How does the WiFi work at BWV?

[PaulaMurf]

Is it only available in the lobby? Is there any way to get it in your room? I know you pay by the 24 hours, do you just call the front desk and get a code to login to the network??

Thanks, we leave on Thursday :banana: and I completely forgot to find this out!

Paula in CT

[BCV23]

High speed internet but not WiFi is in the rooms. There should be a cable in the bedroom closet. You just click on accept terms and you should be good to go....no need to call the desk.

[PaulaMurf]

I thought I had read someplace that there was wireless. My laptop is configured for wireless only. UGH

[DrShifty]

I think that there is wireless internet in the lobby. Not in the rooms- only ethernet cables.

[bigsmooth]

Take a short walk to the Swan or Dolphin. I do know they have wireless in the lobby (or at least they used to). Although BWV could have wireless in the lobby like someone else mentioned, I've never checked that.

And if BWV does not have wireless in the lobby, check and see if there is a trade show in the BW convention center, bound to be a few free signals emanating from it. Perhaps lounging at the quiet pool back on the hotel side would reach a few of those signals. :-)

[PaulaMurf]

I will be on the look out for signals... I will just need to check emails from my work account each night, so, will be out there lurking for a wifi...LOL

THANKS

[kidsister]

So help me out with this....if I have a laptop with WiFi and I go someplace quiet (like that pool:goodvibes ) and I find a signal, does that mean it is FREE?

[bigsmooth]

So help me out with this....if I have a laptop with WiFi and I go someplace quiet (like that pool:goodvibes ) and I find a signal, does that mean it is FREE?

Not necessarily. Many signals are locked down and will either require a user name/password or will require you to register for fee based access. My comment before about looking for a trade show is that many times trade shows offer free wifi to attendees, and will be broadcasting pretty strong in the immediate vicinity. So if you are close enough you may be able to pick up the signal. Of course there may be some security risks for just trying any unsecured signal when you are not aware of who's providing the access. Using VPN software to protect work based information exchanges can help (if you are logging on to check email for example).

[SuzanneSLO]

I thought I had read someplace that there was wireless. My laptop is configured for wireless only. UGH

I am no techie, but it would surprise me if your laptop only had a wireless modem and was not configured with a modem that could be be used for dial-up or broadband. You might double check with your IT people at work.

Best of luck and have a great trip. -- Suzanne

[Monte Cristo]

I am here at BWV now and tried to just start up my computer and see what it picks up. It did pick up a few wireless signals and one was called Free Public Wifi. All of the connections had one bar and it wouldn't let me connect to the "Free" one. I called the front desk to ask if free wifi was available in the lobby as I heard it was and they said no. Now twice I've been walking through the lobby and have seen the same man with his computer sitting in one of the chairs doing somethin. That by no means says he was on the internet, but it's possible.

I just grabbed the network cable from the closet and plugged in. It is 9.95 for 24 hours, but I can expense it through work!

MC

[PaulaMurf]

There was a Free Public WiFi available - at least in our room - we were very close to the lobby/front of the hotel, so it MAY have been from the convention center.

There is also High Speed access in each room through a LAN

AND there is WiFi in the lobby, pool area, community hall for $9.95 per 24 hours (I think the same cost as using it in your room)

So, I was able to wirelessly check email as DS went down the slide a zillion times!

(and, my computer really is wifi only, weird, I know, but its how we do everything!)

Thanks everyone, and I hope my update helps anyone on the way soon!

[Boston5602]

Thanks for updating us , and letting us know what you found!

[Simba's Mom]

There was a Free Public WiFi available - at least in our room - we were very close to the lobby/front of the hotel, so it MAY have been from the convention center.

There is also High Speed access in each room through a LAN

AND there is WiFi in the lobby, pool area, community hall for $9.95 per 24 hours (I think the same cost as using it in your room)

So, I was able to wirelessly check email as DS went down the slide a zillion times!

(and, my computer really is wifi only, weird, I know, but its how we do everything!)

Thanks everyone, and I hope my update helps anyone on the way soon!
OK, this may be a very dumb question, but then I'm VERY computer-illiterate: if I sign up for 24 hours of WiFi for $9.95, and I'm at the pool when I do it, do I have to go to the pool whenever I want to use the WiFi? Or will I be able to use it at all 3 places-the lobby, pool, and community hall during those 24 hours? I just got my first laptop with WiFi, so I'm learning.

