WDW and cell phones...

[ExPirateShopGirl]

ok, not sure WHICH board this belongs on, but since we'll be in a WDW resort I'll post it here.

Before I actually sat down and looked at a map of WDW, I figured walkie talkies would be fine to reach the kids. At 42 square miles, that's fairly impossible.

I'm not going to change my cell carrier over this (uh huh) but which service do you have and how was your service in WDW? Any bad areas? Gimme the dirt!

 

[bntlyclg89]

My DF and I used T-Mobile without a problem at WDW (strangely we were on Cingular's service). Our friends who went with us use Verizon and they also had no problem.

Your caffeine induced postings may be lessened at the World if they are due to coffee (they have the world's WORST coffee). But on the bright side, they only serve Coke products!

 

[ScottOKW2K]

We have tried most things - frs radios, calls via cell phone, etc and what we have found that works best for us is to use the text messaging feature of the phone. There are several plussed to this vs. just picking up the phone and talking:

1. Unless your phone is on a national plan you will be paying roaming minutes while in the World. I found that with our provider ( Cingular ) that messages were just the straight ten cents per message, whether in or out of area.

2. You can usually set the phone to alert you differently for messages vs. calls. Since I want to VACATE while on vacation, I set the phone to neither ring or vibrate for a call, but to vibrate and slowly escalate alert volume for a message. The advantage ? I'm not likely to disturb others around me in a quiet attraction when I send or receive a message. Plus I can choose to check a message later without missing the info sent.

3. You can usually send a message when there is not enough signal for a conversation. I've sent and received messages with only one bar of signal.

One last comment about this - it's fun to go back and look at some of the old messages in the phones memory. Brings back good memories for me .....

 

[DanaHesson]

have used both cingular and verizon in the parks without problems.

 

[lovethattink]

We have verizon. There were a few dead zones on the phone. Lost service while approaching Epcot by car for a few second. Lost service in room 9046 at POR (same thing happened in bld 14 room) if I walked in the room. If I sat by the window, I had no problems.

 

[babybunrab]

I have a Cingular national plan and found that the coverage in WDW area was better than here at home (the Adirondacks).

 

[Leota]

We use Cingular Nationwide & it works pretty well, I think I only ran into one or two spots that I had reception problems. With the Family Talk & Nationwide plans, it's a perfect tool for splitting up & meeting up in WDW.

 

[zurgswife]

The CM's use Nextel so that should be the best reception as they have hidden towers in the parks..

 

[tomerin]

we used verizon last summer without any connection problem anwhere on WDW propert except in one place. the Wilderness Lodge! strangely if we were in the hotel the roaming symbol appeared on our phone. you go outside on the balcony and it dissappeared. well afer we called verizon to ask about this they assured us that there must be something in the structure of the buliding that caused the symbol to keep appearing. well needless to say i kept usng the phone the entire trip and when the bill arrived home i was not charged for any roaming calls

 

[pooh2001]

We use Verizon - or should I say my DH. He does work while at WDW. Clients calling - even in EPCOT.

 

[heidijot]

We use Sprint Nationwide and have had no problems!!!!

Heidi

 

[NewEnglandDisney]

I'm not going to change my cell carrier over this (uh huh) but which service do you have and how was your service in WDW?

This is exactly what I just did the other day, hehe.

I was ready to change anyway, and I found a great nationwide plan at T-mobile.

Hey, if it's good enough for Paris Hilton, it's good enough for me!

ScottOKW2K is right about the text messages - though if you aren't used to sending them practice typing before you go. Many people are put off by the method of entry, but after a certain point it becomes second nature.

Radios are only good for the park you are in, and depending on how many other people are using them you never know what to expect.

Good luck!

N.E.D.

 

[ladydancer]

I get a great signal @ WDW with my Verizon. Can't get any signal @ home with any cell service.

Only problem I had....was being able to hear the ring when there was alot of noise around. That would be with any phone of course.

 

[swilphil]

My husband and I both have Cingular. We had great service. Neither of us paid roaming and we have different plans--both are pretty cheap ones too.

 

[shannon1219]

Nextell works great in the parks. Have also used Cingular with no problems.

 

[bytheblood]

We take our Nextel Phones with us. The "real and original" push to talk phones and they work great. Everybody can do what they want to do and make plans for meeting and eating with the push of a button.

Even if you do not have two-way capabilities, I still suggest that you take cell phones. Wallie-talkies, unless you purchase the more expensive and higher-tech ones, will recieve interference and may not work at all depending on how far away you are from one another. With cells, you can talk to anybody. JMHO.

Can you hear me now?

 

[aubriee]

I use T-Mobile and my son used Verizon. He had a new girlfriend back home and sent ALOT of text messages, as well as calling her several times a day. Neither of us ever had any problems. In fact our reception was excellent everywhere we went (no dead zones).

 

[drakethib]

ok, not sure WHICH board this belongs on, but since we'll be in a WDW resort I'll post it here.

Before I actually sat down and looked at a map of WDW, I figured walkie talkies would be fine to reach the kids. At 42 square miles, that's fairly impossible.

I'm not going to change my cell carrier over this (uh huh) but which service do you have and how was your service in WDW? Any bad areas? Gimme the dirt!

We have been to WDW many times and have always used Sprint with no problem.

 

[GrumpyLuver]

We always use our Nextel's in the parks and have never had a problem with the service.

 

[*Flower*]

We use Sprint PCS, and have never had any problems with dead zones.

HTH!!!