Using UK electrical equipment at WDW

[thebadger]

Now I'll start off by saying that as I'm an electrician I should really know this but whats everyone's experiences been like using UK electrical appliances when staying at WDW?

I know that the theory is stepping up the American 110 volts to the UK voltage of 230 volts can be achieved by using a step up transformer but these could be

a. heavy
b. not cheap

Items such as mobile phone chargers, tablet chargers etc can and probably should work with just a simple conversion adapter or would a "usb" style charging unit be more advantageous for multiple charging i.e - 3 mobile phones, 1 tablet, 1 camera etc.

The problem could arise when items with more current carrying equipment such as hair straighteners are used (not for my use as I've as much hair as Bruce Willis ) My wife uses hers everyday and my 2 kids have longish hair and would require a hair dryer.

My question to the board is what have you done in the past when staying at WDW?

Thanks in advance.

 

[2Tiggies]

Here's my solution, not just WDW but anywhere in the US:

1) Take a power strip
2) Take a few visitor adapters
3) All your electronics chargers will be fine
4) Heated appliances (anything to do with hair): Buy it there. Simples

 

[JintyB]

We just take travel adapters and a 4-way extension thing and it works fine. BUT, this year I invested in multi-voltage hair straighteners following 2011 - the year of the frizz!

 

[2Tiggies]

The Disney resort hairdryers are adequate. I leave our hair to dry in the sun (10 minutes) because we use straighteners on them. Not sure if your ladies actually want to style with the hair dryer, but I am happy enough with the ones provided in the rooms

 

[wayneg]

Been going to the US for 20 years, we probably take more gadgets than most people on our trips, 3 laptops, Ipad, 3 MP3 players, 3 cameras, Sat nav......... you get the idea, a lot
In all those trips I have ever had a probelm with 2 items, an old mobile phone(Motorola v220) and this year an electric toothbrush.

99% of electical items sold in the UK are multi voltage, on the item it will say something like 110-230v with just the odd item that says 230v.

No conversion needed, just a basic 99p adapter to fit in US sockets plus a 4 way extension to charge multiple items at once.

Thankfully we don't take anything for our hair.

 

[edinburghlass]

I took one of these this year...

http://www.diy.com/nav/fix/electric...-Surge-With-2-x-USB-Black-12628655?icamp=recs

although I bought in Argos for about £8. Its very light and small and I use two in the house as well.

 

[Elise79]

We also take a lot of gadgets - 2 laptops, 3 iPads, 4 iPhones, 2 or 3 cameras & iPod!

We also have an adapter & 4 way strip.

Even though DD & I both have long hair we just use their hair dryers. Never use straighteners but I believe some are now multi voltage so they would work.

 

[flortlebap]

For what it's worth, all my phone/camera/ipad chargers worked just fine.

I did have a problem with hair dryers and hair straighteners, but now I just make sure I take dual voltage items, as the hair dryer had no power and the straighteners wouldn't heat up

 

[thebadger]

Thanks for the feedback guys, on checking my wife's hair straighteners they are multi voltage and suitable from 110V - 230v. they are ghd and on inspecting the plug top its actually an american plug into a UK standard 3 pin plug

Think ill invest in a usb charging station for the mobiles / tablets etc

 

[Brave5]

If you can get to a Target or Walmart they have international plug adaptors in the travel sections. I paid $35 for one that could charge two items by plug and two by UBS - it was also surge protected. We used it for 4 weeks on the West coast of the US to charge phones, tablets, DSi and laptop. I will check this weekend for the brand name and post back - great little charger!

 

[thebadger]

If you can get to a Target or Walmart they have international plug adaptors in the travel sections. I paid $35 for one that could charge two items by plug and two by UBS - it was also surge protected. We used it for 4 weeks on the West coast of the US to charge phones, tablets, DSi and laptop. I will check this weekend for the brand name and post back - great little charger!

Thanks very much Brave5