Disney controls internet access to sites

[realpatt]

Did you know that Disney controls what sites you can go to on our own personal computer when you are at their hotels? I am currently at Vero Beach - trying to access YouTube (you know that XXXrated site)on my laptop and also on my Ipod Touch. I was looking forward to being able to have the time to watch the YouTube award nominees while on vacation - something I don't have time to do in my day to day life. Like watching The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch. After many failed attempts and talking with the computer person here I was told that Disney does not allow certain sites such at YouTube, Facebook, Myspace access. So come prepared for PG web browsing.

 

[Lynne M]

Don't assume it's censorship - it may simply be a bandwidth issue. Lots of companies (like my employer) block access to streaming video sites like YouTube from their internal networks because they're trying to keep the volume of network traffic under control. I have no idea what Disney's network infrastructure is like, but there's no content-related reason to block the sites you mentioned, so it has to be a technology issue.

 

[ama4889]

That's pretty bad. I could see them blocking some explicitly adult rated sites...maybe...but youtube and the like? It's probably a liability thing.

Anyway, have you tried going through a proxy? http://www.anonymizer.com/ Something like this. Old trick at my high school. =)

 

[Chuck S]

Likely it is a block to keep CMs from accessing those sites while on duty, as many business use to block sites from there internal computers and the resort rooms share the same system. It probably wan't done specifically to block guests.

 

[dbragas]

Don't assume it's censorship - it may simply be a bandwidth issue. Lots of companies (like my employer) block access to streaming video sites like YouTube from their internal networks because they're trying to keep the volume of network traffic under control. I have no idea what Disney's network infrastructure is like, but there's no content-related reason to block the sites you mentioned, so it has to be a technology issue.

My company does the same - videostreaming slowed down the network immensely. Doesn't Disney go through a 3rd party for Internet access anyway? And if a guest is for paying for Internet access (sigh, for now anyway), would Disney have the right to block access to specific sites? I think it's the bandwidth issue.

 

[Lynne M]

And if a guest is for paying for Internet access (sigh, for now anyway), would Disney have the right to block access to specific sites?

Sure, it's a private network. They can block anything they want to. Somewhere in the fine print, there's probably a disclaimer saying that they may restrict access to some sites.

 

[Betty X]

Disney didn't block facebook when I stayed in Jan this year so I wonder why it worked?

 

[Chip_and_Dales_Girl]

That's interesting... I was able to access all three in March. It might be a bandwidth issue. If all else fails try going through Google Video?

 

[dis-happy]

FWIW, my dd had no problem logging onto her facebook account when we stayed at AKV in Feb. We were paying for the daily high-speed internet access.

 

[Lynne M]

They may block the high-bandwidth sites when they're experiencing high network traffic, and then remove the blocks when things settle down. The fact that these sites are available at times and blocked at other times suggests that it's a bandwidth issue.

 

[BostonDisneyKid]

I would suggest use of a proxy as AMA4889 suggested. It may slow you down a bit and the cache may take longer than normal to load locally but it will work, unless they have blocked all proxies as well...

 

[StotheK]

I wonder if it's something specific to the network they use at the "remote" DVC sites. I went just about anywhere without issue when I was at SSR back in October. I can't speak for the others, when I went to HHI a couple years back my internet access was go drive to Starbucks because I couldn't even find a dialup provider with local numbers.

 

[flexsmom]

Is it actually a "Disney" network or is it a third-party provider? The last time I was there, we had to pay for service, and it wasn't paying Disney - another company was the service provider.

 

[SammieG]

i logged into facebook, myspace and You tube from disney over the last three weeks.. no problem

 

[UConnJack]

I was at HHI and it blocked me out of audible.com. Wanted to download some books to listen to on the ride back. Funny thing was, it only blocked some of the pages. I don't think its a bandwidth thing, I believe they do block based on content. Audible has a category called "erotica and sexuality", and I'll bet you that's what triggered it.

 

[TenThousandVolts]

I was you tubin' at HHI on Disney's wireless 2 weeks ago. Are you paying for internet service?