Do you need to borrow or rent equipment to get free wifi at your site?

[TracyJAE]

I have seen lots of conflicting and very old information on the wifi situation at the sites. Wondering if anyone can tell me how it works now.

 

[PaHunter]

You put down a deposit on a cable modem and connect that to the cable post. You can get them at the Meadows. You can bring a wi fi router to get wi fi from this, otherwise it is a cable connection. No wi fi at the Fort yet.

 

[TracyJAE]

Thanks! The guy on the phone when I made the reservations insisted it was free everywhere in the campground. But I thought I had seen you needed some sort of equipment. I know they don't always have all the right answers.

 

[bama_ed]

Well Tracy it is free if you return all the pieces of equipment. But you do have to use their cable modem. It is wired internet service. There are true wifi hotspots at the Outpost where you check in, around the pool and Meadow Trading Post in the center of the Fort, and at the Settlement Trading Post and Trails End area down by the beach. But among the campsites you have to use their wired solution.

Bama Ed

PS - there has been progress toward true wireless among the campsites but from the reports it is still a work in progress.

 

[tiggerdad]

There is no longer a deposit, you provide your site information and contact information. You are only charged if you don't return everything.

Here is a picture of the contents you get.

 

[sippican]

They are now telling people that the equipment is not compatible with any Apple products. We have connected our Macs with no difficulty. You may have difficulty hooking up the cable conventiently; we need to run ours inside through an open window. They keep telling us they are working on installing wifi, hopefully by next spring. Apparently all of the techno-wizards at Disney are challenged by the number of trees! Surprising since that doesn't seem to ba an issue at other heavily wooded campgrounds we visit.

 

[tiggerdad]

What we've heard before is the possibility of interference with the buses and the wireless system they use to communicate. Again, this is just one of several rumored reasons why. it's been debated several times with multiple inputs from different people saying why "this" would work or "that could be easily solved".

I'm no expert on the matter but agree that it would be nice to have it with wi-fi.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

You put down a deposit

1) Actually, you put down a credit card imprint, which is not charged (at this time).
2) If the equipment is not returned the credit card is charged.
3) Logistics and Payment
. . . CM's do not have access to your full credit card number
. . . so, a new imprint must be made at the time you take the cable equipment
. . you take The Kit and plug it in at your site (your own equipment WILL NOT work)
. . . if you want WiFI, bring a router to connect to the FW wired-router

 

[sippican]

On our past two recent visits we were not asked for a credit card, just our site number and a signature acknowledging we took equipment.

 

[sirenia88]

I got a really stupid idea. Why not make this a Sticky post. It seems there is always a thread about the cable modem and wifi almost every month.

The cable modem is from. You retrieve them from the Meadows trading post. There is no deposit costs. just remember your site number and check out date. (The store by the central recreation area.) If you want want Wifi, bring from home or purchase a wifi router. Make some basic security measures. Enjoy the web. If you do not want to get a modem, the main common areas like the Pool, the stores, Trails End, the docks, etc. Have unsecured wifi access. As a matter of fact, WDW has some really awesome wifi coverage in the parks. It is excellent to enjoy the disney app.

Going back on my poach and shaking my walking stick.

 

[PatMcDuck]

Is this the same for the cabins? (newbie here, booked a cabin for next year).

 

[bama_ed]

Is this the same for the cabins? (newbie here, booked a cabin for next year).

Pat, reports here say the cabins have REAL wifi. Bama Ed

 

[peg110]

They are now telling people that the equipment is not compatible with any Apple products

This irks me when I get told things like this particularly when dealing with "Network" equipment. Most routers are Operating system independent. It's an IEEE standard and not a Windows or Apple (or my preference Linux) standard. 802 is the standard (802.3 for wired 802.11 for wireless with various alpha suffixes for the changing standards).

The cable modems are typically 10/100/1000 Mbps (probably the 100) using a standard Ethernet RJ-45 connector. The communication is in compliance with the IEEE Standard. It is, however, the Operating systems responsibility to comply with this standard (i.e. they are the interpreter or translator of the data on the wire) but if you have an "Ethernet" compatible device with the RJ-45 connector, it should work.

If you want wireless at your site you will need to bring a WAP (Wireless Access Points) or a Wireless Router. Your iPhone, Android Phone, Windows Phone, Most (if not all) Tablets, etc... will NOT work with the Cable modem alone since these devices do not have an Ethernet RJ45 port on them. You would either need to move in Range of an open wireless at the fort, or bring your own wireless equipment (WAP or Wireless Router) to connect to their cable modem.

I will say, be cautious of open (unsecured) and public wireless if doing banking, personal, or financial transactions. You are better off using your own wireless setup to protect your devices.

Okay, rant over (from someone who, if not overly obvious, it should be, works in IT).

 

[zaccaglin]

This irks me when I get told things like this particularly when dealing with "Network" equipment. Most routers are Operating system independent. It's an IEEE standard and not a Windows or Apple (or my preference Linux) standard. 802 is the standard (802.3 for wired 802.11 for wireless with various alpha suffixes for the changing standards).

The cable modems are typically 10/100/1000 Mbps (probably the 100) using a standard Ethernet RJ-45 connector. The communication is in compliance with the IEEE Standard. It is, however, the Operating systems responsibility to comply with this standard (i.e. they are the interpreter or translator of the data on the wire) but if you have an "Ethernet" compatible device with the RJ-45 connector, it should work.

If you want wireless at your site you will need to bring a WAP (Wireless Access Points) or a Wireless Router. Your iPhone, Android Phone, Windows Phone, Most (if not all) Tablets, etc... will NOT work with the Cable modem alone since these devices do not have an Ethernet RJ45 port on them. You would either need to move in Range of an open wireless at the fort, or bring your own wireless equipment (WAP or Wireless Router) to connect to their cable modem.

I will say, be cautious of open (unsecured) and public wireless if doing banking, personal, or financial transactions. You are better off using your own wireless setup to protect your devices.

Okay, rant over (from someone who, if not overly obvious, it should be, works in IT).

What he said. Rent the modem, hook up your own router with you own wireless name and your iDevice will never know the difference. Internet is Internet.

 

[2goofycampers]

Here now, they are finally working on wifi throughout the campground, soon.

 

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Is there internet hook ups on the partial sites as well (1500's and 2000's)???

 

[bama_ed]

Is there internet hook ups on the partial sites as well (1500's and 2000's)???

Yep-all sites through the cable tv jack. The current wired internet service is delivered as cable internet.

Bama Ed

 

[WorldWacky]

It would be nice if the wifi was up and running by August! We'll definitely have to be prepared with a router though. The kids are pretty good about being tech-free when we camp, but since this is a longer than usual trip (three weeks altogether, not all at Disney), having internet access will make everyone very happy.

 

[2goofycampers]

It would be nice if the wifi was up and running by August! We'll definitely have to be prepared with a router though. The kids are pretty good about being tech-free when we camp, but since this is a longer than usual trip (three weeks altogether, not all at Disney), having internet access will make everyone very happy.

They are saying by Feb.

 

[peg110]

I hope they still keep the Cable modems available. It's been my experience that WiFi (particularly public) has not been that stellar, not to mention the privacy concerns of Public WiFi. At least the Cable modems is a bit more secure if not a pain in the .... well you know what!