No Cell Phones in the Parks!

[W.E.D.]

I suppose that I'm one of the few archaic luddites who agrees with the sentiment behind the OPs feelings on the subject.

You're not.

DW and I keep ours with us most of the time because sometimes we will split up for part of day (ie. last trip I did the KTTK tour while she went to The Dolphin for a spa day). And now Disney has made it so you really need them, IF you want to toy with your FP+ and ADRs all day.

What bugs me about all the cellphone/ipad/whatever usage is all the awesome stuff people are missing while they bury their heads in the devices. WDW might as well just put attractions in big warehouses with no theming because a lot of folks are missing the whole thing.

 

[texasroni75]

Like previous posters, we rely on them to (1) keep track of one another when our group splits up to do different things, (2) to make sure we aren't missing an important call from home/emergency/etc., and (3) as a camera.

We are not using them for chitchat with friends, do not take calls from the office, and/or do not surf the internet or play games on them when we are walking around or eating meals in WDW. Because of the way we use them, they aren't a real distraction from our vacation and down-time, and are a valuable tool in times of need.

I actually wish each of the adults in our group had their own cellphone during our first two trips. It could have saved a lot of confusion and waiting around because someone misunderstood the time and place where we were going to meet back up!

 

[katt789]

I have to say, I go a little both ways on the subject. I like to use my phone for pictures, and the group that I go in, we instagram a lot, and it's handy to use the MDE app on the phone. Since we're from Canada, we don't have them turned on but will use the wireless, and will use facebook to chat with people who we are attempting to meet up with that day, and that's about it.

We had a little incident in Oct, mid halloween party, bff was talking to a friend back home on facebook on her phone while in line for a character and the conversation changed to something about her ex, which of course resulted in her crying and having a crappy rest of her night.

Since then, we've "banned" cell phones on trips for things like that, it ruins the mood. We still use them for MDE, instagam, and talking to people who are down in the parks that we are meeting with, stuff like that, but we do our best to keep them in our bags and talk to each other instead of keeping so attached to technology all the time.

 

[marctav]

just do what is right for your family

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

It would cause added stress for us. We separate with the kids numerous times per day. Having a set meeting place and time is all well and good, but not being able to factor in crowds, lines, bathroom breaks, etc. we would spend more time waiting around than we would enjoying the parks.

I take my phone to the parks and I use it as needed, which can be often. I use it a lot as a clock, especially to try to keep track of FP+ times. I use it to rearrange FP+ times if necessary. I've also used it to make same day dining reservations. I use it to check wait times. Sometimes our party needs to split up (for instance, DD isn't tall enough to ride all the rides so we take turns or if we don't all get to the park at the same time), and it is a lot easier to find each other with phones. I also use my phone as my daily camera. If we have a special event I might use our dslr, but just for snapping quick pics, I use my phone. I keep my phone in an outside pocket of my purse, and it's no big deal to carry.

Do whatever works for your family, but I'd never dream of going on any day trip without my phone, much less to a Disney park.

Our experience is like these posters'. We "disconnect" while at WDW, but we're disconnecting from news feeds, work emails, etc. We can still do that and have the phones on us for texting, ADR changes, FP+ changes, etc. Wouldn't dream of a vacation like this without it -- and that was true long before FP+.

 

[DisneyFive]

I'd like to be cell phone free in the parks, but there have been important reasons to have at least one smart phone with us on the last four trips.

With paper FP's, we could use the phone to check the FP return windows. This kept us from trecking to the other side of the park only to find out that the FP window didn't work for us.

With FP+ last year, we used it to change FP's on the fly, and change dinner reservation(s). Disney is almost forcing the issue now that the FP+ system is up and running. It was one of my key, few complaints about our trip last year; the need to have your face buried in a smart phone to get the most out of your FP experience!

Dan

 

[20yBWDW]

I always find it interesting when people observe strangers' cell phone habits and assume the person is missing out or less connected to the people around them because of the phones. In our family, no cell phones would mean less time together. We take an annual vacation where we truly disconnect from work, social media, etc. It is a peaceful, relaxing vacation, when we can truly focus on each other and the beautiful world around us. Thanks to cell phones, we are able to escape from the daily grind two more times each year. Those bonus trips require us to be reachable, and we choose places like Disney, where there are already a ton of distractions for our kids.