[kidsister]

I'm like you Simba's Mom..well, almost, I don'[t have the computer yet..but I am interested in how you use the wifi installed in your computer. Actually I'm off to call about buying said computer RIGHT NOW! So I'll come back and hope you've gotten an answer...It's tuff to be computer illiterate, isn't it?:goodvibes

[barrie]

Here's some great info on WiFi at the resorts and around the Orlando area from DIS: http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/Resorts/wireless.htm

[DVC Grammy]

My DH used the cable in our room at the BWV last month and he found it v-e-r-y s-l-o-w..........lots of cussin' in frustration!

[PaulaMurf]

OK, this may be a very dumb question, but then I'm VERY computer-illiterate: if I sign up for 24 hours of WiFi for $9.95, and I'm at the pool when I do it, do I have to go to the pool whenever I want to use the WiFi? Or will I be able to use it at all 3 places-the lobby, pool, and community hall during those 24 hours? I just got my first laptop with WiFi, so I'm learning.


A good question actually!! It was the same WiFi Server at all 3 locations. I just wish they would expand it to the guest rooms too, otherwise, it was plenty fast, not any compliants here!

[Simba's Mom]

A good question actually!! It was the same WiFi Server at all 3 locations. I just wish they would expand it to the guest rooms too, otherwise, it was plenty fast, not any compliants here!
Thanks so much!

[donmil723]

Dumb question so bear with me. I took a laptop with WiFi capability to VWL with me this week and when using it while on dial-up, a window would pop up saying there was WiFi available but it asked for my WEP number. What is a WEP number? We do not subscribe to any wireless network. In fact, we live in such a rural area that we can only get dial-up or satellite internet service.

Thanks!

Donna

[MickeyCrazed]

It means that someone near you had a secure wireless connection. (Meaning they brought their own wireless router, and connected it to ethernet outlet in their room to create the wireless connetion.)
You would need to know their code in order to log on to use their signal.

[donmil723]

OK. That makes sense. Thanks for the quick reply.

Donna

[MomWith2Cinderellas]

My DH used the cable in our room at the BWV last month and he found it v-e-r-y s-l-o-w..........lots of cussin' in frustration!
My husband works for an IT firm. After doing research this is what my husband found when researching the Swan, Dolphin, and BW. The term "high speed" internet access is a facade. Those 3 hotels the (Swan Dolphin and BW) get there internet access from the same vendor. After analyzing the "high speed internet" he found that the speed and duplex of the internet traffic is 10 MB half duplex. Most places (hotels, offices, homes) that have true broadband internet connectivity have a speed and duplex of 100 MB full duplex. Basically, at the Dolphin, Swan and BW you have to change your computer's Ethernet card's speed and duplex setting from "Auto" to "10 MB half duplex". The broadband internet speed test conducted at these 3 resorts resulted in no better than an unstable 56K dial up connection. VPN is almost impossible at these 3 resorts. My husband even nixed entertaining a sales conference at the BW because supporting 400 people who cannot VPN into the company network is not an option. As atrocious as the accommodations were at the CBR, my husband found there internet connectivity to be spectacular.
Having just typed what he asked me to, I still love the BW and plan to return again!

[HowGrumpy]

WEP = Wired Equivalent Privacy, a wireless network security standard. The popup window was asking for the required security key that the wireless host had set on its access point (broadcast router/hub). I suppose if you really wanted to get fancy or you had more than one laptop in your party to support, you could bring a wireless hub and plug that into the resort's LAN port. But you probably need some practice to set that up!!!! I'm sure I could waste a couple of my precious vacation hours messing around with that the 1st time!

I recently used the in-room wired connection at OKW and it worked fine--I didn't do a speed test or anything. But, having done dial-up @ $.75 a call several years ago, it was a vast improvement. Plus, you can time your email sessions so you can use your 24-hr window every OTHER day.

Though I'm not surprised, I find it discouraging that WDW would have different quality/speed data services at the different resorts. I hope they get all of them "up to speed" and equivalent sooner than later.

[jco_direwolf]

Let me start with I've never used any connection though a Disney Resort. The only connection I've used is my cellphone bonded with my laptop.

I use to work for BBNPlanet/Genuity in Network Operations as a system engineer so I know a bit about how the internet is knitted together.

