Download park apps
Disney’s My Disney Experience app is an outstanding tool for planning and organizing your stay. You can arrange your FastPass+ and dining reservations, check attraction wait times, and pull up a map to help you find your way around the parks.
Universal offers a similar app that has maps, wait times, schedules, and attraction descriptions. Using GPS, the app will guide you step-by-step to your next destination so it’s nearly impossible to get lost with this tool in hand. Universal also lets you set alerts throughout the day that will remind you of upcoming show times or poke you when a particular ride has a shorter wait time. For example, you might set it to let you know if the wait for Transformers drops to 30 minutes or less.
It’s best to download these apps before your arrival, so you have them ready when you’re in the park. The Disney app is particularly useful for planning your stay ahead of time.
Charge it up
Portable chargers are handy in theme parks.
Image: Marco Verch, Flickr (license)
Extreme heat can cause your phone’s battery to die faster, and Florida is known for its sweltering summers. Even under the best circumstances, a theme park day can easily keep you out for 12 hours or more, leaving your phone limping along by the end of the run. Make sure you’re prepared for the trials of your theme park time by bringing the right accessories to charge up your devices.
The most convenient option for charging your phone is to carry your own portable charger, so you can plug it in inside your pocket or bag and keep moving. However, if you need to charge more often, you might find that a single charger isn’t enough. Disney’s convenient answer to this is the Fuel Rod. You can purchase this portable charger in any of the parks, as well as Disney Springs and the ESPN Wide World of Sports. Once you’ve depleted the battery, you can swap it out for a new one free of charge. The rechargeable device is also yours to keep when you leave.
If you prefer to plug in the old-fashioned way, there are outlets available throughout the parks. The most comfortable is the charging area across from Rapunzel’s Tower in Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom. The tree stumps here have hidden hatches with USB ports behind them. Ample bench seating makes this a great spot to wait for your charge. Other outlets are located throughout the parks if you have a keen eye, though none are quite so mindfully placed.
You can also drop your phone at Guest Services to charge if you provide the cord. Just keep in mind that you’ll need to leave it behind for a decent chunk of time to get the job done.
Tracking Technology
The hereO GPS Smartwatch helps you keep track of kids.
Image: tomemrich, Flickr (license)
If you have children in your party who are still too young for their own phones, you might want to purchase a small piece of technology for them before your theme park vacation. Child trackers are smaller, smarter, and more affordable than ever. Devices like the hereO GPS Watch and AmbyGear Smartwatch are wearable like wristbands. The Weenect Kids GPS fits in a bag or pocket. GPS trackers ensure that you’ll always be able to find your kids, whether they’ve wandered off unintentionally, or you want to keep track of them while they ride an attraction with an older sibling. In busy theme parks, children get lost every day. This simple piece of technology will instantly put your mind at ease.
Technology is a great tool for organizing your vacation, just remember not to go overboard. Keep your tools to a few basic things so you have easy information in your hand without too many items to keep track of.
Comments
well, seeing as how I have an Android phone, i'm not worried at all about it ruining my theme park trip.
in all honesty, the biggest tip is to prioritize. you paid $$$ for the trip.do you really want to be looking at a screen the whole time? but they are very useful. help to make the long waits more comfortable (check menues, look up ride times, heck just watching youtube. but please use headphones)