Internet anyone?

[TheFlame]

I know there are quite a few people that post here while at WDW and I need to pick your brains on internet service. I have searched the threads and couldn't find the answers I needed...

I have a new laptop with an air card port, but I don't really want to go that route just for a two week trip. We only need the computer for my dd. She needs to use it to work on school work while there. It will probably cost me $100 or more if I purchase an air card and a one month plan from Verizon. Do you guys have air cards? If so, what would you do? Did you purchase it just for trips and what is your cost?

At FW- I know on our last trip this past Jan. there was internet service at the TP. Is it now available in the whole campground and if so what is the cost? Is it wireless?

Thanks for any and all help!

 

[LarryJ]

I know there are quite a few people that post here while at WDW and I need to pick your brains on internet service. I have searched the threads and couldn't find the answers I needed...

I have a new laptop with an air card port, but I don't really want to go that route just for a two week trip. We only need the computer for my dd. She needs to use it to work on school work while there. It will probably cost me $100 or more if I purchase an air card and a one month plan from Verizon. Do you guys have air cards? If so, what would you do? Did you purchase it just for trips and what is your cost?

At FW- I know on our last trip this past Jan. there was internet service at the TP. Is it now available in the whole campground and if so what is the cost? Is it wireless?

Thanks for any and all help!

I'm and have been using a Verizon Air Card since May 2007. It runs 59/mo and is all I use for the internet both at home and on the road. Mine supposedly has no download limits, but understand now Verizon limits it to 5GB/mo. I don't download movies or music or data stream stuff and my usage is anywhere from 1.5 to almost 3GB/mo with an average of just over 2GB/mo. It's not the fastest, but meets my needs and flexibility.

I can't remember the speed, but seem to think it's up to 1GBPS download and around 300KBPS upload.

Since I have no need for it others will have to answer your question about IS at FW.

Larry

 

[2goofycampers]

No wireless, and it is $10.00 a day for internet.

 

[TheFlame]

Thanks Larry! I really hoped you would respond!

We use broadband dsl for home with a wireless router for the laptop. I don't have a need for the air card and can't justify the expense. I think I could get away with their $40.00 plan but I still have to purchase the air card at full price to pay month to month and activation is $35.00 each time! I would LOVE to have one, I just don't think it is the most cost effective way to go for us.


Hope you are having a good trip! Are the parks or campground crowded? We will be there in 2 weeks or so and CAN NOT WAIT!

 

[TheFlame]

No wireless, and it is $10.00 a day for internet.

Thanks Denise!

Is it dial up? Do they give discounts or is it day to day? Do I need a phone cord? The only internet we have used on trips has been wireless. Sorry for the dumb questions!?!?

 

[AuburnJen92]

Those are not dumb questions at all Flame. I didn't think an air card was worth it either until I went ahead and got one. I use my air card every day because we are so restricted at work. During my planning time and lunch, I get on and go where I want and I am not restricted. I can understand not wanting to pay that extra expense. Sprint (then Nextel) gave me a great deal on my air card with a good rebate too, but I had to sign up for their two year deal. I have unlimited usage per month for 59 plus taxes. If you have a wireless modem, you can use the internet at TE. If your DD needs it just a couple of days, then I would just use the one there. You could always bum internet from a fellow camper. When I am there, I let others get on. I know Pete has had schoolwork he needed to check on while we were there. I certainly don't mind sharing.

 

[TheFlame]

Thanks Jen!



Does anyone know if you can pay for internet at any site or is it just the "new and improved" ones. We have a full hook up....whatever that means anymore!

$10.00 a day is not too bad if I just got it a few days for her to sync her schoolwork. At MB campgrounds, you can get a whole week for $20.00. Then again we are talking about Disney.... Gotta love that mouse!

 

[Tri-circle-D]

Here is an old thread about Internet access at the Fort: High Speed internet at the Fort
The information is still accurate. To be clear, there are wireless hot spots up at the Reception Outpost, and at Pioneer Hall, or you can borrow a cable modem and get Internet access for the same $9.95 per day (24 contiguous hours) charge at a preferred or premium camp site.

I last used one of the cable modems in May, 2008. It worked great.

If you plan things right, you can space out access to every other 24 hours, and still get on line for part of each day.

TCD

 

[LarryJ]

Thanks Larry! I really hoped you would respond!

We use broadband dsl for home with a wireless router for the laptop. I don't have a need for the air card and can't justify the expense. I think I could get away with their $40.00 plan but I still have to purchase the air card at full price to pay month to month and activation is $35.00 each time! I would LOVE to have one, I just don't think it is the most cost effective way to go for us.


Hope you are having a good trip! Are the parks or campground crowded? We will be there in 2 weeks or so and CAN NOT WAIT!

This A.M. we went to MK caught the 9:40 Castle show (~30min) did Peter Pan, Pooh, Snow White, Small World and Haunted Mansion and all but Peter Pan (10min wait) were walk ons.

Our problem is we are doing things too fast

Larry

 

[TheFlame]

Thanks TCD! I am looking forward to your PM after your next trip. I am planning more than I said I would...

