Best apps and wifi at WDW

[Martyap]

How is the wifi in the parks and which iPhone apps did you find most helpful.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Wifi in general is quite poor.

Not Apple, but Android (I assume works for apple too), Touringplans' Lines, Kenny the Pirate's Character Locator, Easywdw's wait time mobile url, Steve Soares' entertainment mobile url, Allears' mobile url.

 

[Sphinx610]

How is the wifi in the parks and which iPhone apps did you find most helpful.

I didn't love the park wifi as i found it slow and my iphone would just keep loading and loading...but hey, it's free lol.

Go with a full battery! The MDE is a battery succubus. My phone died daily and i never have a problem with that anywhere else. lol When it worked, "MY Disney Experience" was helpful. I'm sure others on here will have other apps for you but that was my experience...

Also...
Wifi in the hotel was great in the room, though spotty around the hotel. (You couldn't Skype on an iPad n show your skypee around the resort bc it cut out)

Have fun!!!

 

[Sphinx610]

Wifi in general is quite poor.

Not Apple, but Android (I assume works for apple too),... Kenny the Pirate's Character Locator.

Kenny's app isn't available for iPhone yet.. He said he is working on it though

 

[ChloesDaddy]

We haven't been to WDW since we got iPhones but are going in a few weeks. I've gone a little overboard downloading and testing apps. Here's what I've got:

My Disney Experience -- the official Disney app

Lines (TouringPlans) -- for our custom touring plans and wait times

Magic Guide -- nice interactive maps with integrated links to attraction info, wait times and restaurant/snack cart info and menus

DisBoards -- nice link to this community for real time help/advice and to share our experiences

Undercover Tourist -- only got the free version; haven't gotten into it much, but it appears to have a lot of information and functionality -- restaurant info and menus, event schedule, crowd calendar, wait times, maps, etc...

Countdown -- vacation countdown with various WDW background pictures -- makes a nice "reset button" for the kids; when they get cranky or disagreeable I show them the countdown and they're suddenly happy!

WDWMagic -- latest news on park events, refurbs, closures, etc...; restaurant info and menus, attraction info (including history and trivia, but no wait times) -- I use this one to keep up on the news, like the recent announcments about change to the refurb schedule for the Carousel and POTC

Local News Apps -- Fox and NBC affiliate apps, mostly for local weather

Various Disney Game Apps -- Trivia, I Spy

Various Radio Apps -- MW Radio, WDW Radio, Live365, Sorcerer Radio

A Couple of Translator Apps -- just in case -- the best one is SayIt, which allows you to speak into the phone in one language and translate into any of dozens of languages with both text and audio translation

I've ordered an Anker battery charger to keep two iPhones juiced, and we have waterproof lanyard pouches to keep them protected on water rides. We have our ADR information loaded into MDE, Lines and also TripIt (a general trip itinerary app). It feels a bit like we're going into battle, but better to be prepared than have things go wrong and feel helpless.

I know you're looking for recommendations based on real experience in the parks, so I'll be interested to see others' comments.

 

[Sphinx610]

We haven't been to WDW since we got iPhones but are going in a few weeks. I've gone a little overboard downloading and testing apps. Here's what I've got:

My Disney Experience -- the official Disney app

Lines (TouringPlans) -- for our custom touring plans and wait times

Magic Guide -- nice interactive maps with integrated links to attraction info, wait times and restaurant/snack cart info and menus

DisBoards -- nice link to this community for real time help/advice and to share our experiences

Undercover Tourist -- only got the free version; haven't gotten into it much, but it appears to have a lot of information and functionality -- restaurant info and menus, event schedule, crowd calendar, wait times, maps, etc...

Countdown -- vacation countdown with various WDW background pictures -- makes a nice "reset button" for the kids; when they get cranky or disagreeable I show them the countdown and they're suddenly happy!