I certainly don't judge people who take annual trips to Disney but never take the kind of vacation I consider to be more about family togetherness. I realize that every family has a different dynamic and am confident that your bonding is just as effective as mine. But please don't make assumptions about me when you see me sneaking texts while my kids marvel at Dumbo. That's my way of pulling off our bonus vacation.

 

[MichelleVW]

You're not.

DW and I keep ours with us most of the time because sometimes we will split up for part of day (ie. last trip I did the KTTK tour while she went to The Dolphin for a spa day). And now Disney has made it so you really need them, IF you want to toy with your FP+ and ADRs all day.

What bugs me about all the cellphone/ipad/whatever usage is all the awesome stuff people are missing while they bury their heads in the devices. WDW might as well just put attractions in big warehouses with no theming because a lot of folks are missing the whole thing.

Lol....I'm probably texting my Disney geek friends back home about the cool details I just saw. Seriously...don't assume that since I like to play with my phone that I'm missing anything...because trust me....my family doesn't miss a thing.

 

[3Gsandme]

You're not.

DW and I keep ours with us most of the time because sometimes we will split up for part of day (ie. last trip I did the KTTK tour while she went to The Dolphin for a spa day). And now Disney has made it so you really need them, IF you want to toy with your FP+ and ADRs all day.

What bugs me about all the cellphone/ipad/whatever usage is all the awesome stuff people are missing while they bury their heads in the devices. WDW might as well just put attractions in big warehouses with no theming because a lot of folks are missing the whole thing.

Why should what I'm missing bother you? Seriously. If I'm getting enough fun out of my vacation that my family and me are happy, why does it matter if I'm "missing" the things you like? Because that's what it's about. Missing what YOU like, not missing what *I* like. Because, I'm doing what I like and as long as I'm not being rude that shouldn't bother you.

 

[Haygar2]

I have a teenage daughter who, at home, is constantly on her cell phone/I-pad. While we are on vacation, there is no texting and/or posting to Facebook, Instagram, Twitter,etc...I will NOT allow that. You are advertising that you are on vacation and are not at home. That is just me.

I do, however, use my phone as a camera. It is better than the point and shoot that I have. My husband and my daughter use theirs for the same reason.

It's nice to be away from everyone for awhile.

 

[chrismb22]

People can say the same thing about pictures "if you are constantly behind the camera you are missing out on what's in front of you" (we take a LOT of pictures and have heard that before as well.

Again, what I do on my vacation -- as long as it isn't hurting you - is my business. Last time I went to Disney I called my mom at least three times a day. She was stuck in the house (cancer patient) and pretty much was so excited to hear how much her grandson was enjoying things. So we were in line I would call her and let him talk to her or give her an update. Trust me, I was't missing anything -- and I was bringing a little bit of Disney magic to my mom who couldn't be there.

 

[nancipants]

As someone who has been brought closer to family via technology, I get really annoyed when people use the "you're missing what's right in front of you" or "you're ignoring your family" arguments regarding cell phones.

My fiance and I were in a long distance relationship until this past July, when he moved to Orlando. During the 11 months we spent dating while living on opposite sides of the country, we texted or talked on Gchat or on Skype pretty much every waking moment of the day. Because I have an annual pass, I spent a lot of time at Disney texting him what I was doing or sending him pictures. It was my way of sharing the fun with him and getting him excited to move. Now that he lives here, when we're at the parks he texts his family back in Seattle or posts pictures on Facebook for his family to see.

We're not attached to our phones when on vacation, especially when we're on cruises, but I don't see anything wrong with checking social media or texting friends and talking about how much fun you're having.

 

[Alice Royal]

God, I hate people who declare that everyone who uses an iPhone is a 'zombie'.

Sorry I've got social anxiety and my phone is my lifeline to abate panic attacks and awkwardness.

Sorry that there are times when I'd rather text my partner what I'm thinking because it's not something I want everyone to hear or because I don't want people to know that I'm thinking something.

Sorry I'm part of the Internet generation and more of my friends are strictly people I've met and interacted with online (and don't try to argue that--aren't we having a conversation right now? Is there not the potential for people here to kindle human relationships through these walls of text?).

