In case you’ve visited Walt Disney World, you’ve in all probability wandered right into a counter service restaurant or reward store in the course of the afternoon and seen visitors sitting in random corners charging their telephones at energy shops. It’s a standard sight, and at all times jogs my memory of a go to to Innoventions (RIP) in EPCOT one surreal summer season day when actually everybody within the constructing was sitting on the ground, charging their telephones.
It’s additionally a bizarre factor to see. These visitors clearly have the foresight to deliver their cellphone chargers with them to the parks, which means two issues: 1) they know they’re going to empty their battery, and a pair of) they will afford to go to Walt Disney World within the first place. Do they not know that they will purchase a moveable cellphone charger for like twenty bucks on Amazon? Time is cash at Walt Disney World, and sitting in a nook in CommuniCore or wherever is a comically poor use of it. That moveable charger would pay for itself after solely a pair days within the parks.
In case you’ve visited Walt Disney World, you additionally know the way essential it’s to have loads of juice to your cellphone. The My Disney Expertise app alone is usually a large drain in your battery, as you do every thing from Cell Ordering to refreshing the Stroll-Up Waitlist for desk service eating places to Cell Checkout to taking part in the Lightning Lane journey reservation refill “sport.” And if you happen to do something with images within the app, such because the AR filters and even reviewing PhotoPass photos, your battery could be drained in a rush. So it’s simple to see why folks find yourself sitting on the ground charging telephones, and it’s definitely a greater answer than having a useless battery for half the day!
That is exactly why FuelRods turned so beloved, with their reputation fueled by the quantity of display screen time that was virtually essential when visiting Walt Disney World. However FuelRods are removed from the most effective answer to this downside. We first printed our assessment of the product, We Don’t Suggest FuelRods, a number of years in the past. You don’t even have to learn previous the title to have a tough thought of the place we stand on that individual product.
There was a time when that stance was controversial, however now, not a lot. Our concern with FuelRods has at all times been that they provided very low capability and gradual charging relative to different batteries. That has solely grown more true over time, as time has handed FuelRods by–each within the moveable charger realm and in telephones, each of which have increased capability. Whereas a contemporary charger may take your iPhone from 10% to 90% fairly shortly, a FuelRod will take it from 10% to twenty% fairly slowly.
This undercuts FuelRods’ different massive promoting level: comfort. It’s not such a handy product if you happen to’re needing to make use of it a number of instances per day for prolonged stretches, and repeatedly searching down stations to swap out the system. FuelRods are nonetheless caught in 2016 and quite a lot of strides have been made in battery charging know-how since then. In actual fact, each single system on our record was launched final yr or in 2024–and we upgraded our personal chargers final yr throughout Black Friday/Cyber Monday and this yr. (And can accomplish that once more if we find yourself upgrading to the iPhone 16.)
Earlier than turning to the moveable chargers we do suggest, I wish to shortly share our philosophy on backup batteries. To the best extent potential, we attempt to not use them. There are subject testing days for me when that is completely unavoidable, as I’m within the park from Early Entry till after park closing, reserving Lightning Lanes and refreshing for higher instances alongside the best way, whereas additionally responding to feedback right here and doing blogger stuff. However for the sake of your individual sanity, I hope you aren’t a blogger.
Whereas Walt Disney World does make some display screen time virtually inevitable, it isn’t obligatory. You may guide Lightning Lanes when eligible with out compulsively refreshing. You don’t have to publish real-time updates on Fb or wherever; give your social media dependancy the week off and share whenever you get residence.
Once we’re within the parks for enjoyable, we make a concerted effort to be current within the second–speaking with each other, seeing our daughter as she discovers this or that and her eyes gentle up, poring over the little particulars all through the parks, and even people-watching. Throughout enjoyable park visits like this, each of us could make it by a full day with out utilizing a charger…more often than not.
However, we notice that is overly idealistic and we’re not going to alter the habits of a TikTok-obsessed tween with a couple of paragraphs right here. Nonetheless, one thing price contemplating given the entire cash you’re spending to be at Walt Disney World…why spend the time glued to your cellphone, one thing you possibly can do wherever else?
Since this method solely works more often than not, we additionally pack three backup batteries earlier than every journey and attempt to every deliver one to the park every single day. That is our rule for a easy cause: we typically overlook to cost a battery in a single day and considered one of us additionally typically forgets to deliver a battery to the park.
There have been loads of instances once we’ve introduced three batteries and, by the top of the journey, we discover ourselves dashing out the door with only one charged battery. To their credit score, that is exactly what FuelRod followers argue is a promoting level of that system within the first place.
One other rule we’ve is that we not purchase generic batteries. You’ll see some nice offers on manufacturers which might be like QWEDHYX or a bunch of different random letters. We’ve had our share of no identify batteries over time–they’re all junk. Our storage container of random cords and electronics equipment is affected by these bricks that hardly maintain a cost. Moveable batteries have come down in value a lot over time that it’s foolish to purchase something aside from identify manufacturers.
