AOL access at WDW DVCs

[DoeWDW]

Didn't know what board to post this on, but we DVC'ers are at WDW more than anyone else I know, so....

I've got cable modem access at home, as well as an AOL $15 a month account (bring your own access). When we go to BCV, I'll have to use a dial-up connection direct to AOL.

I'm thinking I should just get one of AOL's free trial CDs and use that to access my AOL account while in WDW. Has anyone else done this? I know it will be slow, but we gotta stay connected...

[SlyHubby]

you can't use an AOL free trial to access your account.

if you access your account which is a non-dialup over a dial-up, then you will get billed at the hourly dial-up rate for your usage.

if you use the free trial, you will need to create a new screen name, provide a credit card (even though they won't bill it - you know their whole story about how you have to call to cancel within 30 days, etc., etc.).

what I would do - I think the hourly dial-up charge is $3.95 vs. the unlimited monthly fee of $21 (or something like that). if you think you'll use less than 5 or 6 hours, just pay the hourly usage. if you think you'll go over 5 or 6 hours, if you're not going in the next week or so, just change your AOL billing to the unlimited monthly for one billing period. if you change it now, it takes effect with your next billing period. use it on your trip, then change it back to your current plan when you get home - so you only get billed for the one month of dial-in (you would still have your cablemodem access as well during that time). there is a local AOL number in Orlando which is a free call from the DVC resorts.

you could always get a free trial from MSN, Earthlink or other dial-up ISP if you want to spend a small amount of time installing (the MSN install is fast and it does it all on its own). Then when you dial in through them, you can use your AOL BYO access without any additional charges. We've done this previously on MSN. But, again, you'll need to sign up with a credit card and then call to cancel later.

although we have broadband at home (satellite) we still pay AOL the higher dial-in flat rate - so we can have "free" dial-in when away, and when the weather is bad and the satellite is hosed.

[buzz5985]

With Bring Your Own Access, I think you get 5 hours of free dial up. I'm not sure. I use my palm pilot for mail, so I can't really surf the web. I just download my mail, answer it, and send it. The last time I was at Disney it was $.75/local call.

[MikeJ]

Or look at using a service like Netzero. They have cut back on the number of cities which can make use of their free 10-hrs/month dialup access, but I believe Orlando is still on that list.

- Mike

[DebbieB]

I believe you can access AOL mail from other providers by going into aol.com. I used to be able to get it here at work until my company blocked all outside mail sites. :(

[Poorman]

In May ,as a DVC member local calls were $.35. I stayed on some evenings an hour, same $.35. What a deal.

[SlyHubby]

interesting Poorman. we were just at BCV in March, used the same local AOL number we'd always used before and there were no charges for it. are all local calls now $.35? If not, then I think you may have used the wrong AOL number.

[Poorman]

Wow, I thought I was getting a deal not paying$.75 per call. I thought anytime you called outside of the park you were charged. Now I feel like I got taken:mad:

[DebbieB]

I've used my laptop for AOL for the past 2 years and have always been charged 35 cents per call at DVC resorts. It's unlimited time per call, so sometimes I'll just leave it on for hours.

[SlyHubby]

maybe I'm mistaken and I was charged 35 cents/call. well, the brain is obviously going. but, whatever the minimum charge for a local call was, that's what we paid.

[buzz5985]

When I was paying $.75/call, I was staying at AKL, and ASm, not at a DVC resort. Wow, another perk, phone calls costs are lower. I had no idea.

Janis

[DebbieB]

Also - 800 # calls are free at DVC resorts for members vs 75 cents per call at other resorts.