Walt Disney World: It's Not Just for Kids

Sorry for the lack of substance lately. I have been planning, packing, etc! Anyway, I was in New York last weekend, and had a great time. However, I went to take a picture of my meal, and realized the flash on my camera had died. As such, I picked up a new camera (the Canon SD1300). It’s got better megapixels than my old one, it also has a face self-timer option. I really look forward to using this with my xshot (I’m also looking forward to using my XShot
as a monopod to try to get photos of the old Hard Rock Cafe).  Anyway, my new camera came with a new battery and charger, so I was adding it to my charger bag.  As such, my charger bag will hold my laptop charger, my camera battery charger, my mini-surge protector, USB iPod cable (although I have been known to kick it old-school and bring my firewire cable and charger), cell charger, and external battery for phone.  

Given the amount of tech chargers I’m bringing, the topic of tech is the parks came to me.  Tech in the parks kind of has two schools of thought:  the people who embrace tech in the parks with open arms, and those who fall into what I will call the “unplug and vacation” school of thought. While frequently people in the “unplug and vacation” camp play the “people should spend time with their kids” card, I think that this can also be hurled at adults touring the parks.  Of course, the contrarian in me is tempted to reply to the unplug and vacation people that I’m an adult, I paid for my own vacation, if I choose to stay plugged in I can do so.  However, in my opinion using technology in the parks has other perks.

The obvious one is that having your camera or smartphone on you enables you to capture vacation memories.  You can also use twitter and your foursquare checkins as a way of keeping track of what you did on your vacation when you get home. I also store my ADR numbers on my phone in its calender (with both my smart and messaging phones).  You can also keep track of your party via talk or text.  On our trip in 2002, before everyone carried a cell phone, we lost my dad in the Animal Kingdom.  He opted to go see Tarzan Rocks rather than go to our meet up location.  I was the only member in our party that had a phone (Oh, my Nokia 5165, may you rest in peace).  We tried calling our hotel room, but my dad was not there (I also had to pay a roaming fee as I was outside of New England).  We eventually found my dad, but it would have been a lot easier had he had a cell phone.  If you decide to use your phone as a phone, you can also make ADR adjustments on the fly.  I have yet to try using a mobile app in the parks (I have Ride Hopper on my phone), but I think the ability to check wait times would behoove everyone.

I’ll admit it-I bring my iPod into the parks with me.  I don’t usually listen to it on the bus or walking around the parks, but I do like it for listening when I am in queues.  As my iPod is usually turned to Disney Podcasts, it seems pretty meta.  While in the Toy Story Midway Mania queue last year, I was listening to Rikki’s audio and heard her sing the praises of Captain Cook’s Adult Grilled Cheese.  I ended up going there for lunch and getting that, LOL.

So in addition to chargers, I am also accompanied by other tech accessories.  My xshot is joined in my park bag with my gorilla pod.  I also have a couple of memory cards on me.  I have a digital camcorder, but truth be told it’s not used that much-it was $40, so it’s not exactly high tech.

Do you bring tech into the parks?  Why or why not?

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