When MUST You Use Your Phone at Disney?

The pervasive opinion is that you must use your phone all the time at Disney.

Sometimes, I wonder how much of that comes down to phone addicts needing an excuse.

Sure, we say we must keep our phone juiced at all times, but is that actually true?

When do you think the average guest MUST use their phone at Disney? Let’s try to determine that right now.

Checking Wait Times

Disney

We’ll start by establishing a few guidelines, as everyone’s phone usage works differently.

My wife considers Pokestop spins an essential part of her daily phone use.

Disney

I’m more of a text and YouTube apps type of guy.

Let’s be clear that none of this is essential during a Disney vacation, although it does help pass the time when standing in line.

Photo: Disney

Still, I wouldn’t qualify such usage as a must unless you’re someone who absolutely needs to keep busy.

Disney attraction queues embody the pinnacle of Imagineering when it comes to theming and immersion, so you can just as easily stop and look around rather than draining your smartphone battery.

Photo: Disney

However, some aspects of My Disney Experience have evolved into necessities during a park visit.

Among those offerings, I probably check wait times the most, probably because I’m a perfectionist.

Disney

I’m always seeking the ONE TRUE theme park itinerary, so I’m always keeping an eye on wait times to identify emerging trends.

I sincerely hope none of you do this, as it’s a bit poisonous as a behavior. You do need to know where to go for your next attraction, though.

Even if you’re not as compulsive about it as I am, wait times are a necessary use of your phone.

Lightning Lane Usage

Disney

Here’s one that may or may not apply to you depending on your park visitation habits.

When you buy a Lightning Lane Multi Pass or Premier Pass, you should use your phone relentlessly.

Disney

This is a different kind of wait time check as you want to maximize the value of your purchase.

Also, the more you check, the more likely you are to discover an unexpected Lightning Lane available.

Slinky Dog Dash

During a recent visit with my wife, I spotted a Slinky Dog Dash Lightning Lane.

Since she wasn’t available to confirm at the time, I was too slow to react and missed my window.

Image Credit: Disney

The roller coaster’s wait time was 95 minutes, and that’s the opportunity cost of not using your phone effectively for Lightning Lanes.

Even when you don’t buy one of those passes, you still may check for a Lightning Lane Single Pass.

I know that we often do this when Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance has a wait time of 100 minutes or more.

Of course, there’s a risk here, as some Lightning Lanes sell out.

Mobile Ordering

Photo: Disney

Here’s one that’s completely unavoidable. In fact, I encourage you to do it.

Those of us who have visited Disney frequently before the days of Mobile Ordering fully understand what a difference it makes.

Photo: Disney

You gain full control of your meal, straight down to signalling when the restaurant should prepare it.

Better yet, you can customize your order to address any dietary concerns, and the order is more likely to be accurate.

Photo: Disney

I speak from tons of experience when I say that in the before times, cashiers in crowded restaurants missed a lot on special orders.

As someone with an onion allergy, I received extra onions more times than I’d like to count.

Photo: Disney

Mobile Ordering makes your meals more efficient and accurate as well.

Use it whenever you can.

Theme Park Admission

Disney

Here’s an obvious one, and it also raises another point.

A MagicBand can accomplish the same thing, just like you’ll need it to check in at Lightning Lanes.

Still, we’ve moved into an era where Disney has listened to the requests of phone users.

You can do the same thing with MyMagic Mobile on your phone without having to pay for a MagicBand.

So, as you approach the park entrance, you should get out your phone if you don’t already have it in hand.

Even on the most crowded days, this is only a ten-minute usage, though. Most of the time, it’s just a few seconds.

Theme Park Directions

Disney

Here’s an important one you may not consider, but you should get in the habit of doing it.

My Disney Experience includes mapping software for all aspects of your park visit.

Photo: Disney

You can learn the locations of attractions, character greetings, and even bathrooms.

While Disney still offers free paper maps at all theme parks, there’s no need to use them these days.

Photo: Disney

Paper maps represent an analog solution in a digital world.

My Disney Experience will display a direct path from your current location to wherever you’re going next.

By the way, Google Maps offers some functionality as well. So, you may access it at times during your visit as well.

Photos/PhotoPass

Disney

Whether or not you purchase PhotoPass or Memory Maker, you’ll be taking dozens – if not hundreds – of pictures during your Disney visit.

Whenever I check my Photo Library on my phone, a disproportionate number of my annual entries come from Disney vacations.

Photo: Disney

This seems like a good time to mention that I’m the opposite of a shutterbug and am, in truth, a terrible photographer.

Despite this fact, I take dozens of pictures every day of my trip.

Disney

We also usually buy Memory Maker as an add-on to our Annual Pass.

This technology blows my mind at Disney due to the professionalism and the accessibility.

Disney

Cast Members who are professional photographers take pictures of my loved ones and me, and that even includes character greetings.

Disney even includes attraction photos as part of the experience, which is one of my favorite things.

Photo: Disney

A few minutes after I ride something, the photo or video will magically appear in My Disney Experience. We take full advantage of this amenity.

Even if you don’t, you’ll still take countless photos during your visit.

Disney

So, this example works similarly to checking wait times in that you’ll do it frequently.

Still, I think you can tell from reading this list that you don’t need your phone in hand throughout your Disney vacation.

Disney

People exaggerate when they say that their phone is always in their hand .

Anyone who does this just loves their phone. It’s not about Disney.

Photo: MickeyBlog

Thanks for visiting MickeyBlog.com! Want to go to Disney? For a FREE quote on your next Disney vacation, please fill out the form below. One of the agents from MickeyTravels, an EarMarked By Disney – Authorized Travel Agency – Diamond Level, will be in touch soon!

Feature Photo: Disney