WDWMagic -- latest news on park events, refurbs, closures, etc...; restaurant info and menus, attraction info (including history and trivia, but no wait times) -- I use this one to keep up on the news, like the recent announcments about change to the refurb schedule for the Carousel and POTC

Local News Apps -- Fox and NBC affiliate apps, mostly for local weather

Various Disney Game Apps -- Trivia, I Spy

Various Radio Apps -- MW Radio, WDW Radio, Live365, Sorcerer Radio

A Couple of Translator Apps -- just in case -- the best one is SayIt, which allows you to speak into the phone in one language and translate into any of dozens of languages with both text and audio translation

I've ordered an Anker battery charger to keep two iPhones juiced, and we have waterproof lanyard pouches to keep them protected on water rides. We have our ADR information loaded into MDE, Lines and also TripIt (a general trip itinerary app). It feels a bit like we're going into battle, but better to be prepared than have things go wrong and feel helpless.

I know you're looking for recommendations based on real experience in the parks, so I'll be interested to see others' comments.

Wow!!!! What an app arsenal!!!

 

[fbarker]

We haven't been to WDW since we got iPhones but are going in a few weeks. I've gone a little overboard downloading and testing apps. Here's what I've got:

My Disney Experience -- the official Disney app

Lines (TouringPlans) -- for our custom touring plans and wait times

Magic Guide -- nice interactive maps with integrated links to attraction info, wait times and restaurant/snack cart info and menus

DisBoards -- nice link to this community for real time help/advice and to share our experiences

Undercover Tourist -- only got the free version; haven't gotten into it much, but it appears to have a lot of information and functionality -- restaurant info and menus, event schedule, crowd calendar, wait times, maps, etc...

Countdown -- vacation countdown with various WDW background pictures -- makes a nice "reset button" for the kids; when they get cranky or disagreeable I show them the countdown and they're suddenly happy!

WDWMagic -- latest news on park events, refurbs, closures, etc...; restaurant info and menus, attraction info (including history and trivia, but no wait times) -- I use this one to keep up on the news, like the recent announcments about change to the refurb schedule for the Carousel and POTC

Local News Apps -- Fox and NBC affiliate apps, mostly for local weather

Various Disney Game Apps -- Trivia, I Spy

Various Radio Apps -- MW Radio, WDW Radio, Live365, Sorcerer Radio

A Couple of Translator Apps -- just in case -- the best one is SayIt, which allows you to speak into the phone in one language and translate into any of dozens of languages with both text and audio translation

I've ordered an Anker battery charger to keep two iPhones juiced, and we have waterproof lanyard pouches to keep them protected on water rides. We have our ADR information loaded into MDE, Lines and also TripIt (a general trip itinerary app). It feels a bit like we're going into battle, but better to be prepared than have things go wrong and feel helpless.

I know you're looking for recommendations based on real experience in the parks, so I'll be interested to see others' comments.

I am fairly technical but I am sorry you have way too many apps you could not possible use them all effectively. It seems a bit of over kill to me.!!! But to each his own i guess

 

[ChloesDaddy]

Wow!!!! What an app arsenal!!!

I am fairly technical but I am sorry you have way too many apps you could not possible use them all effectively. It seems a bit of over kill to me.!!! But to each his own i guess

LOL!!! Yeah, I downloaded them to test them and find out which ones I want to use before we go. I plan to use MDE and Lines primarily, but I'm not planning to be on my phone constantly -- that just wouldn't be much fun. If I have problems (like slow response on MDE), I have a couple other options just in case. Apps don't weigh anything, so I'd rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it. When vacation is over I'll delete most of them.

 

[raven69david]

How is the wifi in the parks and which iPhone apps did you find most helpful.

The My Disney Experience is the best app to have, hands down. I have an iPhone 5 on Sprint and it works great. Keep in mind that Disney wifi is just a step above dial-up as it's quite poor, but will get you what you need given the poor signal receiption on most networks due to location of parks and geographical location of towers in the vicinity to many networks.

 

[CatelynnMarie]

I don't have much experience with the wifi. I just use the data on my cell. Imo it is faster that way. The apps I use are all free and work really amazing. They are by VersaEdge Software and include apps devoted to wait times, dining (includes menus, prices, the distance you are from a restaurant) , maps, and park hours/ events. The free versions are separate apps however, so you'd have to download them all individually. They do offer one universal app that includes everything for 5 bucks, but that to me is just not worth it.

