Walt Disney World to introduce new phone recharging program

[Grym]

I think it is a very good concept for Disney to implement and I'm sure there will be plenty of interest by park goers.

Anyone who is a planner though should really already have one of these. I picked up a 12,000mAh Jackery one from Amazon a few Black Fridays ago for nearly nothing.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Seems like a decent idea though do wish the actual batteries were a bit more powerful. We usually carry a charger or two that can more than fully charge a phone -but hey, nice to have the option of this at least

 

[wilkeliza]

hm might have to keep an eye out at the airport to see if they are cheaper. Would be smart if you see them for 15 or 20 at your departure airport to just buy there and then replace at Disney as needed.

This is going to be for non-planners or those who like a back up.

 

[romitaz]

We have a 20,000mah and a 10,000 that we carry in the parks but we have forgotten them on the charger in the room once or twice. Would not be a bad back up to our backups. lol

 

[SureAsLiz]

I wonder if there's a time limit on them? It would be great as a passholder!

This is what I was wondering as well. I have a portable pack that I got for much less but I never remember to charge it, or if I do I accidentally leave it at home. I'm in the parks at least 5 days a week, and $30 for a consistent portable power source for however long the program exists seems like a pretty good deal.

 

[LeeAndRobin]

$30 for 6400mAh is a rip-off. I just bought a 100,000mAh with 1A and 2.1A ports for less than $15 on eBay. And it's not cheaply made either. For less than $20, you can get a 300,000mAh that is ruggedized, has both ports, has solar cells on one side to help keep the power pack charged, and has a bright LED array so that it makes a great flashlight:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-300000m...hash=item2ef0de94d3:m:mgImErNK7qSQ6u5of02wscA

No, you can't exchange it for a charged one when its charge is depleted, but with 300,000mAh available, I doubt you would need to...

 

[jo-jo]

For people who like to carry as little as possible, having a small charger that you can swap once or twice a day sounds ideal. The bigger chargers can weigh a pound or so.

I'd say if it's buy once and forever be able to exchange sounds great, but we all know about disney and forever items.

 

[rteetz]

$30 for 6400mAh is a rip-off. I just bought a 100,000mAh with 1A and 2.1A ports for less than $15 on eBay. And it's not cheaply made either. For less than $20, you can get a 300,000mAh that is ruggedized, has both ports, has solar cells on one side to help keep the power pack charged, and has a bright LED array so that it makes a great flashlight:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-300000m...hash=item2ef0de94d3:m:mgImErNK7qSQ6u5of02wscA

No, you can't exchange it for a charged one when its charge is depleted, but with 300,000mAh available, I doubt you would need to...

What do you expect for something Disney is selling? To me $30 and the exchange program I really don't think that's terrible. Some people also don't want to carry around something that big. This is a smaller tube that's easier to carry around in a pocket or in a small bag. This new program just gives people more options.

 

[LeeAndRobin]

For people who like to carry as little as possible, having a small charger that you can swap once or twice a day sounds ideal. The bigger chargers can weigh a pound or so.

I'd say if it's buy once and forever be able to exchange sounds great, but we all know about disney and forever items.

Ok, then for less than $10, buy a 12,000 mAh charger from eBay, which will be the same size or smaller than Disney's, and still give you twice the capacity. In fact, buy one for each member of the family.

The point is that $30 for a 6400 mAh charger is pretty outrageous.

 

[romitaz]

What do you expect for something Disney is selling? To me $30 and the exchange program I really don't think that's terrible. Some people also don't want to carry around something that big. This is a smaller tube that's easier to carry around in a pocket or in a small bag. This new program just gives people more options.

Right. This is a lipstick charger type. Not one the size of an Iphone 6 plus. Also, you can buy them off site for $20. Keep it in your pocket or purse. If you leave your main one at the resort, no problem. If it stays in your pocket or purse and doesn't get recharged, no problem. Just replace it when you get to a kiosk. I think it is a fantastic business model.

 

[SureAsLiz]

Ok, then for less than $10, buy a 12,000 mAh charger from eBay, which will be the same size or smaller than Disney's, and still give you twice the capacity. In fact, buy one for each member of the family.

The point is that $30 for a 6400 mAh charger is pretty outrageous.

For the regular guest who may only be there a few days to a week, I agree that the cost for the size is too much.
But for a guest who visits regularly, or several times a year, the convenience definitely factors into the price.

I see it a lot like the ponchos - yes, $9 is a lot for a sheet of plastic. But $9 for a sheet of plastic that I can store in my backpack and replace for free any time something happens to it isn't too terrible.

