High speed internet at OKW?

[msdis]

Can anyone confirm? TIA!

 

[RobDoc]

Yes- all villas have internet access. It's $9.95 for a 24 hour period. Bring your own network cable (but, they also have them abvailable if you forget).

There is also a dataport on the phone for dialup service- but make sure you have a local access phone number. You don't want to pay for any long distance numbers. (You can check with the operator to make sure hte number you want to use is local.)

Enjoy!

 

[profdsny]

This is a sore subject. Why is it that WDW, and DVC, charge almost $10 a day, when you can stay at a whole lot of budget motels in the $50-$79 range, such as Fairfield, Quality Inn, etc, and the internet accesson is free? They certainly aren't paying less for it than WDW.

 

[Cap]

I was at BWV when the highspeed was being installed. From talking with the technician in my room, it appears that Disney has arranged for some outside company to provide the service, handle the security, and share in the profits in exchange for the company absorbing the cost of wiring, etc.

This is a bit different from you or me calling up Comcast, saying I'll pay the install fee, and the monthly service fee. It sounded as though the company brought the idea of a profit center to Disney for Internet.

I agree that it seems like a real ripoff. I would think they would at least have free wi-fi in the public areas.

 

[msdis]

Thanks everyone. We are in pre-packing stage and DH was wondering to pack the lap-top or not. We used it at BWV this spring but wasn't sure of the other resorts. 9.95 is outrageous but we let 1/2 days lapse so we paid for like 4 out of 6 days. DH likes to send "live" photos home and keep up on things so it's worth it.

Doc-how do you get a local access #? We use adelphia at home. Can we access our service somehow? TIA!

 

[RobDoc]

Originally posted by msdis

Doc-how do you get a local access #? We use adelphia at home. Can we access our service somehow? TIA!

I use netzero at WDW and they do have free service available in Orlando. You'll want to check with your own service for access in Orlando. You can check out netzero at www.netzero.com . I think they offer 10 hours per month for free. They'll also provide the local access numbers thru that service. You can set it up in advance on your laptop. There are several local numbers (use the Orlando numbers- do NOT use the Kissimmee numbers ). I believe there is a local number for Lake Buena Vista too.

I used the high speed service at OKW last week- only when I uploaded photos of the hurricane. We moved to a convention hotel (Rosen Center- NOT a budget motel) in Orlando for three nights (high speed was also $9.95 per 24 hours) and chose to only use dialup to check email and also used only dialup when we moved to BCV for two nights. The budget motels have built the cost into their room charges- so you are still paying for the "free" service there too. I haven't found any of those budget motels on site anyway, so free high speed internet hasn't been a consideration for where we want to stay at WDW. It's nice to have to option as a pay-as-you-go service. Only those who want the extra service have to pay for it.

If you need any other info about netzero, I'll dig out the numbers that have been free at WDW for us.



Enjoy!

 

[msdis]

Thanks Doc, I'll have DH check it out.

 

[kweaver]

QUOTE: This is a sore subject. Why is it that WDW, and DVC, charge almost $10 a day, when you can stay at a whole lot of budget motels in the $50-$79 range, such as Fairfield, Quality Inn, etc, and the internet accesson is free? They certainly aren't paying less for it than WDW.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

I've found that most "resorts" or "convention hotels" charge for internet access...while the mid to low priced hotels and motels offer it for free. These places are usually trying to draw in the business (mostly people traveling on the road...many of whom don't have a reservation)...so free internet is a bonus they can offer their customers for a very low cost to get them in the door (just like the free breakfast).

Resorts and high end hotels already have you there...so they can charge for all sorts of things. I just love paying a "resort fee"...not! However, in the scheme of all things Disney...I think $9.95 is fair.

 

[MarkRG]

I don't find the price outrageous either. High in the light that hotel chains are offering it for free.

But as someone else said, Disney is not offering this, they have a subcontractor who are doing the whole thing, including the wiring, hardware and support, the only part Disney is doing is the billing.

It's a convenience over dialup that I too get for free. I like having the speed access, more time for what we're really on vacation for. And I have had to call their support center once, and they had me up and running in minutes, so they are definitely responsive.

 

[joepoe]

I tried it at OKW in Spetember. It would not start up on its own, I had to call the front desk who put me in touch with the outside vendor. He did a work-around to get me going. In the four days we were there we used it a fair amount, and my personal opinion is it was almost as slow as dial-up.

 

[ahutton]

We used it in June and loved it, but instead of it being 24 hour periods at OKW (like it was at BWV & YC) it was from noon to noon - just double check the rules when you start up so you don't end up paying for time you'll never use.