Phones at WDW

[petbren]

OK, from different things I've read, the best way do keep in touch is with a cellphone.
I know the Tracfone seems to be the best option, but as I we are using ME this time, I won't get a change to pick one up. My girlfriend is meeting us down there, and picking up groceries etc. before checking in but is all freaked out about trying to find and pick out a Tracfone for our family and hers.

Is there a place I can ask her to stop where she will defiantly be able to get 2 Tracfones?
They will be in Orlando with a rental car arriving a week before us.
Keep in mind she lives in a very small town, and has a somewhat limited since of direction

Here at home, I have a Bell cellphone, and she has Rogers.
The Bell site says I can add the Florida Connect plan for $20/month(min. 2 months).
Anyone have experience with this plan? Are there any other hidden fees(roaming charges)

 

[minnie56]

The Florida Connect Plan I have used many times and it works geat! No hidden costs..you have to take a 2 month min and cannot use all 2 months minutes in 1 month, but it is what it says it is..and IMO a good deal! Nice to just pick up the Cell and use it without big surprises later!

 

[dhluvsDisney]

We have two Tracfones we got at Walmart. If you want to get one while down there, just grab a cab ride to Walmart (around $25 return) or Target. Make sure you pick up extra cards if you need, as you cannot refill on line or on the phone from Canada as they don't take Canadian Credit Cards. The other option would be to go on line at Walmart online and see if they ship to Canada. I know Target doesn't, but Walmart might. Tracfone may or may not ship here as well.

 

[petbren]

The Florida Connect Plan I have used many times and it works geat! No hidden costs..you have to take a 2 month min and cannot use all 2 months minutes in 1 month, but it is what it says it is..and IMO a good deal! Nice to just pick up the Cell and use it without big surprises later!

So I can use just 50 min. for the one week we are there?? I guess it will be enough time.

We have two Tracfones we got at Walmart. If you want to get one while down there, just grab a cab ride to Walmart (around $25 return) or Target. Make sure you pick up extra cards if you need, as you cannot refill on line or on the phone from Canada as they don't take Canadian Credit Cards. The other option would be to go on line at Walmart online and see if they ship to Canada. I know Target doesn't, but Walmart might. Tracfone may or may not ship here as well.

Thanks, I know neither Walmart nor Tracfone itself ship to Canada.
Regarding purchasing extra cards, can I just purchase , say 40 minutes for each phone this trip, and the next trip in March, buy other cards when we get there? Will this work, or do I have to pay more if the phone becomes inactive if I don't keep minutes on it? I know the cards are for so many minutes or days.
Not sure I'm explaining it right.

 

[Ham Ham]

Your cell phone provider, mine is Rogers, have packages of US minutes, good for calling home or locally while traveling in the states. Might be an option you want to check out.

Or why not just drive down the QEW to the Target in Niagara Falls, New York before the trip and pick up a couple of phones?

 

[Boomer1]

We have our cellphones through Aliant and are able to upgrade to an international plan. We then change back to our regular plan when we return. This means we only pay for the plan for one month and it always provides us with enough minutes. I don't know what Bell plans offer but this has always worked for us.

 

[minnie56]

Isn't it 100 minutes per month? I have never found it to NOT be enough? I also buy the other plan (name??) that covers all of the US when I go to NYC and that basically works on the same premise and also always been plenty of minutes. Gosh, my DD has called me from the fitting rooms for stores and that has come in very handy!

Bell doesn't give a whole lot for a good price but this plan has been repeatedly of benefit to us for litte $$$

 

[Rubbertops]

We picked up a Virgin mobile phone at Walmart in Buffalo on the way down. It was around $20 and we also bought a $20 card.

The next time we went down I just picked up a $20 card from the Virgin Megastore in DTD Westside. This worked for us.

