Will my iPad be safe in the parks??

[FaerieFire]

We had ours with us on our arrival day on our last trip, because our room wasn't ready yet, so I couldn't lock it in the safe. The CM checking bags cringed at how heavy my bag was, and my shoulder was already getting stiff from the extra weight. It doesn't weigh a lot in-hand, but it adds a ton to a bag. I got a locker at the front of the park and left it in there, and while I was a little concerned about it being safe in there, I would really not have wanted to have taken it with me, between the weight and risk of damaging it. I do have an iPhone for the apps, and, honestly, the camera on the iPad isn't so tremendously much better than the 3GS that I think the tradeoffs are worth it. If you're uploading photos to Facebook, etc., great quality won't matter, and if you're wanting keepsakes, I'd just carry a separate compact camera and upload them later. Even the 4S camera lacks a little compared to a decent point-and-shoot. I would not opt to take the iPad with me for use in the parks unless you have a very, very good reason.

°o° Lace — Planning our second WDW adventure, 11/1-12 AoA-LM (Sent from my iPad using DISBoards)

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

Personally I wouldn't want to lug it around, but I imagine if you have a big ziplock bag (to make sure it stays dry on rides that you and your stuff might get a bit wet) and an OtterBox case it should be OK.

 

[luvthemouse71]

I take my iPad on trips but only use it back at the resort..I use my iPhone in the parks.

 

[BeveMom]

We have brought an iPad to the parks because my youngest DD does not speak and the iPad is her communication device.
It was in a protective case and when she was not using it I had it in my purse (pretty big purse).

Even though it only weighs 1 1/2 pounds, that will seem like a huge weight by the end of the day. For us it's much better than her other communication device which weighed almost 5 pounds.

The new iPad takes better pictures than the iPad 2, but neither of them take such good pictures that I would go without a camera. Besides that since they are so large it's really awkward to take pictures with them. My iPhone does very take good pictures and I have sometimes taken pictures with that instead of the camera.

I have not compared side to side but it doesn't look to me like the Disney app is any different on the iPad, just bigger.

I've been wondering about that - my 5yo DS uses a communication program on the iPad (Proloquo) as well, but I wasn't thinking about having him use my iphone instead. Even with the otterbox, he's not always careful...

 

[SueM in MN]

I've been wondering about that - my 5yo DS uses a communication program on the iPad (Proloquo) as well, but I wasn't thinking about having him use my iphone instead. Even with the otterbox, he's not always careful...

My DD uses Proloquo2Go.
We had it on an iPod touch in a speaker case, but she has fine motor problems and had a lot of difficulty with the little buttons. Her MK page had 3 screens. This is screen 2:

The iPad is better size for her.

 

[B-Ride]

Last week we saw a guy using an iPad with a shattered screen to take pictures on Dumbo. Not sure it happened at Disney but either way it looked like a pretty expensive door stop at that point.

 

[MouseEarsForAll]

At various functions i see more and more ipads popping up and being used as cameras. Does anyone use a real camera anymore? Its now odd to see a real digital camera being used today. Its all cell phones. I was at a special function for incoming students to dental school. I saw someone taking a picture with their 5 year old flip phone.

I think the biggest issue with "what is the best camera to take?" is how easy is it to use. Yes ipads supposedly take wonderful pictures but how easy is it for you to take it out and grab that special once in a life time pic.

I'm always using my iPod touch for photos now (which aren't that bad), and I haven't used the digital camera in a WHILE...

- MouseEarsForAll

 

[newdeal]

Just bring your phone, i dont even bring my smartphone to the parks and i certainly wouldnt bring my ipad. If you dont want to bring your 3gs then buy a used iphone 4 on craigslist and then resell it once you are done. Although as a previous poster indicated the new iphone should be announced on the 12th and available shortly after

 

[My2Pixies]

I took my iPad with me to Florida this past month but it stayed nice and secure in the hotel room safe. I mainly used it for the wifi in the room, and it was nice to not have to lug my laptop there. I can't imagine toting it around the parks, as much as I love it it's too big and cumbersome. I took my digital camera and it fits perfectly in my wristlet, which is about all I want to have to carry around the parks!

I did however see many guests carrying around their iPads and using them for picture taking. Most had the Otterbox cover on them. To each their own!

 

[juliebug1997]

ok thanks! The reason i wanted to take an ipad rather than just my iphone is I thourght the app on the ipad had more to offer. Also, I only have the iPhone 3Gs so the photo quality is poor. Fingered crossed for the iphone 5 before Oct 1st!

But I can see why taking an iPad is not a great idea now!

Thanks for ur help

Someone else may have already said this, but we were in the Apple Store yesterday getting DH a new iPhone and it looks like there will be an announcement on Sept. 12th and they should be in stores around Sept. 20th. This what two Apple employees told us and my DH read it on some Apple rumor site he reads all the time.

 

[Georgi Zhukov]

All of this depends on the individual. I have taken my iPad into the parks many times for work - I occasionally have the need to access my work computer while on vacation and it's much easier doing this on my iPad than my iPhone. I don't do this while walking around the park - I'll wait until we are sitting at a table for lunch. My point was if you have to or prefer to bring it in it's most likely going to survive the day just fine as long as you take some precautions - the same thing goes for any gadget you bring in.

An iPad is no more heavy, awkward, or fragile (or expensive for that matter) than a good quality DSL camera or video camera and the parks are full of people walking around with those. It's actually easier carrying the iPad since it's flat and slides into a backpack or bag very nicely.

I've not seen anyone walking the parks while playing Angry Birds on their iPads - they have usually stopped their group to take a few pictures or shoot some video. If you have the iPhone 4S and the iPad I agree 100% that you should leave the iPad in the room and use the iPhone - unless you have a good reason to carry the iPad. But someone who may not have a good quality cell phone camera (like the 4S) that prefers to bring the iPad instead of their regular camera and/or video camera is far from "weird".

Bottom line is do what is best for you.

 

[dawnhaze]

But someone who may not have a good quality cell phone camera (like the 4S) that prefers to bring the iPad instead of their regular camera and/or video camera is far from "weird".

Unless they have the new (3rd generation) iPad, which actually has a good camera... Yeah, they're pretty weird. The camera on the iPad 2 was pretty terrible - less than one megapixel. The camera in the iPhone 4 was better than the camera in the iPad 2. Heck, the 3GS had a 3 megapixel camera. I think the Palm Treo I had in 2009 probably had a better camera than the iPad 2.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

I saw a lolt of people with iPads a few weeks ago. I won't take mine because of the size. Most people were using it as a camera / videocam . If you are really worried, get the Otterbox defender. I have them for my iPad and iPhone. I love them.

I believe the iPhone 5 (if they even call it that) will be out on September 21st

And IF you are the person using your iPad as a camera, when you look in the mirror a flashing sign should appear

"RUDE RUDE RUDE"

Sorry, but using a glowing 9" screen as a camera is rude. It blocks other peoples view and during nighttime events it is INCREDIBLY distracting. If you can afford an iPad you can afford a camera. Don't be surprised when people complain to you because you are being RUDE!

Of course there is always justice. Last time I was at MK there was a woman using her iPad during the fireworks. Somehow she dropped the thing and it shattered.... I admit I didn't really feel sorry for her as she carried on hysterically about how it was ruined.

 

[disneyfanlincoln]

I wouldn't take my iPad to the park. Theyre too big and bulky, too easy to get smashed, take too much worrying about on rides. I much prefer to use my phone or compact camera, both can be put in a pocket or wristlet for ultimate ease of carriage, just my humble opinion, I've seen loads of people with their iPads in the parks who I'm sure would say I'm wrong.