Anywhere to charge cell phone in park

[AnotherJenny]

Seems more like a company line to keep people from "borrowing" electricity.

I actually agree that Disney shouldn't have to pay for guests to charge their phones. And it seems like they've answered that, they want the guests to pay.

I'm at Comic-Con right now, and for the past few years, if you try to use an outlet, security will come over, ask you to leave, and tell you that you can't do it. I wish Disney would be more direct about it and tell people they can't do it, and direct them to the lockers. Making up reasons is just dumb.

[Drince88]

If it's that big of a deal, Disney could either 'blank over' the outlets, or, if they need them at times, have lock boxes over them. Just like places have lock boxes over thermostats. It wouldn't take a huge amount of money to do that, and if the cost of the electricity was the issue, it wouldn't take long to have a positive pay back from that cost outlay.

[ALB2277]

I know I’m not going to be liked for this and I know you all are going to say it’s not the same but on some level it is. I think it is a principal thing I look at it like this what if you were having an open house type estate sale and everyone is having a great time shopping. Then you look over by your fire place and see 2 people hovering there as you get closer you discover they are charging there cell phones. What would you think? I thank it is a great thing they did understanding the power needs on modern life and installing the charging lockers I mean you can leave your device in the locker safe and secure while you go play come back and get your device.

[Malcon10t]

I know I’m not going to be liked for this and I know you all are going to say it’s not the same but on some level it is. I think it is a principal thing I look at it like this what if you were having an open house type estate sale and everyone is having a great time shopping. Then you look over by your fire place and see 2 people hovering there as you get closer you discover they are charging there cell phones. What would you think? I thank it is a great thing they did understanding the power needs on modern life and installing the charging lockers I mean you can leave your device in the locker safe and secure while you go play come back and get your device.

I would think "If I want these people to stay here and buy from me, letting them charge is a good idea, so they don't leave, go back to their cars, etc..."

That said, who plugged their phone in over in Cars Land??? <giggling>

[Tinkermommy]

If it's that big of a deal, Disney could either 'blank over' the outlets, or, if they need them at times, have lock boxes over them.

I was just telling my daughter about this, and she related a story from about a week ago. She and some friends were chilling in the zoetrope room in the Animation Studio, and one of her friends saw an exposed outlet and plugged her charger in. A cast member saw, and told them there is, "no charging on these premises." She told them they would have to go to the Chamber of Commerce if they needed to charge something. No mention was made of the charging lockers. These are really good kids; rule-followers*, and they felt like they'd done something criminal.

I'm with you, Drince; I suspect most people see an outlet and think, "Oh, that's a nice convenience for guests!" This generation in particular, since they don't know a time when people didn't carry around electronics and chargers. My daughter even noted (to me) the lack of a sign or anything else preventing guest use. Now, I realize there aren't any signs saying, "don't jump into the river," either, but I think an electrical outlet is something people would see as a convenience, not a device to enable them to "steal" electricity.

*Except, of course, for the time their mothers persuaded them to enter the park wearing their Hogwarts robes...

[Drince88]

That said, who plugged their phone in over in Cars Land??? <giggling>

GMTA (just posted in different threads!)

[cstephens]

I know I’m not going to be liked for this and I know you all are going to say it’s not the same but on some level it is.

If that's the case, that's fine, their place, their rules. But then, just say so. Don't make up some story that I'm going to burn down the building or make my phone explode.

I would think "If I want these people to stay here and buy from me, letting them charge is a good idea, so they don't leave, go back to their cars, etc..."

Hey, I'm also advertising for them. Some of what I use my phone for is to tweet pictures of food, merchandise, fun stuff, whatever at the parks. And I know that some miniscule number of people see those and are motivated to buy something or go to the park where they might not have otherwise. I usually bring an extra battery with me to the parks, more if there's a particular occasion and I think I'm going to burn through my batteries. The hardest time was during Leap Day - 24 hours of phone life while tweeting lots of info and pictures. I barely made it, and that was only by charging my phone for a little while inside Blue Sky Cellar. I should have taken a picture of the various people with their electronic devices plugged in every conceivable location that had an outlet. Yep, saw a number of people inside different ladies' rooms waiting for their phones to charge.

