Laptop at Resort- safety?

[plutosmyfav]

I am thinking of bringing my laptop so DS can watch his favorite DVDs to go to bed a night. I'm curious what others do to secure their laptops at the resorts? I have a Kensington cable (like a bike lock). I figured I could find something to anchor it to. Also, are there data ports in the rooms or do those of you who report in during your stay use a phone modem?

Thanks,
PlutosMyFav

 

[aahmom1]

I thought about taking mine too but I don't think the safes are big enough to hold it, so I'm going to leave it home.

 

[cinmell]

Not sure if safe sizes vary from resort to resort, but we were at the GF last month and in that safe we were able to fit our laptop (which is a little longer than other laptops and still fit no problem), video camera, camera, wallets and there was still some room to spare.

 

[dreaming]

we took our laptop with us to wl last november to download digital pictures. we left it on the table in our room every day and it was never once even moved.

 

[Mish]

We took our laptop last year and left it in one of our suitcases. One day we left it out by mistake and we never had a problem. Michelle

 

[aahmom1]

I've stayed at the GF a few times, and used the safe quite a few times. I've never taken a laptop before so I didn't know if it would fit.

 

[snowmouse]

We always take ours along and use a cable lock like you describe. We usually fasten it to something like a closet or balcony door handle or have even fastened it to the reading lamp that is mounted on the wall. It would definitely be easy to rip off of the wall if someone really wanted it, but someone would really have to want it bad enough to vandalize the room to get it (which would make a pretty good case with hotel management I imagine). This has worked for us and we've traveled with it dozens of times.

 

[CarolA]

Your laptop should have a slot on the side where you can insert the lock. Go to a PC store and buy one of the cable locks.

 

[Kermit]

We just leave ours in our suitcase. We've done that at WDW and at hotels all over the place. Sometimes we leave it in DH's backpack, which has a laptop case in it. No one would look in a backpack, since all they'd expect to find is books.

Yes, you have to use a phone modem. Each of the hotels has an extra phone jack by the phone, so connecting doesn't require unhooking the phone. Outgoing calls cost $.75 a piece, so it's best to try to do as much as you can each time you connect and make sure no one else in your family needs to do anything online.

 

[DebbieB]

I use a cable lock, got it at Best Buy. We stay in a DVC 1 bedroom and I tie it to the end table in the corner of the living room above the cross bar. When we leave the room, I slide it under the table (with the cable attached) to keep it more out of sight. With DVC, the housekeeper only comes in once during our stay, so I'm not as concerned about it.

 

[Bev J]

We always take our laptop when we travel be it disney or south dakota, we have never even considered locking it up. Usually keep it sitting on the desk or table and have never had it bothered with.

 

[hookedup]

I took my laptop this summer and was so happy I did. DS watched DVD's. DH and I surfed the 'Net and I uploaded digital pics and e-mailed them to friends and family. It was great!

We stayed at CBR first - the "safe" a lock box in the wall was too small for my laptop (I have a wide screen Mac Powerbook) but a smaller notebook computer might fit there. We just stuck it in our suitcase and never had a problem.

Then we moved to the GF - our room there had a larger safe. The kind you program a code in and it locks. My computer fit in there with ample room. I also put our DVD's, my digital camcorder and camera and Palm Pilot too! So if you are really worried about it then find out what sort of safe the resort has or buy a locking security cord for it that they carry at lots of luggage stores or REI has them too.

 

[pointandshoot]

I have found a handy piece of equipment that I use in travel to secure my laptop and camera gear. It is called The Pacsafe from a company named Lowepro. Essentially, it is a slash proof wire mesh bag that can place over a backpack or a laptop briefcase.

You place your valuables in the wire bag, pull the cable to close the items in the bag, then loop the cable around anything in your hotel room (bathroom pipe, bed frame, etc.). Then just lock it!

The Pacsafe folds into a small pouch and costs about $40. I use it to secure items in my car when I travel and in hotel rooms. You can find the Pacsafe at online camera websites such as B&H and Adorama.

I highly recommend it. It is very versatile and has help reduce my anxiety of leaving my camera gear and computer in my room while I enjoy a day of travel.

Regards.

 

[Pumbaa_]

I often bring my laptop too. Mine is from work (yes, I sometimes am forced to do work while on vacation ) so it is completely insured by the company. I do normal safety precautions, but no more. I worry more about leaving it with bell services than in the room!

 

[joyful1nh]

We bought a hard sided carrying case and secured it with a bike lock to the plumbing. But the day we checked out we used the hotel safe deposit boxes -- it fit fine and I have the oversized Apple G4.

 

[Chattyaholic]

I've been wondering what people do with their laptops too, as I'll be taking mine on our next cruise. I did insure it, it's only $29 for a whole year with a $100 deductible if it's stolen, so at least I don't have to worry as much about it being stolen but still don't want it to happen so I think I'll invest in one of those cable locks too!!

 

[SuiteDisney]

I leave mine sitting out and logged on and no one has ever bothered it.

 

[jdkdorn]

We took ours to AKL and never had a problem. We never left it out when not in the room, we put it in my DH's briefcase, but they could have found it easily. Don't worry about it.

We left our Battery charger in the room and some gifts we purchase, after checkout. I called a few days later when I realized I didn't have them and the mousekeeping had turned them in and they mailed them to me for free. They are very honest people working there.

 

[AmyA]

At the CR, we left mine plugged into the 2nd phone/wall and completely set up on the table. It was never touched at all as far as we could tell. Just like Pumbaa_ said, I had more worries leaving it with bell services on check-in day than I did leaving it in the room while we were out.

 

[MauraAndIainsDad]

I always take my laptop with me when I travel. I have stayed at BC, WL and AKL with it and have never locked it up or had it bothered. I do leave it in my briefcase rather than laying around.