Cable and Internet

[Judique]

I am now totally confused.

My site will be a partial one for my pop up.

So I called the fort to ask about cable and internet in a partial site.

The CM was very polite but put me on hold for each question, so she consulted with someone else prior to answering me.

She said they have cable for my site for TV.

She said internet would be available but that it would be dial up.

Can someone who has stayed at the fort in a partial in the last couple of months or who really knows this stuff please comment?

The 'dial up' really threw me for a loop. For some reason I wasn't expecting that.

 

[retired and happy]

The Fort makes available a modem for internet connectivity via the TV cable connection. They provide a splitter for the line so you don't have to stop watching TV to connect to the net. They are supposed to be working toward free WiFi, but seem to be way behind schedule. Free WiFi is available around the meadows Trading P and around Pioneer Hall if you're lucky.

 

[bama_ed]

Dial up?

Ah, no. Not quite.

Every single campsite in the Fort has cable tv and a CATV jack at the campsite. In the last year the provider for channels switched to DirecTV but it's hardly noticeable.

Internet is via a cable modem available at the Meadow Trading Post. There's no cost but you may be asked to leave a credit card for a deposit (some folks do get asked, some don't. I didn't). It's refundable anyway.

The cable modem comes with a diagram and instructions to hook up to the internet and still get cable tv channels. The other resorts have free wifi in the rooms but the Fort doesn't because it has the internal busses driving among the resort whereas the other resorts don't. Oh they drive at the edge or perimeter of the other resorts but not through the heart of them. The Fort internal busses communicate with their central HQ via radio frequencies and the wifi causes interference on those frequencies.

There is low-powered wifi available at Trails End, the Meadow Trading Post, and the Outpost Checkin building but, again, it's low powered so as not to interfere with the busses. The cable modems mean Internet service ends up being free but due to the unique nature of the Fort, additional steps must be taken. Some camper loops near those three wifi locations can get a "whiff" of those wireless bits and if so you're lucky. But it works well.

I have a 4g Samsung phone from AT&T which has improved coverage at WDW and I'm just going to use it next time around.

Bama Ed

PS - I have a popup and have stayed in 2000 and 1500 so I know what I am talking about.

 

[Judique]

Dial up?

Ah, no. Not quite.

Every single campsite in the Fort has cable tv and a CATV jack at the campsite. In the last year the provider for channels switched to DirecTV but it's hardly noticeable.

Internet is via a cable modem available at the Meadow Trading Post. There's no cost but you may be asked to leave a credit card for a deposit (some folks do get asked, some don't. I didn't). It's refundable anyway.

The cable modem comes with a diagram and instructions to hook up to the internet and still get cable tv channels. The other resorts have free wifi in the rooms but the Fort doesn't because it has the internal busses driving among the resort whereas the other resorts don't. Oh they drive at the edge or perimeter of the other resorts but not through the heart of them. The Fort internal busses communicate with their central HQ via radio frequencies and the wifi causes interference on those frequencies.

There is low-powered wifi available at Trails End, the Meadow Trading Post, and the Outpost Checkin building but, again, it's low powered so as not to interfere with the busses. The cable modems mean Internet service ends up being free but due to the unique nature of the Fort, additional steps must be taken. Some camper loops near those three wifi locations can get a "whiff" of those wireless bits and if so you're lucky. But it works well.

I have a 4g Samsung phone from AT&T which has improved coverage at WDW and I'm just going to use it next time around.

Bama Ed

PS - I have a popup and have stayed in 2000 and 1500 so I know what I am talking about.

Ah, thanks so much Bama Ed!

I've read so much that I ended up reading too much if you know what I mean!

I read somewhere that preferred and premium could get cable and net by wired hookup but couldn't find it actually spelled out that the partials did also. Nowhere did I read the fort was still on dial up!!

So, I have the smartphone and get 4G as well, but I like me some internet, plus I have a lot of plans and I keep them on my laptop. (AS in I have to search through tons of email if I can't outright remember something!)

Confirmation numbers for ADR's, fast pass plus, although I do have the APP on my phone I found the wifi in the parks was pretty sporadic when I was there in November. I also found the APP got pretty slow to respond on busy days, using up my battery fairly quickly.

So anyway got concerned I would have no easy way to check the Disboards and needed to put plan B in action if called for. That's when I called and got the 'dial up' answer! Now, 2 people on Disney's end participated in that answer - the newbie CM and whoever was coaching her!

Plan B would have been upgrade site or buy some net with broad band to go or some such device. Thanks again for your detailed answer.

 

[bama_ed]

My bad. I should have been more clear.

I plan to use my cellphone to TETHER to my laptop on the next trip. I'll use the cellular 4G network to get to the internet rather than use the Fort's CATV system. My DD streams video on youtube and other places and that eats up my monthly data allowance. But regular email, DIS boards, and the occasional college football board shouldn't hurt your Data plan that month.

Not all data plans through wireless service providers allow tethering so you should check with your provider if you can. But I upgraded last fall and I posted here about AT&T capabilities at the Fort lately and it sounded positive. We will see how it goes.

Bama Ed

 

[articfox676]

Maybe when they build their DVC on RC the Fort will get real internet at our sites.

 

[Judique]

My bad. I should have been more clear.

I plan to use my cellphone to TETHER to my laptop on the next trip. I'll use the cellular 4G network to get to the internet rather than use the Fort's CATV system. My DD streams video on youtube and other places and that eats up my monthly data allowance. But regular email, DIS boards, and the occasional college football board shouldn't hurt your Data plan that month.

Not all data plans through wireless service providers allow tethering so you should check with your provider if you can. But I upgraded last fall and I posted here about AT&T capabilities at the Fort lately and it sounded positive. We will see how it goes.

Bama Ed

We've tethered before with the tablets while driving in the car. It is an option.

I did find it to be a bit slow. But we weren't on 4G phones then.

Believe it or not I am packing for my trip!

But not happy about the snow all around me. The pup is in the back and the yard is full of snow and the weather is not going to warm up here. We have to pop it up to put stuff in it - ughh its cold!