Internet access @ DVC resorts

[MrShiny]

Well, even if Disney were not outsourcing, it still could never be free. The reason you outsource is that it's cheaper than doing it yourself!

Still, I'd happily pay a few dollars more in my annual dues and get free internet. It is much like the phone or the tv. It's just not free to the consumer because it's new and not used nor required by the majority (although I suspect that is swiftly changing).

A lot oif it is market pressure - in Florida, paying for a fridge is pretty common, but around Disneyland, it's hard to find a hotel or motel without a fridge.

I like what Marriot is doing. They have a flat fee they charge that gives you unlimited local and long distance phone calls and Internet (as well as other things, depending on the resort). That's great, since phone calls no longer really cost hotels much, if anything (yet prices are still pretty steep most places).

 

[Orlanr]

Maybe if we all refuse to your the high speed internet at the hotels until the price becomes reasonalbe we will be heard.
Just a thought.

 

[Coach Rick]

I agree with DVC-John. There are pleanty of features I don't use but have to pay of in my dues. I do however use internet. Our most recent trip we stayed in a LaQuinta Inn for $35 a night, and got FREE WIRELESS internet. What's wrong with that picture?

 

[G8RFAN]

What I find is not so much the franchise but that hotels with mostly business travelers will often offer complimentary internet access. I've been to Wyndham's, Hilton's, Sheraton's, all with free access equally as much as La Quinta Inn's, Courtyards, and Hampton Inns with free access. I have to say that Disney's $10 per 24 hour period is the most expensive I have seen. However, I'm actually quite neutral on the subject, as it is a no brainer that anyone would like to see lower access fees, however, last I checked, this is still a free market and we can still choose to pay for it or even choose to stay off site for that matter. I'll still pay for it at $10, but sometimes I can squeeze two days of morning access for the price of one 24 hour period (I have to review certain reports each morning). It's a lot better than the alternative of not having access at all which I failed to check up on before I booked a few days at the Sheraton in Anaheim. I probably would have booked elsewhere had I had known they did not have access.

 

[La2kw]

Maybe if we all refuse to your the high speed internet at the hotels until the price becomes reasonalbe we will be heard.
Just a thought.

I just don't think I could do that!

 

[bams50]

We just use dial-up; costs $.35 per connection, whether you're on 2 minutes or 2 hours... I carry a typical phone cord with the snap-in plugs (is that a CAT-5?) and plug into the spare jack on the back of the room phone, then sign in! One problem, I have MSN, and it just wouldn't work; was on the cell with MSN Tech support for about 40 minutes... had to set up a "manual connection" which they walked me through; no problem after that!

We stayed at ASM for a quick trip last Sept.... asked about wireless high-speed and was told I could go over to CS and sit down in one of the lobbies, and I could pay I believe it was $8 for an hour of access... opted to just dial up from the room...

 

[Caskbill]

We just use dial-up; costs $.35 per connection, whether you're on 2 minutes or 2 hours... I carry a typical phone cord with the snap-in plugs (is that a CAT-5?)......<snip>

No, that's a regular telephone cord modular plug.

A CAT-5 is an ethernet connection, commonly called a network cable. It looks a lot like a telephone modular connection, but is slightly larger and has more wire connections on it. If you look at the back of your computer and see what looks like a socket for a telephone cord, but is slightly larger, than that's your network (ethernet) connection.

The CATegory refers to the speed that the cable can handle. The basic CAT-5 or CAT-5e are the most common right now.

 

[castleri]

Just returned from a cruise- not Disney and internet was available - $100 for 250 minutes was the best price with other plans available up to per minute price of $.75 a minute.
Makes $10 for 24 hours seem cheap.

 

[OKW Lover]

Keep in mind that the $9.95 is per 24 hour period. With careful timing, you can reduce the number of 24 hour periods in a stay by one or two. For example, resist the urge to connect as soon as you get in you room. Wait until the next morning. Then the following day, check your email before the end of the initial 24 hours. Then later that night you can log in again and start a new 24 hours that will take you through the following night.

 

[CarolA]

I don't know where you guys stay when not at Disney, but at MOST of the hotels I stay in it's at least $10 a day and that is NOT for the 24 hour period you get at Disney. It's until checkout the next day.

A list
Embassy Suites, Birimingham
Wyndam, Birmingham
Marriott, Downtown Atlanta
Marriott, Gloucester, MA
Swan/Dolphin, Disney
Ritz Carlton, Atanta and Orlando

 

[La2kw]

I don't know where you guys stay when not at Disney, but at MOST of the hotels I stay in it's at least $10 a day and that is NOT for the 24 hour period you get at Disney. It's until checkout the next day.

A list
Embassy Suites, Birimingham
Wyndam, Birmingham
Marriott, Downtown Atlanta
Marriott, Gloucester, MA
Swan/Dolphin, Disney
Ritz Carlton, Atanta and Orlando

Homewood Suites, Hampton Inn, Best Western, many of the Choice Hotels (Comfort Inn's, etc.) all offer free internet. We are Hilton HHonors members, so we usually stay at Homewoods or Hamptons. Some Embassy Suites hotels also offer free internet.

 

[CarolA]

See there's the difference. IT's free at the lower end hotels of the chains and costs at the high end.

Of course the last place I got if free was a Fairfield Inn where the management admitted... it only works in some of the rooms LOL! (They have el cheapo provider and you get what you pay for)

 

[DVC-Don]

..........

Of course the last place I got if free was a Fairfield Inn where the management admitted... it only works in some of the rooms LOL! (They have el cheapo provider and you get what you pay for)

I had to pay $9.95 for a 24 hour period at a Farifield Inn in Vermont and the wireless did not work in my room on the first stay. Desk clerk admitted it did not work well in some rooms and credited me. The second stay there in a different room it worked fine, but had to pay again. Must depend on who the franchise owner is.