To Laptop or not to Laptop ...

[WEDway2002]

that is the question ...

Hi all ... I've never brought a laptop to WDW ... never owned one before!
Anyway, I would love any and all opinions ... I would use it maybe for movies on the plane (the kids anyway). I thought it might be neat to access these boards (of course!) and maybe Deb Wills (menus, etc.).
Any thoughts? Is it more of a hassle than it's worth?
I know there is a per diem fee in the room (we'll be at OKW).

Well ... thanks in advance ...


Dave

 

[J.C.&ALI'SMOM]

We take ours. The main benefit for us is the ability to save our photos immediately and have a fresh card to use the next day. It is less likely that you will 'lose' your photos. I take a lot though, almost 1,000 during our Feb. trip.

 

[AUTimmy]

Notebook is important for my trip beside photo, I can use notebook/laptop to edit/accumulate my video from camcorder to DVD at the end of each day for my trip.

 

[N&B'smom]

We always bring ours. When we get back to the room and the kids fall off to sleep we can catch up on email, upload photos, etc.

Shelby

 

[rcraw45425]

I also bring mine, basically to download the daily photos and free up the memory card. Internet is $9.95 per 24 hour period, so that can get a bit steep, although our last trip the Contemporary was running a trial online concierge program and the daily fee was waived, which made it nice since the girls can't stay off of the Disney Channel online.

 

[septbaby]

Won't leave home without it. Just wishes there was complimentary wirless!

Couple of years ago found a great last minute Universal deal online, while in Orlando. Saved us a bundle and the nephew got his time with Spiderman, Shrek and Scooby Doo and the gang. Also ditto on the digital photo downloads!

 

[checkwriter]

I'm notoriously cheap and have a real problem with the 9.95/day access fee for broadband in the resorts. That said, I'm willing to deal with the slowness of dial up for email, at any rate. You just need to set up the dial up ahead of time. Fortunately, many of the providers will give you a 30-day free trial, which will probably exceed the length of your WDW stay.

 

[ktturner]

I'll have mine, but also mostly for pictures. My DH and I are taking a master's class and will need to post from my MIL's, but it is free wireless there. I will probably pay the $9.95 for one day, that way I can get on, check school, and check the DIS, and my email. . but I'm too cheap to pay for more than that, Heck, that would take money away from souviners!

 

[zippy doo dah]

The past two times I was there (after finally getting a laptop!!!) I brought mine. I brought it for the sole purpose of downloading our daily pictures this way I can see them right away and have a fresh memory card everyday. DH was a little nervous at first b/c he didn't want it to get stolen from our hotel room - I simply said not to worry and I would have them note it in the records when we checked in so that way if there were any probs we could report it. We had no problems whatsoever!! There were even a few times that I left it on the bed in the am after uploading my pics and mousekeeping was kind enough to place it on the table when they made the beds.

Then when I saw my DFs with all their memory cards - mostly for castle pics - I was happy I brought it. I plan of bringing it every time we travel!!! I definately say bring it with you.

 

[mickeysaver]

We plan on bringing mine. Gabby has a wireless modem thingie, that she primarily keeps as a backup for her job. We will use on my laptop during our trip. So, thankfully we are not slaves to the rates that the hotels charge.

I plan on using the laptop to help keep up with our photos and to be able to keep up with our families while we are away. Maggie

 

[MissionMouse]

Any thoughts? Is it more of a hassle than it's worth? I know there is a per diem fee in the room (we'll be at OKW)....

It all depends. There are a wide range of other devices that let you do many of the things you have mentioned with a lot less risk of loss and are more portable than a laptop. There are alternatives if you do not want to risk the possible loss of your laptop. All would fit into any resort safe which are rather small or small enough to put in a bag, fanny pack, etc.

There are some very affordable and portable Internet devices available. PSPs can play movies and there are a wide range of portable photo storage drives with monitors available (check you local professional camera store). I actually have two small portable photo storage drives 40GB/60GB with one of them featuring a viewer too. You might consider just going to the store and purchasing a 4GB up to a 8GB memory card...depending on your camera capabilities and the quality this size memory MAY hold all of your photos. Their also very cheap in comparison to what memory cards cost 2 years ago.

 

[safetymom]

Some of the convention hotels have wi fi but there is a charge for that also. No such thng as free wi fi on Disney property except WWofS in the parking lot.

 

[CanadianGuy]

The only way around the rates the resorts charge is if you have a Spring or Verizon network card .. that actually uses the cell phone network to deliver mobile broadband.

And that ain't cheap either. But if you got one for work or whatever.. that would alleviate you having to pay the 9.95 a day.

Knox

 

[WEDway2002]

Thanks so much for all the input!
You guys have given me alot to think about ...
I'm still a bit "on the fence" but all of your thoughts have been really helpful!
Thanks, again!

Dave

 

[raven69david]

Another vote to take the lappy. It's a big saver for my DD2 who gets bored easily. She's only been on 2 plane trips, but the lappy saved us from her getting too bored to the point where she wants to get up out of her seat and explore the plane out of boredom.

The benefit for me is that i get to check my portfolio and banking information as i work for a bank and i'm programmed like that. I always have to have access to my banking info, especially while on vacation. It's also great to post in the "Countdowns and Live Reports" section when a little free time becomes available at night.

 

[beccasmom]

We only bring ours occasionally if we have to stay informed about work issues. I love my personal laptop, but it is nice to get a break from it once in a while.

 

[Vickie46]

I say get you a 2 GB Memory Chip and forget the laptop.. too much trouble.. I don't want to have to deal with that when I get back to the room each day.. we did this one trip and didn't on our last trip and it was soo nice!

 

[clkelley]

I always bring mine, but then I need to combat the daily deluge of work email. (Not so much to do work, but to keep the inbox empty so I don't get overlimit messages, and bounced email.)

Work provides me with a wireless Verizon card, so no fees for me.

It also lets me download pictures, keep up with the banking, bills, and of course, DISboards and RADP

 

[tarazandra]

We brought ours for picture downloading every evening. Instead of signing on everyday, we simply got internet service every other day and would sign on at the beginning and end of our 24 hour period so in essence we were online everyday but only half the cost; make sense? We also have itunes on our laptop and use that for music and tv shows for the kids during down time if they desired (maybe watched 3 shows total in 10 days). Also, I wanted to be able to check in with TGM periodically so I didn't have to print out as much stuff. We will be bringing it again on our next trip as we enjoyed having it.

 

[LilGMom]

We always take ours and use it to download the camera each night. We have a wireless card in our laptop and use Verizon (I believe). I was able to surf the net while dh drove on our last trip. Gotta love that.

Prior to the wireless thingy we would just pay the $9.95/day about every other day during a trip, dh is the IT guy where he works so he has to check his email pretty regularly.