Safe to bring a laptop?

[BenS]

I have a new IBM Thinkpad notebook. I'd really like to bring it on my next trip (TOMORROW!!!!! :sohappy: :sohappy: :sohappy: :sohappy: ). The only problem is that I'm worried about it being stolen by house keeping. We're staying at the Rennisanace (sp?) Gate Hotel on our first night, but that doesn't matter because we're not going to the park that day, so I'll never be away from it. For the next 4 nights we're staying at the All-Star Sports (It's actually my family that's worried about it, I trust Disney). So I have two questions:

1. Are things often stolen from Disney hotel rooms?

2. Can my laptop fit in the room safe (to be safe, let's say it's 17")

Thanks. I'd really like to bring my laptop with for nights when the park hours make it so there's still a good three hours before I go to bed.

 

[DMC-12]

Greetings from another IBM Thinkpad notebook owner! :sohappy: :wave:

I always bring mine... but, I dont think its going to fit in the safe at All-Star. What I did was just lock mine up in my luggage... and it was fine there. Or... just put it in your dresser... not nearly as safe... but at least its not out in the open.

Oh and if you have a mouse... hide that to!!... Housekeeping.. I am almost certain... broke my mouse the other week... it was an expensive optical one... and I left it on the table in my room.. when I came back later that night... it was busted.

Other than that.. you should be fine... no one has ever messed with mine. :wave:

 

[BRER STITCH]

Hey BENS!! :wave:

DMC-12 had the right idea!

I have to travel EVERYWHERE with my laptop for work, and I've found the best solution to keeping it safe is to put it in it's case and lock it inside of your luggage.

If you don't have a carrying case for it, you could always wrap it in towels and lock it in your luggage in case then cleaners knock your bag over with the vaccuum or something.

It will NOT fit in the room safe.

HAVE A GREAT TRIP!!!

 

[Mitzer]

I agree. We always either lock ours in our luggage or if we are driving, we lock it in the trunk of our car. I haven't ever heard of anyone having anything stolen, but better safe then sorry. Have a safe and fantastic trip...wish I was leaving tomorrow.

 

[BenS]

Thanks for all the advice. I guess I'll lock it in my luggage.

 

[pax_65]

If Possible, Leave It Home!

I realize that sometimes you have to "stay connected" to work on vacation, but if at all possible, I'd encourage people to leave their cell-phones and laptops behind.

I've done Disney both ways, and I can tell you the "magic" and relaxation that comes from escaping into a world of fantasy is a lot more effective if you can leave the real world behind.

Our next trip (in May), I hope to be able to leave a message on my voicemail, put an auto-reply on my e-mail, notify everyone I'm leaving, give NOBODY from work any way to contact me and only check voicemail once (ok, maybe twice) during the trip.

Now THAT is relaxation!

 

[jojoyner55]

If you don't mind advice from an Apple kinda guy: I have taken my PowerBooks on trips in 1999 and last July and left them in the room (locked in a bag) with no problems. I took it last time because I downloaded my digital pictures every day (instant gratification). I have a brand new 12" G4 PowerBook that will go with me in December for our Christmas trip this year. I don't worry about leaving it (out of sight) in the room at a Disney resort. I think Disney would come down real hard on staff who stole.

 

[BenS]

Originally posted by jojoyner55
I downloaded my digital pictures every day (instant gratification).

That's what I'm planning to do! Yes sir, if all goes right you folks will be getting live updates from WDW with pictures.

 

[frazierle]

From yet another Thinkpad owner, I've leave the laptop on the table most of the time and it has not been messed with. I'm not sure who your provider is but no high speed access in the rooms and I have had problems with dial up for whatever reason.

 

[Pioneer Hall]

We brought ours and had no problem, so I don't think that you will either. Housekeeping won't touch it (as long as you tip them...lol).

 

[mikedvcmember]

i always have my laptop and i never hide it. i really dont think you will have a problem with HK. the past 3 times i have been there they havent even moved it if i left it out.

 

[wdwjmp239]

Originally posted by BenS
I have a new IBM Thinkpad notebook. I'd really like to bring it on my next trip (TOMORROW!!!!! :sohappy: :sohappy: :sohappy: :sohappy: ). The only problem is that I'm worried about it being stolen by house keeping. We're staying at the Rennisanace (sp?) Gate Hotel on our first night, but that doesn't matter because we're not going to the park that day, so I'll never be away from it. For the next 4 nights we're staying at the All-Star Sports (It's actually my family that's worried about it, I trust Disney). So I have two questions:

1. Are things often stolen from Disney hotel rooms?

2. Can my laptop fit in the room safe (to be safe, let's say it's 17")

Thanks. I'd really like to bring my laptop with for nights when the park hours make it so there's still a good three hours before I go to bed.

