Confused - WiFi

[chanty]

I've read many posts, searched high & low throughout Disboards... and I'm now confused. Please DO NOT flame me ...but, here's my question:

I've read several posts and they indicated "free" accessible wifi internet spots...and I'm now wondering why so many people say there's none in WDW?

Here's a few:
- Wolfgang Puck Express in DTD
- Epcot - Innoventions - IBM area
- BeachClub - lobby
- Magic Kingdom - close to City Hall

I'll definitely give it a try...but I'm wondering why some people are reporting free WIFI access and others are saying there's is none...

Confused

 

[Reddog1134]

I think a lot of people are reffering to either free wi-fi at resorts or park-wide wi-fi.

There may be free wi-fi at those areas you mentioned but it sounds like it's a small area and impractical for most purposes.

 

[vicki_c]

There is no longer any free WiFi @ the Beach Club.

As to the others, I couldn't say. There is a sticky at the top of the resorts board with the internet information for WDW.

There is certainly NO reliable, extensive, free WiFi access at Disney in locations where most people want it. Like in the parks. Or in their resort room.

3 small locations (assuming those are all still valid) in a 47 square mile area is not what I would call "there is WiFi".

 

[greg42]

Some reports from resort locations could be people unwittingly connecting to open routers of guests. As for park locations, or even DTD, I don't think that's especially useful. Are you going to drag a laptop, or even an iPad, with you to the park? I wouldn't! And if it's a smart phone, well, use the phone network, should work fine. (My iPhone worked fine last week.) The place you want it is at your resort, and they purposely don't do it for free in order to keep charging you. I do wonder if at someplace like CSR since they are set up for conventions if you might be able to get a signal for free sometimes....

 

[rie'smom]

My iPhone gets reception everywhere at WDW. In the past, I'd always pay for internet service at the resorts but now I don't have to do that.

 

[ElementCamper]

My iPhone gets reception everywhere at WDW. In the past, I'd always pay for internet service at the resorts but now I don't have to do that.

Probably does but this is not WiFi per se, it is the data portion of your regular cellular service. For practical purposes there is little to no free WiFi on Disney property except a few commercial location (possibly still at the McDonalds down my All Stars) and the above mentioned exceptions. If Disney can make a dime off of it, they usually will.

 

[vicki_c]

Probably does but this is not WiFi per se, it is the data portion of your regular cellular service. For practical purposes there is little to no free WiFi on Disney property except a few commercial location (possibly still at the McDonalds down my All Stars) and the above mentioned exceptions. If Disney can make a dime off of it, they usually will.

I'm pretty sure rie'smom meant that she didn't NEED WiFi, because she used her phone, not saying that using her cell WAS WiFi.

 

[WDWisTheBest]

Probably does but this is not WiFi per se, it is the data portion of your regular cellular service. For practical purposes there is little to no free WiFi on Disney property except a few commercial location (possibly still at the McDonalds down my All Stars) and the above mentioned exceptions. If Disney can make a dime off of it, they usually will.

On other threads, and I don't have the reference now, there are extensive references to wifi. http://allears.net/acc/internet.htm might provide some information.

I am not sure that Walt Disney World would "make a dime off of it" regarding the wifi service. There is a third party provider of internet service throughout the Walt Disney World resort. I would imagine that you can provide both the pros and the cons for Disney providing wifi on property.

 

[rie'smom]

I'm pretty sure rie'smom meant that she didn't NEED WiFi, because she used her phone, not saying that using her cell WAS WiFi.

This is what I meant. Sorry for the confusion

 

[troynkasey]

On other threads, and I don't have the reference now, there are extensive references to wifi. http://allears.net/acc/internet.htm might provide some information.

I am not sure that Walt Disney World would "make a dime off of it" regarding the wifi service. There is a third party provider of internet service throughout the Walt Disney World resort. I would imagine that you can provide both the pros and the cons for Disney providing wifi on property.

There is some confusion on other threads. Folks don't know exactly what WiFi is. WiFi is used for wireless laptops. Some get that and the wall connection confused and refer to both as WiFi. The wall connection is commonly referred to as DSL or cable internet depending on what service is used.

 

[Micca]

One other variable here--I think it's possible that there has been some intermittent wifi available at limited locations on property...whether it was intentional or not. Combine that with reports of this intermittent service along with widely varying times of these posts (weeks, months) and it gets pretty confusing. I agree that *if* there is any wifi on property, it's not reliable so you wouldn't want to depend on using it.

I also see frequent posts asking how much wifi costs at the resorts. Again, there is no "wifi" but a wired internet connection is available in resort rooms for a daily fee. The last time I used it the cost was $9.95 for 24 hours, but as with all prices as WDW, that is subject to change.

 

[greg42]

The in-room internet (wired) still costs $9.95 per 24 hours. I used it last week.

IMO if you want to use internet (for some device that can't connect to the wireless phone networks) it's worthwhile to just pay for it in your room. Your room, planning for the next day or two at night, that's the place where internet access would be most useful. (Also checking out PhotoPass photos, etc.) Trying to find some widely scattered places to use it for free will just waste a lot of time that you could be spending in the park, resting, or anything else related to the trip.

 

[Cafeen]

If you have an Andriod-based phone, you can use it to tether your computer very easily (note, again, this is not WiFi, but achieves the same goal). This can also be done on iPhones, but not quite as easily. For the Andriod phones, check out pdanet for more information.

With regards to the wired (High Speed Internet Access, or HSIA), a good method is to purchase it relatively late at night on the first day, and then use that one 24 hour period for both days. Then skip the next day and do it again. For example, purchase at around 10pm on Sunday, use it for Sunday night and Monday night (earlier). Then do the same thing on Tuesday night. It will cut your internet bill down some. Again, it's not WiFi (though, if you bring a portable wireless router it achieves a limited similar goal).

Overall, there is no real widespread WiFi at Disney though. For some obvious, and some not so obvious reasons (could you imagine the network they'd have to setup? Both in the physical size as well as bandwidth requirements? They can barely keep their website running smoothly nevermind a WiFi network that covers the area of San Fransisco!)