Prepaid or Pay as you go Cell Phone or Sim Card

[aussietravellers]

I am just wondering where, close to Disneyland or maybe at Downtown Disney, were we can buy a prepaid or pay as you go cell phone and just a sim card (as we want to buy one prepaid cellphone and we are taking an unlocked phone so will buy a sim to put in it)? We won't have a car, so it has to be within walking distance of Grand Californian or a short taxi ride.

Also, for anybody with a prepaid or pay as you go cell phone (not sure exactly what they are called in the USA, in Australia they are called prepaid), how do you top up the credit on them? Can it be done at stores or gas stations? I know some you pay by credit card online, but they won't accept foreign credit card's I've been told. In Australia we can buy credit at supermarkets, newsagents, gas stations etc, so was just wondering where over there the credit can be topped up.

Thanks

 

[DisCookie]

What kind of unlocked phone do you have? Just want to be sure it works on the same band as what is used in the US.

AT&T and TMobile offer prepaid cells and use SIM cards. You can buy the SIM card alone, but sometimes the cell phones (which include the SIM) are ridiculously cheap and usually easier to find in stores. The stores also sell cards that you can use to top up the phones. (It usually a credit card size card, it has instructions on the back on how to top up/refill the phone, generally it's something like call an 800 number from a landline or call a special number from the cellphone, it will prompt you for information, including a number code from the back of the card)

There is a Target store that is about 1.5 miles from Disneyland that should carry these phones, not sure if there are any other stores closer. The airport you are flying into, may also have them, but I find them to generally more expensive.

Anyways, the prepaids in the US are pretty easy, you can just buy them and be able to use them within an hour! I went to AU last year and it seemed like a real hassle to get the prepaid SIM, had to fill out forms and wait to activate and all...

I haven't used prepaid in a while, so someone else can probably give you even better details.

 

[LavenderPeach]

We have a prepaid phone that we got at Best Buy. I'm trying to think if there is a best buy near DLR. I can't think of one but there may be one around somewhere. Ours is a Virgin Mobile phone. We have it automatically charge to our credit card to get more minutes but like PP said, they have cards you can buy to get your minutes too. I have no idea about SIM cards. We just bought our phone, put in our credit card # and it was ready to go.

 

[Eeee-va]

I don't know when you will be IN the parks, but judging by your ticker, it looks like we might be there at the same time?

I do have a prepaid T-Mobile SIM card that came with the phone I bought to replace my old phone. I can't SWEAR it would work on your phone, but I would guess it's just the same standard SIM card that they sell online and in stores. You are welcome to it, no charge, if there is a way for us to meet up at the parks or if I am maybe able to leave it at the Grand Californian or something. I arrive sometime in the afternoon on Wednesday, 12/9 and will be there through Sunday.

Just let me know! (T-Mobile isn't the best provider out here, but for my needs it happens to be the cheapest. )

 

[cruise cruise cruise]

I know nothing about Sims cards, but I know a lot of the US prepaid cell phone service come with free or very inexpensive phones. Basic phones and minutes can be purchased at any convinience store. As well as Target and even Walmart has recently started offering their own line of prepaid phones (service provided by national carriers)
I believe there is a 7-11 convinience store on the corner of Harbour and Katella.
In the Garden Walk Shopping area, there is a store names, Oc Cellular accessories. I know nothing about this store, but from its name, they may have what you are looking for.

 

[jory29]

I bought a t-mobile sim card prepaid, *already activated* with $10 air time for around $18 USD including shipping to Canada, and was able to phone T-mobile that day I got it to change the area code (was able to change the phone number for free, to an Anaheim 714 area code phone number.) I just have to make sure to top it up before we go, so it won't expire. I tested it out from Canada - texts, international, even when roaming, are only 10 cents to send, 5 cents to receive. When in the USA the texts are the same minimal cost. PM me if you need more info. I am on the pay by the minute plan, but if you will have another phone activated for someone else in your party (mine was a Nokia unlocked GSM phone) you might want to buy 2 and go for the T-mobile plan of $1 each day of air time use plan... (I asked, and they said texting does not count toward the $1 a day plan, it is only when a phone call is placed or answered they said) then you can phone to another T-mobile phone for free during the day, with 10 cents a minute to local numbers, and free evenings. Long distance to another country from USA such as Canada is an additional 50 cents per minute as to what your current air time rate is, but it beats Canadian cell phone providers roaming charges of around $2.50 or more per minute or 65 cents or more per text sent! If you are on the pay by the minute plan, rates start at 33 cents a minute ($10 air time top up lasting 30 days.) I buy my top-ups at pinzoo.com but you can also buy right from the company. Pictures texts with T-mobile are only around 25 cents each.

Red Pocket mobile was another SIM that I looked at - but due to not being able to test it our from Canada, rated lower in my books. For USA clients it looked like a SUPER deal as in air time rates, etc. If you are in the USA, red pocket mobile is worth taking a look at, and you can buy the sim card from them or on eBay but I only found one seller on eBay for it.

Good luck!!

Walmart and Target phones that you buy and activate once there do make a LOT of sense for USA residents as well. (NOT for Candians as you can NOT usually send international texts to Canada from those providers, net10 and tracfone!!)

For those not accustomed to using electronics, it might be better to use a phone you are already familiar with, such as an unlocked GSM phone. Many phones are easy to unlock, and well worth it to be able to use a variety of providers when need be.

 

[Vala]

Also, for anybody with a prepaid or pay as you go cell phone (not sure exactly what they are called in the USA, in Australia they are called prepaid), how do you top up the credit on them? Can it be done at stores or gas stations? I know some you pay by credit card online, but they won't accept foreign credit card's I've been told.

I can only speak for AT&T Pay as you go plan - they definitely accept foreign credit cards for top up. I've been using this plan for the last 4 US trips I made and never had a problem topping up online.

 

[toby78]

You can go to 7-11 and they sell whats called the Tracfone, it's a prepaid cell phone, you can buy a phone for as little as $10, like I did, and every 7-11 sells the cards if you want to add more minutes to the phone. There is a 7-11 at the corner of Katella and Harbor, and another store at the corner of Katella and S. Haster Blvd(S.Anaheim Blvd). You can find the fill up cards at Target and Walmart and most major grocery stores. I have one for everyday use instead of a contract with a cell company and the phone has great coverage, no matter where you are at the cell phone uses the nearest cell towers regardless of what company it is without roaming charges..