walki talkies?

[PrincessMom75]

We have a group of twentytwo so we will be dividing up into smaller groups. Does anyone know if walkie talkies would work? I just want something to communicate other than cell phones.

 

[DVCGeek]

We have a group of twentytwo so we will be dividing up into smaller groups. Does anyone know if walkie talkies would work? I just want something to communicate other than cell phones.

Maybe someone who has actually tried it will have better insight, but I wouldn't want to count on them working...

I see a lot of people carrying them, but with all the obstructions I think range might be a real problem. Plus, other people might be using the same frequency (channel) so interference could also cause trouble.

BUT, as long as you are all in the same park they might work.

 

[TK Brown]

Honestly, cell phones work better than walkie talkies. Especially if you text info back and forth. You can still send text, not pic, messages when you have a weak signal. Thats what we do.

 

[nopdwife]

My DH and I used walkie talkies on our first family trip in 2007. We realized within the first day that it was a waste. We kept hearing other families and then it got confusing. I kept hearing a kid trying to tell his mom where he was. We've decided to use our cell phones this trip. Luckily we have older kids(DD 15, DD 12 and DD 9) who all have cell phones. All but the youngest who never leaves our sight. You can try them but you will more than likely get tons of interference no matter what channel you're on.

 

[Alesia]

Walkie talkies won't work.

Just buy cheap pre-paid cell phones.

You can buy tracfones for $10 each.

 

[GrumpyDad1974]

use cell phones, we tried the walkie talkies the 1st trip there was someone on every channel, they were useless.

 

[ty93850]

They are right there are not enough channels to go around. Plus most are line of sight. Cell phone texting would be the best.

 

[btcrane]

Ditto on what everyone else has said. Cell phones are much better than walkie-talkies, especially with texting. We've tried both.

 

[PrincessAbby'sMom]

Yes cel phones are better, but you can get by w/walkie talkie's if you are patient. We used them & just had a code name for each (not Mom & Dad), so we would start with "Pixie" this is "Dixie" where are you? ......

You will get a few lovely people that try & answer - but you know the more they talk if its them. If walkie talkie's are all you have, they arent' the best, but doable. IMO

 

[Tigger1966]

We have used walki talkis several times and if you get the better ones with longer range they are not bad. Didn't want to loose or damage a cell phone in the park so I don't carry it.

 

[pdmedic]

If you have any amateur radio people in your group there is a 2 meter repeater that covers Disney.

 

[phred52]

Radio Shack sells walkie talkies that have a great feature.......Quiet Codes.
That means you don't hear anyone else except for people who are on your channel AND quiet code. Meaning you hear no one else except your family BUT you have to remember strangers on the same channel CAN hear you....

Prior to cell phones, my extended family had 8 of these walkie talkies and they worked perfectly in Disney. Cost about $100 each though. Maybe the price has come down since. If not, I'd say consider trac phones as a budget option

 

[OKW Lover]

If you have any amateur radio people in your group there is a 2 meter repeater that covers Disney.

I haven't brought my HT to Disney in years. I seem to recall that the coverage wasn't that great originally. Something to do with its location and potential interference to the multiple communications systems that shared the antenna location if I recall correctly. Any idea how coverage is these days?

 

[DLW8]

I agree to use cell phones over walkie talkies. We tried the WT one year and it was horrible.

Last year, we used cell phones and it was perfect. Like OP said, you can get a trac phone for cheap if you don't want to bring your own into the World.

however, if you have a plan that has free calls.....we didn't have any issues or worried about losing our phones last year and will do it again this year.

 

[pdmedic]

I haven't brought my HT to Disney in years. I seem to recall that the coverage wasn't that great originally. Something to do with its location and potential interference to the multiple communications systems that shared the antenna location if I recall correctly. Any idea how coverage is these days?

I haven't taken mine since I was the only HAM in my group. From some reviews I've read it seems like coverage is now over all the parks through the repeater and fairly good. They also have a echolink node up.