Do you take your cell phone in the park & where do you keep it?

[CaptainAmerica]

Some people use their phones more, It's my laptop now (Except when I am doing work at home then I use my laptop lol)... At the parks we use it in line ques that aren't interactive to play games, see wait times elsewhere, make dinner reservations and so on. I imagine if you go with a large group there is a lot of texting and planning the days going on through smart phones too...

The only thing i'll be doing is taking pictures/video of my daughter. Depending on HOW much that's happening, it could kill my battery. Other than that, I can't imagine using it. We'll be way to busy!

Fair enough. Regarding the portable charger, would it possibly be cheaper to go with an extra battery instead?

 

[Otterhead]

I always wonder about this. What the heck are people doing on their phones where they need to stop and charge them in the middle of the day?

This past trip, we coordinated 12 people in different configurations, so we were all constantly texting each other back and forth with where to meet, etc. That, plus camera/movie use, and My Disney Experience, drained my battery pretty well by the end of the day.

 

[ScarletBegonias]

Fair enough. Regarding the portable charger, would it possibly be cheaper to go with an extra battery instead?

Not sure that's an option with Iphone.. You can't get to the batteries on those without taking them apart. (I'm pretty sure)

 

[ScarletBegonias]

This past trip, we coordinated 12 people in different configurations, so we were all constantly texting each other back and forth with where to meet, etc. That, plus camera/movie use, and My Disney Experience, drained my battery pretty well by the end of the day.

This is what I'm thinking. There will be 4 adults and 2 children on this trip, so I know at some point we will split up and be texting each other to meet back up again.

 

[Otterhead]

Not sure that's an option with Iphone.. You can't get to the batteries on those without taking them apart. (I'm pretty sure)

Exactly -- iPhones (and new Androids) don't have removable batteries. A better option are battery-charging cases. They add very little weight to your phone and will keep you charged.

 

[BJones82]

Fair enough. Regarding the portable charger, would it possibly be cheaper to go with an extra battery instead?

OP has an iPhone so not possible, even newer Samsung, LG, and other popular Android phones are moving away from replaceable batteries. A portable charger generally is around $50 for a good one that will give you an extra 100% in a day where an extra cell phone battery if yours can take one is generally 40-80 so depends but generally speaking a charger is a better way to go.

 

[Chef Mickey]

I honestly hate my cell phone when I'm at Disney, so I leave it in the room.

1) It connects me with the outside world.

2) I don't need it for Fast Pass bc I write down what we have for the day.

3) It is just a nuisance to constantly be on the phone like I see so many in the parks doing. I just want to be there to enjoy everything around me.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

OP has an iPhone so not possible, even newer Samsung, LG, and other popular Android phones are moving away from replaceable batteries. A portable charger generally is around $50 for a good one that will give you an extra 100% in a day where an extra cell phone battery if yours can take one is generally 40-80 so depends but generally speaking a charger is a better way to go.

You sure about that on Samsung? My Note 4 and my wife's GS5 both have replaceable batteries and they were advertised prominently as a feature of the phone. I'd be surprised to learn that they've moved away from that for the next generation.

(Not trying to argue or steer this off topic, just curious.)

 

[BJones82]

You sure about that on Samsung? My Note 4 and my wife's GS5 both have replaceable batteries and they were advertised prominently as a feature of the phone. I'd be surprised to learn that they've moved away from that for the next generation.

(Not trying to argue or steer this off topic, just curious.)

http://www.cnet.com/news/the-samsung-galaxy-s6-just-killed-two-of-my-favorite-android-features/

Yes I am sure lol... I keep up on this stuff a lot...

Edit: And the way smart phones are going this will be common, the only thing that will stop it is if the modular phone Google is developing takes off and replaces the current idea of a smart phone but only time will tell on that...

 

[ScarletBegonias]

I honestly hate my cell phone when I'm at Disney, so I leave it in the room.

1) It connects me with the outside world.

2) I don't need it for Fast Pass bc I write down what we have for the day.

3) It is just a nuisance to constantly be on the phone like I see so many in the parks doing. I just want to be there to enjoy everything around me.

I feel this way as well, that's why I was debating. But I do like getting the video/pictures on my phone so they are easily shareable.

 

[PhotoDave219]

I'm still about 6 months out from my trip (first time in 10 years) and I was just thinking about how obsessed we are with out cell phones these days (myself included!).

Do you take your phones in the parks? I worry that I'd lose it. I normally keep mine in my back pocket, but there would be to much going on to safely have it there. If you do, where do you keep it during the day?

As I'm typing this I realize that if you are with a group, you'd probably need one to communicate with others.

We also use our cell as our main way to take pictures of our daughter because we can share them easily, but since it's going to be our daughter's first trip, I'd like to bring a real camera as well. I just hate thinking about juggling ALL these items!

Yes. Its my leash. I take it everywhere. I keep in it a pocket. Assuming cancer will hit someday.

 

[Chef Mickey]

I feel this way as well, that's why I was debating. But I do like getting the video/pictures on my phone so they are easily shareable.

To be honest, I carry a small Canon digital camera in my pocket so I can caputre far superior pictures and video to a phone camera (yes, even the new phone cameras aren't better than a real camera).

That said, the whole pictures/video thing has gotten crazy. I advocate 50 GREAT pictures over 500 mediocre/bad pictures at every step.

