V-E-R-Y Disappointed with Wireless Internet

[LoveToDisney]

We recently stayed at BLT over a Spring Break trip. I have always had a good experience with the wired high speed internet service at Disney (except for one bad modem that was replaced), however, with the new wireless service I found that around 4-5pm through midnight or later I was constantly dropped and the web browser moved ultra slowly or not at all. I'm self-employed and have to take my laptop to work even while on vacation. I could not get my email downloaded successfully and I could not email out my attachments or upload files to FTP which crippled my ability to keep up with my work. The "wired" option no longer works at BLT so I was only able to get the wireless. Since I had a strong wireless signal, I'm assuming that with so many wireless devices throughout the Disney complex, the bandwidth is not large enough to handle it all. The wireless was fine in the early morning hours thru early afternoon before Disney Guests started the process of auto uploads of photos to internet and social media. I'm very unhappy because it will influence my ability to make trips to Disney and stay on Disney property since I must work via the internet while in Orlando on our trips. Unless Disney fixes their wireless system so it can handle the heavy load, I would like the option to get the wired high speed internet service at our DVC resorts (even if I had to pay for it).

 

[bwvBound]

I would like the option to get the wired high speed internet service at our DVC resorts

AGREED!

(even if I had to pay for it).

Ah, ... maybe not so much. I hate having to pay for the stuff I used to get for free.

 

[ColonialMouse]

I would like the option to get the wired high speed internet service at our DVC resorts (even if I had to pay for it).

I really doubt wired vs wireless has much to do with it. The infrastructure (uplink out of the building/resort) just hasn't been upgraded to keep up with the demands of the guests.

Same experience at a THV last October, and there the wireless base station only had to handle one family.

Bruce

 

[LoveToDisney]

I really doubt wired vs wireless has much to do with it. The infrastructure (uplink out of the building/resort) just hasn't been upgraded to keep up with the demands of the guests.
Same experience at a THV last October, and there the wireless base station only had to handle one family. Bruce

I have NEVER EVER had trouble with wired high speed internet handling my large files and all the business work I have to do while at Disney at any time of day or night. When they went to wireless, they messed everything up. I'm not techy enough to know why....but I'm really angry they did not think thru their "free wireless" offering enough to realize they couldn't really provide the service effectively. They have got to do something to fix it and the sooner the better.

 

[bunnybee]

We had the same experience at BLT during March break - the wireless dropped, wouldn't connect or was very slow.
Fortunately, we tried the wired connection and it worked!

 

[jekjones1558]

I'm with you, OP. I didn't have trouble with dropped connections but the speed dropped to nearly zero from late afternoon until the wee hours. Sad, Disney.

 

[CoffeeCup]

We had the same problem at AkL in Nov. I e-mailed MS, and they replied that the problem was with the server, not with them. They said they couldn't do anything about it and had notified their server about the problem. Evidently, nothing has changed and probably won't change until more people complain.

 

[dbs1228]

Same service in Feb at THV, 3 late teen DD's in which 2 had college work to do, not a good situation. We had a little router that we would bring and it work great, when it was wired service. DD's were getting frustrated every evening and there were several evenings of no service at all which we called and we were told a server issue - crazy!

 

[bltpoppins]

So we were at BCV in February, using our Macbook, and could not stay on the internet for more than a few seconds. There was no service from the cable connection so we had to go wireless. Our guests, using Windows, had no problem.

Then in March, we went to BLT and found a cable in the room and had flawless service from the wired connection. We were surprised that the wired connection worked!

Like the OP, we are self employed and, one of the reasons we love our DVC is to be able to take long weekends and still handle our business while gone.

I am so confused...do we or don't we have wired service!!!!

 

[bltpoppins]

DS 25 and DS 21 checked into BLT in December for a night before the "rents" were to show up. They couldn't get into their room. Went back to the desk. They sent a CM up with a key card and they couldn't get into the room. Had to wait for a building engineer with the Master key (regular key).

Apparently, the batteries in the lock died. The guys were told that the batteries never were a problem until the wireless started. The batteries were changed and then there wasn't a problem.

Any lock experts understand why the wireless would be affected?

 

[drusba]

OP, your experience sounds exactly like mine except I was at BWV. Disney seldom fixes anything unless the complaints are resounding. Thus, make sure you put in a complaint with DVC which will pass it on to the Disney hotel group that is responsible for this fiasco. Personal view is that the Disney MBA "suits" who made the decision to go cheap on the wireless system should not just be fired, they should be executed.

