iPods in the Parks???

[bavaria]

My post was lost but I was going to post similar to fumipappa.

I now own 3 ipods - my video one is about 3 months old, has flown over 20,000 miles across three continents.

I struggle with using them because I don't like the way that they distance one from the rest of the world. So while my ipods get a lot of use in the car, walking, on long flights, or in my hotel room, I don't use them in public spaces. I want to be part of the world most of the time, not seperate from the world.

Having said that, there are a few times when I did conciously choose to distance myself from the world - sitting in the airport lounge at 2am in Delhi in the midst of 36 hours of travel during 40 degree celcius weather, for instance.

But under normal conditions, I consider that we are here to participate, not to absent ourselves from those around us.

Just my opinion too!

 

[northie]

I have an iPod and my DD sometimes uses it. But she is not allowed to use it when she needs to stay in family conversation. During travel time to WDW, I consider it as the time to communicate in family member. So, I am not going to use it at WDW and my family won't use it. For me,(please please don't take my opinion seriously. It is just MY OPINION ) using iPod when you are with someone is to ignoring others, like kids using DS during dinner time. If my DDs try to use Nintendo DS or iPod during family time, iPod and DS will be in trash can within 2minutes....

Yes I know, I am VERY old fashioned...

No, you aren't. That's courtesy If I am flying by myself I use it (when I met my mom in KC because we were going to WDW together, I had to fly by myself and had a 4 hour layover in Chicago, so it really came in handy.) If I am flying with someone I don't use it, we talk. Now if they whip out their laptop or a book or fall asleep (DH does that because we usually leave for the airport about 3 am. Me, I'm too excited to sleep on the plane!), iPod use is fair game!

 

[SelfEmployedDebtFree]

Ive had to "bump" a few people to move when the line moved who were "into" their music, but but thats not a reason to not take it. To me its like everyone else says... I want to be at DISNEY! I want to hear the sounds of the kids screaming when a character arrives nearby or a show starts, etc.
I can DEFINATELY see taking it at other theme parks where they blast pop music in your ears all day (I hate pop music!!!) like at Carrowinds. But at Disney thats not a problem. to me it would just be one more thing to have to keep up with and worry about.

When I'm in the parks I only wear/carry:

1) my lanyard (with only a few of the pins) and APs and license credit card and $40 cash in the small pouch on the end),
2) my camera OR camcorder (but never both... and my camcorder is one of the newest and smallest ones out) and
3) an ink pen and flosser (plackers)

We carry a few other items in the duffle and flop it over the stroller, but "ON ME" I want as little as possible. And since I'm on VACATION... the LAST THING I want is my cellphone!!! The kids carry PAL Mickey and spray fans.

I like not having to keep up with and worry about things. Ive done it both ways several times. Lighter is better. I wouldnt even carry a camera if it werent for those Kodak moments! JMHO