Cell phone - in lines and on coasters? C'mon!!

I always bring my phone into parks. I have to keep in touch with my family if one of us goes off. I do think it's annoying when someone is on a business call in line or somthing

Interesting to see how our attitudes have potentially changed in the 7 1/2 years since this thread was started.

I always bring my cell phone into the park but I really don't talk on it in line. If I am going on a flyer or stand-up I leave it in the bins. But most of the time I secure it with the deep short pockets I have. I also like to look at ride wait time apps too. Even though they may not be 100% accurate, it still gives me an idea of what attractions are posting long waits that day. I know the Hershey app lists showtimes for the day and other things going on in the park.

Plus if my family should have an emergency at home, I def want to have a way for them to reach me at the park. It IS sad that these accidents happen though. People should just have common sense and secure phones in a deep enough pocket or leave them at the station. And as others were saying before, show common courtesy. I don't mind others making/taking a phone call in line but don't make it a long one. =)

No kidding Gonch. What an interesting artifact. The Op's assertion that being in line with someone nearby on a cell phone is akin to talking on a phone in a movIe theatre is adorably quaint.

Cell phones (smart phones or whatever you call the little machine you carry around with you) can be like nearly anything in life - really annoying to others, or you can be courteous. A part of being courteous is not loosing it on a ride - then have the operation stopped to search under seats when the ride ends... b/c u didn't secure it properly, etc. Endangering other folks while riding with your device not secured...

So many devices are slippery and slide out of pockets (and hands) so darn easily. Those neat rubber casings really help this. I like to have the least amount of 'stuff' on me or in my pockets when I'm at the park. I mostly leave my phone in the car.

The good old punk safety pin really does a good job at keeping my pockets closed. My money, car key (singular) and pass are in a ziplock bag, and safety pinned in my pocket. Same thing if I were to take my phone in - its either zipped or pinned in a cargo pocket.

The idea of simply dropping a phone in my pocket then boarding something like a B&M flyer seems ... really dangerous and obnoxious to me. But of course, most people don't think like that.

Billy is not kidding. He had an extra safety pin and zippybag for me at Camden Park last Summer. I respectfully declined.

That was the day my cell phone fell out of my pocket on the log flume, into the water-sloshy floor of the log, and died.

I started using ziplock bags too, but not safety pinned in... Usually I wear khakis with zipped pockets... or I stuff every single belonging I have on me (wallet, phone, keys) into the same pocket so it's wedged in there...

Also, fanny packs. Function > Fashion

I usually do the zippybag thing as well. One bag for all of my stuff. It keeps it all together and waterproof. Just not at Camden Park last Summer with Billy...

I have never safety pinned my pockets shut, but I usually wear cargo shorts with zipper pockets so nothing can fall out. Just not at Camden Park last Summer with Billy...

Hehehe!

The only two reasons I carry my phone with me in the park is for the clock and to call someone in my party if we get separated.

ThemeDesigner said:
...adorably quaint.

Perfect choice of words.

It's also commentary on how far these devices have come in a few short years. Annoying phones calls in line?

Now I need it for the park apps, virtual queue services, GPS both so I know where the kids are in the park and where to go when I leave (food, hotels, etc), uploading pics of my day to both my personal and coasterimage facebook pages, making sure I locked the car, checking radar to see if that storm in the distance is coming our way or not and so on.

Phones calls. Heh.

I can't imagine not taking my phone with me to a park. If I am at a park alone, it allows me to go on the internet while waiting in line or play a game. If I am with others, if I go on a coaster no one else wants to ride, I can meet up with them later easily.

I always take the phone with me on rides but it is always in a zippered pocket. I have cargo shorts with zippered pockets that fit my wallet, keys and phone. When it is colder out, I have a jacked with zippered pockets. Unfortunately, zippered pocket shorts are very difficult to find. I got some shorts at Target in 2004 (before I became an enthusiast so I only have 1 pair of shorts left as the others got worn out) and last year found them at Old Navy and haven't seen them since in any store. I don't trust button or velcro pockets especially on rides like Hydra where you fall out of the seat into the restraint during the jojo roll.

jonnytips said:
Also, fanny packs. Function > Fashion

You would think so, but my mom watched her fanny pack fall a hundred feet or so from the back spike of Wicked Twister a few years ago. The plastic buckle broke. Somehow her phone and glasses were perfectly fine despite the high fall onto concrete.

