PHOTOS - A new way to charge your devices in the parks with FuelRod kiosks

Jul 07, 2016 in "Magic Kingdom"

FuelRod kiosk
Posted: Thursday July 7, 2016 2:45pm EDT by WDWMAGIC Staff

Disney has partnered with mobile charging kiosk operator FuelRod, to bring a new way to charge your devices to the Disney World theme parks.

The FuelRod kiosks (each themed to the area of the park where they are located) enable you to purchase a FuelRod portable charger with a credit card, and have the ability to make an exchange at any FuelRod kiosk for another fully charged FuelRod charger.

FuelRod expects its device to add around 8 hours of charge to a phone, or 4 hours to a tablet.

For a one off fee of $30, you get a FuelRod charger, complete with a 6” USB Type-A to micro-USB cable, which is used by most Android devices, an Apple 30-pin to USB cable, and an Apple Lightning to USB cable. The charger and cables belong to you once purchased.

Although you can exchange your FuelRod for a fully charged device at anytime, you can also charge the FuelRod yourself with any USB charger.

Disney has previously tested various charging solutions, including kiosks that store your phone in a locked chamber to recharge, as well as adding various charging areas in the parks that require you to bring your own charger and cable. 

There is no doubt that the FuelRod solution is a useful service, particularly with the ability to exchange it for another fully charged battery at any time. A family visiting with multiple devices could make good use of this during a trip. But for a single user, it would be significantly cheaper to purchase one of the many USB charging devices that retail for around $10, and ensure it is charged in the hotel before heading to the parks.

FuelRod kiosk locations at Walt Disney World

Magic Kingdom

  • Tomorrowland Light & Power Co.
  • Big Top Souvenirs
  • Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Café
  • Curtain Call Collectibles

Epcot

  • Disney Traders

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

  • Celebrity 5 & 10

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park

  • Island Mercantile

Disney Springs

  • Marketplace Disney Photo Imaging
  • DisneyQuest

ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex

  • ESPN Clubhouse Shop
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G00fyDadOct 26, 2021

I just bought three of the INIU 20000 power banks. Much better than most power banks and fully charges phone in 45-60 minutes.

SteveAZeeOct 21, 2021

You'll get some funny looks, though. 😁

CaptainAmericaOct 21, 2021

If you have real skills, you can manage all your reservations one-handed in the time it takes you to use the urinal.

Club CooloholicOct 21, 2021

Ah, nothing says "Vacation!" like being forced to stare at your phone all day.

SteveAZeeOct 21, 2021

Personally, I'd rather people do whatever they need/want to do on their phones while seated and out of the way rather than slowing to a crawl in front of me on a narrow pathway.

correcaminosOct 21, 2021

It has good and bad. I cannot do my allergy orders on it. So for specific places I had to go in. Some places were nicer than others about it.

AshaNeOmahOct 21, 2021

I might not have been clear. I'm an adult with two kids of my own. We absolutely love Mobile Order and think it's years past due on the wide rollout that's finally happened. My parents are actual Boomers, though, who started going to WDW in the late-70s, even before having kids. The rapid changes since MDE/FP+ was introduced has basically turned them off the parks entirely. Not being able to just order a burger without installing an app was even more damaging.

larryzOct 21, 2021

larryzOct 21, 2021

...and books of paper attraction tickets labelled "A" through "E"...

G00fyDadOct 21, 2021

From what I have seen. People have said that it is set to constantly tell you about "exciting things to do" or the next available attraction. I think you might be able to turn that off though. Either way this app is looking to be far more battery intense than FP+.

GringrinngghostOct 21, 2021

Makes me wonder if they are slowly implementing a in app ticket use that doesn't require you to open Wallet or Android Pay...

JohnDOct 21, 2021

I noticed that when you click on "Tickets and Passes" the screen gets brighter. The rest of the app is slightly dimmer which would seem to imply Disney is aware of battery drain hence the dimmer screen on most other windows in the app. Probably not a significant battery saver but something they built in anyway.

lunchbox1175Oct 21, 2021

Personally don't plan on using the Genie+ feature much, I've always just picked a direction and gone from land to land unless I already have a pre-existing FP or (LP in this case), then I know to head to that ride in that window. Plan on trying to keep as much freedom and wandering around the parks as possible. Never had any issues getting on each ride at least once. I believe I read somewhere that you can buy one of these Fuel Rods cheaper off property and then swap it out free when you need to onsite.

wdwmagicOct 21, 2021

I think anyone using My Disney Experience now, with either Genie or Genie+, is going to be significantly heavier on the phone use. Your entire day is based around watching what is going on with the Genie+ availability, and looking at actual and forecasted wait times. If you are not monitoring that tip board with that info you are going to be at a disadvantage. And I think because of that someone I each party is going to be glued to the phone all day.