How is the wi-fi

[Aminiman]

In and around the parks these days, how is the wi-fi behaving? I know that Disney/AT&T have put a lot into the infrastructure, but with everybody using the MDE app etc, was it enough? I'll be travelling from Canada soon, and don't really feel like spending out the $$$ on a roaming data plan!

 

[lm1981]

I'm curious about this as I am Canadian too.

 

[SWofDisorder]

Also wondering what we can expect as far as wifi. I think we are going to get a prepaid phone so we don't use up our precious data.

 

[Livingthedisneylife]

its not bad. don't expect to play any games like Battlefield on any system (playstation, xbox or computer) but if it is just to check email then it will be alright. few factors however: one time of day. at night the internet is going to be really slow because everyone will be back in their rooms. Also, depends on how close to the router you are. I don't know if you can request a room closer to it but hey its worth a shot. But other than that they are actually pretty good.

 

[shm_helene]

Well, we were there in August so things have changed pretty dramatically (though they did have their MDE App up with times, etc.) but I saw no problems with the Wi-Fi speed, at least in the parks. At the hotel is was slow at times. I did always have to go in and change which Wi-Fi signal I needed on my iPad, which was weird as I don't usually have to do that. Overall I was very happy at all parks.

 

[katt789]

Hello fellow Canadians!! Lol

The wifi is pretty good down there! You will notice some areas where it cuts out pretty bad, or one second you're connected, then you open an app and you're not, then you go back into settings and you are, it gets super annoying. I find the worst park for this is MK. Specifically in the New Fantasyland area.

Some areas of the park the wifi just doesn't reach (the only example i can for sure think of right now is the old FOTLK theater at ak)

I've had no problem with it being slow or anything, aside from using the MDE app, and that's just the app. The internet works great to get met through the week. And as someone who's purchased a travelling data plan, definitely do not do it! It works out to be way to pricey!

 

[GrtWtNorth]

I visited after Wifi was added to the parks but before MDE. I found that I could get reasonable connections in the mornings or mid-day when crowd levels were 7 or lower (based on the Touring Plan Crowd Calendar). I was able to run Facebook and Touring Plans software without difficulty. I even had a Skype conversation in the Land Pavilion.

But when peak crowd levels were 8, 9, or 10, it was difficult to maintain a wifi signal long enough to process data (running Touring Plans software, which doesn't require much bandwidth). I reverted to using 3G roaming data in these situations. The addition of new AT&T towers will increase the speed of 3G and LTE data connections.

In the resorts, I found good wifi signal in the common areas or around the pools. But my own wifi signal (and sometimes 3G signal) disappeared as soon as I entered my 3rd floor Little Mermaid room. I'm glad the hotels are hurricane proof, but maybe they could do more to bring the signal inside. :-/