I am bringing my laptop next week at OKW

[geffric]

Well it may be Spring break for the kids but its the last week of the quarter for me, so I have to check email for work. I am bringing my laptop... Is there internet connection? How do I access the internet?
Any ideas???

Thanks

 

[RobDoc]

Your room phone will have a dataport to allow a dialup connection. You will need to have a dialup account. Some use AOL or one of many national ISP's.

I use Netzero and it has many local access numbers for WDW. Make sure any number you use is a local call (there is a list of local prefixes in the phone book- or ask the operator to verify). Local calls are .35 for members and .75 for others. You don't want to use a long distance number!

Enjoy!

 

[MarkRG]

The only access level you'll have is dial-up. Disney does not provide high speed internet access anywhere on property other than a few buisness centers.

You need to make sure whatever internet provider you're using has dialup numbers that are local or you'll be paying big bucks to connect. I don't have the guidebook handy, look in it for OKW's main number to use to look for dialup numbers to use and have that all ready in advance.

 

[KNWVIKING]

We use Compuserv and 407-641-4265 is a good number. Should work for AOL as they are the same company.

 

[RweTHEREyet]

Take a printout of the local numbers for your internet provider. For ours we found Orlando, Lake Buena Vista and Kissimmee, so you may need to try a couple before finding the one that is truly local and not Long distance from OKW.

 

[DebbieB]

I called the resort operator from the room and asked which numbers I had were local. They told me all of AOL's Orlando #'s are local. I've heard Kissimmee is toll.

 

[Dizzy4Dizney]

One year, I called the front desk and asked if the number I was calling was local. The CM said yes. Well, when I checked out, the telephone bill was $212!!!! I argued with the managers for 40 min until they gave me the credit. They said I should not check with the telephone operator and not the front desk.

Boy, THAT was a lesson. THe next trip, I used AOL's 800 number and paid the .10 a min. I was too paranoid to risk it!!!!

 

[sratay]

Doc,
You said phone charges at OKW were .35 for members. Has this always been the case. I thought local calls were free for members.
Thanks.
Steve in Iowa

 

[andrea9873]

You said phone charges at OKW were .35 for members. Has this always been the case. I thought local calls were free for members.

We were charged .35 for each local connection we made using 407-641-4265 for AOL. The CM at check out ended up giving us a 6 dollar credit at checkout for having some modem problems with our laptop...user error!

 

[geffric]

Thanks for your help. I will check phone #'s before I plug in and check with operator to verify cost and local vs LD. I am now forewarned and will be careful with the phone numbers. I don't use AOL but have a company account. However, I am unclear as to the access phone number, so i think I will pick up one of those free AOL disc that you find everywher and access through Aol for free, plus 35 cent /minute.

Anything thing else for me to worry about????

 

[RobDoc]

Originally posted by geffric
However, I am unclear as to the access phone number, so i think I will pick up one of those free AOL disc that you find everywher and access through Aol for free, plus 35 cent /minute.

It's not .35 per minute- just .35 per call! If you stay on for an hour, it's still just .35 for the session.

 

[geffric]

Thanks. That will save me some $$$$

 

[DVC Nut]

I know the local AOL telephone number given at OKW is 407 481 0000. This number can be used for Compuserve also.

 

[walter69]

someone on a thread a few weeks ago suggested investing in an internet hook up kit for your cell phone, which is neat 'cause there's no per call charge or per minute charge if you have a nationwide plan with some unlimited time (usually nights & weekends). I checked this out and got a kit from Verizon for $50. It works great, but it's a little poky, generally connecting at 28.8. That's fine for email, but I wouldn't want to do much surfing at that speed. Of course, I expect this technology to improve/get faster in the next few years.

So, you might want to consider this option as well....

 

[chrispoponak]

I take my laptop EVERYWHERE. I am a child of the internet generation, and if I am without access to the internet for more than 48 hours, I cannot function.

An EXCELLENT solution to this problem is pre-paid internet service. Much like a pre-paid phone card, you buy time and you can use it anywhere. Sprint, AT&T, and Slingshot all offer this service, which can be purchased at your local 7-11.

In my experience, Sprint is the best pre-paid internet service. It is designed with travel in mind. You can program a location into the dial-up software, and then give it a name, so when you travel, you just pick that name from a menu. So, if you are in Orlando, just set it up for a 407 number, call it "Orlando" and then you never have to look up a number again...just pick "Orlando" from your list. I am probably making it sound much more complicated than it is.

After you buy the initial CD, you can purchase more time over the internet. I believe that the rate is $.06 / min.

Best of ALL, you don't have to sign up with AOL...I made that mistake in NOV and they harass you and won't let you cancel. I signed up in NOv. and they extended my trial until April, hoping that Ill forget and then they can charge me their $24 access fee.

HTH

 

[normr]

There are a number of things you can do, but you won't have high speed access, You can buy a prepaid internet card for AT&T access at all Walgreen's Drug stores or pre-piad AOL internet access,

Or you can sign up @ access4less.net for unlimited internet for $5.95 per month.

Make sure you DO NOT call the Kissimmee access numbers if you are using your own provider because it IS LONG DISTANCE from WDW, I'm not sure if the AT&T pre-paid lets you call into an 800 number, but if you dial any local numbers from your room, and if you're a DVC member it's gonna cost you .35 cents for each call out, and I now understand 800 numbers are NOT free.

 

[Sammie]

Originally posted by normr
There are a number of things you can do, but you won't have high speed access, You can buy a prepaid internet card for AT&T access at all Walgreen's Drug stores or pre-piad AOL internet access,

Or you can sign up @ access4less.net for unlimited internet for $5.95 per month.

Make sure you DO NOT call the Kissimmee access numbers if you are using your own provider because it IS LONG DISTANCE from WDW, I'm not sure if the AT&T pre-paid lets you call into an 800 number, but if you dial any local numbers from your room, if you're a DVC member it's gonna cost you .35 cents fro each call out, 800 numbers are free.

Actually 800 numbers are not free as you have to dial (9) to get an outside line, that is considered a local call and you will pay the 35 cents. We use a calling card when we travel and if we dial the 800 number to use the card we always have to pay the local call charge. The only calls that are free are to other Disney numbers on property and you have to call the operator and have her connect you. If you dial the number, you will pay.

You can always have the front desk do you a print out of room charges after you use your lap top to verify the cost of the call. That way you know for sure you are using a local number.

The AOL numbers are listed on Deb Wills Site.

 

[Mojomanny]

I travel frequently and got tired have looking for local numbers.

I buy Sam's phone cards and use them to dial into my ISP's phone number. Once I setit up to automate the dial in process (entering the calling card, pressing this and that) it works flawlessly and I do not waste time setting up for every city I am in.

My Sams calling card costs 3.4 cents per minute which is considerably cheaper than the ISP's 800 number.

I can recharge the phone easily by calling their customer service.

Just my 2 cents, its what works for me.

 

[DebbieB]

Actually 800 numbers are not free as you have to dial (9) to get an outside line, that is considered a local call and you will pay the 35 cents. We use a calling card when we travel and if we dial the 800 number to use the card we always have to pay the local call charge.

I've never been charged for 800# calls from OKW or BWV. I've called my work 800# and was never charged. I'm not sure if calling cards are different, I don't think I've used one from the room.

 

[geffric]

that is a great idea. I will look into that.

Counting down the hours until we leave....