I've been thinking about the gear that I need for my May work trip. Basically I need to have my camera with me, and something to take copious amounts of notes with.
I'm trying to figure out if I should borrow my husband's iPad for my business trip in May. I think it would be awesome to have it to make quick notes and such, but I usually just do that with a pen and paper. Does anyone take an iPad to the Parks with them? Is there an advantage to this over a pen and paper that I'm not thinking of?
I prefer the mde app on the iPad, it seems way less glitchy. But other than that no I wouldn't say there are any benefits taking it to the parks over a good old fashioned note pad.
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I don't do either, but if I did, I'd just use a notepad. In my opinion, it's easier to quickly write something down instead of typing on an iPad. And there's no spellcheck, which as I'm sure you're aware, can sometimes have a mind of its own! 
I agree with the notepad. So much quicker and easier to grab and write on and MUCH lighter. Lugging an ipad around and worrying about losing it would suck some fun out it for me.
it's easier to quickly write something down instead of typing on an iPad. And there's no spellcheck, which as I'm sure you're aware, can sometimes have a mind of its own!
Good points! And sometimes my notes are more drawn than written. I thought maybe the camera would be useful, but I'll have my actual camera so maybe not so much.
Just please don't take photos with it.
I guarantee I'll see some clown walking around holding an iPad Pro above their head taking photos in a couple of weeks. 
Hahaha - right? I always end up taking a lot of photos of signs and stuff, and I thought maybe it would work for that. The more y'all talk it out with me though the more I think I'll just do it the way I always have with my Nikon and a pen and paper.
I don't disagree that a notepad would be just as easy, but there are things you can do on an iPad that you cannot do with a notepad and pen. I've never taken mine to WDW, but I do use mine for work a lot. I take or upload photos and make notes right on top of them. (I hate taking photos with it, but there are situations when it's appropriate and ways to do it without annoying everyone around you!)
And you don't have to type on an iPad if you prefer writing. You just need a stylus and the right apps 
My gripe is really when people hold the iPad above their head and then block whatever it is they're taking a photo of from the people behind them. I see it all the time at WDW. But it does look a bit ridiculous too especially with the larger tablets. Now with the 13" iPad, it's even more hilarious. It's like holding a laptop in the air to take a "selfie". Then again, I used to walk around with a ghetto blaster on my shoulder back in the day. LOL.
I think that the iPad would be cumbersome to take notes on while walking around the park. I love mine for recounting the events of the day once I return to the room, but I never take it to the park. It's just too big to carry around all day. Though I do love that for my purposes, it's powerful enough to be a laptop replacement in the room. It's been a lifesaver when work tries to butt into my vacation. 
I've even submitted real estate contracts from it!
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Trip Reports:
December 2013: 10th Anniversary, 1st DVC Stay | April 2014: Birthday on the Boardwalk | May 2014: Star Wars Weekend, Navigating WDW with a wheelchair | August 2014: Villains Unleashed | September/October 2014: MNSSHP, F&W, Tower of Terror 10-miler | March/April 2015: Disneyland and California Coastal Cruise | November 2015: Wine & Dine Half, Food & Wine, 1st Disney Cruise | February 2016: Presidential Classic Gymnastics Meet | March 2016: "Work" Trip, Tours, F&G Festival | April 2016: Conference at Disneyland | Fall 2016: Festive Fall Fun | January 2017: Festival of the Arts | May 2017: AbD Backstage Magic | July 2017: AbD San Francisco | Sorry I had to give up doing trip reports. Too many time commitments right now.
I agree, iPads as cameras are obnoxious.
I love pen and paper. Before my final plans are put on the computer, everything is on paper. Reservations, FP selections, ADRs, you name it. If I felt like carrying it all around I would. I feel like I can organize it better that way. Once it's all in MDE as I want it, it's all the phone app once we arrive.
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"It seems to me that we have a lot of story yet to tell."
Thanks so much everyone!
I took an iPad not so much for notes but to play silly games if a queue was long. I prefer a pad and pen for notes, phone for camera and iPad for games and such. That said it also depends on how much I want to carry each day. iPad was the 1st to leave in the safe if I wanted to travel light.
Hate people taking photos/videos with iPads, kills the view for everyone around and the light is so bright it really really bugs me.
Do you have a smart-phone that you'll be carrying with you? I put all my notes into the inbuilt Notes app on my iPhone, but there are others like Evernote you can get for more organised note taking. Quick, easy, compact, no chance of the pen running out or needing a surface to lean on, and I always have a portable charger with me so I know I won't run out of juice either!
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Do you have a smart-phone that you'll be carrying with you? I put all my notes into the inbuilt Notes app on my iPhone, but there are others like Evernote you can get for more organised note taking. Quick, easy, compact, no chance of the pen running out or needing a surface to lean on, and I always have a portable charger with me so I know I won't run out of juice either!
I do, which is another reason I'm thinking I don't need the iPad. I'm going to pick up a better spare battery for it and that should take care of things.