For us, this implies Anker. In actual fact, that’s the one model on this record…not as a result of we’ve a profitable sponsorship take care of them (sadly, we don’t), however as a result of they’re the most effective model that additionally gives good worth. There are different increased finish choices, however with the propensity for batteries to get misplaced or degrade over time, we don’t see the purpose in spending extra. Anker is the candy spot.
Lastly, we attempt to discover the most effective steadiness between measurement, capability, and pace. It’s actually unattainable to have all of this stuff, so tradeoffs are a should. Since we attempt to reduce cellphone use, we’ve discovered that we not want the very best capability (and largest) batteries. As a substitute, we go for choices which might be the dimensions of the cellphone or smaller and might slot in our pockets. Your mileage might range on that–you may want a ‘family-sized’ possibility that’s ample for 4 full cellphone fees. That’s overkill for us.
With that prolonged preface out of the best way, listed here are our favourite moveable cellphone chargers for Walt Disney World, Disneyland, and touring on the whole…
Anker Zolo 10,000mAh 30W Moveable Charger with Constructed-in USB-C Cable for Journey – This charger was simply launched within the final couple of weeks, and it’s–indisputably–the charger we’d purchase if we had the iPhone 15 or Samsung telephones–or something with a USB-C connector as a substitute of the Lightning connector. All the things about this appears to be like good to us, from the in-built cable to the dimensions and pace. And the value is definitely proper, too! Additionally out there in 20k capability.
Anker Magnetic Energy Financial institution 10,000mAh Wi-fi Charger – The important thing distinction between this and different chargers is that that is wi-fi. Which means you should use this if you happen to don’t have a cellphone case or have a MagSafe case. It’s not suitable with non-magnetic cellphone instances, resembling OtterBox Defender instances, so don’t even trouble.
Anker Nano Moveable Charger – I simply began utilizing this in 2024, and it’s now my favourite charger. The large promoting level is the built-in Lightning connector for iPhones, which means that you just don’t want to hold extra cords. That alone is a game-changer for me, as I can maintain the cellphone in my hand whereas the charger is connected and easily use it like regular. The one draw back is barely slower charging than the opposite batteries beneath, however that’s really remedied by an up to date, quicker model that was simply launched. (I’ll be shopping for it if there’s a sale for Amazon Prime Day!)
Anker 3-in-1 Energy Financial institution USB C Charger Block – That is one other one we don’t personal (but) that was simply launch in 2024. Because the identify suggests, this can be a moveable battery that doubles as an influence financial institution with two USB-C ports. That’s the problem for us (once more) because it’s higher for iPhone 15 (and future) or non-Apple units. (Talking of which, I exploit and extremely suggest the Anker 100W USB C Charger Block for that function. Nice for a MacBook, iPhone, and Apple Watch!)
Anker Slimline Cellphone Charger 10,000mAh Battery (USB-C) — Even earlier than Lightning Lanes, we really useful bringing a backup battery pack to cost your cellphone whereas utilizing My Disney Expertise or social media at Walt Disney World. This one has nice capability and the quickest quick-charging capabilities. That is good for the 2 of us–in all probability inadequate for a bigger household or one (1) TikToking teenager.
Anker 20,000mAh 22.5W Excessive Velocity Charging Moveable Charger – This has double the capability and quicker charging, however just isn’t slim consequently. Good for a whole household, and an objectively higher deal than the ten,000mAh model. That is overkill for us, a minimum of for now, but when we “wanted” a 20k charger for no matter cause, that is the one we’d purchase. With that stated, as soon as it’s time to do Lightning Lane Multi Go subject testing, we would want of those!
As at all times, we obtain a small fee from Amazon to your purchases, so shopping for by these hyperlinks helps help the location. Nevertheless, neither the value you pay nor our suggestions (or lack thereof) are impacted by that. There’s a cause we don’t suggest the most cost effective off-brand junk or the costliest and fanciest chargers available on the market–they’re not those we use or suggest. These are. Properly, except the brand new Anker Zolo, and that’s solely as a result of we nonetheless use the “outdated” (heavy air quotes) iPhones. Jealous of anybody who isn’t and might use that one–it’s fairly clearly the best choice!
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YOUR THOUGHTS
Which is your most popular moveable cellphone charger for Walt Disney World or different journey? Any nice ones that we’ve missed? Do you go for Anker, or go together with no matter is most cost-effective and simply purchase new ones usually? What issues most to you: pace, measurement, capability, or value? Have any product suggestions (or dislike any of the objects listed right here)? Any questions? We love listening to from readers, so please share every other ideas or questions you could have within the feedback beneath!
