Apps: Am I wrong here?

[MonorailMan]

Okay, I've been watching a few videos on iPhone/SmartPhone apps that are now available which do everything from give you people's reviews of WDW restaurants to telling you the wait times for all of the attractions. (These are apps that you can not only view to get information, but you can also add your own information so that the posted wait times and reviews are constantly updated.)

When watching these videos on YouTube I started getting really upset and posted some opinionated comments about them, and here's why:

The last time I was able to go to WDW I noticed tons of people were walking around the parks and resorts while either using apps on their phones or talking on them. This annoyed me to no end. If you're on vacation, don't you want to be taking in your surroundings? Don't you want to be taking in the music that's being played around you? Instead, people are Tweeting every 20 minutes about what's going on. Geez, people! ENJOY.....YOUR......VACATION!!! No wonder people are requesting more and more vacation time--They were never really ON vacation to begin with because they were absorbed in their apps!

This upsets me a lot for a couple reasons, one of which is that over the past several years I haven't been able to get to WDW much, and those who can get there often seem to take it for granted. Another reason is because I saw people at all the parks using their cells which not only prevented them from enjoying their surroundings, but also from communicating with the people they were there with. (My friend did the same thing when we were at WDW and it got really old really fast. For about half of the trip I felt like I was alone.)

Am I wrong here? Am I being stupid for feeling this way?

 

[mickeyfan1]

Everyone has their own idea of how to enjoy themselves in the parks. I can't say you are wrong, because you would not do the same thing, however, I can't say they are wrong because that is how they choose to spend their time.

I do use my phone in the parks, I often call people to rub it in that I am there and they are not. I also travel with out my husband and with the time difference between FL and Az, his work and travel schedule, I need to reach him when I can, and vice versa.

People love iPhones and Touches, they love the apps, they love knowing that there is a 105 minute wait to see Tianna or 10 minutes to ride Pirates. I have not as modern of technology, so I will continue to use the info that is available in the parks.

I believe that there will be people who go to WDW with all the gadgets and when they get home will complain about how bad things were because they got calls from work or they missed things, but won't say because they had their nose in the apps.

To each their own.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

I'm always "on" for work, even on vacation, it's part of life for me, so I'm probably one of the people that would annoy you, sending e-mails during line waits. I take in my surroundings, just in different ways.

As mickeyfan1 said, to each there own.

 

[MonorailMan]

I think I also feel strongly about this because I've noticed the people who AREN'T using their cells seem to always look a lot happier than the people who are on their cells.

 

[Mathfailure]

To someone into gadgets or on call for work, cells of any ilk are always close by and usually in use. My husband is like this.

It does bug me, but I do not even want a cell, and wouldn't have one except I scared my husband by being really late one night and he had me dead or dying by the side of the road. Of course I was fine just late, but the next day he handed me a phone and that was that.

I also noticed that some always seem to have something between them and the experience around them. Like video cameras always between the actual 'thing' and the person.

Perhaps the less plugged in folks are the ones more in the moment. I do know it seems to be a way to group people, those with 'items' and those without.

I am certainly a without, I do not even take a still camera.

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

I'm half and half. If I'm on a "true" vacation I don't use the mobile as much, but if it's just a day visit, I'll have it with me.

I will not use it though where the use may interfere with another person's enjoyment of the park or any attraction, or restaurant.

I had to ask a man on the train at the MK this past weekend to either lower his voice or end his conversation as we were on the train to listen to the narrative and take in the surroundings, not listen to him shout into his phone. He did disconnect and I thanked him.

So, yep. To each her own, but politeness should rule the day.

 

[MonorailMan]

The whole "having something between you and your environment" is what bothers me. I'm a professional photographer (well.....I used to be) and even though I'll bring my camera with me when I go on vacation I almost never want to use it because I'd rather create memories of the place I'm at by just being there and taking it all in. There are always one or two shots I have to get, but after that I pretty much want to be at WDW without distractions.

While in my hotel room last year I remember using my friend's iPhone to log onto the site I used to have a blog at so I could keep the people who read my blog up to date with what was going on............And then I thought about it and was like, "Who cares if they're up to date?? They don't care about this trip nearly as much as I do!" So I waited until I got home to post about it.

 

[zeitzeuge]

When we go to DL, we will update Facebook with a picture here and there, to help everyone who follows us enjoy a little of the magic themselves. It's a quick picture and a comment, nothing more. It doesn't take up any of our time or distracts us. We fully enjoy the parks and soak up everything around us. The only time I have ever stopped and checked emails or made a few phone calls is when we've decided to sit down to eat.

As far as taking pictures, it actually helps me enjoy the parks on another level. I find myself searching for things to photograph and have found so many interesting things that I never noticed before. Steven even gets into the game of sorts, and points out things I should shoot. Plus, I know I'm capturing memories for us to look at later. I can't tell you the number of times we've sat down and flipped through 500+ photo's.

But I do understand where you're coming from. I've seen tons of people who seem to have their phone glued to their ear or are madly texting/emailing constantly, never even looking up from their phones. Physically ran into a few of these people while walking through the park before.

 

[HelenParr]

You don't sound stupid -- but you do sound frustrated (which I would be too if my travelling partner semi-ignored me to talk on the cell without a good reason.) But everybody's situation and interaction level is different.

