I am wondering when you are in the park with a larger group and you split up how do you communicate with each other, cell phones, walkie talkies, smoke signals, no communication because you are trying to ditch someone :D...
the last time we used cell phones but it didn't quite work out well due to them not being heard or felt (with the vibration on) or their not being charged, etc. So now my dh insists that we use walkie talkies this next trip but I'm not a big fan of those just because I haven't found any with a really good and reliable range. So what do all of you diehards use and what brand if you mention walkie talkies? Thanks again!!!

We use cell phones. We all make sure to have them charged, and on the highest level with vibrate, AND we check them frequently when we are separated to make sure that no one has tried to call.

Mostly cellphones, and almost all with those annoying Bluetooth earpiece things--less likely to miss calls when it's buzzing and beeping right in your ear.

Ham radios are a great way to keep in touch, if you can get in the gate with them...

We used cell phones, charged them up every night and checked frequently. Or you could go the old fashioned way and have a designated meeting time/place. BUT that could take a lot away from your park time.

I would second cell phones. Just make sure that you check them often when you are sperated. The problem with those walkie talkie things, is they work really good, but we took them in 2002 and NEVER used them. There are SO many people on there, even people that are just using them to talk and AREN'T at Disneyland, that its to hard to make sure you are talking to the person in your group. Especially if you are going during a busy time of year. Just my thoughts! :)

The last 5 years, cell phones (before that was walkie talkies.) Everyone has them and keeps them charged. If one is going low, we call others and tell them so they know not to worry. We generally check them after rides to see if anyone called.

Cell phones and Ham Radios. Cell phones have more privacy. Ham radios are "free" to use and can have decent coverage, plus if you have multiple groups, everyone can hear it at the same time, assuming that everyone is licensed. (yes, I admit, we have enough licensed individuals in our group to make it work.)

What kind of walkie talkies are you thinking of? I would rather use cell phones because I think the coverage is better - and for the aforementioned privacy.

Adrienne

We use cell phones. When they're on vibrate, and in your pocket, it's hard not to feel them.

When we absolutely have to get ahold of someone, we use cell phones.

But, for the most part, we use the good old-fashioned meeting time/place. At the beginning of the trip we specify a meeting place (it's usually the benches by the Partner's Statue) and when we split up during the day we give a time when we'll meet up. If we walk by the meeting place at the appointed time and the others are not there (we give them about 5 minutes), we simply carry on with what we're doing and swing by again later, on the hour. It works great for us - never had any trouble.

Yodelling. Ok, so this wouldn't work at Disneyland, but it has at the beach and the playground and such other places. We told dd when she was small that if she can't see us, she needs to yodel (well, her yodelling sounds more like libalibalibaliba).... but if we can't see her (the playgrounds have a lot of kids!) then we yodel and she is supposed to stop and wave her hands. We don't do so much anymore because ds just won't acknowledge it.

But yes, I'll join in with everyone else that cell phones work best....but everyone should still keep watch on the time because even on the loudest setting, you can't always hear the phone in various places of the park.

we have nextel radios/cell on our farm so we all carry those! We beep each other so we can always hear them. The cell is good for private talks. the Back up is ALWAYS a time and place to meet if one of the group didn't get a message from the rest of the group. That way no one gets worried if we can't "get a hold" of someone we still know where they will be and at what time!:D

When we absolutely have to get ahold of someone, we use cell phones.

But, for the most part, we use the good old-fashioned meeting time/place. At the beginning of the trip we specify a meeting place (it's usually the benches by the Partner's Statue) and when we split up during the day we give a time when we'll meet up. If we walk by the meeting place at the appointed time and the others are not there (we give them about 5 minutes), we simply carry on with what we're doing and swing by again later, on the hour. It works great for us - never had any trouble.

We are the same. Cell phones for getting in touch with someone when you need to find them (though most of the time I either can't answer because I'm on a ride, or have to call them back because I'm in line or something... but at least we can leave messages for each other).

Then the good 'ol meeting place and time. This is the best way to meet up with your group without having to deal with interruptions. Everyone knows when to be there and you get a little down time for relaxing if you get there early!

ive used motorola walkie talkies when they first came out (5+ yrs ago). but it was hard just because of so much traffic, people messing around who arent or are in the parks. technology has greatly improved since then so you shouldnt have a problem with range.

but i vote for the cell phone. put em on "deaf mode" and you'll be sure to hear it. or the person behind you will definitely let you know when you've got a call. ;)

p.s. texting is a good way, too. doesnt really bother anyone with chatty calls and you dont have to "actively" receive them.

We use cell phones, set to vibrate/ring and they are kept in our pockets so that we can feel them. I have to change all of my ring tones though, they are usually all Disney and when there it is hard to tell if it is my phone ringing or music around the park! ;)

Our 8 year old carries a cell, but we still do the old fashioned..."if we get seperated you go to the castle and wait there for us to come and find you". You just never know if the child is going to lose their cell phone.

TEXTING!:cool:

Cell phones are the only way to go. Walkie talkies are a mess at DL because you constantly hear other conversations.

We used walkie talkies one year & gave up on that idea within hours. Now it's cell phones. I'll put it on vibrate in my pocket. I usually check it after getting off a ride just in case I didn't feel it.

One big difference between Cell Phones and Walkie Talkies... Voice Mail (or text).

Many areas in Disneyland, especially the indoor stuff and attractions have no service.

So if you are trying to talk to someone, but they just went down the Pirates Waterfalls, well, it is going to be quite awhile before they will get back in range. And what happens if someone gets stuck on a ride that goes 101 in a "dead spot", you are looking at a long wait in many cases.

So first, you need to be uinderstanding if you can't get ahold of someone right away, and also have backup plans if something like a battery dies (which can happen on both Cell Phones and Walkie Talkies).

But I recommend Cell Phones, if you are visiting, you can buy a cheap basic pre-paid cell phone with a couple of hours of "talk" for about $30 at places like Wal-Mart and Target if you are visting from a foreign country.

We used our cells and texting and didn't have any issues. Riley(9) stayed with us and Josh(18) and Katie(Josh's friend 17) kept in touch with us through our phones. We just checked them when we got off rides and randomly through the day.

We used our cell phones.

We use cell phones, set to vibrate/ring and they are kept in our pockets so that we can feel them. I have to change all of my ring tones though, they are usually all Disney and when there it is hard to tell if it is my phone ringing or music around the park! ;)

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that is funny. the last time we went i too had a disney ring tone and never thought to change it, which perhaps led to some of the afore mentioned problems...:p

Definatly cell phones & texting. We never texted until this last trip but sometimes you just don't hear that ring so texting is just as effective.

We use texting. Sometimes my voicemail indicator has a delay in Disneyland, so I don't get voicemail as quickly as text.

We use cell phones. When they're on vibrate, and in your pocket, it's hard not to feel them.

I miss them all the time. I've even been expecting a call and paying attention to the vibration and have missed it. I think it all depends on the phone you have. Some vibrate more than others.

But back to the main topic. Cell phones. I just check it often to see if I missed. I keep my phone in my pocket and my 6 y.o. DS is always telling me, "Mom, your phone is ringing." I guess it's because it's right around his ear level :p. I just can't hear it in a busy place like the mall. At DL I'm usually with DH so he deals with the phone. We rarely split up anyway.