Walkie Talkies

[dizzymom]

I'm sure there is a thread about Walkie Talkies somewhere on this forum, but tonite i'm lazy. So who has uses them in the parks and how do they work are they worth the investment?

 

[kilee]

Welcome to the DIS!!

We bought them and took them on 2 trips. They never left the hotel. We kept forgetting them amongst all the other things. So, I resold them on ebay.

 

[TinkerBellz33]

I used to see people on walkie talkies all the time...but now i see people on cell phones more..From what I've heard, they work fine, but are kind of a hassle.

 

[slp87]

We use our walkie talkies every trip. We have motorola talkabouts with subchannels. They're not any bigger than a cell phone and not anymore of a hassle. We're not huge cell phone users and would pay $$$ to use our phones at WDW as much as we use our walkie talkies. We've rarely had others on our channels but have a backup channel that we know to switch to if needed. Because they're not a huge expense, I also don't mind our DD taking one and they're a lot cheaper to replace than our phones. I stick a label on each with our names & resort.

 

[tn_disney_addict]

We use them every trip! Ours have subchannels, too, and I wouldn't try to use ones that didn't...although...hearing other peoples conversations can, at times, be hilarious!

 

[samsmom05]

We are going to use these as well. The only problem I have now is that my mom called yesterday, all excited, and said, "Guess what!! We can use them between our houses!" Oh joy, the phone was not enough.

 

[TLC371]

We use them when we go. We have ones with subchannels as well. They make it easier for when we have large groups and we want to split up for a little bit. I'm also one that doesn't like roller coasters or any kind of scary ride. So last year, when there were rides I didn't want to go on, my boyfriend would take one and go on the rides with his daughter and I would go look in the shops. They would let me know when they were leaving the rides and we would meet up.
We also drive down to Florida from Virginia every year, usually in several different cars, so it makes it easier to communicate between cars.

 

[momxx5]

We love our walkie-talkies.

We use them a WDW. They are great from when DH takes the boys on thrill rides and I have the girls at Beauty & the Beast on Stage. We can stay in touch and meet up with each other easier.

We also use them A LOT at home - at the playground when DS is at baseball practice and the others on the the swings.

Biggest use - when the kids are outside playing. Each of our kids has a set - so when they are riding bikes, skateboarding etc, I can keep in touch with them and not have to yell up the street. They can call me if they want to ask something.

Again, walkie-talkies are a great investment all around.

 

[disneyaggie]

From what I remember from the Cell Phone versus Walkie Talkie thread, most people liked using their cell phones. Many of them said that you have to constantly find an open channel. With cell phones you can get ahold of the person you are seeking directly or at least leave them a message so they will know where to find you.

 

[PattnFmly]

We love our walkie talkies! We may be one of the few families without cell phones yet - we just don't want any more bills to pay every month! But the walkie talkies were a one-time expense, we've used them multiple times at WDW as well as at the mall/camping/Storyland etc. We have the sub-channels and we have three preset in our minds to switch to in case there's someone else on. But that's only happened I think twice, both in WDW, but it was easy to switch away from that funny 4 way conversation!

 

[threeboysmom]

We LOVE them!! We use them all the time! They are a lifesaver at the parks when you have mixed ages/heights of kids and so you have to split up. Before we bought them, we wasted SO MUCH time trying to organize meeting places and times and one party having to stand around and wait for the other party for whatever reason..... It's so much easier being able to communicate at all times, especially when you're split up and plans change. Also, now that our boys are teens, it's great that they can go do something for an hour or so and we can keep in touch with them. We take them to the mall with us since DH and the boys like to go to different stores than *mom*.

My boys even use them in the house sometimes when they are each on a computer in different parts of the house but playing an online game together. Instead of yelling out commands to each other (and annoying the rest of us), they can talk quietly using the walkie talkies.

 

[GoN2WDW]

We have the Motorolo (sp?) ones with quite a few channels. We had a few problems with communicating and I doubt I would bother carrying the around again. So many people are using them now that it's difficult to find a clear channel. I had some woman yell "someone is on OUR channel and you should get OFF NOW!" Oh yea, that's gonna work! Another time we had a group of boys who were constantly making "body noises" over the channel so we kept getting cut off when we tried to talk to each other. We ended up either setting a meeting time and place in case we got separated and using cell phones. Talk quickly and it's not too expensive!

 

[ChipNDale]

Why I said no to the walkietalkie idea.

Walkies are nice but it can be hard to find an open channel and well you will be upset if you child lose it.

Cellphones are good you will always get the person you want.
I went with tracfone and their online store and bought 5 count them 5 tracfone Nokia 1100 with the falshlight it only cost 5 at 19.99 + 10.00 S&H +Tax that gives me 160 minutes on each of the 5 phones and 8 weeks or more of sevice. If the kids loose the phone no biggie since i did the referal and got 100 extra minutes on my home tracfones which would have cost me 29.99 to buy so i still make out with free phones and service for our trip and if the get lost well thats ok too. The battieres are recharable in the hotel room and phone will last for a few days on full charge. If the phone minutes are not all used up i have the transfered to one of my other phones and i then donate the phones to a shelter to be used for 911 calls.

That is why i use tracfone/cellphones over walkietalkies. If anyone does not understand or wants more info i would be glad to help.

Thanks
-ChipNDale