I go often, and feel very lucky to be able to do so. I have never taken it for granted -- and I doubt I ever will. But I own a small business, and I have to be available to clients anytime, anywhere. I'm good with that and I still love experiencing WDW. I've taken calls and responded to email questions from scores, perhaps hundreds of places at WDW. My partner -- same thing. We take pictures of each other "working" from WDW. Trying to keep it light -- because with our work the way it is, we allow for these "interruptions" or we cannot go. We try to stay out of others' way and not intrude on their experience -- but I'll tell you, it is not easy finding quiet places at WDW to make a business call. I've had clients ask things like "Where the heck are you, it sounds like a whole parade is going on behind you?" LOL.

Also, not to be too philosophical, but these folks (multitasking as they may be) are part of the surroundings. Having said that, I too often find myself mildly annoyed at the commando parents on their Nextel's yelling into the device as if they were readying the Normandy invasion: "Where are you? Where are you? I can't hear you? Our location is just outside of Snow White -- passing Playful spot in 3. Meet you at Teacups in 7. Do not take Tomorrowland route, go through castle -- repeat go through castle." Why does it bother me if they like their walkie-talkies? My guess is it comes down to what catches your attention (and feels like an unfun distraction).

 

[colaboy29]

No offense, but are you starting to sound like your father or grandfather? "In my day we walked uphill in the snow, both ways, to school."

The technological world is expanding around us at an incredible rate. Smartphones and cells are a part of many people's lives, and as their capabilities expand the more a person can do stuff anywhere they are. And this includes on vacation. Just ignore them if they upset you. Enjoy your own vacation. Life's too short to worry about other people.

 

[OrlandoMike]

Life's too short to worry about other people.

Unless the other people are interfering with your enjoyment....

If you need to use your cell phone fine....but please keep your voice down, I don't want to hear your conversation.

If you're in line to purchase something, or are at a table and the server is trying to take your order, hang up and take care of the business at hand!

And if you're in a theater....turn your ringer off!

Know what I mean....

 

[MonorailMan]

"Hi Sandy! Yeah, we're in line for Small World!! Yeah! What?
What? What? Don't do that??! I told you never to do that!!!!! What? NO!!!!! I told her not to wear that!!!! You don't have time to do that!.........."

As technology gets more and more advanced, people seem to be getting dumber. I tend to be very sensitive about things like this (my surroundings) due to the autism. As someone who can't spend much time out in the world I just see people taking life for granted, I guess.

 

[Hydani]

"Hi Sandy! Yeah, we're in line for Small World!! Yeah! What?
What? What? Don't do that??! I told you never to do that!!!!! What? NO!!!!! I told her not to wear that!!!! You don't have time to do that!.........."

As technology gets more and more advanced, people seem to be getting dumber. I tend to be very sensitive about things like this (my surroundings) due to the autism. As someone who can't spend much time out in the world I just see people taking life for granted, I guess.

Lol I agree with that. People that are my age.... Oh wow.... You don't want to see them. It's fine though. I didn't even bring my phone on my last trip, but this trip I'm bringing it in case we get lost... Otherwise I think that phones are pointless at Disney. I guess some people may like it, but please keep it out of my hearing

 

[MonorailMan]

I bring my "ancient" phone (4 years old is "ancient" in cell terms), but I only use it for emergencies or, as Mickeyfan1 mentioned, to rub the fact that I'm at WDW in the face of those who couldn't come with me. But I normally wait until the end of the day to do that.

 

[mickeyfan1]

I bring my "ancient" phone (4 years old is "ancient" in cell terms), but I only use it for emergencies or, as Mickeyfan1 mentioned, to rub the fact that I'm at WDW in the face of those who couldn't come with me. But I normally wait until the end of the day to do that.

Ooooh, a 2 for 1 rub in, all day at the parks, and now fabu drinks and din din! LOVE IT!!!!

 

[SandrA9810]

It's really frustrating to see kids trying to get the parent's attention when they're yapping away on a cell phone. Or the teenage kid blatantly trying to be obnoxious as possible because they were forced into coming. Cell phones should be banned from conversations like that. I get the whole, "call me at 5pm to let me know your ok, and to meet up for dinner" But those are like 2 minute conversations, not hour long.

When I was working for Photopass, I would make sure no one was talking on a cell phone, and if it was the obnoxious kid, I would hold the phone in my pocket, then hand it back to the mother. I told them out right, there's people right next you willing to talk to you. You can tell every one else about your trip when you get home.

As a cast member, and I was waiting for Kari to get off work or something, sure I'd sit down outside Peco's and talk to my aunt or play a game on my cell, but I did it privately. I really didn't care for the rest of the world to know my bussiness. And I wasn't excluding anyone either.

 

[Crashdown]

Did both - had iphone in hand, used apps - toured parks - Had fun as usual.

 

[kingLouiethe1]

I am so with you on this. I have a work phone, so I'm "on" a lot of the time, but one of the first things I'm doing when I don't "need" a job anymore is getting rid of the cell phone. If people want to talk to me, they'll just have to leave me a message at home

 

[crashbb]

When I was working for Photopass, I would make sure no one was talking on a cell phone, and if it was the obnoxious kid, I would hold the phone in my pocket, then hand it back to the mother. I told them out right, there's people right next you willing to talk to you. You can tell every one else about your trip when you get home.

Wow. If you had dared to take the phone out of my/my kid's hands or lectured us on phone use, I would have taken your name and filed a complaint.

Sure, don't take photo of someone on the phone, but you had absolutely no right to do any of the other things.

And I don't have an iphone/blackberry.