smart phone requirements for disney

[mom2rtk]

DH and I are still on the S4! But DH needs a new one so looking at S5. I didn't know groupon sells phones like PP mentioned but I will have to check it out!

Do a search online for groupon coupon codes for the best deal. We are on our 3rd Groupon refurbished phone (my husband just got an S5 as well). They only come with a 30 day warranty, but are such a minimal investment we've been happy with the results.

It will say in the text of the listing which carriers they are unlocked for.

Be sure to sign up for Ebates and click on to Groupon through there for even more back. When my DD's phone broke and we ordered her iphone 5s, we lucked into a day they were doing 9% cash back on Groupon purchases.

 

[squirrel]

I guess I should join in as I'm a person without a smartphone.

I recently returned from a trip to Universal and felt like I missed out on a fair amount as I didn't have a smartphone. Had to lock up the backpack with camera for rides and no photos of the insides of the HP rides.

Would everyone think I was crazy to get a smartphone just for the camera features? I would of course use it to see ride wait times also. I just don't want to be stuck paying every month for a cell phone I don't use (for calls). An unlocked smartphone is a bit more than a new camera but it does have extra features. My digital camera was purchased in 2007.

 

[xlxo]

If you use your smartphone as a camera a lot.... be prepared with an external charger. That screen sucks a lot of power.

 

[scard192]

One of the best tips I received was before starting out each day to take a screen shot of the plans in MDE for the day then make that my lock screen. This way I could just light up my screen (didn't even have to slide to unlock) and know what I needed to do when. This takes very little battery and no data/Wifi.

great tip, thanks for posting. I took screen shots from MDE for each day but did not think to make that my lock screen! with this I would probably only need to connect to wifi to use the Lines App.

 

[IrishNYC]

I guess I should join in as I'm a person without a smartphone.

I recently returned from a trip to Universal and felt like I missed out on a fair amount as I didn't have a smartphone. Had to lock up the backpack with camera for rides and no photos of the insides of the HP rides.

Would everyone think I was crazy to get a smartphone just for the camera features? I would of course use it to see ride wait times also. I just don't want to be stuck paying every month for a cell phone I don't use (for calls). An unlocked smartphone is a bit more than a new camera but it does have extra features. My digital camera was purchased in 2007.

You could buy an iPod touch. They're slightly cheaper than an iPhone, but work just like one, minus the calling feature and cellular data. They run on wifi only, so you could still use it in the park to access MDE.

 

[lampshadehead]

This may have been posted before, but my Galaxy S5 is no longer compatible with the newest version of MDE . I know there is a way to install the older version, but it is still rather irritating considering this phone is not that old and works great otherwise.

 

[scard192]

This may have been posted before, but my Galaxy S5 is no longer compatible with the newest version of MDE . I know there is a way to install the older version, but it is still rather irritating considering this phone is not that old and works great otherwise.

my older Samsung Galaxy too, I will be using the MDE website using the browser on my phone.

 

[fla4fun]

You don't need data if you are ok using wifi. I take my iPod Touch in the parks and leave the phone in the safe. I would rather risk damage to the iPod than the phone and it works fine for MDE and the occasional email.

 

[BrianL]

This may have been posted before, but my Galaxy S5 is no longer compatible with the newest version of MDE . I know there is a way to install the older version, but it is still rather irritating considering this phone is not that old and works great otherwise.

Yes, the MDE app is now only compatible with Android 5.1 or higher. Some of the less expensive Android phones might still be on 4.4, so watch out for that.

 

[mom2rtk]

Yes, the MDE app is now only compatible with Android 5.1 or higher. Some of the less expensive Android phones might still be on 4.4, so watch out for that.

How odd. I have the MDE app on my Galaxy S5 with Android 5.0 and used the app just a couple days ago. I have auto updates turned on. Maybe it just hasn't updated yet though?

 

[BrianL]

How odd. I have the MDE app on my Galaxy S5 with Android 5.0 and used the app just a couple days ago. I have auto updates turned on. Maybe it just hasn't updated yet though?

It may be 5.0...I just said 5.1 as I think that's more common. I know anything on a 4.x will no longer work with MDE.

 

[ConnecticutNonna]

I don't even want a $400 phone in my own hands without insurance. And I don't want to pay for insurance. I'm good with my Galaxy S5.

I love my galaxy S6 so much better than my previous iPhone! I switched b/c consumer reports said the camera was better. I have found my pictures to be phenomenal! Not wanting to get into controversy river Droid vs. IPhone, but do live my droid!

 

[Dan Murphy]

You can always go to your settings and force an update if needed.