That's the important part to me - much of what goes into Disney pricing is opportunity cost. How much value do you place on not having to remember to charge your personal pack, or not having to take the time to sit back while a phone charged? For many people, $30 to not have to worry about how to charge their phone during the day may be a good value

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I see it as just like buying sunscreen in the parks..we had to do that when we last went in 2011 (I can't remember the reason why we didn't have it with us)..um yeah yikes the upcharge for that though I completely expected it.

If for some reason you find yourself with little battery and no charger with you this is a good thing to have an option for. Disney has made the average guest so Smartphone reliant that at least they are accommodating those who forgot/didn't even think to get a portable charger.

I got a portable charger (the rectangle shaped ones) this past Black Friday at Nebraska Furniture Mart for $4.99 plus tax (original price $54.99 plus tax). It's only 6000mAh but it can charge two devices at one time which is kinda what my husband and I were going for so only one of us has carry a charger.. It states it can charge an average smartphone up to 4 times before needing to be recharged. The only downside is I've gotten so used to Fast Charging that it's an absolute pain to go back to slow charging lol.

 

[jo-jo]

Ok, then for less than $10, buy a 12,000 mAh charger from eBay, which will be the same size or smaller than Disney's, and still give you twice the capacity. In fact, buy one for each member of the family.

The point is that $30 for a 6400 mAh charger is pretty outrageous.

Yes, flat out $30 for 6400 is awful, but it all comes down to how much not having a dead phone is worth.

I could carry my lunch all day and save $20 or be hands free, walk thru the no bag line and pay for food. Everything has it's good and bad points.

 

[cindyfan]

Hearing the batteries are 6400mAh

That was going to be my question!!! are we sure they are 6400?? For those that are saying they have stronger ones..... what brand?
And quite honestly.... I don't think it's an outrageous price at all!!! I for one don't want to be lugging around something as big as the ones a lot of you are describing!!! and to be able to swap it out..... I'd pay the $30!!

 

[rteetz]

That was going to be my question!!! are we sure they are 6400?? For those that are saying they have stronger ones..... what brand?
And quite honestly.... I don't think it's an outrageous price at all!!! I for one don't want to be lugging around something as big as the ones a lot of you are describing!!! and to be able to swap it out..... I'd pay the $30!!

I don't know all of the specs but you can compare it to the one I have. I have a Jackery 20,100mAh battery back that I bought on Amazon for around $40. It's about the size of an iPhone 6+ and about 3/4 thick. It will charge my phone from dead to full 6 times before needing a recharge. So if I had to guess the fuelrod will charge your phone full about 1.5 times before the rod is dead, but then you can just exchange it for a new one at the parks.

 

[circus4u]

You can just go to their website and buy it for $20 plus $5 for shipping. So, a $5 markup at Disney doesn't seem all that outrageous anymore.
http://www.fuel-rod.com/

 

[MinnieSweetheart]

Fuelrod is a portable charger that can be purchased at the parks. Once it's out of battery you can exchange it for a new one. You don't have to ever return a fuelrod after purchase it's yours to keep.

http://wdwnt.com/blog/2016/06/break...-revolutionize-how-guests-charge-electronics/

When I needed help, they gladly took my phone and charged it for me at guest services. Does anyone know if guest services will still charge your phone for you?

 

[Mousetopia]

$30?!! You can get portable chargers like this from Amazon for like $7-$8.

Being able to just exchange a depleted one for a freshly charged one is a cool concept, but is it worth the huge up charge? I guess if you desperately need a charge it's not a horrible idea.

personally, I have a battery charging case PLUS I often carry around a small portable charging device like this if I know I'm going to be out all day and heavily using my phone (like on Disney parks days).

I bought one of the 8$ amazon chargers and love it. I fully charge my phone beginning of the day and on most days in the parks that was enough. The spare gives me an entire additional charge in my pocket. I can't imagine needing more than that. I would not finding waiting in line for a spare
a convenience. I would think this would be awesome for a frequent park traveler who is an extremely heavy data user. I want to spend my time enjoying the sites not nose in an electronic device. I don't think the $30 is overpriced as what they are really selling is a service.

 

[rwdavis2]

At 6400mh it should charge an iPhone 6+ twice. Assuming it's fully charged and you can get all the power out of it. Found this:

iPhone 6s Plus battery rated 2750 mAH,

 

[Joeboo25]

For those concerned about the amount of charge, plug it in, drain it, and then go back to the closest gift shop and grab another. If these things are available all over the park, you'll have a continuous external power source the whole time you're there. The lipstick size is better for pocketability.

Last time I went I almost bought one of the big batteries, but the weight killed it for me. It might not be so bad if you're carrying a bag, but it would beat my knees to death in a cargo pocket.