How to keep in contact

[villarenter]

Arriving MCO on 27th MArch for almost 3 weeks and while at the parks we will probably be split up, I will have son aged 8 and wife with daughter 4 although we do swap from time to time. Last time we found staying in touch difficult, meeting up points were fine but if one was doing a ride or near to riding, there was always the question should we ride and keep them waiting or not.
The thought this year is whether to bring our own mobile phones (different styles but only one charger needed) and pay extra, they will both work in the USA or buy a couple of cheap cellphones in Walmart to last the 3 weeks. Not expecting to call UK with these as the Villa has free calls but might do the occasional text when waiting in line.
What do others do in this situation, I'm happy writing off the cost if it makes life easier, but have had a look at some phones and the feedback seems to be that it takes time to activate them and customer service is not so good. ANy thoughts? thought about 2 way radios but problem is that unlikely to hear them, at least the phone will have a vibrate setting.

[LeonieM]

Quite honestly, if you're taking your phones anyway, and they will work in the US, you may just as well use those to text one another. Depending on your talk plan, this can be as little as 25p per text. Multiplied up over the duration of the holiday, it must be the cheaper option.

There have been several threads on cheap mobiles -v- walkie talkies, but in my experience, by the time you've bought your walkie talkies (and if there are more than 2 in your splitting up equation, this probably won't work anyway), you've shelled out over £30 anyway.

[Susan Veness]

If you decide to use your phones in the parks, just be aware the area is notorious for having 'drop out' points (dead zones). There are several in World Showcase (especially back in the Germany and Morocco areas), some in Future World (The Seas area always seems to be a problem for me), in front of Expedition Everest, etc. All the parks and resorts have them (as do many of the roads; the 535 is a real problem).

As long as you know you may not get the message or call as soon as it comes through, the phones are a good way to go.

[ELAINE]

We just used our UK phones, i think we paid 40p per txt and they generally got thru' quite quickly. Most of the time we arranged to meet near a food stand so if one of us got delayed the other took time out for a drink and snack!!

[Tiggers Friend]

When we travelled with the BIL/SIL we just use the text on the UK phones.

[LeonieM]

OH and I were literally walking side-by-side towards the ET ride. One minute he was there, the next minute he was nowhere to be seen! Emma and I got into the queue anyway, and I texted him to say "we're in the queue, come and join us."

He was gone about 10 minutes, and we were halfway towards the door by the time he joined us, but thank goodness we had our phones with us!

That was before we got the walkie talkies, of course - but they can be a total nightmare. Apart from the fact you're fighting with dozens of others for the few frequencies you're allowed to use, you can be in a show and they'll suddenly squawk into life when someone within range comes onto your channel! We were in Carousel of Progress when this happened with us, and it was a mash fumble in our rucksacks to retrieve the WTs and switch them off!

[Angelmouse5]

We bought a couple of Track phones from Walmart, much cheaper than using a UK mobile.

[sex kitten]

My free texts apply in the states, just costs me two texts instead of one, but the free minutes don't.
Calls are very expensive, even with world wide roaming, its 90p a minute.
So take my phone but only use the texts:happy-thumb

[DaveDreaD]

We got 2 phones from wallmart £30 the pair they had LOADS of talk time and txts (more than we could use by miles) and after 4 days you were also able to call the UK with them , defnitley the way forward if like us you normally use a cpl of phone cards to call home. Only thing with them the unused credit expires after 3 mths so there pretty much disposeable. The cheapest top up card i was was $15 for it for next time :)