Just curious on how functional an iPad would be to bring into the Parks with me on my trip. Are there apps on the iPad that are beneficial or is bringing one into the park a big waste of time and purse space?
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Bringing technology in the Parks
- Thread starter kfergdisney
- Start date
Lord_Vader
Join me, together we can rule the galaxy.
WiFi this summer was spotty for the most part, LTE was much faster, 3G somewhat faster for online activities.
My take on all pads in the parks is that they are a bit bulky and few if any rides have a safe location to stow it as they are too large. A few guests use them to take photos which IMO is not their best trait and holding a brightly backlit ten inch screen above your head to video/photograph something that blocks the view of everyone behind them off-putting.
Last Christmas my wife brought hers to play games on but ended up leaving it in the room most of the time. Using them in room, at your resort/hotel is one thing but in a theme park environment is another.
My take on all pads in the parks is that they are a bit bulky and few if any rides have a safe location to stow it as they are too large. A few guests use them to take photos which IMO is not their best trait and holding a brightly backlit ten inch screen above your head to video/photograph something that blocks the view of everyone behind them off-putting.
Last Christmas my wife brought hers to play games on but ended up leaving it in the room most of the time. Using them in room, at your resort/hotel is one thing but in a theme park environment is another.
Cmdr_Crimson
Well-Known Member
I'm surprised they never brought a My Pal Mickey App for the smartphone...
Bairstow
Well-Known Member
An iPad seems kind of ungainly, but I really enjoyed having my droidphone with me in the park last time.
I used it as my only camera and it did a great job.
Also useful for accessing the Mymagic+ application and reading internet news during boring things like the Countdown to Extinction preshow.
I used it as my only camera and it did a great job.
Also useful for accessing the Mymagic+ application and reading internet news during boring things like the Countdown to Extinction preshow.
TheDisneyMagic
Well-Known Member
Tablets do not belong in Theme Parks, by all means take them on your vacation and use them back at your Hotel / Villa, but they are not suitable for the parks and can
A: get easily broken, B: Highly annoying for other people when being used as a Camera (they don't even have great lenses) and C: Look really stupid.
Save your self the agro and use a phone if you must have that technology fix.
A: get easily broken, B: Highly annoying for other people when being used as a Camera (they don't even have great lenses) and C: Look really stupid.
Save your self the agro and use a phone if you must have that technology fix.
ddrongowski
Well-Known Member
I just got back and WIFI db levels are spotty, the TX/RX rates were only in the 4 to 6Mbps range. Hey they asked us to "test" MM+, etc..., not pander and just blindly say "IT'S MAGICALLY AWESOME!!!"
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ddrongowski
Well-Known Member
If you do not want to experience your trip, then bring it into the parks. What do I mean, well if your on your pad you will not be experiencing the park and thus will not have fulfilling memories of it. Kind of like videoing your trip, your to busy videoing and not "enjoying" your trip.
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ddrongowski
Well-Known Member
I ran db and TX/RX rate tests, the wifi in the parks and dtd is spotty and low speed. At the resorts (AK, POR, and WL) it was usable.
Soarin' Over Pgh
Well-Known Member
I took my iPad mini to the parks with us, as it fit perfectly into the back space of my purse. I used it to take a few quick photos and post to Facebook for friends and family throughout the trip. I didn't use it for email, news, or really anything except posting photos and...err. Smurfs village and finding nemo games 
I didn't have any problems with the wifi in the magic kingdom or at my hotel (Polynesian) but did have problems at Epcot.
Edit, I lied!! I did use it to check wait times, fire works schedules and my reservations! Forgot about that
I didn't have any problems with the wifi in the magic kingdom or at my hotel (Polynesian) but did have problems at Epcot.
Edit, I lied!! I did use it to check wait times, fire works schedules and my reservations! Forgot about that
Disvillain63
Well-Known Member
No smartphone here...we did buy a tablet to use in the parks...took it one day and decided we preferred our usual way of vacationing and touring...hands-free. We don't have facebook accounts, so we don't post online. Not sure if I had an fb account that I'd post while on vacation anyway.
