Bring laptop or not???

[javaj]

It makes me cringe thinking of carrying the laptop at the airport, since we will already have the stroller, car seat, and all other toddler items.....Not to mention going through security check with all those items...fun! And we have a layover of course.

But it would be nice to be able to check-in online for our return flight, and it would be nice to be able to check entertainment schedules before getting to the park (Steve Soares' site is updated Saturday nights and we leave Saturday morning).

So for those that fly and bring their laptops, is it worth it? Any tips?

Thanks!
Josette

 

[DMRick]

My laptop is in a roll on carryon I got at Walmarts. All my other carryon stuff fits around it. It is a pain having to take it out of the case, and hurridly go through to grab it (I have to grab hubby's stuff too, since he always has to be brought aside and wanded). I sometimes feel like I should have 4 more hands.
However, without bringing a printer, how would you get your boarding pass? Or did you mean to just check your schedule?
I especially like it, because I start my eBay auctions midway through vacation, and if someone does a buy it now, I can respond and let them know when it will ship.
Doris

 

[Aimeedyan]

I always bring mine... but it seems to be attached at my hip these days =) I'm slightly addicted to it.

I carry it on as my carry-on. I stick whatever else I want in my laptop bag for the ride... I use it to watch DVDs or work on work mid-air... Since I'm already planning on carrying a bag with me anyways, I just make it my laptop bag.

Once you get there, its no trouble to have it with you... its just lugging it through the airport that will be the pain. I would regret leaving it at home just for that... but only you know how much junk you already have to carry =)

I also use it to upload and print pics mid vacation and clean out my digital memory card on my camera =)

 

[din]

I travel with a laptop most times fo work and pleasure. It can be a little painfull during security check as they may ask you to take the laptop out and turn it on, but again they do that for cells phones also. Just make sure you give yourself some extra time if you needed it.

Before you start planning on using the laptop, please make sure that the resort have network ports. Some of the resorts have not been upgraded yet, not sure which ones though, otherwise you will have to use dial up services.

 

[MickeyHereWeCome!]

We brought our laptop on our last trip, and I'm so glad we did!! My main reason was for use with the digital camera..we could download the pictures each day. It was also a life saver for the "down time" at the hotels for the kids. We would just pop in a DVD, and they were able to calm down for a while (my son has SEVERE ADHD, so he generally has a difficult time being calm and quiet in hotel rooms).

It wasn't *that* much of a hassle. Yes, you do have to take it out to be checked and it's something else to lug around. But if you allow that extra time, it isn't really a problem. We really should grow an extra set of arms/hands when we have kids, because we have SO much to carry!!!!!


Have fun!!

 

[denman007]

I always pack mine in my biggest suit case and check it. No worrys boarding! Why carry it on?

 

[WhenUwishUponAstar]

I never go anywhere without my laptop!

I use it to entertain my son in the airports and in flight he plays games and watches dvd's(disney of course).

It's also fun to download our pictures during the trip so we can see them right away and talk about the day each evening.

We do the slide show screen saver and it's nice to just have it on while we are getting ready in the mornings there is always a laugh or two.

A little tip for those who take a lot of movies and games I found a file foulder with about 16 slots on both sides, it's cloth so it doesn't scratch and if very thin in my carry on. (target)

I also use them at home so he doesn't break the disks trying to get them off of that little wheel in their cases.

 

[Grumpy37]

OMG!

The absolute last thing I want to look at on vacation is the screen of my laptop computer!

 

[CaseyJr]

We take ours, despite the some-time hassles, but if we were still into strollers and car seats (DS is 8 1/2), I don't think I'd take it. Now that DS is older, we can watch movies (Disney, or course!) in-flight (we choose seats with a power port). Since I usually give out earlier than DS does, I can let him play games or watch movies in the room while I nap.

 

[chamonix]

For those that bring a laptop, how do you secure it in your room while you are out at the parks all day? I don't think it will fit in the safe. We always keep our wallets, extra money, airplane tickets, and our small portable dvd player and the carrying case with nearly 60 dvd's in it, (that would be a lot of money to replace!) in the safe when we are out of the room.

 

[mhelsley]

I also would like the answer on what you do with you laptop when away? I also would like to know what you do with your lap tops when your transfering to another hotel and you check in and your rooms not ready and you want to get to a park. Dh is not happy with the idea of leaving it in a locked bag with guest services to be transfered. Has anyone been able to get guest services to lock it in a safe deposit box? Thanks for your help.

 

[WDW LifeLong Fan]

We always take at least one of our laptops. We find it difficult to be without.

 

[Muffy]

I just set mine up and leave it. It's perfectly safe and to much work to undo everything.

 

[CaseyJr]

DH bought this lock/cable thingy that fits into a little hole on the side of the laptop. It's hard to describe it, and if I hadn't seen it in action, probably would never have known the little hole was even there, much less know what it was for. Anyway, you loop the cable like you would if you were locking a bike. The challenge would be to find something to loop the cable through, as anything like a chair or table could walk as easily as the laptop.

Not sure where DH got ours, but they have them most any place that sells laptop access. (Best Buy, Wal-Mart, etc.). We just got back from a week-long ski trip and used the lock every time we left the room -- no problems.

 

[javaj]

Thanks for the replies. I still haven't figured out whether we really want to bring it our not, but I'm more confused now LOL j/k. I want to bring it so we can upload pictures everyday, and I don't want to bring it because I don't really want to leave it in the room, and I'd hate to run it over to the rental car every time we left the room.

 

[WhenUwishUponAstar]

I've left mine sitting out, of course I lock the keys so that no one can play on it while this Mini mouse is away.

I've never had a problem but some friends of ours take suitcase locks and do a similar bike lock thing with the computer case.

 

[safetymom]

No laptop is perfectly safe left unsecured in your hotel room. The hole is the side is for a Kensington lock. They hold a patent on that hole in your laptop. Insurance companies want to know that you did something to prevent your laptop from being stolen.

 

[sherry8253]

Hi - I never go anyplace without my laptop. When in a hotel, I put it a locked suitcase in the closet.

 

[DebbieB]

Originally posted by denman007
I always pack mine in my biggest suit case and check it. No worrys boarding! Why carry it on?

Were you aware that electronic items in checked luggage are not covered by the airlines? If it is stolen, broken or lost, you're out of luck.

I carry mine on, it's a little bit of a hassle but not too bad. I use a Kensington cable lock and loop it around a piece of furniture in the room.

 

[travellady]

I've been debating this very issue with myself for weeks now. I've decided that yes, I need my laptop as it's my lifeline. I do my banking this way, pay bills online, and keep in touch with family and friends. I take it on most all trips and when I didn't, I missed it.

If it doesn't fit in a safe, we put it in luggage with a lock. Haven't had it stolen yet.