We Don’t Recommend FuelRods
FuelRod kiosks can be found at Walt Disney World, Disneyland, airports, and other locations. The service offers reusable, portable charging to fuel or charge your phone on the go, and then swap for a fresh battery. In this FuelRod review, we’ll cover whether the “unlimited” service is worth the money and effort. (Updated July 28, 2024.)
While the headline is pretty blunt, there is more nuance to the question of whether you should buy a FuelRod while visiting Walt Disney World or Disneyland. As such, we’ll address their cost v. convenience, and weigh the pros and cons. Note that this FuelRoad review is entirely our subjective assessment of how FuelRods work (or don’t) for us. You may disagree entirely, finding a lot of value in FuelRods–and that’s fine.
For those who are unfamiliar with the concept, FuelRods are portable chargers that can be purchased in Walt Disney World parks and used to (partially) recharge your iPhone or other device on the go. You can then swap for a new battery pack at FuelRod kiosks once you’ve exhausted one. In a nutshell, our view is that FuelRods are pretty great…for people who have never heard of the internet..
The general concept of these portable chargers is great for Walt Disney World. Using just the My Disney Experience app alone is a big drain that people underestimate as is browsing brilliant Disney blogs to figure out where you should eat. Suffice to say, it’s easy for your battery to die early in the day. Rechargeable battery packs have existed for some time (so to that end FuelRod is hardly revolutionary), and are one of the recommended staples on our What to Pack for Disney List.
The ‘twist’ with FuelRods is that when you’re done using them, you can trade out your depleted FuelRod for a fully-charged one at the many kiosks throughout Walt Disney World and Disneyland. The appeal is thus the ‘unlimited’ charge the FuelRods offer by virtue of swapping them out. When put that way, it’s easy to see the appeal of FuelRods.
July 28, 2024 Update: FuelRod kiosks have been updated all around Walt Disney World, Disneyland, airports, convention centers, and everywhere else. With this, the price of FuelRods at Disney Parks locations have also increased–the cost of a single FuelRod is up from $30 to $38, two rods are now $76, and three rods are $114 (you can do the math for yourself, but there are no bulk purchase discounts–and weren’t before, either).
The good news is that FuelRods are only $35 for a 2-pack on Amazon. You read that correctly. Two for less than the price of one at Walt Disney World, which is about par for the course with Disney vs. real world pricing of regular products.
Although in the case of FuelRods, the devices are typically more expensive at non-Disney locations like airports or convention centers. (Last I checked, the airport price of a FuelRod at the airport was $40 and the swap was $3.) They’re just much cheaper on Amazon than anywhere else, so if you do opt to buy FuelRods…get them there!
With the higher prices comes improved performance. Here are the highlights of the new FuelRods:
- More Power: The NEW FuelRod boasts an increased capacity of 3,200 mAh (over 23% more power than the original FuelRod), providing longer-lasting power to keep your devices charged throughout the day.
- More Control: With USB-C compatibility, the NEW FuelRod offers versatile charging options for a wide range of modern devices. It also features a power button and four LED battery light indicators, giving users greater control over their charging experience.
- Same Swap: Maintaining the simplicity and convenience that FuelRod is known for, the swap process remains effortless. Just visit any FuelRod kiosk, insert your old FuelRod, and receive a fully charged new one instantly.
As before, swapping remains free at Walt Disney World and Disneyland for now. There was a class action lawsuit a few years back that resulted in FuelRod giving “Founder’s Status” to anyone who bought their devices before late 2019. For a while, this was verified at kiosks at Disney locations, which then provided free swapping.
The verification no longer occurs for whatever reason, meaning swaps are free for everyone. Since I don’t know the why of this, I’m weary that it could change at any time–and that would make the usefulness and convenience of FuelRods much worse.
Here’s how the upgrade process works according to FuelRod:
- Visit Any FuelRod Kiosk Nationwide: Locate a FuelRod kiosk at most major airports, theme parks, convention centers, and other high-traffic areas. All FuelRod locations are being upgraded to support the new program through a phased rollout. Rest assured; we are working as quickly as possible to have all kiosks updated.
- Select “Swap” Button: On the kiosk screen, choose the “swap” option.
- Insert Your Original FuelRod: Place your original FuelRod into the kiosk. (Note: You will have to re-insert your original rod to continue the upgrade process.) Please follow the on-screen instructions for more details.