But back to the conversation. People talking loudly on their phones annoy me, or using them and not watching where they're going. Other than that, I can't imagine standing around in lines without one anymore.

To be fair, 7 1/2 years ago, I still would have disagreed with OP.

Lines are a necessary evil, and how you pass the time while waiting in one is totally up to you. If anything, standing there in bored silence is the worst thing you could do. Unless someone is being excessively loud (shouting), who cares if they're talking to someone on a cell phone? The difference between them talking on a cell phone and talking to their friend in line is borderline non-existent.

"Adorably quaint" is perfect though. I had a genuine out-loud laugh at "cell phones.. everywhere!" My 2011 brain response was something like, "Well, yea. As opposed to what?".

LostKause said:
...I usually wear cargo shorts with zipper pockets so nothing can fall out. Just not at Camden Park last Summer with Billy...

:-X ;)

YoshiFan said:
Unfortunately, zippered pocket shorts are very difficult to find. ... I don't trust button or velcro pockets especially on rides like Hydra where you fall out of the seat into the
restraint during the jojo roll.

Glad to see I'm not the only one who has had trouble finding zipper shorts. I have this ancient pair that I keep just for amusement parks. Hopefully zippers will be 'in' again and I can stock up on new shorts.

I have one pair of Zipper-pocket shorts that are in good shape. However, weight gain has made it difficult to wear them. I have a zippered pouch that I wear under my t-shirt. It holds my money, car key, ID/pass, and my cell on the rare occasions I have it in a park. Otherwise it's in my car. Being partly deaf means I don't hear the ring, and often don't even feel it vibrate. I'll have it with me, though, if I'm planning to meet someone at the park.

I always have my keys and cell phone in my pocket and wallet in back pocket. Pretty much everywhere but always at amusement parks. Ringer is off on the phone more often than its on. Other than calls in the car, I don't talk much on the phone. In amusement parks, I am pretty much always separate from at least some part of the group so texting is a great way to arrange meet ups during the day. Disney app was great this summer for tracking wait times, fastpass return times, show times and maps of the parks.

BBSpeed26 said:
Unless someone is being excessively loud (shouting), who cares if they're talking to someone on a cell phone?

Yeah, this. I wouldn't have agreed with the OP in 2004 either.

What's adorably quaint is just the notion of complaining about people *talking* on phones. :) Entire weeks go by when I get no calls at all. Between email and texting, I typically only make calls when time is absolutely of the essence. With the way my brain works (or doesn't), I prefer having the searchable text of an email rather than trying to remember exactly what someone said on the phone, or trying to write everything down while gripping the phone with my ear and shoulder.

And yeah, texting is invaluable in arranging meetups at amusement parks. Back in the day, we wasted so much time wandering around and waiting; I really don't miss those days. At all.

jonnytips said:
I started using ziplock bags too, but not safety pinned in... Usually I wear khakis with zipped pockets... or I stuff every single belonging I have on me (wallet, phone, keys) into the same pocket so it's wedged in there...

Also, fanny packs. Function > Fashion

I hate to say it, but I abuse that little service at GM called Onstar - I lock my keys in the car and call for a door unlock whenever I'm ready to go home. And there is always the chance it might not work, It's been successful the 50 or so times I've used it. I prefer that then taking the chance of losing my keys on a ride. They have a cell phone app that will do the same thing too now.

Jerry said:
I hate to say it, but I abuse that little service at GM called Onstar - I lock my keys in the car and call for a door unlock whenever I'm ready to go home.

If you have OnStar, get the app for your phone. You can do everything they can (lock/unlock, start the car, etc) right from your phone.