Sorry I find my life on the Internet to be more colorful and filled with more awesome people than my 'real life' out in the 'real world' (although I DO have friends and relationships and success in it).

Being 'buried' in technology is how a lot of people my age survive and thrive. Do all of us do it the 'right' way? No. But nobody has the right to go around judging people for doing it. It's not like we're Snapchatting from Grandma's funeral. If you choose to reject technology, okay, that's cool. But you should know that things like smartphones and the Internet have opened doors for a lot of people to communicate more than they would have without them. I'm not missing out on ANYTHING. I live close and I go twice a month, so I've seen everything and maybe, just maybe I'd like to share it through the lens of my iPhone with some Instagram filters so my friends can see it too.

 

[hgeisler]

because we are a large group 11 or more, we split up a lot so we keep ours on to stay in touch as needed.

This!!!

 

[CJN]

If Ellen can host the Oscars while using a cell phone, I can sure as heck use mine without apology while on vacation - WDW or any other place.

 

[LaurenT]

I admit to being addicted to my phone. I check it and post to it several times an hour. For me, it would be like trying to stop smoking while on vacation - very stressful!

 

[Cyrano]

I keep my smartphone with me all the time, I use it to connect with family and friends who are traveling at the same time. And, like others, it has become my travel camera most of the time.

It actually does a pretty good job as a camera. Here's a photo I took of the Grand Floridian at sunset with the iPhone from a moving resort launch. No photoshop or color adjustment, not professional quality but it works great for my purposes.

So my smartphone will continue to accompany me on my trips, but to each their own.

This is how we use our tech which keeps us in the driving seat when we need it but also can put it down when we do not need it.

The one thing I don't get is holding the iPad up for photographs Especially when it blocks other guests views of the parade/show etc.

By the way great photo I bet that was on your screensaver for a while

 

[DrDad]

In my profession it's not possible. In addition they come in real handy when trying to find a family member that may have strayed from the herd.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

We bring them, but are not glued to them. We do use them to keep in touch when we split up, use the camera, use the GPS to navigate.

I also find it VERY helpful now to use my phone as a back up device. I'm pretty good at remembering where I park, but gosh - it only takes a second to take a pic of our parking spot.

The camera was also HIGHLY useful the last time I bought tickets offsite. Having an image of the ticket numbers/receipt saved mea TON of hassle, and maybe hundreds of $. (otherwise I might've had to buy replacement tickets!)

Having been stung, I now ALWAYS go around my rental car and take photos of ALL parts of the car, including any scrapes or damage!

If you have more than one person in your party, especially kids or elders, it is always helpful to take a picture each day in case they get lost. We once saw a guy who had lost his son. All he could do was describe his son. Disney eventually located him, but gosh, it would have been so much easier to help him if he could have shown everyone an image of his son!

My one BIG pet peeve is folks using phones/cameras and FLASHES on attractions, especially dark rides/shows! So very rude! Yet every time we go on VotLM. several idiots are flashing away! ARGH!

 

[palmtreegirl]

God, I hate people who declare that everyone who uses an iPhone is a 'zombie'.

Sorry I've got social anxiety and my phone is my lifeline to abate panic attacks and awkwardness.

Sorry that there are times when I'd rather text my partner what I'm thinking because it's not something I want everyone to hear or because I don't want people to know that I'm thinking something.

Sorry I'm part of the Internet generation and more of my friends are strictly people I've met and interacted with online (and don't try to argue that--aren't we having a conversation right now? Is there not the potential for people here to kindle human relationships through these walls of text?).

Sorry I find my life on the Internet to be more colorful and filled with more awesome people than my 'real life' out in the 'real world' (although I DO have friends and relationships and success in it).

Being 'buried' in technology is how a lot of people my age survive and thrive. Do all of us do it the 'right' way? No. But nobody has the right to go around judging people for doing it. It's not like we're Snapchatting from Grandma's funeral. If you choose to reject technology, okay, that's cool. But you should know that things like smartphones and the Internet have opened doors for a lot of people to communicate more than they would have without them. I'm not missing out on ANYTHING. I live close and I go twice a month, so I've seen everything and maybe, just maybe I'd like to share it through the lens of my iPhone with some Instagram filters so my friends can see it too.