Thanks Larry! We have never been in Nov. and hope that the crowds are what we thought they should have been when we went last Oct. and this past Jan. Both of those times really surprised us! I guess we didn't take into account of Columbus Day or MLK. Hopefully the 2nd and 3rd weeks won't be too bad. I know it will start getting crowded the week of Thanksgiving but by then we are just going to be taking it easy at the campground anyway and going to the parks for EMH. We would love to stay for the lights but our ressie is up on Thanksgiving day and we can't get anymore nights added!

You guys are great! Thanks for the help!

 

[LarryJ]

Thanks Jen!



Does anyone know if you can pay for internet at any site or is it just the "new and improved" ones. We have a full hook up....whatever that means anymore!

$10.00 a day is not too bad if I just got it a few days for her to sync her schoolwork. At MB campgrounds, you can get a whole week for $20.00. Then again we are talking about Disney.... Gotta love that mouse!

If I understand things right the only two full hookups left are the 1600 and 1800 loops since they don't have cable yet. It looks like the wire is in the 1600 loop, but no outlets yet and the conduit is run in the 1800 loop but now boxes or outlets yet.

Larry

 

[njcamper95]

Just got back you need a cable site to get internet at your site then you go to the front desk ask for a modem kit they put a 125$ charge on your account then give you it back when you return it you will need to hook it n via ether net cable provided by disney or bring your own wireless as mentioned it is 9.95 for 24 hrs charged to your room as long as you have a charge card on file with front desk we had the modem for 14 days and went on like every other day for Dw's work worked well a little slow but ok

 

[Minnie's Mate]

If I take my lap top to Trails End or to the check-in, can I use WI-FI? Per my AT&T, I can use my WI-FI free nationwide because I have AT&T DSL. Per AT&T I just log in using my AT&T account log-in/password.

 

[wrongagain]

As far as I know if you buy the aircard from verizon it is a 2 year plan like the phones at 59.00 a month.
But I use my cell phone with the usb cable "turning it into a modem" and it is a monthly point of use, no 2 year lock in.
I have no use for a laptop in my vehicles other than when in the motorhome, so I see no need to spend 59.00 a month for it not to be used, on a regular basis.
I have the 20 gig verizon fios internet service at home, so in comparison it is painfully slow with the cellphone/aircard setup, but what else can you do.

 

[LarryJ]

As far as I know if you buy the aircard from verizon it is a 2 year plan like the phones at 59.00 a month.
But I use my cell phone with the usb cable "turning it into a modem" and it is a monthly point of use, no 2 year lock in.
I have no use for a laptop in my vehicles other than when in the motorhome, so I see no need to spend 59.00 a month for it not to be used, on a regular basis.
I have the 20 gig verizon fios internet service at home, so in comparison it is painfully slow with the cellphone/aircard setup, but what else can you do.

Yes, with Verizon it's a two year plan and not for everybody. I can't tether my cell phone which is on limited minutes to my computer and while not up to FIOS speeds this current session in the last 30 min I'm running 100kbps uploand and close to 700kbps download on Verizon BroadbandAccess. A DIS thread page loads in about a sec so it's plenty fast for me.

Larry

 

[TheGreatGonzo]

If I take my lap top to Trails End or to the check-in, can I use WI-FI? Per my AT&T, I can use my WI-FI free nationwide because I have AT&T DSL. Per AT&T I just log in using my AT&T account log-in/password.

If you use the WiFy at the Fort, you still need to pay the $9.95 per 24 hour fee that is charged by Disney. They will ask you for your resort ID number when you log on and you have to have charging privileges on you card. You will not need to pay the deposit that way. The WiFy is available at Trails End or the Reception Outpost. You need to contact AT&T to see if they have an agreement with Disney for free use.

 

[clkelley]

According the Fort Map there is also WiFi at Meadows. Like others I have a Verizon Air Card, but work provides it for me. It works GREAT at the Fort. I'm there now. The regular full hookup loops that have not been converted yet, still don't have cable. I guess they will add the cable as they convert the loops. We're in 900 and don't have cable here.

 

[Minnie's Mate]

If you use the WiFy at the Fort, you still need to pay the $9.95 per 24 hour fee that is charged by Disney. They will ask you for your resort ID number when you log on and you have to have charging privileges on you card. You will not need to pay the deposit that way. The WiFy is available at Trails End or the Reception Outpost. You need to contact AT&T to see if they have an agreement with Disney for free use.

Thanks for the response. Our next trip is between Christmas and New Year's so there is plenty of time for me to check with AT&T. It would be nice if they have an agreement, but I suspect that either Disney won't have one with them or they will still want money from me or from AT&T...you know Disney, they never saw a dollar they could pass up!

 

[Donna]

i did see a woman using her laptop at the meadows a couple weeks ago, so it is definitely there too. it still boggles my mind that disney charges 9.95 a day for WIRED access when i can get free wireless at a Super 8!

 

[gmflanigan]

If I take my lap top to Trails End or to the check-in, can I use WI-FI? Per my AT&T, I can use my WI-FI free nationwide because I have AT&T DSL. Per AT&T I just log in using my AT&T account log-in/password.

After many calls & transfers to other numbers I was able to verify with AT&T that they have hot spot locations outside the park that are free to DSL customers but none on Disney property.