MattC
Well-Known Member
All the iPad apps for the parks are on the iPhone as well. I believe they are all on android too. Save yourself the hassle and worry of losing the iPad and use your phone. If I brought my iPad to the parks I would be paranoid about losing or breaking it all day. Also, wifi in the parks isn't that great, in my experience, so mine wouldn't be that useful.
SyracuseDisneyFan
Well-Known Member
I think I'll bring my iPad with me when I come next May, but just leave it in the room when I go to the parks.
G00fyDad
Well-Known Member
Leave the iPad at home. The amount of these things flying upward at the start of a show or parade to take pictures this past week was awful. It looked like a sea of judges at a talent contest. "I give a 10!" During LMA at DHS the woman in front of us kept yanking her iPad up to take pictures. I asked her nicely to stop since every time she did my son and wife would get their view blocked. (yes, she was holding it up pretty high) She kept ignoring me so I then suggested that she go back and preview some of the awesome shots she was getting of all this action. She tried being discreet about it, but I caught her looking at them in her lap. Blurred. Every one. She didn't bother using the iPad as a camera during the rest of the show. Yes folks, a tablet is not a camera. I don't care how much a person pays for it.
As for the OP's question, the wifi just plain sucks at WDW and I just went during one of the slowest weeks of the year. It was so slow that it would drop the connection at times. And we were sitting still. My LTE worked better.
As for the OP's question, the wifi just plain sucks at WDW and I just went during one of the slowest weeks of the year. It was so slow that it would drop the connection at times. And we were sitting still. My LTE worked better.
mweier
Well-Known Member
I used my iPhone a ton for photos/video and most of all touringplans lines App. Like others have said, the wifi is not pervasive enough (I used cel 3G and LTE).
If you plan to use phone or tablet, be sure you either a)have a break planned to recharge, B) have spare batteries (android only) or C) have a portable battery charger with at least 3000-5000 mAh of juice. We opted for C and were able to charge both our iPhones fully more than once each day. Turning airplane mode on May have helped burn less battery when not using.
The only argument I can follow for bringing a tablet to park is as a distraction for kids during really long lines but a) touring plans kept us from waiting >20 for most things and b)if my my kids can't enjoy the parks without screens there's something wrong.
If you plan to use phone or tablet, be sure you either a)have a break planned to recharge, B) have spare batteries (android only) or C) have a portable battery charger with at least 3000-5000 mAh of juice. We opted for C and were able to charge both our iPhones fully more than once each day. Turning airplane mode on May have helped burn less battery when not using.
The only argument I can follow for bringing a tablet to park is as a distraction for kids during really long lines but a) touring plans kept us from waiting >20 for most things and b)if my my kids can't enjoy the parks without screens there's something wrong.
Susan Savia
Well-Known Member
I got a IPad for Christmas last year and tho I took it to WDW with me, left it secure in the room. I love it for taking pictures as I like the large screen and on most digital cameras the screens are too small for me to see well. This year I'm getting a IPad mini and this will go into the parks with me in February. I could care less what the next person thinks if they see me using it. I do not walk around holding my arms up high to take a picture. I have been in the company of many folks with their cell phones and digital cameras and their hands are held high in the air to snap that picture. And that wouldn't bother me too much except they continue to leave them up to snap away... Oh and I have a heavy duty black cover on my IPad that I purchased at WDW last visit so even if I did drop it, it would be safe. Oh and if it wasn't for my husband lugging around the oldstyle video camera (back in the day) filming the rides, attractions and shows, kids etc., we wouldn't have all the wonderful videos that we have now....Just saying.
Lord_Vader
Join me, together we can rule the galaxy.
IMO, the main problem others have with the larger iPads is when users lift them up high (you stated you don't and that is commendable) and block others behind them and the brightness of the screens at night which are very distracting and take away from others experiences. I personally turn off the screen on my DSLR, on my point and shoot I reduce the screen brightness at night so I don't distract other guests with my usage.