Is It Ok to Bring A Laptop Computer to A Park??

[mb168]

There you go. And that is just coming from a fellow DISer. I really doubt mb168 is a professional criminal. The real professionals are going to know even more than that and be more persistent. And linzbear, why would they take a chance on hitting up a house where the owner could show up at any time when they have knowledge of homes that are going to be empty for a week or more? It is a sad thing, but crime is up and the tools the criminals use are more creative than ever. Sometimes you have to think like a criminal in order to not be a victim.

LOL, far from it. I helped find people last year for our class reunion so I found lots of ways to find people, you women are hard when no one knows your married name. One I used a lot is 123people.com, probably gave me the best results.

 

[Jennasis]

YES you can bring your laptop. There may be less cumbersome alternatives to using your laptop, as mentioned by many previous posters, but if your lappie works for you then bring it along!

BTW, I will be bringing my laptop next year on our trip, but not for use in the park. I'm a writer (or at least an aspiring one) and would like to be able to continue working on my novels during downtime/unwinding time or by-the-pool time at night. I also like being able to check my e-mail. I own a business and can never really "get away" completely.

 

[hockeymomNS]

Oh wow, what a debate this started.

First, I think most people should remember that ANYTHING you post on the net can be found if someone wants to find it.

I'm not sure that age has alot to do with the/ twittering/fb thing, as much as point in your life maybe......We have always gone to Disney as a family and especially as my kids got older, it is precious time with these guys (16 &22), who slowly got lives of their own. IMO and it is only my opinion, leave the toys at the resort/hotel /house if you have to bring them. They (and hub and I) have plenty of opportunity to connect with everyone else once we get home. Hmmm now that I think of it, when they were babies and toddlers, I didn't have enough time to think of twittering......I was busy tending to little ones and enjoying their reactions.

 

[mb168]

Oh wow, what a debate this started.

First, I think most people should remember that ANYTHING you post on the net can be found if someone wants to find it.

I'm not sure that age has alot to do with the/ twittering/fb thing, as much as point in your life maybe......We have always gone to Disney as a family and especially as my kids got older, it is precious time with these guys (16 &22), who slowly got lives of their own. IMO and it is only my opinion, leave the toys at the resort/hotel /house if you have to bring them. They (and hub and I) have plenty of opportunity to connect with everyone else once we get home. Hmmm now that I think of it, when they were babies and toddlers, I didn't have enough time to think of twittering......I was busy tending to little ones and enjoying their reactions.

I know, it's funny how far off topic, or how many people will chime in on page 16 to say the same thing that someone said on page 1 and every other person after repeated. Forums are funny.

As for the social stuff, instead of looking at it as "connecting" with other people while on vacation, it can be used for other things. I get a huge use out of it as a diary. So if you go back and replace twitter/facebook with the word diary, some people may not have the same reaction. "I don't have time to write in my diary while on vacation." I left my journal at home, why on earth would anyone want to write down their thoughts and feelings while on vacation, I can do all that once I get home." It starts losing some of the grasp when you remove the fact that you're doing it on a cell phone instead of a handwritten journal. In the past you would have been considered cool or maybe an intellectual for keeping a journal and carrying it with you but if you tweet or update your FB status with "OMG, DD15 dropped her shoe off of Soarin and we were in the front row, she was mortified, everyone laughed" you're wasting time. Even funnier if you took a pic of it with your camera phone while you're way up high and can see it on the ground below.

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

The difference in FB and Twitter though is with FB you are telling only friends about whats going on, they have to know you already. On twitter it's more like posting on the forum here, the whole world has access to what you tweet without even needing to follow you or get your permission. .

I have my Twitter settings protected. Only my approved friends receive them and I am not on a Public timeline. I have never got anything from a stranger.

 

[mb168]

I have my Twitter settings protected. Only my approved friends receive them and I am not on a Public timeline. I have never got anything from a stranger.

I did initially, but I have met far more people on Twitter than I know as friends that are on there. The other problem with protecting updates is it doesnt allow you to pass that data elsewhere like to a website or Facebook. I can send a tweet that can be seen on twitter and update FB at the same time with the same info.