- Receive the NEW FuelRod Kit: For the cost of a normal swap, you’ll receive the NEW FuelRod Kit, which includes the upgraded fully charged USB-C FuelRod along with new cables and adapters.
We have to give props to FuelRod here for making this update, as slow charging and low capacity were two of our biggest complaints about the devices. As best we can tell, the device had never been updated prior to this, and portable batteries have come a long way in the last decade. FuelRod is still well behind the competition, but still–credit where credit is due, and nice to see the update made. In a pinch, this should be a better option than its predecessor.
As always, we still recommend purchasing one of the Anker devices on our list of the Best Backup Batteries for Disney. There’s a wide range of quick and high-capacity portable chargers on that list, most of which are faster and cheaper than FuelRods. Of course, that doesn’t do you much good if you’ve already arrived at Walt Disney World or Disneyland and are finding that you need more juice–but for those planning ahead, consult that list instead.
For what it’s worth, you probably will need a portable charger in the parks. The new Lightning Lane Multi-Pass at Walt Disney World and Disneyland just launched and these updated line-skipping systems are (still) serious battery drains.
While it’s theoretically possible to go an entire day using Lightning Lanes without recharging, it’s very difficult–especially since you’ll need a strong “refresh game” if you want to score good subsequent selections. Many guests will be unprepared for this, and find themselves needing a spare battery during their days in the park.
On top of that, there are certain features, like the itinerary builder and PhotoPass AR lenses, that really kill a phone’s battery. Just ~30 minutes of playing around with the augmented reality filters took my battery down significantly. Plus, you’ll really want to use other app features like Mobile Order and Walk-Up Waitlist, which can save you a ton of time.
The apps are practically essential to doing Walt Disney World or Disneyland at this point. They aren’t technically required, but they’re hugely convenient. Just something to keep in mind if you don’t have a backup battery packed!
For many guests, the argument in favor of the FuelRod is the same as the Disney Dining Plan: convenience. However, like the argument in favor of the Disney Dining Plan, I’d counter that it’s the illusion of convenience, rather than actual convenience. And, like the Dining Plan, you’re paying extra for that illusion.
The problems with FuelRods are two-fold. First, the price is very high for a battery pack of this capacity and quality. Second, the aforementioned capacity is poor by modern battery pack standards. (Although this has improved in the last couple of years, it’s still nowhere what you’d get from something from Amazon for under $40. Nor is the charging as fast.)
Let’s talk a bit more about FuelRod’s capacity relative to its competitors. Up until the 2024 update, FuelRod did not indicate its charge capacity. (Which alone should set off red flags.) It can charge a current iPhone about halfway with its 3,000 mAh capacity.
Again, the alternatives on our list of the Best Backup Batteries for Disney offer larger capacity, lower cost, and faster charging than FuelRod. Some of these chargers will not only get you through an entire day in the parks–they’ll charge your entire family’s devices for the day. The closest equivalent to the FuelRod is the Anker Nano Portable Charger (here’s the USB-C version that was just released). By modern battery pack standards, FuelRod is antiquated.
To be fair to FuelRod, the case could be made that there’s a certain convenience in never having to charge a battery pack–just being able to swap out the existing pack ad infinitum. Or that it can be a lifesaver if you forget your charger, cables, etc. True, it does offer appeal in both scenarios. There’s absolutely no arguing about FuelRod being useful if you’ve forgotten your charger/cables.
However, the case for general convenience in everyday scenarios is tougher to make. When I get back to the hotel at the end of a long day, I hate having to plug everything in before getting ready for bed. The thing is, I have to do that regardless with my camera, phone, etc. Plugging in one additional item is (literally) a <30 second commitment that hardly poses an insurmountable obstacle between me and a good night’s sleep.
Moreover, this argument is only even plausible in a world where FuelRod kiosks are ubiquitous. Such a world does not exist, nor will it ever exist. FuelRod’s business model relies upon spontaneous purchases from consumers who either don’t do the research or don’t have a viable alternative. Outside of airports, theme parks, and similar ‘vacuums’, they will lose to competitors. (For the same reason that no one in their right mind would pay $14 for a cheeseburger at Cosmic Ray’s if it were located in their hometown.)
If you’re primarily concerned about using FuelRods at the airport, Walt Disney World, or Disneyland–that’s great. FuelRod probably has you covered. For Disney regulars or Annual Passholders, there is value in FuelRod. Again, we’re not saying this is a totally useless service or product.
