Two Way Radios

[DrKnow77]

What do you think of two way radios at Disney World?

 

[ToyStory Fan]

Not sure that I agree with your option 3. Using them sparingly, I don't think is warranted as we have found them to be invaluable on our trips.

HOWEVER, common courtesy to others must prevail in ALL cases and during shows the radios SHOULD be turned off.

 

[DISNEYBIGGDOGG]

I have never used them in the countless number of times that I have been to WDW. This year we are going with another couple and he suggested that we take his so we can communicate when we split up. Does anyone have any suggestions or comments on their own personal experiences with this matter?

 

[MikeWazowski]

We tried to use them once, what a joke that was. Every channel you try will have someone else on it. I also can't stand everyone talking on them.

There worst then cell phones because you can here the other person talking. We stick with our cell phones.

 

[MOQ3424]

We use them and they are very helpful!!!

 

[COMPSPEED]

If you plan to use them make sure you have a set with "sub-channels". The comment earlier about everyone running over each other on channels is true if you have a standard 14 channel radio. Motorola and others make units that have 30+ sub-channels on each of the 14 standard channels so you would have 400+ channels to choose from. More expensive models offer more options but the sub-channel models should be adequate.

 

[Sarangel]

Here in CA, we use our cell phones, but in WDW every call would be a long-distance, roaming call (which would be really expensive). The two-way radios allow us to split up & get back together again pretty easily.

I do recommend having a set with sub-channels, as well as ones that you can mute or turn off during a show. I also really like using an ear-piece, as that way I can actually hear it if someone is calling me *and* I don't add too much to the ambient noise (the incoming signal goes only to the ear-piece).

Sarangel

 

[MikeWazowski]

If your going to spend over $100 on a two Way Radio you should just invest in a nice nation wide sprint pcs phone. So you won't have to pay for any long distance calls.

 

[cindy_k]

We have Verizon National cellphone plan. All of Disney is within our calling area. Last trip we just used our cellphones to keep in contact. It was great. You turn them off in shows, and let the Voice Mail take a message. Just check the phone after the shows to see if you have any message. No missed contacts that way.

And we had no extra charges at all on our cellphone bill.

AS with all places, be it Disney Shows, or just going to the movies at home, it is the polite thing to turn off your radio or your phone or pager. OR <i>(as the movie intro at the theater I go to says)</i> we will stop the show, make the offender stand up and the rest of us will throw popcorn and peanuts at him/her.

TTFN!
Cindy in NY

 

[cruisnfamily]

We tried using two way radios at our county fair one year and it was a HUGE joke. You couldn't hear whether or not anyone was calling you unless you continually held the phone by your ear. It was such a pain in the neck and I wouldn't try it again.

 

[jwsqrdplus2]

We use cell phones. We have found it invaluable to have some form of two-way communication. Since we carry our cell phones everywhere anyway and we have unlimited phone to phone minutes, so it makes sense for us to use them. We also have nation-wide coverage and included long distance. We don't even have long distance on our house phone anymore. It cut our phone bills down dramatically!

 

[Michelemouse]

We also use the 2-way radios with the subchannels. We have never had any trouble finding a clear channel and have never received transmissions other than our own. Friends had the type without the subchannels and they were impossible to use.

As for investing in a good cel phone rather than spend the money on the radios (and, BTW, we got our pair for less than $60) remember that you will still have to pay the monthly charges for the phone, making it a far more expensive option than the radios.
Once the radios are paid for the only money you'll spend is for batteries. We replace ours every six months or so and we use the radios a lot.

 

[wld]

We used two ways as well as most of us don't have cell phones or only have the cheap package that doesn't include minutes as we use them only for emergency.
Would agree to pay the extra and get the subchannels. We rang each other so you didn't have to listen for someone to talk. It was great. One time I forgot there are 2 exits to Indiana Jones and we got separated from my parents. Of course we each picked a different one. Dad rang me and all I did was have him describe what he could see. From there I guided him to us.

They are fairly durable too. On our last trip mine was in my pocket. I went to the bathroom and somehow managed to flip the thing in the toilet before I flushed. Just urine thank goodness. Now I debated for a couple of seconds. I'm a nurse so my first thought was where is my glove, then I remembered I'm at disney and DH is going to kill me, so I reached in and rescued it, then rinsed it off. It didn't work so well so when we got back to the hotel we used a hairdryer on it and let it rest. The next day it worked fine although the kids wanted the peey one marked some way so they didn't get it.

 

[JetMom]

We also have the FRS radios with the sub-channels and we love them. there is a 6 year age (and 15" height) difference between my oldest and youngest DS's, so we have to split up quite often. The radios alow us to keep each other posted on our movements and to re-connect with a minimum of confusion.

 

[leanne2255]

In my own personal experiance i ( Ally ... i'm 13...this is my mothers user name) i think that 2 way radios are quite helpful. I am in a family of 4(counting myself) and so my mom and dad get 1(because they always stay together) my sister(she's 16) get's 1 and i get 1. Before we go on rides (if we aren't with the family) we have to radio some-one to let them know where we are and that we will be turning off our radio. That way it doesn't disturb anyone who is riding at the same time i am, and it also lets my parents and sister know where they can find me if anything happens or they need to find me. BUT as soon as we come out of the ride/show/attraction we have to radio that we are out and them we have to keep the radio on until we go into another ride/show/attraction or resterant. Son i think that 2 way radios are very helpful, and Disney should allow them.

 

[DVC-Don]

Another cell phone user with national plan. We put them on vibrate and throw them in a pocket. If it buzzes in a show, we just call back when the show is over.

I dislike people who use them inside anywhere. Step outside or into a hallway please.

 

[eeyore0062]

I have no problems with 2 way radios or cell phones for use to contact others in the party from which they are separated. I do think that guests should use common courtesy when using them, however.

 

[cart-mom]

I have the 2-way FRS radios and cell phones. I personally think the cell phones were much easier but that's because I don't have sub-channels. I will be taking the FRS with us anyway because me DD(5) & DS(7) are concerned about getting lost this time around. Don't know where this is coming from but will deal with it. Thought we could but one in a fanny pack with ID and our cell phone number in case we get seperated. They feel safer already. We're going to probably get a new one with sub-channels so they each have their own and we have one.

Love that post on the movie being stopped and everyone throwing popcorn!!

 

[epcotfan]

Originally posted by MikeWazowski
If your going to spend over $100 on a two Way Radio you should just invest in a nice nation wide sprint pcs phone. So you won't have to pay for any long distance calls.

That's great if you live in the states but for the majority of international visitors it isn't feasible. My cell phone would cost me roughly $2.00 a minute with roaming. Not worth it when you only need to buzz someone to find out where they are in the park so you can catch up to them. We keep the cell phone for contact with our friends and families at home should they need to call us-otherwise we use our radios for in-park communication. We also turn them off on rides so as not to disturb others.

 

[MikeWazowski]

Originally posted by epcotfan
That's great if you live in the states but for the majority of international visitors it isn't feasible. My cell phone would cost me roughly $2.00 a minute with roaming. Not worth it when you only need to buzz someone to find out where they are in the park so you can catch up to them. We keep the cell phone for contact with our friends and families at home should they need to call us-otherwise we use our radios for in-park communication. We also turn them off on rides so as not to disturb others.

Switch to one of the Fido Plans, up in Ontario. You have your regular service in Toronto and could use it when you come to the states. 45 bucks for a 200 minutes of long distance and pay 20 cents a minute for roaming. So you won't have to spend that much money withy your other plan.