.
And yes sometimes we separate, we can have a wonderful family vacation without spending every single waking minute all together. My dd and dh also use their's as their cameras. We use them to check SB line times, etc. They are a useful tool, but if you can't control yourself on it then by all means leave them at home

 

[chrismb22]

Here's my problem with these responses. If the system is available and someone wants to use it, why should others have a problem with it? I love when people at work (or wherever) with older kids will say "back in my day we didn't use phones/tablets to keep kids quiet at a restaurant or in the car." We'll guess what, back in your day, you smoked while pregnant and didn't wear seat belts or strap kids in car seats either. Just because you couldn't do it doesn't mean we shouldn't. If my son wants to play a game while sitting through a three hour meal then why do you care? My motto is whatever works for your family works for your family and as long as it's not hurting me (example, not paying attention to wear you are going and running into me) then I don't care at all.

 

[MichelleVW]

And you know, you aren't there when dd14 asks me to snuggle and talk about her day....or when dh makes us all sit down and fill out March Madness brackets...or when three kids pile onto my bed and actually get along for an hour. I'm okay with those moments when we're all iZombies.

If that works for you, great. A mix of togetherness and splitting up works better for us.

Having a device that can access the entirety of human knowledge and experience in the palm of my hand is something I like, even when I'm on vacation.

Love having my cell phone in the park. We use it to check wait times, how long the rain will last, use it as a phone, and oh the horror...I even update my social media sites so my Disney geek friends can follow along! Trust me all the judgy people...my family misses nothing when we are on our phones!

 

[patty57]

We have our phones. Our boys are in college, in their 20s. Telling them to leave their phones in the hotel would be pretty amusing. In any case, what other people do with their phones in the parks doesn't get onto my radar screen.

 

[LucyBC80]

You might not be the only family but your experience is not better or worse than mine is, just different. I use my phone for picture taking, checking waits, checking the live app from the kennel where my dogs and cats stay and yes, the occasional social media. It's my way of touring, we're still loving our time together and there's nothing wrong with that.

 

[OKW Lover]

Are we the only family who agrees not to bring cell phones with use to theme parks? or vacation activities in general?

Not the only ones, but certainly one of the few. We bring our cell phones but aren't a slave to them. If we decide we don't want an intrusion, we make sure it is on silent (which they should be in a park) and than just ignore them.

 

[pepe of ohio]

I so agree with the original poster, but I'm certain we are in the minority. I'm just tired, in general, of others constantly looking at a phone, and missing out on what's right in front and around them...their family/friends..the sights and sounds...and being free to be completely engaged in the moment.

I agree with you... I leave my phone in the room safe... I have a DSLR camera I use for pictures... No need to social media with anyone or thing...vacations are to be free of that, plus news and newspapers...it's only for a week...unattach yourself from the electronic world and enjoy your family and friends

 

[parkluvr]

Whenever we go on a cruise we immediately put all phones in the safe turned off. Don't want the international roaming charges and enjoy not having them. At Disney, we have older kids who like to go off, so we do use phones there to keep in touch.

 

[hsmamato2]

Even if I don't use it for much else, it is so convenient for keeping in touch with other group members....and I use the camera all the time..... you can use it for what is needed without going on apps and social media.....(shocking,I know)

 

[patty57]

I understand the disconnecting from the electronic world, and being in the moment piece of this...I just don't think how other people choose to live is my business. Loud talking on their phones is rude, but having their faces buried in their phones? I just don't pay attention. The only place I notice or care what people do with cell phones is when they are driving a car. Now that makes me crazy. Seeing all the one-handed drivers while they talk on their phones is horrifying to me.