Ultimately, the only people for whom I can see FuelRod holding appeal once they get past the initial idea of convenience is those who have never heard of rechargeable batteries before stumbling upon the FuelRod kiosk while in the parks. Yes, these people do exist. We see countless guests sitting in corners charging their phones in random outlets during the course of their vacations.
For those people (or people who simply forget to pack their portable chargers), the FuelRod presents a good spontaneous purchase, as the cost (in time) of sitting in a random corner everyday during a pricey Walt Disney World vacation far outweighs even the $30 cost of a FuelRod. However, if you’re reading this FuelRod review in advance of a trip to the park and have the opportunity to order a higher capacity battery pack from Amazon, that’s your better option.
Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page. For where to eat, read our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!
Your Thoughts
What do you think of FuelRods? Excited about the 2024 upgrade that offers higher capacity devices and faster charging? Will you continue to use FuelRods at Walt Disney World or Disneyland? Do you agree or disagree with our FuelRod review? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
I completely disagree with this article. Fuelrods are a lifesaver and I wouldn’t be at the parks without them. They’ve saved me and my family so many times. Who wants to be at the park with a dead cell phone battery? They’re worth every penny to me!
I used to buy my own batteries but they’re not as good as Fuelrods. Fuelrods are the best! Buy Fuelrods, they’re way better than the other brands!
One of The things you have missed on here is that while there are higher capacity chargers that are similar in size, they are always heavier than the Fuel Rods.
Additionally fuel rods can be exchanged at any kiosk anywhere in the world and of you are a theme park/zoo lover, then you will find it easy to exchange them.
Add in the fact that their customer service is amazing and they do indeed now include USB-C adapters with their chargers, but even if you somehow get one without it they will send you one free of charge.
Honestly I have Anker battery packs and they do serve their purpose, but they are heavy and lugging them around the parks every other weekend isn’t my idea of fun. Dont think of the fuelrod as having a specific capacity, think of it as having an endless capacity whenever you are near their kiosks.
Another thing is battery packs wear out over time, but if that happens with fuel rod, just exchange it for a new one. This adds real value to what may seem like an overpriced charger, as you can keep getting new ones as long as the company is in business.
“Honestly I have Anker battery packs and they do serve their purpose, but they are heavy and lugging them around the parks every other weekend isn’t my idea of fun.”
Buy a lipstick charger identical in size to the FuelRods.
“Another thing is battery packs wear out over time, but if that happens with fuel rod, just exchange it for a new one. This adds real value to what may seem like an overpriced charger, as you can keep getting new ones as long as the company is in business.”
Do you honestly believe Fuel Rod freshens their ENTIRE inventory of batteries every year? If so, then I have a bridge that to sell you!
FuelRod’s social media marketing department has been BUSY lately!!
fuel rod is totally rip went to.universal they charge 3.27 per swap.we bought fuel rods online because it was advertised as free swaps.i have a 5.00 fuel rod credit but won’t let me use it now where in machine where you can login to use credots.their reasoning for charging
Well, it’s free swaps at WDW, and if you need a new cable, etc you just call the number on the machine and tell them yours broke, deposit your old rod in the machine and they will spit out a new kit with the charging cables for you.
We love Fuel Rods! They’re expensive but they save you when you’re in a pinch! I’ve exchanged mine 3x and so happy with my purchase. Fuel Rods are the best!
while these are expensive they did bail me out in a jam when I was in the parks and had forgot to bring a battery with me and was alone in the parks.
Keep in mind for $30 you get unlimited swaps. The battery itself is 2600mAH which is enough to charge an iPhone X to about 85%. I have already swapped mine out twice when I forgot to charge ahead of a travel and it was super fast and simple.
I completely agree with this blog! We wasted $30 on a fuel rod and it took forever to charge our Galaxy S8+ and wasn’t even able to get it to 100% after leaving it on for many hours.
I think Fuel Rod has a lot of their marketing people posting random comments on here defending the company.
If you wanna sell it, i’ll buy it haha
I bought a fuel rod last year because I was in a pinch and I couldn’t be at Disney alone with two kids. I was a pass holder but I’m not anymore. I rarely use it, but it was a life saver. My daughter has a school trip on Monday so I decide to google and see if they have the fuel rod stations at sea world. They do! So now I’m confident that my 11 year old won’t have a dead battery by 12pm because I’m sure she’s going to take 137552 pictures. Tomorrow will solidify that it was a smart purchase. Sure I have other battery packs I could send her with… but she’s 11 and I don’t want her to ruin my good ones. Now she can even share with a friend if she needs to.
