Walkie Talkies - Recommendations Please

[kazd]

We are looking at the possible purchase (diff between rental and purchase seems small, so will probably purchase) of two way radio's for use in the parks and malls.

Have you any recommendations please.

 

[all4fun]

Just got back from WDW and our Motorola T5710 Talkabout's worked great! They are GMRS instead of FRS, so you have to buy a 5 year FCC license ($75/family) to use them, but well worth it. We never had any problems.

 

[jillofspeed]

We are just about to do our 2nd disney trip with our Motorola walkabouts. Absolutely love them. They work well, have good reception and seem quite durable, as both have been dropped numerous times. One even let loose on a ride at 6 flags, and tumbled around on the floor of the swinging ship, and made it through without a scratch.

And I would definitely buy them as opposed to renting. We use them all the time for other things. For instance, when my dh is working up on the roof, we use them to communicate, in case he needs something, so he doesn't have to climb all the way down. We've used them on shopping trips to large malls and any time we've gone to other amusement parks and for sightseeing. We've even used them to communicate between cars when we travelled with others.

Definitely a MUST have if you have a large family at dw.

 

[kazd]

Do you know how they are on the FRS as we are from the UK and the licence route might not be cost effective for us.

Thanks

 

[sha_lyn]

I think I would skip the radios go with the Tracfone prepaid cell phone special someone posted a few days ago. I have the Cobra GMRS/FRS radios and they are OK for malls etc but the radio trafic at WDW made it hard for us to keep in touch with eachother.

 

[sha_lyn]

found the special
http://www.tracfone-orders.com/direct/tr/itemdetl.jsp?prod=1484&tech=TO

 

[kazd]

I don't think that will be an option for us, we are in the UK, so getting phones delivered to our holiday villa on a precise day may make it difficult. We are looking at some Radio Shack walkie talkies. They are GMRs/FRS two way radio Family Pack $49.99. Anyone out there used these in the parks.

Thanks

 

[sha_lyn]

you can get tracfones at Walmart (and other retailers but not sure where), but they aren't the 29.99 special. In that case the radio shack radios would be your better option it looks like. Are you ordering or are you buying them once in the states? If you are buying them you might want to look at the Cobra radios like I have at Walmart. With the prepaid cell phones going so cheap now, it is easy to find deals on the 2way radios

 

[all4fun]

I didn't notice when I first posted that you were from the UK. I can definitely see why you wouldn't want to bother with GMRS FCC license. In the past, we have used FRS radios that were the Cobra brand and they worked fine. We were using them in off season,however, so our experience may have been better than others who used theirs during times when the crowds are heavier. I highly recommend that whichever brand radio you buy, probably the single most important feature is that they have the sub-codes. This will give you a much greater chance of finding a channel that isn't being used as much. You will likely hear "chatter" from other users, but if you don't plan on splitting up a lot and you only turn them on when your party is not all together, then it's usually not that bad, IMO.

HTH and have a magical day!

 

[xraydave]

I like the Disney Character radios by motorola. (FRS) They have several types with different characters. Classic, Princess and Adventurers. I have to admit I have not tried tham at the parks yet. We leave shortly and I'll be glad to let you know how they worked.

Target used to carry them but I believe they are almost sold out. There were several postings on the DIS telling of clearance sales for them. (I got mine on e-bay)

If you don't mind me asking, when and where are you staying at Disney?

 

[kazd]

Xraydave,

Hi, we are leaving our house this Friday (28th), we are doing a twilight checkin at the airport on Friday night, we fly out Saturday. This means we don't have to be up at the crack of dawn to be at the airport the obligatory three hours before departure. So looks like our vacation will be over and done by the time you go.

We are looking to purchase either pay as you go cell phones or walkie talkies on the Saturday when we get there so that they can charge up overnight ready for the trips to the parks.

We were convinced that we were going for Walkie Talkies (probably Radio Shack ones 22 channels and 38 subchannels) but have now read another thread whereby people have said cell phones are the way to go.

Exit Confused!!!

 

[xraydave]

Sounds like a great plan. Good luck and have fun.

PS: Tell Mickey we'll be down soon.