 

[minnie56]

I also like that I can make the plan accessible from all of our cells. We have the 'family plan' for all 4 cells so when we go away, we can share all of the minutes on the plan

 

[petbren]

Your cell phone provider, mine is Rogers, have packages of US minutes, good for calling home or locally while traveling in the states. Might be an option you want to check out.

Or why not just drive down the QEW to the Target in Niagara Falls, New York before the trip and pick up a couple of phones?

OK, Spectacular plan
We will be staying over in Buffalo the night before we fly out, so maybe I can find those phones at the Target or other store there.
I will check out the Tracfone site to see which stores in Buffalo carry them.

 

[buffalogirl]

In the Buffalo area, Tracfones can be bought at WalMart, Target, Family Dollar, Rite Aid Pharmacy, Walgreen's Pharmacy, Kmart, and probably lots more places I'm forgetting. The cheapest phone is only $15.

Enjoy your trip!!

 

[Claud26]

The Florida Connect Plan I have used many times and it works geat! No hidden costs..you have to take a 2 month min and cannot use all 2 months minutes in 1 month, but it is what it says it is..and IMO a good deal! Nice to just pick up the Cell and use it without big surprises later!

minnie56, when do you usually call Bell to activate the plan ... we are leaving Dec 8th, could I call them now and set everything up or should I wait until a couple of wks before? I think the other Plan they have is called US Connect, I think I will get that since it's only a 1 month comitment and we are flying out of Buffalo.

Last time we went we had a huge surprise with our phone bill, great reception BUT it cost us over $300.00

 

[minnie56]

I called as one billing period ended and the one began that the plan would be billed on. Make sense? It was approx 1 week prior to leaving this past Aug..Yes, I called Bell Mobility to initiate the plan. They will also send you an email with all of the complete details of the plan. Very easy and NO surprises!

 

[goldwest]

We are trying to find the cheapest way to have 2 cell phones at WDW. We will likely use the phones for 15 min a day or less. We are in Canada and the cell phone plan we are on would kill us in roaming fees. We were considering getting 2 Nokia Shorty phones from Virginmobile. They advertise a free phone for $19.95 prepaid minutes. Does anyone know how many minutes we will actually get? (what fees are we likely to it in Florida?) They say the mintues are 18 cents as minute which, if this is all it costs, might be enough for us) DH works in USA so can get phones shipped to his work. It seems too good to be true. Is it? I appreciate any help you might have.

 

[kellyla]

I was just down at Disney and picked up a Tracfone at Walmart.It was 14.99 and then I bought a 120 unit card,29.99(theirs is done in units,texts are.3 units etc)I was then able to set up a Canadian number so that my kids could call that number(a Hamilton #)it would then ring at my american # and it wouldnt cost them long distance to call.I dont have to fill my phone again until March/08.I could also call them long distance but was only charged the local air rate.So pretty cheap for us.

 

[disneyred]

I was just down at Disney and picked up a Tracfone at Walmart.It was 14.99 and then I bought a 120 unit card,29.99(theirs is done in units,texts are.3 units etc)I was then able to set up a Canadian number so that my kids could call that number(a Hamilton #)it would then ring at my american # and it wouldnt cost them long distance to call.I dont have to fill my phone again until March/08.I could also call them long distance but was only charged the local air rate.So pretty cheap for us.

hi, I am interested to learn how this works ... (setting up a canadian phone #),
any links for further info ?? any extra charges to you ??
thanks !

 

[kellyla]

Once you set up your Tracfone,you can go to the international calling pages on their site and you register for your Canadian number there(you can get upto three numbers)tracfone.com

 

[CanadianGuy]

I have a Rogers phone and have been able to add a US package for just one month on each of my last three trips and that worked out great.

No roaming fees, no extra charges... all my US minutes and long distance were covered. I think my monthly fee for this add-on was 60$ .. and with that I was able to use my own phone and receive calls from home -- again - no extra charges.

Trac Fone can work out cheaper.. but I prefer the convenience.



KNox

 

[CanadianGuy]

Bumping up.