People get so caught up in taking pictures/shaky video of everything, they don't even experience shows, rides, and events. I know we all want pictures of ourselves, kids, and the environment, but I limit those to a few family photos with characters and near landmarks. Anything else is just too much. Not everything has to be a memory in a picture.

Maybe it's just because I've been so much that I feel that way, but all the video in MUCH better quality than anyone of us can do is already on Youtube. I understand taking pics/video of family, but so many are videotaping fireworks (LOL) and rides like It's a Small World. Waste of time. Also, most people that take flash pictures in rides or during fireworks need to realize their flash is doing nothing with the fireworks and will only make their in-ride pictures look stupid and overly bright. Plus, you're distracting people that want to enjoy the ride/show.

The glow of cell phone screens and the overall infatuation with being on them have gotten so annoying that I don't want to be a part of it in the parks.

Rant off.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

http://www.cnet.com/news/the-samsung-galaxy-s6-just-killed-two-of-my-favorite-android-features/

Yes I am sure lol... I keep up on this stuff a lot...

Edit: And the way smart phones are going this will be common, the only thing that will stop it is if the modular phone Google is developing takes off and replaces the current idea of a smart phone but only time will tell on that...

Not happy about that, but thanks for the heads up. I won't be upgrading until the Note 6, so I have some time before I need to care, but I imagine the adaptive fast charging will be up to 100% in 15 minutes by then.

 

[Chef Mickey]

You sure about that on Samsung? My Note 4 and my wife's GS5 both have replaceable batteries and they were advertised prominently as a feature of the phone. I'd be surprised to learn that they've moved away from that for the next generation.

(Not trying to argue or steer this off topic, just curious.)

Samsung has announced they are going away from removal batteries with the Galaxy S6 and Note 5.

 

[Otterhead]

To be honest, I carry a small Canon digital camera in my pocket so I can caputre far superior pictures and video to a phone camera (yes, even the new phone cameras aren't better than a real camera).

On my last trip, I experimented with carrying my year-old Canon and my new iPhone, using them each as a camera. After two days, I ditched the Canon. My iPhone's photos were better quality, had faster startup time so I wouldn't miss shots, and since it was my phone, I could instantly send them off if need be. YMMV of course.

 

[BJones82]

I feel this way as well, that's why I was debating. But I do like getting the video/pictures on my phone so they are easily shareable.

It's your first time in 10 years and your daughter's first time... Take all the pictures you want and go crazy lol...

To be honest, I carry a small Canon digital camera in my pocket so I can caputre far superior pictures and video to a phone camera (yes, even the new phone cameras aren't better than a real camera).

Not to argue but the 2nd to last Modern Family episode was completely filmed on iPhone 6, iPad Air2, and Macbook pro's. It is all about post production these days as to a naked eye you can get just a good of pictures off a modern smart phone as a modern point and shoot, that being said battery life on a point and shoot is way better lol...

 

[ScarletBegonias]

To be honest, I carry a small Canon digital camera in my pocket so I can caputre far superior pictures and video to a phone camera (yes, even the new phone cameras aren't better than a real camera).

That said, the whole pictures/video thing has gotten crazy. I advocate 50 GREAT pictures over 500 mediocre/bad pictures at every step.

People get so caught up in taking pictures/shaky video of everything, they don't even experience shows, rides, and events. I know we all want pictures of ourselves, kids, and the environment, but I limit those to a few family photos with characters and near landmarks. Anything else is just too much. Not everything has to be a memory in a picture.

Maybe it's just because I've been so much that I feel that way, but all the video in MUCH better quality than anyone of us can do is already on Youtube. I understand taking pics/video of family, but so many are videotaping fireworks (LOL) and rides like It's a Small World. Waste of time. Also, most people that take flash pictures in rides or during fireworks need to realize their flash is doing nothing with the fireworks and will only make their in-ride pictures look stupid and overly bright. Plus, you're distracting people that want to enjoy the ride/show.

The glow of cell phone screens and the overall infatuation with being on them have gotten so annoying that I don't want to be a part of it in the parks.

Rant off.

yeah, no worries here. I'm only concerned with pictures of my daughter, husband and I. I have no interest in filming fireworks, parades.. ect.

 

[ScarletBegonias]

I like the Iphone only idea. Maybe we can use my phone FIRST and then hubby's when mine gets low (or full) and then at the end of each day we can empty them onto the computer.

I'll have to try to make a conscious effort to not take too many photos of the same things!

 

[BJones82]

I like the Iphone only idea. Maybe we can use my phone FIRST and then hubby's when mine gets low (or full) and then at the end of each day we can empty them onto the computer.

I'll have to try to make a conscious effort to not take too many photos of the same things!

1000 photos a day is a lot lol

 

[Chef Mickey]

On my last trip, I experimented with carrying my year-old Canon and my new iPhone, using them each as a camera. After two days, I ditched the Canon. My iPhone's photos were better quality, had faster startup time so I wouldn't miss shots, and since it was my phone, I could instantly send them off if need be. YMMV of course.

Don't get me wrong...the iPhone and Galaxy/Note take fine pictures, but they still aren't as good as a decent camera. Not sure what happened in your case, but I agree the phone makes pictures easier to share. That's another issue with them...people always taking pictures with phone and emailing them, texting them, putting them on Facebook, etc. So then it just because about doing that versus just taking the picture and moving on.