 

[disneynutz]

Please take a few minutes to send your concerns to Disney. They are so big and disjointed, they probably think that everything is great.

dvcmembersatisfactionteam@disneyvacationclub.com

wdw.guest.communications@disneyworld.com

Bill

 

[CoffeeCup]

Please take a few minutes to send your concerns to Disney. They are so big and disjointed, they probably think that everything is great.

dvcmembersatisfactionteam@disneyvacationclub.com

wdw.guest.communications@disneyworld.com

Bill

I also encourage everyone to express their displeasure with the existing Internet problems. However, according to the e-mail I received in response to my complaint, they are very aware of the problem. They just don't plan to do anything about it. I do not find this satisfactory since both DH and I need e-mail to deal with work problems when we are on vacation. If necessary, we would be willing to pay for reliable Internet service, but something seems wrong for DVC to have to pay extra so that everyone staying at every resort can enjoy free Internet, which used to be a perk for DVC members. It would seem to me that having free WIFI only for DVC members and having everyone else pay for the service would solve the problem.

 

[disneynutz]

I also encourage everyone to express their displeasure with the existing Internet problems. However, according to the e-mail I received in response to my complaint, they are very aware of the problem. They just don't plan to do anything about it. I do not find this satisfactory since both DH and I need e-mail to deal with work problems when we are on vacation. If necessary, we would be willing to pay for reliable Internet service, but something seems wrong for DVC to have to pay extra so that everyone staying at every resort can enjoy free Internet, which used to be a perk for DVC members. It would seem to me that having free WIFI only for DVC members and having everyone else pay for the service would solve the problem.

They will do something about it if it is a big enough problem.

You need to realize that the new WiFi is a Disney Parks and Resorts project, not a DVC project. DVC tends to ride on the coattails of other Disney units so they don't have much pull. You were also dealing with a DVC person who doesn't feel that they have much say in what goes on in their organization.

Many times I have worked my way up through the DVC chain to finally talk to someone in a position of power. The result is usually the same, they didn't realize that it was an issue or that it is the first time hearing about it. The conversations have resulted in change, but the wheels behind the curtain turn slowly. They are so busy marketing to make a profit and sometimes managing the DVC takes a backseat. They get a bonus for selling, not for making DVC Members happy.

Bill

 

[vicki_c]

We had basically non-working wireless at the Beach Club Resort in late January as well. And that was on the club level, so you think if they were going to get it working anywhere, it would be on those floors. Wireless worked well down in the lounge end of the hall, and pretty much not at all at the other end of the hall where our room was. The staff there said they were aware and that they were going to add another repeater to boost the signal. There was no wired Internet available and he said it was pulled out at the same time they installed the wireless (he suggested it was 2 different companies managing it).

But I definitely got the impression that the wired connection was being phased out at the resorts, so I think if you stay somewhere that has it now, it may not in the future.

We are headed to OKW on Saturday and bringing our Airport Express router just in case, but I just hope the wireless works.

 

[disneynutz]

We had basically non-working wireless at the Beach Club Resort in late January as well. And that was on the club level, so you think if they were going to get it working anywhere, it would be on those floors. Wireless worked well down in the lounge end of the hall, and pretty much not at all at the other end of the hall where our room was. The staff there said they were aware and that they were going to add another repeater to boost the signal. There was no wired Internet available and he said it was pulled out at the same time they installed the wireless (he suggested it was 2 different companies managing it).

But I definitely got the impression that the wired connection was being phased out at the resorts, so I think if you stay somewhere that has it now, it may not in the future.

We are headed to OKW on Saturday and bringing our Airport Express router just in case, but I just hope the wireless works.

You are correct, the WiFi is a new contract with a different vendor. They are using the TV cable to distribute the signal to the access points and modems, the old system used the phone lines. New system, new wiring, new vendor, new problems.

Bill

 

[LoveToDisney]

Thank you Disneynutz for the email links to Member Satisfaction and the WDW Guest Services Team. I sent emails to both and urge everyone reading this thread to do the same if you have had problems. This is a very serious situation as it affects so many that MUST get on the internet and do work while at Disney.

 

[Cheltenham]

I was at the BWV in January and the wifi was pretty much useless. I stopped at the Polynesian one day and - at least in the lobby - the wifi was very good.

 

[Dano1182]

If Internet acess is vital to your lively hood you may want to concider buying a pre paid wifi card at least when you travel.

I would not rely on any hotels internet access.Disney or otherwise.

I have had very slow interent service at several hotels when traveling.

 

[Brian Noble]

I'm very unhappy because it will influence my ability to make trips to Disney and stay on Disney property since I must work via the internet while in Orlando on our trips. Unless Disney fixes their wireless system so it can handle the heavy load, I would like the option to get the wired high speed internet service at our DVC resorts (even if I had to pay for it).

I also often have to work on the road. There is NO WAY I would rely on hotel networking infrastructure to get my job done; too often, hotel connectivity, whether wired or wireless, paid or free, is just horrible. Instead, I rely on a cellular hotspot---I recently upgraded to a Verizon 4G LTE hotspot, and have been very satisfied with both speed and coverage. Prior to that, I would swap between a Virgin Mobile 3G card (VM uses the Sprint infrastructure) or tethering through my ATT iPhone.

If you travel even semi-frequently, you really ought to have something like this so that you don't have to rely on hotels to get your work done.

Edited to add: what Dano said.