I have brought a Compaq Presario laptop to Disney with me before only because I do alot of programming and Access Database Development for clients of mine and sometimes I want to catch up on my work. Soooooooooooooooooo.... yeah, you can bring a laptop with you and at the All-Star resorts, its pretty safe to keep the laptop in the room.

Then, I had gone back with a Macintosh iBook and walked into the Epcot with it. Yeah, I got some really weird looks from the security guard when he asked "What's with the laptop?" Then, when I told him I was writing a "Things To See and Do Guide For Disney" (like there aren't enough of these travel guides out there already), he let me in.

Oh by the way.. the Macintosh iBook has a built in wireless card and it did detect a signal. The internet connection was quite fast.

If you sit outside the electric umbrella with the laptop, you'll get a decent signal. Happy Surfing

LOL

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

If you're concerned about the safety of your laptop then its suggests that you have reservations about it being stolen............which leads to my question :- Why would you want to take it on holiday with you ?
Aren't there enough things to occupy your time at WDW without the need of a computer ? Can't the downloading of the digital phots be done when you get home ?
While I'm sure that Disney has an excellent vetting program for the selection of staff (and I'm not suggesting or implying that anyone at WDW is dishonest) but, if a person employed to clean your room (who relies on gratuities to make up their wage) comes across a laptop worth $1000 (???) how tempted would you be ?

 

[DMC-12]

Re: Re: Safe to bring a laptop?

Originally posted by ntn_haqqer
Oh by the way.. the Macintosh iBook has a built in wireless card and it did detect a signal. The internet connection was quite fast.

If you sit outside the electric umbrella with the laptop, you'll get a decent signal. Happy Surfing

LOL

wow... very Cool... thanks! I have to keep that in mind.. I need to get a wireless card

 

[wdwjmp239]

Originally posted by CAPTAIN HOOK
If you're concerned about the safety of your laptop then its suggests that you have reservations about it being stolen............which leads to my question :- Why would you want to take it on holiday with you ?
Aren't there enough things to occupy your time at WDW without the need of a computer ? Can't the downloading of the digital phots be done when you get home ?
While I'm sure that Disney has an excellent vetting program for the selection of staff (and I'm not suggesting or implying that anyone at WDW is dishonest) but, if a person employed to clean your room (who relies on gratuities to make up their wage) comes across a laptop worth $1000 (???) how tempted would you be ?

I said I don't use the laptop for digital photos. I use it for programming and at night when I'm in my room, I'll tinker on the laptop for about 30 mins or so just to test and debug programs. Then, I'll put the laptop away and get some sleep.

 

[BenS]

Well, I'm back. And I didn't bring my laptop. I decided it wasn't worth the risk. I did just upload my photos now, though and I'll upload them ASAP.

 

[TomDisney]

Originally posted by CAPTAIN HOOK
If you're concerned about the safety of your laptop then its suggests that you have reservations about it being stolen............which leads to my question :- Why would you want to take it on holiday with you ?

I've had to take my laptop to Disney because I'm there on business! (ha!) Had a convention to go to at the Contemporary for a week and since work was paying for it (suckers!), I had to have my laptop to actually do work in the evenings and go through e-mail, blah, blah, blah....

Bottom line tho, I always left it out while I was at the Magic King...uh, I mean the convention, and never had a problem! :lol:

 

[Maria]

Originally posted by BenS
Well, I'm back. And I didn't bring my laptop. I decided it wasn't worth the risk. I did just upload my photos now, though and I'll upload them ASAP.

That´s it? You are back already? That was fast! Welcome back! :wave:

 

[BenS]

Originally posted by Maria
That´s it? You are back already? That was fast! Welcome back! :wave:

Yeah. Short trip. Fun though.

 

[maelstrom]

Originally posted by BenS
Well, I'm back. And I didn't bring my laptop. I decided it wasn't worth the risk. I did just upload my photos now, though and I'll upload them ASAP.

And here I was all set to tell you about when I brought my laptop. Heh. Well I brought it with me (I stayed at the Caribbean Beach). I kept it locked in it's case, and it was just fine. I won't be bringing it with me in May, though. It was a pain to cart around just so I could do the digital photo thing. Oh, and play DJ during the car ride down. I made cd's this time.