Hi Michele!
Welcome to planDisney! I love this question and I applaud anyone who has thus far escaped the trappings of having a smart device always in their hand. One of my good friends has a cell phone, but it is an outdated flip phone without any smartphone capabilities, and she gets along in the world just fine.
Michele, I think it is possible to enjoy a
Walt Disney World Resort vacation without a cell phone, but a lot of that depends on the person, and their outlook and flexibility. Many things in the parks utilize smartphone technology, and you will need to be okay without those extras. As long as you are willing to go with the flow, I think you can have a truly magical time!
You must have access to a desktop computer, or you wouldn’t have been able to send me your question. You can use your desktop to book your
Advanced Dining Reservations and any
Enchanting Extras. Back in the days before smartphones, I traveled to Disney with a printed spreadsheet with all my reservation times and confirmation numbers. Simply bring written copies with you and you’ll be fine with any reservations. If anything needs to be changed, you can call the Disney Dining Line from your resort phone, visit
Guest Relations, or the concierge desk at your Disney Resort Collection Hotel for assistance. You’ll need to request a physical menu at table service dining locations as menus are currently digital.
For quick-service dining locations, you will need to be flexible. Mobile ordering is currently the norm, and you may not be able to place an in-person order at all locations. But most snack stands and some quick-service dining locations will do walk-up orders. This may prompt you to try new locations or options you wouldn’t have considered before! Try the amazing Cheeseburger Spring Rolls in Adventureland at Magic Kingdom, fried rice from
Yak & Yeti Local Foods Cafe at Animal Kingdom, or have a
funnel cake for dinner in Epcot! All of these will allow you to walk up and purchase and don’t require Mobile Order.
The only thing that there isn’t an alternative for would be getting a Boarding Group for
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. Currently, this can only be done on a smartphone, so you would need to accept that this attraction wouldn’t be available to you. As long as you are okay with being flexible, and understand the limitations, you’ll be able to enjoy the parks as much as other Guests.
So make those plans at home, make that spreadsheet (I kind of miss them), and head to the Most Magical Place on Earth!
- Kate