“I don’t want her to ruin my good ones.”
How much do your good ones cost? Fuel rods cost $30 for the capacity of a $5 battery charger. That’s lopsided math used to justify your purchase.
Visited Disneyland last weekend with my family. My daughter left her charging cable in the hotel, so couldn’t charge her phone at the park OR use her backup battery. I ponied up the $30 they charge because even buying a cable would be at least $20–and I don’t think they sell them at Disneyland anyway.
However, once we bought it we could charge ALL our phones (that’s four iPhones) at the park, swapping out when the fuel rod was spent. It turned out to be a good value for the day.
Which is good, because I promptly lost it after returning home. Now, even though my kids both have backup batteries and I’m near chargers all the time, I’m considering buying ANOTHER one just for the case and little cables. Though, if anyone knows a way to get JUST the cables, I’d rather do that.
It’s handy to have a cable that’s NOT a meter long and that can plug into any device I own (including my Bose bluetooth speaker).
Anybody here want to sell me their cables for $10? You can even keep the battery and the case.
I bought a FuelRod at Disney. It was great being able to use it and swap it out when empty with no thought of charging it. I continue to use it with regularity and swap it out often when I travel. I would have paid the money just to use it at Disney but the continued benefits I receive – again, the swapping in airports and other places is great – makes me a very satisfied purchaser.
This cheapstake Probably you didn’t understood the concept at all, beside bringing your own battery, you can get one of those for 20$ and when your battery runout or power you use the fuel rod, so you actually don’t run of battery at least for Disney! That is the real concept here! Anyway if you go to Yosemite if you can’t find a power adapter then your battery is useless hope you get the real meaning of the fuel rod
I bought a Fuel Rod today at KCI airport. My Aunts plane was delayed 3 hours from Denver. It does say on the battery the capacity. The silver end says 5v/1A 2600mAh. I wasn’t thinking when I bought it because my phone is a USB type C. Guess what?! It came with not only a USB type C but a micro USB and a Lightning adapter. I was able to charge my phone with one and then trade it in for a new one that is ready to go for free. Are they worth it? Depends on how bad you want your phone to work. I paid $20 at the kiosk for the kit, then nothing for charged packs. Put your depleted pack in and it spits out a charged one.
The Fuel Rod isn’t something you should plan for. Butnif you need it it is a lifesaver. I have a charging case on my phone and we got to the park and for some reason my charger had failed overnight. Morning at the park and I was at 10%. The Fuel Rod was a lifesaver. Especially with the cables it came with. I think I went through 4 of them that day and my phone and case were almost full by the end of the day. And while it isn’t large capacity it’s very convenient it throw in a pocket and and the little cord with adapters will work with any family device. Sure its overpriced. But was worth every penny when I needed it.
I agree with you. I have the anker 20000mAh charger, but the problem is that it cannot be charged overnight (between two days of Disney which you arrive home at 12 and set off at 8). That is why I bought a FuelRod the second day at Disney. It is a life saver and supported me and my family for the whole day conveniently.
This does not look like something you must travel with, but it is something that saves your experience.
I too am a passholder and go every month. I love the convenience of the Fuel Rod. However, WARNING!!! Do not use your fuel rod cord on any other charging pack because it doesn’t have the capacity to go over 1 AMP without CATCHING ON FIRE…. I have been going round and round with Fuel Rod trying to get my phone replaced. There is no warning label inside the Fuel Rod to say this. If they don’t replace my phone I will be contacting Disney!
Thanks … I use my cord between all my different chargers .. could it be that charger was just too “powerful”
We were at Magic Kingdom and Epcot last week. I had packed a fanny pack and planned to pack my Anker battery pack at the parks to recharge. However I decided to pack light and left it in the hotel room. At lunch both of our phones were down to 30%. I discovered the Fuel Rods kiosks and bought one. We alternated charging every 2 hours between our phones and swapping the rod out for a fresh one when we passed a place with a kiosk. It’s small, lightweight and recharges in my pocket. The battery does get warm. It got us through as there were no AC plugs or other charging options readily available. Good in a pinch. My brothers family is going next week and I gave it to them to use for the trip.
