6 days to go - Any technology tips?

[DVC_Dreamer]

It's crunch time. Last working week before our first DVC trip to BLT.
I'm a little bit of a geek but don't mind unplugging on vacation. Anyhoo, I'm bringing along an iPad2, Android phone, wireless router, and 2 Sony Cybershot camera's. We're planning on buying a Sony video recorder with some saved up Sony points. I have the camera kit for my iPad so I'm planning on some live trip reports with pictures. I tried to talk DW into getting a more expensive camera that also had video. She'd have none of it.
Any Android apps to recommend for the parks? I have the Touring Plans one with wait times. I believe Disney/Verizon have one.
I'm going to take my home wireless router.
One thing I have on list to bring, binoculars. I've left them home at times of vacation but don't want to forget with the BLT views.

Any technology tips?

 

[MerriH807]

Wow! You travel like me!! Very prepared in the technology department.

I use the touring plans app for the wait times. I tried to get the mobile magic app on my husbands phone and for some reason I don;t think it was compatible with the android. I found the the touring plan times more than adequate.

If you are a DVC member staying on points, I always call down to make sure I am not being charged for the internet. I always get nervous because it says it's 9.95 and I just want to make sure.......

I used my ipad with a wireless router last time -- and it was perfect. You wont feel "unplugged" for long!! I was able to change dining reservations and revisit touring plans.com It was great.

I just bought a small sony video camera. Much better than my FLIP and very affordable, small and compact.

Live trip report--wow cant wait!! DO you have the keyboard for your ipad? Just wondering.....thinking of getting one...

Now, who is going to carry all the cameras and keep them dry on let's say, Kali River Rapids?

Also, just to be sure I always keep my ipad in the safe or hiiden somewhere in my room...

Have fun! You will love BLT. I'll be there in 22 days!!

 

[sarahk0204]

We bought the keyboard for the ipad, and it has been really nice.

We brought a router from home, and I was able to sit on the balcony with my coffee and read the newspaper from home on the ipad. Fun!

 

[tjkraz]

I love my iPad but I'll warn you that it can be a real headache to do trip report-type stuff from it. Getting photos from camera to iPad is pretty easy with the camera kit. But going from iPad to something like PhotoBucket can be a nightmare. Disney's Internet service is terribly slow and (in my experiences) it can literally take hours to upload just a few photos. That includes several stops and re-starts as individual photo transfers fail to complete successfully.

Typing any meaningful forum posts and including links to photos is another challenge.

If you just want to post a few lines of text with a half-dozen photos, it may work OK for you. But for anything larger than that, I think you will be quickly frustrated with the combination. Just my $.02.

 

[DVC_Dreamer]

I love my iPad but I'll warn you that it can be a real headache to do trip report-type stuff from it. Getting photos from camera to iPad is pretty easy with the camera kit. But going from iPad to something like PhotoBucket can be a nightmare. Disney's Internet service is terribly slow and (in my experiences) it can literally take hours to upload just a few photos. That includes several stops and re-starts as individual photo transfers fail to complete successfully.

Typing any meaningful forum posts and including links to photos is another challenge.

If you just want to post a few lines of text with a half-dozen photos, it may work OK for you. But for anything larger than that, I think you will be quickly frustrated with the combination. Just my $.02.

I suspected this issue and I believe I'll wait till I get home for extensive TR. I think I'll take some notes in a journal if not too tired. I remember the slow Internet from working on laptop during conference 3 years ago. Thanks

@MerriH807 - I don't have the keyboard for iPad. I tried my iMac keyboard with USB camera connection kit but it does not work. I just deal with iPad without keyboard and keep my comments brief.
I'll bring plastic ziplock bags for camera. I think Kali Rapids ride has a bin that helps too.
I'd like to get the Flip video but DW wants more zoom. Thanks for all tips!

 

[debbieandroo]

I'm no techie but I do have an Android phone [not Verizon, so I can't get that cool stuff Disney offers with that].

I did find an app - MouseWait - free, sort of like touring plans - haven't played with it that much yet. Might be worth a try - it got high reviews.

Also, last year, I bookmarked WDW's dining reservation site and put it on my phone [I'm guessing it had a mobile version?]. That worked well to find last minute ADR's - don't know if that will be helpful for your large group, though. Unfortunately, in trying to update my phone, I lost all my bookmarks. Before my next trip, I will definitely find it again.

Hope that helps!

 

[Lost in Neverland]

Undercover Tourist also has a free wait time app. The one with Verizon has a fee. We used the UC Tourist one in January and it was within 5 minutes every time.

 

[JimmyJam838]

I like using the MouseWait app when we go to Disneyland. I believe they have a WDW version as well.

 

[bfrosty]

Power strip....with all that stuff.

I've regretted it in the past when I forgot to bring one.

They are so handy.

Bfrosty

 

[dmoore22]

Here's what I bring. My MacBook, a Windows Notebook (as a backup), Canon PowerShot SX20IS, Canon HD video recorder, iPod Touch, iPhone 3GS, and a NetGear wireless router. My wife just brings her iPhone 4. As I'm navigating through the park, camera case in tow, using my so-called state-of-the-art camera and camcorder she's using her iPhone 4. Son of a gun if her pictures and videos came out just as good, if not better, in many cases, than mine. Plus she's sending photo and video updates to the family while we're in the parks via text and email. It blew me away. That being said, the iPhone 5 should be out when I'm eligible for my next upgrade. I'll be abandoning all the stand alones, except for my MacBook, and I'll be using my new phone for all of the above. As for apps we use the free version of Undercover Tourist, the pay version of WDW Magic Guide, and D Point for our DVC point tracking.