Tracfones in the parks?

[BraveMom3]

I refuse to get my 13yo DS a cell phone at this point (just not necessary), but I am considering getting one of those $20 tracfones for our upcoming 2 week trip. If he and his 9yo brother go off around the resort, or get in line for a ride that their sister doesn't want to ride, it would be nice for him to have a phone just in case we need to communicate. I've used the radios around the resort before, but I'm afraid they may not be as reliable in the park. Does anyone have any experience with using the tracfones in the park? Do they get reception? Thanks.

 

[Marseeya]

My tracfone didn't get any reception whatsoever in the parks! I have heard other people talking about using their tracfones in the parks, but mine didn't work in the parks OR in the resort (AKL).

 

[outtonight]

I've had to use one before in the parks, and it worked just fine - as long as I was calling someone who was also in Orlando. For some reason, any call that I made to somewhere outside the area would get dropped or else was just incredibly hard to hear. But, I highly doubt you or your children intend upon leaving the city without one another, so I don't think that'd be a problem.

 

[iceprincess]

if you get a tracfone, it only comes with 10 minutes
you have to buy the minutes separately.
the smallest increment is 40 min, and it costs $20

 

[drteeth3]

If you want a pre-paid cell phone for Disney I would use virgin mobile. They use the sprint system and my sprint phones worked great in Disney. And the phones are better too and most of the time cost less. Radio shack has a nokia for like 30$.

 

[susykt4]

My tracfone didn't work at all at Pop Century 2 weeks ago so I never even bothered to take it to the parks. I went outside on the "balcony" and got through one time for about 15 seconds to my parents who were in the food court (that I could see from our room.) The tracfone has served my other purposes (emergency, calling to see if we need bread, etc.)

 

[uva185]

You could add your son to your cell phone plan and cancel it when you get back. Depending on the carrier you get either a 15 or 30 "trial period" You will pay for the usage during that period but wont have to pay the early termination fee if you cancel within the trial period.

 

[Robo]

I went outside on the "balcony" and got through one time for about 15 seconds to my parents who were in the food court (that I could see from our room.)

You should know that Cellular Phones don't work like that.
Even if you can SEE the other person you're calling (standing next to you for that matter), a cell phone MUST connect with a local Cell RADIO TOWER to call anyone. It doesn't (can't) just communucate with another phone directly.

Some wireless phone companies (and phones) can reach and use a local Cell Tower, but some can't.

It does not matter if you are calling the person standing next to you... or calling Paris, France... as long as your phone can communicate with a local Cell Tower, you can call ANYWHERE.
Now, PAYING for that is a different matter.

Even Nextel "walkie-talkie" phones generally connect via the Cell NETWORK.

 

[bobcat]

I have used my tracfone at WDW and not had a problem.

 

[April]

I used my tracfone at the Boardwalk and it worked. Didn't try in the parks.

 

[d4est]

I don't know about WDW, but we used our tracfones at Universal last year. Called from a smoking area to NY with NO problems what so ever. What I like about tracfone...they don't have "their own" service towers...they rent from other carriers, like Verison etc., so if there is a tower around (just about any tower), we get service. Also, tracfones are made by reputable companies. My dh & I have motorola phones. Dmi just got a tracfone, the $20 one & it is a Nokia.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

Before I was ready to give my kids cell phones I added another line to my plan with the least expensive phone available. I think it added about $9.99 plus a few taxes each month. In any case, that phone remained at home and charged until i gave it to one of the kids to use if we were at the mall, or they were going to the movies and needed to call me to pick them up, etc. True, they called it 'theirs' but they really eased into the responsibility of carrying one quite well.

Good luck!!

 

[liamandcaili]

I didn't have any problem using my Tracfone at WDW. The only time I have ever had a problem getting a signal is when I am in an enclosed space like a mall, one time an ER, a school gym, etc.

 

[apostolic4life]

We used a tracfone in WDW with limited success. What we came to realize, was the fact we got good strong signals wherever we were, but we could not recieve calls. Sending an outgoing call was never a problem. All incoming calls were fruitless; the phone would not even ring. I am not sure of the reason, but as long as we were there no incoming calls were recieved. This also seemed to extend to many areas going home on the interstate system till we reached North Carolina. Still can't figure it out?????????

 

[BraveMom3]

Thanks for all the replies. I think I will check into adding to my existing service - it may end up being cheaper. I have Sprint service and a Sanyo phone. I have always had good reception at the resort and the park.

 

[dj2]

if you get a tracfone, it only comes with 10 minutes
you have to buy the minutes separately.
the smallest increment is 40 min, and it costs $20

you can have one with 120 units for about $25 ($20 plus $5 shipping). just pm me with your e-mail address, and i can forward it on to tracfone for you. they'll send you an e-mail with the details (just don't delete it until you're done with the whole process).

after you get tracfone's e-mail, follow there link to buy a 40-unit card from them which comes with a FREE reconditioned phone. when you activate the phone on-line, you'll get 2 months and 20 units. then you follow the directions to get your free 100 more units.

also, if you wait a little to add the free 100 units, it will extend your activation time a couple more months, too.

you can read all the details about this offer on tracfone's website www.tracfone.com it's the refer-a-friend program.

i've never had trouble with our tracfones at wdw. in fact, i referred "myself" a few years ago to get a cell phone for my DD, then age 7, on our trip together--she carried it in her waist pack for "just-in-case," although we never needed it. it just made me feel better that if we got separated we could call each other.

-dj