[katiesue]

I agree Disney should just have a clear policy. Could one of the reasons be that a number of the exposed plugs are in walkways or open areas so people sitting around waiting for their phones to charge are kind of in the way? Or they're blocking the pay phones so someone who wanted to use them (although I can't remember the last time I ever saw anyone actually use a pay phone) couldn't get to them? And I'd imagine putting some kind of child lock on every plug in the resort would be a huge pain not to mention you'd have to have keys for everyone who legitimately needed access like cleaning staff.

I also have backup batteries for longer days which are easier to deal with.

[currence]

If they wanted to, they could have about a gazillion printed signs made up indicating that the electrical outlets are for ECV charging only and that charging lockers are available on main street. I never rent lockers (with exception of crazy Feb. 29) so if it wasn't for this website I would not know that it was even an option. I don't think many people are trying to "steal" electricity as much as not aware there are other options.

I am definitely part of the if it's accessible it's fair game mentality. I tend to go off-site for work fairly often and one of the reasons why I go to Starbucks so often is because they have good access outlets and free wi-fi. McDonalds tried to get into the coffee game a few years ago and added free wi-fi, but without easy access to outlets they are not my first choice.

I don't tend to need to charge at Disney since we don't stay long enough, but if I did I would probably be able to tell you where the outlets are at all the food establishments and my selection would be partially based on that.

We do now have a solar charger, I need to figure out a way to semi-permanently attach it to our backpack so we can charge while we walk.

[codewoman]

Mouse people save me again! I had no idea this might be an issue. Now I know and can plan accordingly.

[letshavefun]

If that's the case, that's fine, their place, their rules. But then, just say so. Don't make up some story that I'm going to burn down the building or make my phone explode.




Hey, I'm also advertising for them. Some of what I use my phone for is to tweet pictures of food, merchandise, fun stuff, whatever at the parks. And I know that some miniscule number of people see those and are motivated to buy something or go to the park where they might not have otherwise. I usually bring an extra battery with me to the parks, more if there's a particular occasion and I think I'm going to burn through my batteries. The hardest time was during Leap Day - 24 hours of phone life while tweeting lots of info and pictures. I barely made it, and that was only by charging my phone for a little while inside Blue Sky Cellar. I should have taken a picture of the various people with their electronic devices plugged in every conceivable location that had an outlet. Yep, saw a number of people inside different ladies' rooms waiting for their phones to charge.

I didn't go to Leap Year but I also saw pictures of people with a toaster plugged in and was told they were CMs

[cstephens]

I didn't go to Leap Year but I also saw pictures of people with a toaster plugged in and was told they were CMs

Yes, we saw them on the morning of March 1st at Jolly Holiday, and they had a full breakfast setup. We figured they had to be CMs, as there's no way they would have been able to get a toaster through bag check!

[letshavefun]

Yes, we saw them on the morning of March 1st at Jolly Holiday, and they had a full breakfast setup. We figured they had to be CMs, as there's no way they would have been able to get a toaster through bag check!

I'm guessing if CMs can use them they must be safe right.

[MadasaHatter]

I always leave mine plugged in at the HOTEL ROOM and then there is no bother and no fuss and no worrying about wet phones on rides and it is a true vacation! Shear delight....but of course....I am mad.

[Malcon10t]

I always leave mine plugged in at the HOTEL ROOM and then there is no bother and no fuss and no worrying about wet phones on rides and it is a true vacation! Shear delight....but of course....I am mad.

Nice, but...

I use my phone for a camera. And we use the phones to split up and meet back up. And, I use my phone to be able to be at Disneyland when my business would prefer I was at work.

[currence]

Nice, but...

I use my phone for a camera. And we use the phones to split up and meet back up. And, I use my phone to be able to be at Disneyland when my business would prefer I was at work.

I totally get this now Before I had kids (and to be fair, before cell phones were EVERYWHERE) I would get annoyed when I saw a dad with a cell phone to his ear. I wanted to yank it out of him and tell him that he was at Disneyland and he needed to focus on his family. Now, I realize that life's just not that simple and sometime by being able to take the 5 minute work call you can be at Disneyland.

We were there recently with a woman who was on-call for work. Without her phone she could not have come, because her work would not be able to reach her. And yes, her family had the extra battery pack for the phone. It was the first time I saw someone who was devoted to making sure the phone did not run out of battery power.

