Walkie talkies

[AIW]

Has anyone used walkie talkies at WDW? I'm thinking of getting one in the event that my dh and I separate (which seems iinevitable with 2 little ones). We're from Canada and using our cell phones won't be an option as the roaming charges and LD $$ will be way too high. I'm looking at a Cobra or Mototola walkie talkies with a wide range and high number of channels and frequencies. But do they work???

 

[DizneyNutz]

They work so well that tons of people use them incessantly while there. All the channels are clogged by kids using them talking back and forth like they are in their backyards. I personally would not waste my money (AGAIN) for these. Hope this helps you save some money. I would pay the roaming charges first. At least you will be able to talk to your party.

 

[pepe of ohio]

Save your money, too many people on them unless you purchased the expensive FM models. We bought a pair few years ago and took them, they were useless I as said, everyones brother and son on them. As for cell phones, I'm not an advocate of them, my wife and I each have one but we use them for emergencies only. Best bet we found is the old wristwatch and set time deal. Give a time and location and meet there and then, costs nothing and is very reliable. I have been seeing and hearing entirely too many cell phone conversations is Disney as well as on rides, they ought to require that you shut them off during attractions and not giving someone a running account of what you're seeing.

 

[lori1043]

I have to say that we have used some motorola ones that were not too expensive($40 for 2 and this was 6 years ago) and used them on 3 trips to Disney PLUS my mom and I use them on an annual shopping trip to an outlet mall. They have worked WONDERFULLY for us. I have never had a problem with others voices in them enough(I can't even recall this happening) to warrant regret using them. We will use them on our next trip too in 2008-(hopefully 07 too!) Ours have 13 channels and 33 subchannels and a 2 mile range. I have thought about upgrading to a 5-10 mile range pair, but maybe the new ones are giving prople problems-I don't know. They are a godsend for us and although our cellphones are nationwide, I would still use these to save on minutes and I like that I can keep a few batteries in a backpack in case they die-which i can tell you, they lasted about 3-4 full days of being on the whole time and getting decent use-we had gone with multiple families the past 2 times. It is worth it if you ask me-just take some time to set a channel and SUBCHANNEL too. I would guess that many use the lower numbers so we opted for an unusual mix.
Good luck and have fun!

 

[hthrbells]

how are the nextel walkie talkie mode?

 

[GOODoldPAL]

I was very happy we had ours @ WDW in yr 2000 with our then 7yr old. Gave my DH & I chance to go on rides my DD was too little for, while one of us shared a ride with her. Since wait times are unpredictable, communicating via walkie talkies allowed us to best use our time.
The walkie talkie was ALWAYS on my DD as a form of security too in case she got seperated which DID happen once for a brief moment so consider that peace of mind as well.

That being said, I have experienced local theme parks etc where a gazillion people were using the channels rendering them frustrating and nearly useless!
We stopped relying on them for our church trips and have switched to cell phones since many of the Youth Group teens already own one.

For my now 13 yr old, I plan on activating and adding minutes to an old Tracfone for our 2007 trip (she doesn't own a cellphone yet).