Some power outlets have been covered

[cmwade77]

Thanks for your response and that much makes sense.
I think it was the "voltage and frequency" (freq doesn't change) part that was throwing me!

Again, this is due to special equipment they had when DL was first built, remember nothing like this oarkbexiated at the time, so a lot of so called standards were established on the fly and yes frequency did vary. I dont remember the exact number, but some of the staff that have worked shows or janitorial fir more than 40 years or so should be able to tell you more details.

 

[Indiana Scott]

Again, this is due to special equipment they had when DL was first built, remember nothing like this oarkbexiated at the time, so a lot of so called standards were established on the fly and yes frequency did vary. I dont remember the exact number, but some of the staff that have worked shows or janitorial fir more than 40 years or so should be able to tell you more details.

When DL was built, the same NEC codes existed in regards to this subject.
I don't want to argue and I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings.

 

[cmwade77]

When DL was built, the same NEC codes existed in regards to this subject.
I don't want to argue and I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings.

Yes, they existed, but they also got exemptions and the exemptions did not apply to every outlet in the parks, only where it was necessary. No feelings are hurt, it but is a very odd situation that not many are aware of. It had something to do with what the manufacturers of certain equipment (and I no, I dont know what equipment) were able to actually manufacture at the time that could do what Disney needed it to do. Yes, it is odd and required special exemptions to the NEC at the time, which would never happen today, but in the early 1950s when Disneyland was being planned and built, it was a very different time indeed. I dont remember where and dont have the time to look right now, but you can find references to these exemptions online. The problem is that in many areas today it is hard to tell exactly which outlets were exempted.

 

[Albort]

I wonder if it might be a safety issue. I brought a portable charger with me last year, and they also have the fuel rods - there's a thread about them on the WDW board, and a lot of people really seem to like them.

This... i have a few friends who work at Disney said ppl try to plug your phone chargers to those outlets that power say like a churro cart. They end up exploding their phones... im sure by doing this, would discourage ppl from trying everywhere...

edit: clarity.

 

[cmwade77]

This... i have a few friends who work at Disney try to plug your phone chargers to those outlets that power say like a churro cart. They end up exploding their phones... im sure by doing this, would discourage ppl from trying everywhere...

Exactly, you never know of an outlet has an issue or not. This can be by design or simply not working properly. Best to be safe rather than sorry. Fuel rods, while initially expensive are great, especially if you are going to other places that also have them like the San Diego Zoo and Safari Parks. You can then exchange them at any kiosk for a fully charged one and safely charge your phone on the go without waiting by an outlet. When it is depleted, change it again. Use it at home and recharge it at home as well like any other power bank. Even if it stops working, keep it and exchange it the next time you are somewhere with one of their kiosks.

 

[JohnR5101]

This is kind of a side point and I'm not disputing that maybe these outlets do not have standard power on them. However, all modern phone chargers work on everything from 100V to 240 V and 50 to 60 Hz frequency. They will work on virtually all international power connections (which is why they may come with an assortment of plug adapters).
Yeah, I would not plug my charger into a 440V outlet, or one that had a 30 Hz or 180 Hz frequency. But it would be really strange for them to have made a power outlet that was that different but used a standard plug - not saying it didn't happen.

 

[starshine514]

It was always nice for a scooter user to have somewhere to charge mid day. Is hard to find a spot for this.

Yeah, we've had that issue as well. A lot of the time you don't realize that your battery needs to be replaced soon until you are at someplace like Disneyland for the day. We have had CMs take pity on us and show us hidden outlets here or there on occasion.

 

[saiforigis]

Every time someone mentions the outlets at Disneyland people claim that the outlets are weird and are using odd voltages. At this point I consider it another Disney Urban Legend.

Someone needs to bring in testing equipment and measure the outlets so we can finally put this to rest.

 

[ddwlms]

Every time someone mentions the outlets at Disneyland people claim that the outlets are weird and are using odd voltages. At this point I consider it another Disney Urban Legend.

Someone needs to bring in testing equipment and measure the outlets so we can finally put this to rest.

You may be on to something, but it's a legend perpetuated by CMs. I had a scooter battery give out one time. A CM at city hall told me where I could find a plug to recharge it, but was adamant that if I plugged my phone into the outlet that the outlet would destroy my phone. I wondered if that was a tall tale, but I didn't need my phone charged anyways, so I was certainly not going to test what I was told.

 

[mom2rtk]

I find it hard to believe that until just recently there were outlets around DL that would blow up your phone. People have been plugging phones into outlets wherever they can find one for some time. Yet I haven't seen a single report of phones blowing up or melting down in the parks. I have to think that would be all over social media.

 

[figment_jii]

I agree that it seems unlikely that they've had a sudden increase in issues with the power outlets destroying/damaging guests equipment. However, I can see where if there was the potential for something to happen, that someone in the legal department might have said that they need to address the issue before it becomes a problem, so they've begun covering them. Or it could be a case where there were issues with guests not wanting to unplug their device when the CM needed the outlet for something (I saw that happen once when a CM needed an outlet for their work equipment and the guest didn't want to unplug their phone). Or it could also be a shift towards getting guests to buy FuelRods and renting the charging lockers. Or it could be a combination of all of those things...plus things we aren't even aware of...

 

[WonkaKid]

I find it hard to believe that until just recently there were outlets around DL that would blow up your phone. People have been plugging phones into outlets wherever they can find one for some time. Yet I haven't seen a single report of phones blowing up or melting down in the parks. I have to think that would be all over social media.

Agreed. I don't think I've visited the park when I haven't seen someone plugged into a wall outlet. If they destroyed phones, likely there'd have been a stink about it before now if not at least one negligence lawsuit. And please -- don't anyone reply and say "Hey, you're not supposed to plug in your phone -- any consequences are on you." I doubt any judge would see it that way. Moreover, DL certainly doesn't want the rep of destroying guests' phones recklessly and for no reason. If they don't want guests charging, they should then cover/remove/otherwise make them inaccessible all standard-looking power outlets.

 

[limace]

My tinfoil hat theory-they want to move folks to paid charging options. Either fuel rods or charging lockers.

 

[WonkaKid]

My tinfoil hat theory-they want to move folks to paid charging options. Either fuel rods or charging lockers.

Sure - doesn't seem unlikely to me. But you do that by making outlets inaccessible in some way, not by destroying guests' phones (not that you're suggesting that but others have).

 

[limace]

Sure - doesn't seem unlikely to me. But you do that by making outlets inaccessible in some way, not by destroying guests' phones (not that you're suggesting that but others have).

Oh absolutely-I was responding to the “why were they covered up” question. I would be astonished if they were dangerous and destructive .