Walkie Talkies or Phones?

[candielips]

Alright DISer's I am relying on you to help settle an argument I am having with my DH.
This year we are traveling with me, DH, DD4, DS1 and my FIL. Our FIL will not be spending all day in the parks with us, but will be meeting us for all of our meals.
My DH is convinced that we should get walkie talkies, he says he has found some that have 100 mile range
But I, the wise one, think we should get 2 pay as you go phones. And then my FIL will have a cheap way to call home and be able to talk to his wife and we will also be able to get a hold of him anywhere.
I am looking for thoughts, comments, experiences.
Thanks!

 

[fnkyyellow]

I recall reading threads about walkie talkies a few years ago on the dis, and majority said that phones were best - that alot of people use walkie talkies in the parks so the frequencies get crossed and you could hear alot of other people's conversations.

 

[DisneyRookie2007]

We bought some walkie talkies a few years ago for our trip and thought them to be useless.

The reception was poor with lots of interference.

 

[Tower]

If you're going to be on the mainland as opposed to a cruise, I'd recommend phones with a good texting plan to the USA. I always forward my phone to home when we go away so that I don't miss messages (it's my work line as well). The texting will allow for contact and arranging for meeting points. To call home, get a calling card to use from the hotel for cheaper than cell rates.
I check email from the hotel as well either through my BB or laptop, but log off once emails are received and I can review the messages on my own time.

 

[Sue M]

I agree, texting is better then walkie Talkies. We tried the walkie talkies years ago, when my daughters were young and didn't have cell phones. Not very good.
For phoning home, we have Telus Calling Cards, but you can prob buy phone cards down there with cheaper rates if you have access to a store outside Disney. My daughter bought a calling card from the resort shop and said it was really expensive.

 

[candielips]

Thanks! I was pretty sure that I was right

I wish we could get my FIL to text, but after showing him several times, he refuses to correspond that way.
I like the idea of buying a phone card. I heard that the ones you can get from President's choice can be used in the US.

 

[MaMudduck]

We get phones when we get there, (or in Buffalo before we fly out) we have "unlocked" phones so we get 2 sims cards and prepaid time. Last nov. we used AT&T, $2 day unlimited everything except long distance .26c/p/m to canada.
If you do not have unlocked phones, you can always by a set (2 phone) with prepaid time included anywhere (airport/malls/dollar stores/best buy/target/walmart)

I don't know about PC's phone/cards but I've always found it just way cheaper & no complications if I get the right stuff at the places I'm travelling in.

 

[4boyz]

We bought two Samsung Net10 (TracFone) prepaid phones from Walmart.com. I paid $25 per phone and it included 300 minutes of air time, car charger, case and ear bud.

We used walkie talkies before and this is so much better. You can phone or text each other or phone home.

You can get whatever US phone number you want. If you top up your prepaid minutes roll over.

This solution works for us because my wife and I will often split up while she shops and I take the boys somewhere more fun.

 

[Polydweller]

The US has different laws about walkie talkie use than Canada and long range ones require a license to operate and that requires a form and payment. The shorter range FRS models using channels under 22 do not require a license but real actual range is about 1.5 mi though some manufacturers make claims like 13 mi which requires ideal circumstances that are rarely found.

Texting is the way to go, cell calls the next best.

 

[xipetotec]

We've done both, and phones definitely worked better. It's true that part of the reason was the range of the ones WE had. We pretty much had to be in the same park/area. But there was also other issues, like not being able to access them in a ride or show. We found Text messaging to be the best thing actually.

 

[pkitty]

If you are with Rogers you can just put a "travel pack" on your phone....just pick what you want and add texting in bound and out bound with no roaming charges.....about 20.00. Just call a couple of days in advance and ask the rates.

 

[chiucek]

Correct me if im wrong, Walkie talkie has only limited in distance unlike on wireless telephone or cellphone. Why settle on some walkie talkie if you could have some cellphone?

 

[3pletprincesses]

We've found walkie talkie to be useless and stressful as you neve know what is going on with the other party.