[cstephens]

And we use the phones to split up and meet back up.

Seriously, I think about that now and wonder what we used to do before we had celphones. Cause now, any of my friends can contact me any time I'm at Disneyland and say, hey, I'm here, where are you, let's meet up. I love it.

[Malcon10t]

Seriously, I think about that now and wonder what we used to do before we had celphones. Cause now, any of my friends can contact me any time I'm at Disneyland and say, hey, I'm here, where are you, let's meet up. I love it.

I have to agree. But it can lead to some interesting moments.... SOMEONE texted someone else's daughter's phone number to her husband so we could meet up at a Disneyland restaurant (daughter was outside a restaurant, no reception in the restaurant, so husband could meet up with group...) Two weeks later, SOMEONE wondered why someone elses's daughter's phone number showed up on her husband's phone. Seems SOMEONE's husband doesn't check his text messages...

[ALB2277]

I hate to say it but I am one of those who has to have their cell phone all the time I am a salaried managers and even when on vacation I have to have my cell phone and laptop to tell the truth I hate it but I have to say this way I don’t have a bunch of problems when I get home. It actually makes my vacation a lot less stressful.

[quackinup]

I have to agree. But it can lead to some interesting moments.... SOMEONE texted someone else's daughter's phone number to her husband so we could meet up at a Disneyland restaurant (daughter was outside a restaurant, no reception in the restaurant, so husband could meet up with group...) Two weeks later, SOMEONE wondered why someone elses's daughter's phone number showed up on her husband's phone. Seems SOMEONE's husband doesn't check his text messages...

Why do I have a feeling that SOMEONE is going to reply to this...

[bennette]

I have to agree. But it can lead to some interesting moments.... SOMEONE texted someone else's daughter's phone number to her husband so we could meet up at a Disneyland restaurant (daughter was outside a restaurant, no reception in the restaurant, so husband could meet up with group...) Two weeks later, SOMEONE wondered why someone elses's daughter's phone number showed up on her husband's phone. Seems SOMEONE's husband doesn't check his text messages...

Oh, BTW, SOMEONE's husband eventually clarified that the message was the original sent from his wife, not a later text sent from the mysterious other number as the wife thought. He REALLY doesn't check texts.

He did wonder why the other number plays Disney music, though.

And so we're all clear, husband's original concern when calling his wife was that SOMEONE had fallen and couldn't get up, then randomly texted him for help. I wouldn't advise anyone do this in a true emergency, since obviously scavengers would have dragged off your last bones before he checked back.

[Malcon10t]

And so we're all clear, husband's original concern when calling his wife was that SOMEONE had fallen and couldn't get up, then randomly texted him for help. I wouldn't advise anyone do this in a true emergency, since obviously scavengers would have dragged off your last bones before he checked back.

As has happened before, yes, SOMEONE could have fallen and not be able to get up. While it wasn't funny at the time, we can all laugh now at the flurry of unanswered phone calls as we tried contacting each other on various phones during her Ninja Snowboard Accident. Dogs now are trained to retrieve the phone.

[sjhanksaz]

We were at that Bauh House resturant (spelling?) in Fantasyland and I was able to plug in my charger at the far edge of where the cashiers were. There was no seating around there but we did sit in an area where I could keep my eye on it. The place was not too busy but no one even took a second look at it.

I don't know what kind of phone you have but sometimes you can get a second battery and switch it out if needed.

[THpoohbear]

Probably would never had noticed this today if it weren't for this thread, but, I saw a woman sitting on the floor with something er other plugged into an outlet in the exit hallway of the Opera House today. Next to her was a stroller with a toddler without a shirt, sleeping. Poor thing was hot, I guess! It looked like an odd nap spot to me, but I guess it was working for them. AC, kid naps, and an outlet all in one spot!

[sjhanksaz]

We were at that Bauh House resturant (spelling?) in Fantasyland and I was able to plug in my charger at the far edge of where the cashiers were. There was no seating around there but we did sit in an area where I could keep my eye on it. The place was not too busy but no one even took a second look at it.

I don't know what kind of phone you have but sometimes you can get a second battery and switch it out if needed.

FYI this happended in Feb of this year. I asked the cast member who rang up our dinner where I could charge and she pointed to the outlet I used.