Pilot here. I use them a lot. Airports. If I never lose it I’ve got a battery for life. Plus the cable/connectors that it came with are worth a few dollars.
Maybe I’m a wimp, but I wish I had paid attention to the weight of the Aukey 20000 mAh charger. It’s a hefty 16+ ounces, and added in with all the other junk in a park bag, that gets to be quite a lot to lug around a Disney park all day. After that experience, I then got the Anker 10000 mAh that weighs in at 6 ounces – less than half the weight. But my complaint there is the Quick Charge feature – yes, it charges the phone fast, but the phone then discharges much faster. Next trip, I am getting the one without the Quick Charge.
I usually wear the back pack with all the stuff, girlfriend only carries her phone.
Fuel Rod’s business model depends on two things:
1. People who are ignorant about the existence of external battery banks.
2. People who are unprepared.
The Fuel Rod uses a 5v 1A 2600mah 18655 cell. This means you can forget about fast charging your phone. A similar product on Amazon sells for ~$2, it also looks quite familiar doesn’t it? I wouldn’t be surprised if they came from the same Chinese factory:
https://www.amazon.com/TOOGOO-2600mAh-Portable-External-Battery/dp/B073VK2DLX/
So, you’re essentially paying 15x more for the same product. If you think you’re “getting your money’s worth” because you exchanged it 3 or 4 times or even 30 or 40 times, think again because:
1. Electricity is cheap, 1kWh costs just 11.5 cents on average. 1kWh = 200,000mah. I trust that you can do the rest of the math. If not, here’s the answer: You’d have to exchange the Fuel Rod 18,748 times just to break even on the $30 you spent. Those guys who created Fuel Rod aren’t dumb and that’s why they’re making money off people hand over fist.
2. Electricity is included at your hotel anyway. It doesn’t cost anything extra to charge your 10,000 or 20,000mah proper battery bank. Not to mention, the large battery banks have the circuitry to Fast Charge your phone. That alone is a huge feature advantage over Fuel Rods. This means being able to charge your device in 30 minutes vs 4-6 hours.
I used to own a removable battery type of phone and never had to worry about these kinds of problems. But, ever since Planned Obsolescence won the war over removable batteries, I now carry with me an Anker 20,000mah portable battery that was $40 on Amazon.
Even if my battery died while in the park, I still wouldn’t buy a Fuel Rod because I’m not the only person in my group who has a smartphone. And, there’s a certain nice feeling about the freedom you get when you don’t have to do the scheduling. It’s not so bad being able to say, “oh, sorry, my phone’s dead” and have someone else worry about FP+ and where to eat!
Costco Sells 40 pk water bottles fro around $3 but how many times you have paid $2 for a single water bottle. Its the convenience. they are not jut selling the product. they are selling the service.
Even if we compare the product, the link you posted is for is for just the power bank and cables are not included. with 3 cables and a nice case the price shoots up to at least $10. Thus you are paying just 2X or 3X. Most locations sell these for 20 but Disney sells them for 30. This is a great product and great service hands down. as they are still in expansion mode we are actually getting more for our money like moviepass.
Your Costco analogy proves my point exactly! I’ve paid $8 for a water bottle at Hoover dam during a visit during the summer. We’d never been there before, decided to visit at the last minute, and came unprepared. While many other tourists brought their own water bottles (probably purchased from Costco), we had none. It was so hot that we just had to suck it in and accept being gouged.
The point of this article is to be prepared if you plan to use your phone a lot at Disney or be gouged.
Business traveler. I have two, and have used them for years. Their low cap means they are lightweight, which is IMPORTANT when you are carrying lots of little things. If you will see the kiosks regularly, they easily beat more “clever” solutions that you indicate. I’ve had several other battery packs. Some are heavy. Some are slow to charge. Some don’t connect well. Some lost their capacity rapidly. Fuel rod? No problem; if it has a problem, I swap it out. Never had a problem though. Got the second when I left the first at home a few months ago, now I bring both, still lighter than other options by far.
Hey, charging at the park is free! How many charges will it take to “pay” for the fuel rod? It’ll never work out!
But you also forgot to factor in the hidden costs. Sure there are free charging outlets around, but you have to physically be present at those locations. That’s time not spent doing other activities. I have a high personal value of my time. So realistically, not having to sit and wait for an hour or two would pay for a fuel rod, if not multiple.
