Mobiles

[Manda75]

We are letting are daughter take her IPhone to Disney with her but obviously we don't want huge charges when we get back. Can anyone help????

 

[Manda75]

We are with Vodaphone if that makes a difference

 

[sring]

Are you concerned about voice/text message charges or data?

 

[Manda75]

Everything. We phoned Vodaphone up and they said if we call them the night before we leave then they will disable her phone for the 2 weeks we are away so that she can't receive / send texts or calls but she will be able to take photos and use Facebook in free wifi spots. But I don't know if she needs to turn her data off

 

[sring]

It would probably be a safe bet to turn off cellular data as a precaution, also turn off background refresh for apps that can refresh in the background (for example, the facebook app periodically checks to see if you have new notifications, etc).

Disney has been expanding free wifi in the parks but the network can get overloaded. For example, I was not able to pick up a wifi signal anywhere in MK on my last visit (mid-February) but had no trouble in EPCOT. I know the Boardwalk offered free wifi in the rooms as well, I don't know what the other resorts are doing. But it shouldn't bee too difficult for her to keep in touch with her friends without cell and text.

 

[Leo!]

Use all times the wifi services and turn off data & roaming service in config menu of the iphone (check ) . You've free wifi @ resorts and parks. In the parks is a lot slower and sometimes your iphone won't connect due to overloaded access points. Anyway it's better than a large bill

 

[dreamfinder]

All the parks and WDW resorts have free WiFi available. Its performance may or may not be spotty at any given time. As a PP mentioned, turn off data, and just turn on WiFi. Heck, if you don't need call/txt and trust her, just put it in airplane mode and then turn on WiFi. Has the same end result.

 

[Manda75]

How do I stop charges incase she gets text messages or calls ?

 

[dreamfinder]

How do I stop charges incase she gets text messages or calls ?

That leads into my question of how much you trust her. If you think she may on purpose or accidentally turn on the phone function, you only option would be to contact your cell provider, and either have them completely block international roaming on their side, or possibly have them put it into suspend mode for the length of your trip. Some providers may call it vacation mode, but they will usually only charge you a subset of your normal billing cost during this period, and they won't offer any service to the device. I believe you already said they would do this, then she just needs to rely on the free WiFi in the parks and resorts.

 

[Sparkle81]

Make sure that data roaming is switched off before you get on the plane. That is where people get caught out with high charges when abroad. With that switched off, I *think* she should only be able to connect to the internet through free Wi-Fi in the parks (and hotel, depending on where you're staying).
As for texts and phone calls, that is going to have to be more of a trust thing with your daughter. I don't know how old she is, but maybe explain to her that any charges from texts or calls, she'll have to pay for?