My husband works for an IT firm. After analyzing the "high speed internet" he found that the speed and duplex of the internet traffic is 10 MB half duplex. Most places (hotels, offices, homes) that have true broadband internet connectivity have a speed and duplex of 100 MB full duplex.

The speed of your ethernet connection has nothing to with the other links. I don't know what he did as far as testing. For instance my home broadband connection is 6mb/s (megabits) per second, but the broadband adapter (aka the modem) has a 100mb/s ethernet on it. Each "hop" can have a different speed faster (normaly) as you get toward the tier one providers or slower as you get toward leaves.

TCP is tolerant of dropped packets, so for the most part it doesn't matter which way the speed goes.

Lots of things can cause a problems with setting up a VPN. Depending on what "flavor" of VPN it is, some have problems with Network Address Translation (NAT). Also there could have been a problem with what ever peering point they go though to get back to where he was landing the VPN. You would need atleast some traceroutes to figure this out. Also looking at Nanog would tell you about any network issues.

Basically, at the Dolphin, Swan and BW you have to change your computer's Ethernet card's speed and duplex setting from "Auto" to "10 MB half duplex".

That could be for two reasons. First off they could have old equipment that doesn't do Auto-neg (I sorta doubt this and 10MB hdx is what the card should default to if it doesn't see the auto-neg stuff.) Second it could be the first step in the "problem" script.

The broadband internet speed test conducted at these 3 resorts resulted in no better than an unstable 56K dial up connection. VPN is almost impossible at these 3 resorts. My husband even nixed entertaining a sales conference at the BW because supporting 400 people who cannot VPN into the company network is not an option. As atrocious as the accommodations were at the CBR, my husband found there internet connectivity to be spectacular.
Having just typed what he asked me to, I still love the BW and plan to return again!

They could be rate limiting each connection or the aggarate of all the customers. Finaly, most hotels have an event services group which can add bandwidth. I've worked on a number of high bandwidth uses conferances, and for the last 10 years or so we've been able to get pretty much as much bandwidth as we needed.

Usenix Annual Tech has 1000-1300 people and pretty much EVERYONE has a laptop all the time.

johno

[jco_direwolf]

WEP = Wired Equivalent Privacy, a wireless network security standard.

Yea with a MegaBytes(MB) of traffic, and the right software you can find the key. WiFi Protected Access (WPA) is the new standard.

I suppose if you really wanted to get fancy or you had more than one laptop in your party to support, you could bring a wireless hub and plug that into the resort's LAN port. But you probably need some practice to set that up!!!! I'm sure I could waste a couple of my precious vacation hours messing around with that the 1st time!


Several vendors make products just for this, travel router/APs. Because lots of us don't like being tied to the desk in the room. I'd rather be sitting up in bed.

johno

[DVC Grammy]

My husband works for an IT firm. After doing research this is what my husband found when researching the Swan, Dolphin, and BW. The term "high speed" internet access is a facade. Those 3 hotels the (Swan Dolphin and BW) get there internet access from the same vendor. After analyzing the "high speed internet" he found that the speed and duplex of the internet traffic is 10 MB half duplex. Most places (hotels, offices, homes) that have true broadband internet connectivity have a speed and duplex of 100 MB full duplex. Basically, at the Dolphin, Swan and BW you have to change your computer's Ethernet card's speed and duplex setting from "Auto" to "10 MB half duplex". The broadband internet speed test conducted at these 3 resorts resulted in no better than an unstable 56K dial up connection. VPN is almost impossible at these 3 resorts. My husband even nixed entertaining a sales conference at the BW because supporting 400 people who cannot VPN into the company network is not an option. As atrocious as the accommodations were at the CBR, my husband found there internet connectivity to be spectacular.
Having just typed what he asked me to, I still love the BW and plan to return again!

I thank you so much for the explanation, but I have no idea what you said :rotfl: ! I can't speak a word of "computerese" :sad2: . I leave all foreign languages to my DH..French, German, and Computer :teeth: and he leaves the "better" English to me :laughing: !

[HowGrumpy]

Several vendors make products just for this, travel router/APs. Because lots of us don't like being tied to the desk in the room. I'd rather be sitting up in bed.
Luckily, I don't have to do much travel for work on a regular basis anymore. Thanks for the update--a travel router/AP doesn't sound practical for me for once or twice a year vacation travel where I might check email every other day. I agree with you; I'd rather be in bed or out on a balcony, too.