 

[mom2rtk]

I love my galaxy S6 so much better than my previous iPhone! I switched b/c consumer reports said the camera was better. I have found my pictures to be phenomenal! Not wanting to get into controversy river Droid vs. IPhone, but do live my droid!

I'm quite happy with my Droid too. But I'll be sticking with my 5s until it dies. Too much of a cheapskate. Besides I take the DSLR most places important so really only occasionally use the phone as a camera.

 

[pittsburghmom]

I don't have a smartphone either. DH has one provided through his work. I plan on borrowing my sister's i-pod touch for our upcoming trip. I did this in 2014 (before DH had a smartphone and it worked great for MDE).

 

[disneyseniors]

Yes, I normally leave the phones' wifi turned off. It's pretty rare that I use wifi anywhere with my phone. Like I said, I'm rather smartphone stupid and blissfully so. No interest in social media, I've never sent a text message (really), I'm not one to sit and stare at the screen when I'm out. It's just not my thing. I'm certainly a relic from times past, I know, but it's just me. When I take my kids to sports practice, nearly all the parents have their faces stuck to their device. I prefer to watch my kids participate in the sport. I don't stream videos or music...I use Sirius/XM in my car, and I'm not interested in YouTube. Just don't have much interest or use in 95% of the things a smartphone can do.

That's not to say that I'll never use the phone for anything but calls. I do use it to check e-mail from time to time, and I use the navigation when necessary. While in WDW, I'll use the MDE app quite a bit. But beyond that, in the nearly two years I've had a smartphone, I've never come close to bumping into my data limit, so never had a need to bother with connecting to someone's wifi.

Wow, Klayfish, it's surprising to find another kindred soul regarding smart phones. I'm not a luddite, but I don't want to spend my time looking at a phone all the time. I still have a "dumb flip phone", much to my kids/grandkids amusement. I still use my camera for photos. I have a laptop that I spend too much time on I've thought of getting a smartphone just to have convenience while at Disney for photos and fp's. But I just cannot justify the cost just for those things. What do I do while at the parks?? I leave my flip phone in the room, write our fp's on a piece of paper and adr's if we have them, and go without a bag! It's freeing and nice not to have a bag. If I want to check on a 4th fp, I go to a kiosk, but I have only done this once just to see how to use it. It's a personal choice, and one we are comfortable with, so I know what you mean.

 

[mom2rtk]

Yes, I normally leave the phones' wifi turned off. It's pretty rare that I use wifi anywhere with my phone. Like I said, I'm rather smartphone stupid and blissfully so. No interest in social media, I've never sent a text message (really), I'm not one to sit and stare at the screen when I'm out. It's just not my thing. I'm certainly a relic from times past, I know, but it's just me. When I take my kids to sports practice, nearly all the parents have their faces stuck to their device. I prefer to watch my kids participate in the sport. I don't stream videos or music...I use Sirius/XM in my car, and I'm not interested in YouTube. Just don't have much interest or use in 95% of the things a smartphone can do.

That's not to say that I'll never use the phone for anything but calls. I do use it to check e-mail from time to time, and I use the navigation when necessary. While in WDW, I'll use the MDE app quite a bit. But beyond that, in the nearly two years I've had a smartphone, I've never come close to bumping into my data limit, so never had a need to bother with connecting to someone's wifi.

Wait until your kids are slightly older. They will drag you in kicking and screaming. I had to be dragged in, then finally started to appreciate the communication advantages with my kids, especially now that one of ours is 3 1/2 hours away at college.

The silver lining? Instead of climbing the stairs, I can text my daughter upstairs and remind her she was supposed to take out the trash.

 

[lampshadehead]

Yup 4.4.4 is what is on this phone that won't work with MDE.
Tried to update software but it says that its all up to date .

 

[Harambe]

I still have a "dumb flip phone", much to my kids/grandkids amusement.

Another "flipper" that embarrasses my family. My daughter (who writes code for a living!) GAVE me a smart phone, and I've yet to go have my service switched to that. I am planning on it before our Jan trip, and I like the tips given here about putting your day's FP,etc. on the screen. I am oblivious to roaming charges, and so forth, and feel at this point we are paying so much for our wireless service as it is. Both adult kids seem to go through the data we have, and I am hesitant to add myself into the mix, but I will only use it at WDW.

I am also sad about the limited chances to converse with people. I did early voting and the line was long; everyone around me was staring at their phones and I just stood there like Minnie the Dunce!

 

[SureAsLiz]

Tried to update software but it says that its all up to date .

Many phone/service providers stop supporting phones after so long, so it's very likely that 4.4.4 is the highest OS your phone will ever see