Pre Paid Cell Phones

[alle_rednic]

I am planning on getting some disposable prepaid cell phones for all of us on this trip... then we don't have to stick together and we won't get 'lost'... but which type?

Which provider is better?
What type of phone?
Its probably won't get much use after this holiday so a cheap one would be okay? But it would be nice to splurge... (http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Galaxy...id+smartphones)

I don;t know much about phones anyway but I would like an android so I could use the Disney Apps etc but other than that it would just be texting, no calls.


I am planning on getting them shipped to our resort and we only need three phones... Our holiday is in October so there is still plenty of time to figure out what we'll need.

Thank you

 

[london75]

Have you considered a three mobile from the uk? You can pick some up pretty cheap and 3 now allow you to use all allowances (within reason for data but pretty high limit still) in the US. Effectively no roaming charges and usable back at home and many places in Europe as well.

Not sure what the deal is with PAYG phones but worth looking.

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

We got Tracphones which I totally recommend. We bought the phone in Walmart for 10 dollars each loaded 20 dollars on each and that was that! Brilliant! If you go often you can get a year for 99 dollars. We were able to phone for take aways, each other etc. there was wifi everywhere in the parks so I took my iphone and just used the wifi with the disney app so no need for a phone with any apps. We do that on the first day all the time now! We also bought a TomTom in Walmart for 89 dollars it was cheaper than renting one! Hth.

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

Sorry it's tracfone not tracphone look online at walmart. Also cheaper if you to site to store and order before you go to pick up. The satnav def was! We now use it every trip! Saved all our favourite locations on it!

 

[iris1910]

We have stopped using pre-paid phones now.

If you have a smart phone you can always use Whats App and iMessage to text each other as they communicate through the park's Wi-Fi, with no charge.

We have also successfully used Apple's face-time within the park to call each other and to call back to the UK at no cost.

It might be another option for you.

 

[wiigirl]

We got Tracphones which I totally recommend. We bought the phone in Walmart for 10 dollars each loaded 20 dollars on each and that was that! Brilliant! If you go often you can get a year for 99 dollars. We were able to phone for take aways, each other etc. there was wifi everywhere in the parks so I took my iphone and just used the wifi with the disney app so no need for a phone with any apps. We do that on the first day all the time now! We also bought a TomTom in Walmart for 89 dollars it was cheaper than renting one! Hth.

 

[penlanspice]

We use our same phones at home (can get you phone unlocked, usually free if you can find instructions on the net, or you can usually get a code on ebay for about £10) just buy a sim and top up.

 

[scoobydooby]

We have stopped using pre-paid phones now. If you have a smart phone you can always use Whats App and iMessage to text each other as they communicate through the park's Wi-Fi, with no charge. We have also successfully used Apple's face-time within the park to call each other and to call back to the UK at no cost. It might be another option for you.

This is also what we do as we spend most of our time on Disney and always stay on property where there is free Wi fi everywhere. Not sure about Universal though? Free Wi Fi at the parks was slow to arrive but it's great now it has come.

 

[thebadger]

@iris1910 beat me to it. get a smart phone, use "whatsapp" free messaging service.

Turn off data roaming to stop silly updates and inform your UK mobile company before you go to cap limits etc

We already have "lines" installed on our phones from the unofficial touring plans guide and use them now to get a feel for them.

Wifi available in parks and at resorts so no need imo to purchase a mobile in the US

 

[pickers1982]

We found wifi everywhere even universal so used whatsapp

 

[alle_rednic]

We would have to buy my mom a smartphone but using the whats app might be a better option then getting two new cell phones that we'd only use for a week... still lots of time to think about this.

 

[Elise79]

We take unlocked phones and put a US Sim card in.

We got T-Mobiles SIMs last time and they were fine for checking email on the go and making calls. Cost us about $40 each with a 30 day tariff included but we opted for a $3 a day unlimited plan which means we can keep our numbers by topping up $100 a year - which when we make 3 trips is just as cheap.

 

[london75]

Sorry to harp on again but Three now let you use your allowance in the US so by far the most cost effective option (if you have an unlocked phone) is get a one month sim from Three, put it in your own phone and take it. You'll get way more in the way of data and allowances than most US plans this side of $60 and it's your own phone. The credit left can be used back at home.

No I don't work for Three and happy to admit their Customer Service, particularly when you try to leave is awful but you just can't beat their tarriffs!

I'm on an unlimited data package and regularly use 20GB + allowance a month with it never slowing down or costing me a penny over the monthly charge. Manchester has just gone 4G too in places woohoo.

 

[edinburghlass]

One point about the 3 Feel at Home is you have to be using it for 30 days before you can activate Feel at Home so you would need to have/use the sim for 30 days before your trip abroad.

 

[wayneg]

Last year we used a TMobile Sim from Walmart, they set it all up, activated etc, excellenct service but this year (as stated above) we will be all using our Three mobiles. Been with them for about 4 years now and their service just gets better and better, 4G coming at no extra cost and can use in USA with our allowance.
We always struggled to get a good reception around here on mobiles, tried O2, Voda, Orange was about the best until I tried Three, by far the best of them all.

 

[london75]

One point about the 3 Feel at Home is you have to be using it for 30 days before you can activate Feel at Home so you would need to have/use the sim for 30 days before your trip abroad.

Very good to know as I was going to get a sim for DW. Plenty of time left to get that sorted.

 

[Pegasus928]

I was really pleased to read about the 3 option as me and DW both have a 3 contract with all-you-can-eat data. Last time we went we ended up buying 3xPAYG mobiles from Walmart and topping them up.
Sounds like this next time will be a whole lot easier. And what with the camera and video on the iphone 5s being pretty good we might even be able to leave our back pack at home too

 

[london75]

Just saw this deal for just over £10 and the thread seems to confirm roaming is enabled straight away.

http://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/3-payg-sim-preloaded-one-15-10-17-abroad-amazon-1854042

A very good alternative to buying a US sim or suffering the charges of roaming on other networks.

Big caveats, I personally don't know if roaming is available from day one as I'm a contract customer and I also don't know how well it works as I haven't been with my three sim before but they are brilliant (for me) in the UK so hopefully good enough for a bit of data for email and whatsapp etc.

 

[wayneg]

Just saw this deal for just over £10 and the thread seems to confirm roaming is enabled straight away.

http://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/3-payg-sim-preloaded-one-15-10-17-abroad-amazon-1854042

A very good alternative to buying a US sim or suffering the charges of roaming on other networks.

Big caveats, I personally don't know if roaming is available from day one as I'm a contract customer and I also don't know how well it works as I haven't been with my three sim before but they are brilliant (for me) in the UK so hopefully good enough for a bit of data for email and whatsapp etc.

We are all on Three contracts with 1GB per month each, should be plenty for us but this looks a great deal for anyone not on Three.