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

Jul 07, 2016 in "Magic Kingdom"

Forum Forums Tweet Share Tweet Share

Gallery / 4 Photos
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.

FuelRod kiosk at Disney Springs

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.

FuelRod kiosk

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

Discuss on the Forums

Get Walt Disney World News Delivered to Your Inbox

BrianAug 27, 2024

Since late July of this year. I suspect it's more of a logistics issue where they currently have to accept both old and new FuelRods and sort them, since the old ones are no longer being distributed at the kiosks.

HauntedPirateAug 27, 2024

Any idea how long they have been swapping the old Fuel Rods for the new ones? Depending on how long that has been going on, ending the upgrades "soon" seems pretty short-sighted. Outside of it will force more people to have to purchase new. :( (Full disclosure - Our old FR has already been swapped for the new USB-C one, so I have no skin in this game)

BrianAug 27, 2024

The upgrade program is ending "soon" meaning that original Fuel Rods will no longer be swappable at WDW or any other kiosks.

Royal Purple PigmentAug 06, 2024

I am not sure if there is any other Fuel Rod thread.... Upon swapping out two of my Fuel Rods yesterday the machine prompted us that our versions of the Fuel Rod were out of date and it asked if we wanted to upgrade to the new version for free. When we put in our old Fuel Rods we were dispensed new Fuel Rods in the packaging with the cords, etc. The new version is USB-C, has charge indicator lights, and I think a slightly larger amount of stored energy. Swaps remain free at WDW.

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

...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+.