AT&T and 3G coverage @ WDW

[Strangeite]

How is AT&T's coverage at WDW?

Is there 3G coverage for us data hungry users?

I would love to be able to stream my kids entire DVD library to WDW using the iPhone and not have to haul DVDs on the plane?

THANKS

 

[cheerforchelsea]

Depends on which resort you are in....AllStars and Pop I have not had very good coverage. I can't speak for the Boardwalk/Beach/Yacht or for the Poly or Contemporary....Coverage at the CBR/WL/AKL/POR were all pretty spotty. I have even had to buy interenet service in the room since my AT&T Wireless Air Card was not getting a good signal. Hope this helps.

 

[grimley1968]

I thought the iPhone was WiFi enabled? I know the 2.0 version is. Just use WiFi hotspots to download stuff. Most of the resorts have hotspots in some areas of lobbies, etc. That's a lot faster than even the 3G network would be, and it's far more likely you'll find this than 3G availability. I've heard 3G is spotty even in the middle of Manhattan.

 

[OKW Lover]

I thought the iPhone was WiFi enabled? I know the 2.0 version is. Just use WiFi hotspots to download stuff. Most of the resorts have hotspots in some areas of lobbies, etc. That's a lot faster than even the 3G network would be, and it's far more likely you'll find this than 3G availability. I've heard 3G is spotty even in the middle of Manhattan.

The new iPhone is WiFi enabled. But the OP may not want to pay the price that Disney charges for its WiFi in the hotel lobbies.

 

[WDW LifeLong Fan]

Great coverage while we were at the POLY and throughout WDW a couple of weeks ago.

 

[wilde_oscar]

all of WDW has strong 3g coverage. There are dead spots deep inside some of the hotels and deep inside some attractions... however the coverage and data speeds of the 3g networks are as impressive as midtown Manhattan, which is to say zippy.

There is no free wifi on WDW 'cept for WWOS.

 

[johnsonet]

Great coverage while we were at the POLY and throughout WDW a couple of weeks ago.

Hi WDW LifeLong Fan!! Long time, no see! I'm going to be at the Poly in the next couple of weeks Hope you had another great trip

Re. the iPhone - I have the original iPhone and it is wiFi enabled and I got killer coverage at the Poly in April and at the GF in May

 

[andrewilley]

Do AT&T, or any other network with decent 3G coverage at WDW, do a short-term (i.e. pre-pay, not long-term contract) plan which includes data? I'd only need two weeks' access while I'm in the states, so a pre-pay SIM card would be great. For example, here in the UK I can pay £10 ($20) for 1GB of high-speed data access for a month. Is there a US equivalent, as the charges for roaming data via my UK network are ludicrous.

Andre

 

[Shmily1]

Wilde Oscar is correct. I had great signal and was able to use the Blackberry the entire time I was there, except deep in the line for Soarin'. I was talking on it to DH when we were playing the "games" in line. Right after that is when I lost signal. DH thought it was awesome that I could check the internet, emails, and talk in so many places since he wasn't with us on the last trip.

Andre, if you check out the AT&T website, click wireless, choose go phone, then click on the media packages, you could get 5 MB for $9.99. I think you can probably find what you are looking for there.

 

[mountdew1]

How is AT&T's coverage at WDW?

Is there 3G coverage for us data hungry users?

I would love to be able to stream my kids entire DVD library to WDW using the iPhone and not have to haul DVDs on the plane?

THANKS

Just remember that despite their claims of "unlimited data" you have a theoretical data cap of 5GB per month. Anything beyond that, AT&T reserves the right to charge you additional fees. You may do better off to rip the DVD's to your iPhone before you leave. You should definitely be able to fit several on there in under a few GB depending on your quality, but you don't need much quality to use the iPhone display. I can fit about 6 movies in 4.5GBish that look great on a 32 in tv, so imagine how many you can fit that will look great on a 3 in display.

 

[cheerforchelsea]

There is a map on the cingular website that shows the coverage areas.

 

[andrewilley]

Andre, if you check out the AT&T website, click wireless, choose go phone, then click on the media packages, you could get 5 MB for $9.99. I think you can probably find what you are looking for there.

5MB or 5GB? 5 MB would last me about 10 minutes with something like GoogleMaps Mobile running, pulling in satellite images based on my GPS location. LOL. I could easily work with a couple of GB though (the UK £10 card gave 1GB, or £15 for 3GB, £20 for 5GB). I'll go and check out their site anyway.

Andre

 

[MsStinkerBelle]

I know when I was at the AKL in December, my 3G coverage in my room was quite 'spotty'. It didn't resolve itself until about two days before the end of my trip. Go figure.

However, the 3G coverage in the AKL lobby was GREAT!

 

[REL1203]

having just got the new 3G iPhone, I too was curios about their 3G coverage in WDW. Their edge service was great last time I was down there.

 

[wilde_oscar]

Just remember that despite their claims of "unlimited data" you have a theoretical data cap of 5GB per month. Anything beyond that, AT&T reserves the right to charge you additional fees. You may do better off to rip the DVD's to your iPhone before you leave. You should definitely be able to fit several on there in under a few GB depending on your quality, but you don't need much quality to use the iPhone display. I can fit about 6 movies in 4.5GBish that look great on a 32 in tv, so imagine how many you can fit that will look great on a 3 in display.

eh there is kinda a it depends on that one... I have the data plan on the iphone and the global connect card... I have exceeded the 5gb a month on both while traveling... the usage pattern on the cap is more complex. if you sit in one place, and access a lot of data via one tower... it is gonna ding ya. if you are on the road, and a couple gig here a couple gig there, it never dings ya.

 

[Strangeite]

Thanks everyone for the responses. My plan was to hook the iPhone up to the TV, so in theory I need higher resolution than if I was only going to watch it on the phone. I am staying at the OKW if anyone there has an idea about 3G coverage; however, you are right that I best not count on getting good 3G coverage in the room. I only got the 8GB iPhone so storage is an issue; hence my desire to stream them. Oh well.

I think my best bet is to drag the laptop along with all of the movies dumped to it.

 

[lustergirl]

Our AT&T phones work great in disney!!