This may seem weird to some of you, but I rarely carry my cell phone. Those of you whose cell phone is surgically attached to your body may not understand how this is possible. The main reason is that I do not get cell service in my house so the phone sits on its charger a lot. Because I don’t carry it all the time I often forget it when I leave the house. I have learned, however, to never leave it behind on a Disney vacation.
I know people who need a break from their phones. They check and send messages constantly and don’t know how to stop. If you are using your cell phone when you should be spending time with your family at the Disney parks then leaving your cell phone in your room may be the only solution. But cell phones can make your Disney vacation go much smoother if you control your phone and it doesn’t control you.
5 reasons to carry your cell phone in the parks:
1) Stay in touch with your group. If you group is made of adults and/or teenagers there is going to come a point where people are going to do their own thing. Even if you stay together as a group you might loose them in some of the gigantic stores at Downtown Disney. What better way to find someone than by calling them? You can quickly figure out where your group is and where and when you should meet. Having a cell phone saves you a lot of shoe leather and time spent trying to find your group.
2) Make Advanced Dining Reservations. (ADR). If you are in the parks and you can’t get a seat when you walk into a restaurant try making a reservation on your phone. There may be an opening that evening even though there was not walk-in room. Just call 407-WDW-DINE from your cell phone and see what is available.
3) Use the great Disney apps to plan your next step. In a recent post I introduced you to Otto, the phone system at Disneyland that allows you to know line times throughout the park. Walt Disney World has an app that does the same thing (if you have a smart phone). The Disney Parks Mobile Magic app can provide lots of helpful information and it is free. Whether you call Otto or check the app having a cell phone helps you navigate the park with ease.
4) Keep important documentation with you. There are lots of important reservation numbers and scheduling information needed for any trip. Instead of carrying a lot of paper you can keep it all in your phone (if you have a smart phone). Whether you organize your information in an app like Trip It or you just take pictures of your e-mail confirmations to use later you’ll never be without your much-needed information.
5) Share your memories. I visited Walt Disney World with two dear friends who both had Apple products – one had an ipad and the other had an iphone. They took great pictures with their devices and were able to share them with each other and family back home. I have a non-smart phone so I had to wait to get their photos on a disc once everyone got home. Using your cell phone’s camera, if it has one, is a great way to share pictures while you are thinking about it. Plus, as one who receives photos from friends during their trips I love the feeling that I am right there with them sharing in the fun.
Cell phones can be a great tool or a horrible annoyance. As long as you don’t let it run your life having a cell phone can help make a good trip great. Happiness squared.
Goofy Tip: Before you enter the parks make sure everyone has everyone else’s cell phone number. You never know who you’ll want to reach at any given time. Even if several people are together it is nice to be able to call any of them. On my last trip several of us had a hard time reaching our phones before they stopped ringing. It was handy being able to call others in the group when that happened.
One comment
Comments are closed.