So at the end of the day, it is a personal choice. The economics of a fuel rod are very hard to pin down. BUT, if spending $20-30 bucks for a reusable/”always full” battery pack doesn’t make you upset. Go for it. If you’ll continue to second guess and not be happy with it, there are other options.
I’m an annual pass holder to Disney world, and I live an hour away, so I’m able to go a lot. I ended up with my fuel rod one trip when I’m forgot my charger at home. I was surprised to find that I’m charges my galaxy s6 fully 2 times before needing to be swaped. Now it never leaves my theme park bag. I usually don’t need it, but I still swap it every time we go, so I have it fully charged the next time it need it to at home. I’ve swapped mine easily 30 times since purchasing it, and I personally love it. For annual pass holders, it’s amazing.
(By “one trip” I mean that I was staying on Disney property for three nights and I had forgotten my charger at home. Not a day trip.)
You should be surprised that it charges your Galaxy s6 two times before needing to be swapped out: What you’ve described is a physical impossibility. A Galaxy 6 has a battery size of 2550 mAH; per reports in the comment section, the Fuel Rod contains a charge of 2600 mAH. Meaning that in a perfect world, with a perfect transfer of charge, it would be able to fully charge a Galaxy 6 once. But, since this is not a perfect world, there is a loss of charge typically somewhere in the vicinity of 30-40%. Meaning that a Fuel Rod should not be able to fully charge your Galaxy S6 even once. So I have to wonder if you had more charge on your phone than zero, and if someone swapped out the Fuel Rod while you weren’t aware of it. The only other possibility I can think of is that there was a Fuel Rod with a greater charge than 2600 mAH supplied to you.
“For the same reason that no one in their right mind would pay $12 for a cheeseburger at Cosmic Ray’s if it were located in their hometown”.
And yet, every year, millions of visitors to WDW buy a cheeseburger at Cosmic Ray’s. Because of the convenience.
That’s the thing with these FuelRods. If you’ve forgotten to recharge your power pack the night before and find yourself in a park with only 1% battery on your cellphone, then you can quickly and simply get a fully-charged replacement FuelRod to recharge your device. You can buy the best power pack with the highest capacity you can find but if you forget to charge it then it’s as much use a paperweight. Even if you only use the FuelRod for a week whilst at Disney then, for some people, that $30 is a small price to pay for the convenience.
If people only ever bought things purely based on value for money, Disney’s shops and restaurants wouldn’t be making anything like the money they do.
I could see using a Fuel Rod if I was caught unprepared. Fortunately, a fully charged phone generally will get me through the day. Sometimes it’s close, but I’ve never been left stranded. Based on Tom’s recommendations, I’ve stocked up on an Anker – but battery packs are like cameras: the best one is the one you have with you. If my phone is dead, I left my Anker at the resort because I wanted to travel light and just knew I wouldn’t have a problem, I’m giving thanks to Mickey that I can spend $30 to keep moving on with my day!
As with all products, there is a constituency for which it works great, a constituency which might find it useful, and others who prefer different solutions.
I have a fairly new Android phone and get decent battery life out of it. I have a half dozen battery packs at home and the office for when I was REALLY into PokemonGo. However, I didn’t bring one when I travelled to Disneyland. It never occurred to me that I would need one. But between taking zillions of HDR+ pictures and running the Disneyland app for tickets/fastpasses, I found myself at 3p on our first day with a dying phone. Which is when I found by accident the FuelRod Kiosk. I spent a solid 5 minutes beating myself up for even thinking of buying a one and then finally bought it. I opened it up and was mortified to find that they included all the needed charges for iPhone and older Android/Windows devices but not USB-C. I called and they offered to return it and refund the fee – right at the kiosk in Disneyland or they would ship me a USB-C cable. I ended up keeping it as another person in our party had a dying iPhone. We did find that the included cable would not work but a real Apple cable worked fine. So I had a dead phone for the evening but brought my own cable the next two days. And we swapped the unit every time we passed by a kiosk – simply to keep it topped up and charging all the phones. We loved it. I have loaned it to friends to take to Disneyland now on two occasions. So it has been well used (even though it’s the tenth or fifteenth actual unit) and was well worth the price based on usage in the last 3 months. Lesson – bring a battery back when travelling. But now I also bring the FuelCell.