Rent a Smartphone for Disneyland trip?

[OnTheRoadAgain]

Have any of you rented a smartphone for a trip to DLR? What is your experience or thoughts?

I am not ready to make a commitment to upgrade from my cell plan. I pay almost nothing for my current cell phone monthly because I don't need it. But it's time like these where I would really like to have a smartphone to use the apps and mess around while waiting for things to happen (e.g. lines).

 

[PinkBudgie]

I have never heard of renting a phone before. Do you know of some place that offers this?

 

[Ariel224]

I've never heard of being able to do this either. But let's assume for a minute that you can.... What types of apps and activities are you thinking of? If you are looking just to gain entertainment while waiting in lines, I think you will be very disappointed when you learn how very quickly smartphone batteries can drain. Seriously, when we are at DLR, DH and I use our phones for texting each other to meet up when we're split up with a different kid, and occasionally to check a wait times app. That's it. Anything else leaves us with dead batteries by dinner time.

Additionally, smartphones have a bit of a learning curve. I'm only on my second one, and both times it took me a couple of weeks to get comfortable that I knew what I was doing. By the time you get to that point, you then enter the "how did I ever live without this thing?" mindset and then there's no turning back.

I'd say if you are truly happy with the phone you have and have no intention of a permanent upgrade, you probably aren't missing anything.

 

[OnTheRoadAgain]

Maybe I dreamed it. I Googled it and found a couple of websites offering it, but nothing very impressive. And, if nobody says differently, I guess we will agree that it does not exist.

I would have used it for wait-time apps. And any other Disneyland function I could figure out. Hmmm.

 

[skiingfast]

I can't think of the company, but there is something out there for about $40 a month, no contract, text and internet only. It's a weird deal because it's far from traditional. I have no idea who the provider is, not one of the major cell providers.

 

[blackjackdelta]

This one also escapes me. I checked around and came up with nothing like others.

Jack

 

[OnTheRoadAgain]

skiingfast, maybe Puretalk. (We use it for the family plan. 200 minutes per month share between 3 phones, $20 and unused minutes don't expire.) They have an unlimited talk, text and 300MB data for $43/month. I believe I could upgrade for a month (they are no contract) and then go back when I wanted to. The problem is I don't have an smartphone lying around waiting for a sim card. I would have to buy one... maybe I'll look into that.

 

[Eeee-va]

Even if it exists, while there are lots of fun things to do on your smartphone, I hate to see people in a place as special as Disneyland spending the whole time on their phones--sometimes even on rides! I know there are a lot of locals who just hang out there, but for myself I'd like to be a bit more in the moment at Disneyland. I did see (hear?) a young man and a young woman playing a Disney trivia game on their smart phone while waiting for Star Tours (the woman would ask the man multiple-choice questions) so that was fun, but overall I think it's best to enjoy the atmosphere, especially if you can't get there every month or week.

(Granted, if your phone texts you can also spend a whole ride on your phone if you really want to. I'd just think it would be easier to do with a smartphone, if it gets reception.)

That said, IF a smartphone rental service existed, I'd be a little interested just for the wait-time apps. If it doesn't exist, though, maybe it's for the best.

 

[OnTheRoadAgain]

and I wonder why Disneyland doesn't offer wi-fi... like large spot in each "land." I would pay for that. Then I could just check in on my iPod Touch.

 

[skiingfast]

Puretalk.

It doesn't ring a bell but could have been. What I saw though has no talk minutes. It was unlimited SMS text and mobile internet only. I'm not sure if you could add talk or not.

 

[skiingfast]

and I wonder why Disneyland doesn't offer wi-fi... like large spot in each "land." I would pay for that. Then I could just check in on my iPod Touch.

I suspect it will come with next generation experiences. This could be a ways off for DLR as it's just starting in WDW.

 

[OnTheRoadAgain]

I agree with you Eeee-va. I like being unplugged when I leave the house. I like my family being unplugged outside the house. But I would like to "plug in" for five minutes, 4-5 times a day.

 

[limace]

Check out ting.com. No contract, pay each month for only what you use. Can do data only, for instance. Phones aren't cheap to purchase, though.

 

[PinkBudgie]

I'd love to get internet service at DLR too! I only want it to be able to use some of those wait time apps. That sounds very handy. You would think they could get a sponser whose ad would pop up while you used it. Or, as someone mentioned, charge per day. I'd do that too.

 

[seagodess]

I can't think of the company, but there is something out there for about $40 a month, no contract, text and internet only. It's a weird deal because it's far from traditional. I have no idea who the provider is, not one of the major cell providers.

Its probably Cricket. I know they have a plan like this but I think its $50 a month. The other thing is, you would have to buy a smart phone, which is usually a couple hundred dollars alone.

 

[mathmom32]

T-mobile has a deal that's $30/mo for unlimited web, unlimited text, and 100 minutes a month. Or if you like to talk more you can get unlimited web, text and talk for $50/month. You do have to buy the smartphone, but it is a great deal to me.

 

[taaren]

When we first got our smartphones we did like checking in on the apps that had ride wait times for the weekends of our trips, but I wouldn't rent a smartphone just for that.
When we're there DS5 uses my phone to play games if the line is extra long and he doesn't have any companions his own age, which is rare as we are anti-long-line people. Its fun to use the "check-in" feature on Facebook to make friends at home jealous.

Honestly, other than those few things, we don't take our smartphones out to be used as other than, well, phones. We text a lot to whoever might be our fastpass runner or if the group splits and regroups we call. There's really not much incentive to use a smart phone for DLR ... I've heard that RideMax in WDW is more helpful there.

post script - We also use our smart phones as digital cameras for the impromptu shots ... I only take my "real" camera into the park on the day I'm planning on doing the character pictures and getting our traditional group pics and all other days we just use the phones, but if you have a good digital camera you don't mind carrying that's not a great reason to rent one either.

 

[OnTheRoadAgain]

T-mobile has a deal that's $30/mo for unlimited web, unlimited text, and 100 minutes a month. Or if you like to talk more you can get unlimited web, text and talk for $50/month. You do have to buy the smartphone, but it is a great deal to me.

Just to follow up. I got in on this and entered into the modern era! Amazon has a good deal on a Samsung Exhibit II for $189 with a $15 MP3 credit. (Walmart has the same price).

Now to decide which app is the most fun for DL.

 

[Girimama33]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mathmom32

T-mobile has a deal that's $30/mo for unlimited web, unlimited text, and 100 minutes a month. Or if you like to talk more you can get unlimited web, text and talk for $50/month. You do have to buy the smartphone, but it is a great deal to me.

Just to follow up. I got in on this and entered into the modern era! Amazon has a good deal on a Samsung Galaxy II for $189 with a $15 MP3 credit. (Walmart has the same price).

Now to decide which app is the most fun for DL.

Hopefully you are able to use it in the parks. When I am at DLR, my smartphone is pretty useless. Can't get sevice to save my life.



Posted from Disney Forums Reader for Android

 

[OnTheRoadAgain]

Hopefully you are able to use it in the parks. When I am at DLR, my smartphone is pretty useless. Can't get sevice to save my life.



Posted from Disney Forums Reader for Android

Hopefully. And there's a Disney forum reader for android???? Cool. Gotta find it.