Request for Tips when taking your iPad to WDW

[ValpoCory]

We have a Wifi-only iPad Air 2 and will be taking it to WDW. We are staying at a Disney Resort for a week.

For those that have taken their iPads to WDW, would you recommend leaving the iPad in our room the entire time, or taking it with you to certain places and not others? Part of me thinks it could be valuable as a MyDisneyExperience app device, making FP+ ressies on a bigger screen than a smart phone. But part of me thinks it would get annoying after a while, trying to keep it dry or having to find a locker for Kali River Rapids, etc. I also have heard complaints about people who record shows/fireworks with their iPad as being a distraction.

I appreciate any tips. Thank you.

 

[weskbob]

Personally, I would leave it. In my experience there a couple weeks ago, the wifi in the parks is spotty and there's a good chance you'd end up using the phone anyway. It won't really save you any time and I just wouldn't want to have to mess with carrying it or finding a place to store it.

To your second point, if you do choose to take it to use for photos/videos, please just be respectful of those around you. There are few people more obnoxious than those who hold a phone or iPad up high, blocking the view of the people behind them or elbowing the people beside them.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I use my tablet in the room only and in one instance, I took it to the lobby to use because they had better wifi there.

I've never taken it into the parks. I have a smart phone so it's not necessary and it would make my park bag too heavy for me pretty quick. I can easily enlarge any text on my smart phone so I wouldn't need the tablet to see things better. Depending on your smart phone, you probably have the same capability.

If I brought it into the parks, I wouldn't use it to record videos or take photos - that it just annoying unless you take great care not to obstruct the views of the people near and behind you.

 

[ValpoCory]

Thank you both. I'm leaning on leaving it in the room at all times or at least on the resort grounds.

 

[andiraye]

I wholeheartedly agree. Too much of a pain in the parks. I'd worry about it breaking. You could never leave your bag for a second. And it wouldn't fit in your pocket. Smartphones are more than enough in the park, IMO.

iPads also fit in hotel safes, so nothing to worry about there. Only place I would take it is to the pool so you can read while lounging.

 

[Accident]

I happened to try bringing mine around last trip in sept and after the second day I left it in the room. The phone was fine and a lot easier to have around and I never once used the ipad mini

 

[fairy oma]

I leave mine in the room and use my smartphone...just put it in the safe.

 

[hsmamato2]

I just leave mine in the room.... no one has ever touched it in many many trips. (they're fairly cheap and easily gotten so not much excitement there) I wouldn't carry it b/c I have a smartphone for pics and app use if needed,which fits in a small pocket.

 

[loves to dive]

I leave mine in my room, in the wall safe along with my kindle. I only take it for checking my email and video chatting with DH at night and if I don't want to take my laptop (he doesn't "do" disney). I've never had any problem using my smart phone in the parks, evidently there is a verizon tower somewhere close by.

 

[DisneyHardin]

We always take ours, but also leave it in the room.

 

[fabfemmeboy]

As a person trying to watch fireworks, I say: please leave it in the room! It's hard enough to see the nighttime entertainment (or even parades) with parents putting their kids on their shoulders, but at least that I can understand. But last time I ended up watching Celebrate the Magic entirely on someone's iPad because it was held so high.

As someone who takes a computer or tablet every trip: leave it in the room. I've never had a problem with anyone messing with it, it's always right back on the freshly-made bed when I get home in the evening.

Plus as others have said, wifi is spotty anyway so you're better off just taking your phone, which you can slip easily into your pocket for protection.