Think of FB as connecting with people you know, and twitter as connecting with people you want to know.

 

[MoonFaerie]

I did initially, but I have met far more people on Twitter than I know as friends that are on there. The other problem with protecting updates is it doesnt allow you to pass that data elsewhere like to a website or Facebook. I can send a tweet that can be seen on twitter and update FB at the same time with the same info.

Think of FB as connecting with people you know, and twitter as connecting with people you want to know.

Actually, you can. Both my twitter and fb re private, but when I update my twitter, either on the web or via text, it updates me fb status too.

 

[mb168]

Actually, you can. Both my twitter and fb re private, but when I update my twitter, either on the web or via text, it updates me fb status too.

I'm not certain what app does that but as I mentioned before, I use one called Selective Twitter Status, so I can choose which tweets go to my FB.

Are you doing it via rss?

 

[TDC Nala]

There will be no issues with bringing it in. I have carried one into Epcot twice (not to use it - because I did not want to store it at the resort on checkout day).

If you want to tweet, then tweet - I have a lot of friends who tweet or post to Facebook on their phones or Blackberries from the parks. What difference does it make? If you think internet networking is an imposition or somehow the downfall of social connection, then it's not necessary to sign up.

 

[itchin2go]

IMO and it is only my opinion, leave the toys at the resort/hotel /house if you have to bring them. They (and hub and I) have plenty of opportunity to connect with everyone else once we get home. Hmmm now that I think of it, when they were babies and toddlers, I didn't have enough time to think of twittering......I was busy tending to little ones and enjoying their reactions.

I agree. No judgments, really, but I've been to several concerts recently where people's heads were down looking at one device or another and moving their fingers frantically, rather than looking at what they paid to see. I'm technologically savvy. I do facebook and twitter, but I don't want to miss out on actual life. To be fair, I have always been the same way about videotaping things. Sure, you may get a great videotape, but what did you sacrifice in the experience? YMMV.

 

[fla4fun]

Criminals are out to get you and look for targets of oppurtunity.
So it is good advice not too post that you are away on twitter, but I think it is not as big a deal as we are thinking.

When I am on vacation I more concerned telling fellow employees I'll be away.
You may trust your fellow employees, but you have no idea who they are dating or who their brothers are.

I'm more concerned about my son telling kids in his class he is going away.
You have no idea who's dad has a history of B&Es

I'm more concerned about leaving my registration in the car at the parking lot at the airport. If you see a family get out of a car you can assume the house is empty. The home address is on the registration. If they have gps you could take the car and it will direct you to their home and you can use thier car to carry the stuff away.

I am more concerned about neighbors down the street seeing me load my car with luggage before I head out on my trip. My wife thought I was nuts backing my car into the driveway and loading the car at 2AM until one of these teens broke into a neighbor’s house on Xmas eve and emptied it while they slept. Over 4K worth of gifts gone when they got up.

I would also be more concerned about posting on this site when my family will be going away like so many seem to. You could be giving a criminal a 30 day notice of when you will be away with your whole family.

I agree with most of your points. In this day and age, you have to be careful about who you tell, and what you tell them. Fortunately for me, my roommates and I typically don't travel at the same time, so there's always someone home watching over things. Plus, we have very trustworthy neighbors across the street who also happen to be the really nosy observant type who know everything going on in the neighborhood. When they go away, we watch their place, and if there happens to be a time when all three of us are away, they watch our place.

Personally, I don't like to take valuables on vacation. I have an old laptop I take with me just for clearing out photos on the memory cards each day, but I wouldn't carry it in the parks - mostly because I prefer to travel light and bagless in the parks. I have a simple cell phone, and a point and shoot camera that go with me, and fit in even the smallest of WDW safes if I don't carry them. If I want to stay in touch, I use the cell phone - but it probably stays locked in the safe as many or more days than it goes to the parks.