 

[kennythepirate]

One main reason that MDE app kills your battery is the auto location feature that you cannot disable. Every time you click something, it runs the auto location script, which taps your gps and drains your battery. On Droid it still runs the auto location even when I have my gps turned off. In addition, none of their photos are natively installed in the app (are are running through a scaler program on call so they share the graphic with the mobile site), so you download that image over and over and over each time you hit the same page. This also creates a big pull on your data plan if you aren't on wifi.

They recently sped it up a little, but it may only be because they removed the Fastpass+ info the had open for testing? I use their m.disneyworld.com site to make my in park dining reservations because it takes a long time and 3 to 7 clicks to find anything on MDE.

Summary of why it's a battery hog. Auto location every click, wifi kills battery more quickly, to many clicks to locate stuff and slow loading drains battery too.

 

[Blue32]

If you don't need Wifi and have a web enabled phone you may want to try this....

http://www.easywdw.com/waits/

FREE!

 

[Martyap]

If you don't need Wifi and have a web enabled phone you may want to try this....

http://www.easywdw.com/waits/

FREE!

This looks pretty simple and would not drain the battery. Anyone use it? Is it accurate for wait times?

I'm looking for a simple tool that would help each day.....waiting times, food locations, maps/directions....Was hoping someone had a single app or site that worked well

 

[Polydweller]

MDE will be the app to use when FP+ is in place for getting fastpasses wherever you are in a park, at least that's the promise. It has worked fine for us and unlike others I don't find it a battery drain.

Wifi has also been fine. Wifi, in general, will slow down depending on the number of users and that's unavoidable. So don't expect to do streaming video or use it like your home wifi when you are in a place that has thousands of potential users. In practice, I found it fine for its intended purpose of providing info about the park. I've even uploaded pictures to Facebook in the parks.

 

[chartle]

This looks pretty simple and would not drain the battery. Anyone use it? Is it accurate for wait times?

Well as for accuracy they are a little hush hush on how they get the times.

But it should be as accurate as the official app.

 

[BionicEar]

When the hubby & I went to the Food & Wine Festival in November '15, I had purchased a Mophie iPhone 6 case in anticipation of the trip. Worked FANTASTIC, and it was worth every.stinking.penny. I got mine off Amazon and I also got a skin for it from MightySkins. I love it! A few months later I splurged for the desktop charger and that's where I park my phone at night inside my bedside table.

Also? I've dropped my phone several times since then, and it has held up extremely well! No cracks, etc....

 

[Klayfish]

I was going to ask about this anyway, so I'm glad this old thread got revived.

Before I joined this message board the other week, I was totally unaware of the Lines app. I'm "smartphone stupid"...didn't even get a smart phone until about 18 months ago, and I've never sent a text message in my life. Just not my thing. But I did discover and heavily use the MDE app starting last summer. I really like it. We just use the data on my phone and I haven't found it an issue with our data or killing my battery. I have, however, always questioned exactly how accurate the wait times are. I figured they err on the side of caution.

I just downloaded the Lines app this morning. How accurate is it for wait times? I noticed it'll tell you if now is a good time to ride, and if not, when is. How accurate is that? I know nothing will be 100% spot on, but is this fairly reliable info?

 

[Dan Murphy]

I just downloaded the Lines app this morning. How accurate is it for wait times? I noticed it'll tell you if now is a good time to ride, and if not, when is. How accurate is that? I know nothing will be 100% spot on, but is this fairly reliable info?

It is very good. It will give your the posted (MDE) wait times, plus what is expected. Many people here like the app, I am sure you will also.

And welcome to the dis, Klayfish.

 

[OKW Lover]

Just wanted to comment about the WiFi in the parks. A PP noted it was poor, which is probably a good assessment. Maybe spotty would also apply. Sometimes you got a good connection, other times not so good. At times I find myself turning off wifi and just using cell data.

 

[Klayfish]

It is very good. It will give your the posted (MDE) wait times, plus what is expected. Many people here like the app, I am sure you will also.

And welcome to the dis, Klayfish.

Thanks!! Wish I had found this place earlier, but glad I found it now.

How does the app know what wait time is expected, and when in the future is a good time to go to an attraction? Is it based on historical data? With our FP+ limitation due to being off property AP, we're going to need to do things more on the fly this time.