The only problem I have with people bringing technology into the parks is when it starts to affect my park experience. I remember the "good old days" when the dark rides were actually dark - not lit with the multiple screens of cell phones and video cameras. I've seen people so caught up in their cell phone (talking or texting) that they walk right into other people, or buildings, or fences or trees (yes, sometimes it's funny to watch, but I don't like being run into by one of them). I think people have to find the balance between real life and virtual life. I wish the people who develop the technology would come up with an easy way to go from a day screen mode to a night screen mode, so the light from the devices wouldn't be so obtrusive in darker areas. I know on pretty much all my devices, it would involve going through multiple menus to keep changing the light level - it needs a one touch toggle switch.

 

[Disney Wanderer]

OK- Everyone Thanks for Your Insight and Replies I Appreciate it . I Have Decided I Probally would be Better off Leaving the Computer In the Hotel And Updating When i Get Back to the Hotel . Since i Have a Park Hopper I wil Do that Frequently Enough . Everyone Back Home Will Have to Live With That .
Man theres a Lot Of Negativity Towards Twitter All of A Sudden I didnt read Every Post but, Based On What Ive read so far . . Personally, I Still like it ,But Everyones Entitled to your Own Opinions Noones Judging you Here
--Thanks --

 

[tony67]

The only problem I have with people bringing technology into the parks is when it starts to affect my park experience. I remember the "good old days" when the dark rides were actually dark - not lit with the multiple screens of cell phones and video cameras. I've seen people so caught up in their cell phone (talking or texting) that they walk right into other people, or buildings, or fences or trees (yes, sometimes it's funny to watch, but I don't like being run into by one of them). I think people have to find the balance between real life and virtual life. I wish the people who develop the technology would come up with an easy way to go from a day screen mode to a night screen mode, so the light from the devices wouldn't be so obtrusive in darker areas. I know on pretty much all my devices, it would involve going through multiple menus to keep changing the light level - it needs a one touch toggle switch.

Yeah, I just don't get this taping low quality videos on your cell phone or texting while your on a ride. I also do not get taking video of everything. How many times can you watch a video of it's a small world. If you are going to tape it turn off you screen and don't bother the other people on the ride. And do not turn on a light or a flash on your camera. No Flash Photography.

 

[itchin2go]

Yeah, I just don't get this taping low quality videos on your cell phone or texting while your on a ride. I also do not get taking video of everything. How many times can you watch a video of it's a small world. If you are going to tape it turn off you screen and don't bother the other people on the ride. And do not turn on a light or a flash on your camera. No Flash Photography.

I don't get it either, but on the other hand, I have benefitted greatly by watching some of those videos on You Tube. Not IASM, obviously, but I've watched plenty of videos of some of the other rides.

I would not spend my park time taping things, but I appreciate having the clips to watch!

 

[slh1913]

It pains me to read about 90% of these responses. The OP only asked if there was a security risk to bringing his laptop...that's it. This thread has turned into a holier than thou with everyone wondering about the practice of tweeting and benefits thereof.

What if the OP has a sick relative at home? What if the OP doesn't? It's their prerogative to do what they want to do on their vacation. It is their vacation, not any of yours.

And I absolutely love how some posters mentioned their age; as if the ability or need to use a computer is somehow age related.

Give me a break.

Couldn't have said it better!

 

[slh1913]

YES you can bring your laptop. There may be less cumbersome alternatives to using your laptop, as mentioned by many previous posters, but if your lappie works for you then bring it along!

BTW, I will be bringing my laptop next year on our trip, but not for use in the park. I'm a writer (or at least an aspiring one) and would like to be able to continue working on my novels during downtime/unwinding time or by-the-pool time at night. I also like being able to check my e-mail. I own a business and can never really "get away" completely.

I also have to bring my laptop. I won't bring it to the park but I'm a graduate student taking online classes so I have to bring it. I'm on vacation from work but certainly not school. Even if I wasn't in school I'd still bring it. I take it on all my vacations because it's weird for me not to have it.

I also have an iPhone so that I can be constantly plugged in at all times including WDW. I guess that makes me one of those evil people that can't enjoy life because they have a cell phone.