Ipad and disney hotels

[Stickfigure]

To use the ipad without purchasing a router, you can use AT&T's tethering for one month if you have an iphone. You do NOT need wifi + 3g for this...

I have the ipad2, as well as the iphone and spend the extra $15/month for the tethering hotspot which allows you to use the ipad and up to 3 additional devices.. laptops ect. thru your iphones "hotspot" at one time.
Just have an outlet for your iphone because the battery seems to discharge faster... also you need the latest update on the iphone.

 

[Aurora1959]

At WDW, there is no wireless in the rooms. You have only wired hook-up so you have to hook up your computer via an ethenet cord to the socket in the room and that allows only one wired computer hook-up. You can create wireless in room by bringing a wirless router like the one you have at home (the wireless router not the cable router) and hook it up with the ethernet socket in the room, but if you don't want to carry around the bulky one from home (which also risks damage to it when traveling), you can buy a travel wireless router which are usually close to the size of a deck of cards.

Thank you for explaining that. As we haven't stayed in Florida before I would have been caught totally off-guard by this.

But that is the magic of the disboards is it not?

 

[CrazyDuck]

To use the ipad without purchasing a router, you can use AT&T's tethering for one month if you have an iphone. You do NOT need wifi + 3g for this...

I have the ipad2, as well as the iphone and spend the extra $15/month for the tethering hotspot which allows you to use the ipad and up to 3 additional devices.. laptops ect. thru your iphones "hotspot" at one time.
Just have an outlet for your iphone because the battery seems to discharge faster... also you need the latest update on the iphone.

Also, assuming that you don't already have an unlimited data plan on your iPhone...

 

[cpdwiz]

I use a Verizon mifi router. It's $22 a month and wherever there is Verizon signal I have wifi for 5 items...works great at Wdw.. I use iPad and itouch

 

[Tinky-Bell]

I use an Apple Airport Express. I bought it from the apple store online refurbished for $69. It has the same warranty as a new one.

Set it up at home and just plug it in.

You don't have to have a Mac to set it up or use it.

Ok, to be sure I understand how this works ... with an Apple Airport Express, as long as I set it up and test it at home, I won't need to have a laptop to plug into the wired connection in the room? I have an iPad (original), and though it is Wi-fi+3G, I'd really rather not have to spend the $25 fee for just a few days at WDW and, unless things have changed recently, Internet is still free for DVC members. Last time I went, I still had a laptop, but I got rid of it when I got my iPad.

Thanks, guys!

 

[Tinky-Bell]

I just googled this, and just want to make sure what I found is what I need to get. I found it on Amazon selling for "too low to show". I can't post links here yet, so could someone please post a link to what this looks like? Does it look similar to the charger that comes with the iPad?

Thanks.

 

[drusba]

Ok, to be sure I understand how this works ... with an Apple Airport Express, as long as I set it up and test it at home, I won't need to have a laptop to plug into the wired connection in the room? I have an iPad (original), and though it is Wi-fi+3G, I'd really rather not have to spend the $25 fee for just a few days at WDW and, unless things have changed recently, Internet is still free for DVC members. Last time I went, I still had a laptop, but I got rid of it when I got my iPad.

Thanks, guys!

Yes, set it up at home so it communicates with any computers and your Ipad. Once at WDW you plug it into an electric socket near the ethernet wall hook-up and, wia an ethernet cord, plug it into the ethernet socket, then turn on Ipad and you should find the wireless signal coming from your AirPort Express and then you can go into Disney's internet connection the same you can if you had wired hook-up.

Reality is it will work without setting it up at home too. But you really should do so so you can give the wireless router a name, any security you want, and a password that you need to get into the wireless router. You also then hook up at home and put that password into your Ipad which you will only need to do once and thereafter it will automatically communicate with the router. The reason you want security and password is because at WDW everyone within several rooms of you could use your wireless signal and some hacker on the other end of the world of the internet could deposit spyware on your computer if you have no security.

 

[jekjones1558]

Does it look similar to the charger that comes with the iPad?

Yes.

 

[Dziactor]

I use an old Linksys WRT54G wireless router. Works fine everytime.

 

[Tinky-Bell]

Jean & Drusba,

Thanks for your help. I'll check the Apple store, but chances are it will be less expensive from Amazon.

Have a magical weekend!

 

[LittleMissMickey]

I just read through this thread and a couple of others...

I think I will save some money this time around and bring my Linksys router that's all set up at home. It's bigger than the other options, but cheaper is better for me right now.

Should I bring every cord that is sticking out of the router right now? Actually, one of the cords is plugged into our desktop, which definitely is not invited on this trip. Therefore, I probably don't need that one! So, I'm looking at a power cord and the cable that usually connects the modem to the router, right?

Just wondering if anyone knows the answer to this... Will I have a problem using this router if I don't have any "wired" connections? We usually have the desktop, and I don't know if that's a requirement for this particular router to work.

Thanks in Advance!
Ashley

P.S. I'm looking to use a Nook Color and iPod Touch. Both connect to this router at home every day.

 

[GottaRun]

Does anyone have experience with a refurbished Apple Airport Express? Considering buying one for our DVC trips but hate to spend the $$ for a new one. I noticed you can get a refurbished one for a reasonable price, just not sure I want to take a chance. Any experiences would be helpful.

Thanks!

Anne

 

[Dean]

Does anyone have experience with a refurbished Apple Airport Express? Considering buying one for our DVC trips but hate to spend the $$ for a new one. I noticed you can get a refurbished one for a reasonable price, just not sure I want to take a chance. Any experiences would be helpful.

Thanks!

Anne

Yes and I am pleased with it though as I noted previously, I prefer my Dlink for travel as it's much easier to use and change on the fly and certainly easier to trouble shoot on the fly, esp if you don't travel with a mac.

 

[Dean]

I just read through this thread and a couple of others...

I think I will save some money this time around and bring my Linksys router that's all set up at home. It's bigger than the other options, but cheaper is better for me right now.

Should I bring every cord that is sticking out of the router right now? Actually, one of the cords is plugged into our desktop, which definitely is not invited on this trip. Therefore, I probably don't need that one! So, I'm looking at a power cord and the cable that usually connects the modem to the router, right?

Just wondering if anyone knows the answer to this... Will I have a problem using this router if I don't have any "wired" connections? We usually have the desktop, and I don't know if that's a requirement for this particular router to work.

Thanks in Advance!
Ashley

P.S. I'm looking to use a Nook Color and iPod Touch. Both connect to this router at home every day.

All you should need is one ethernet cord at most (there should be one in your DVC villa though) and the power supply.

 

[jkevinmcg]

Another recommendation for the Apple Airport...

You can't go wrong with the Apple Airport Express.

Kevin

 

[PRmamiDEdos]

I use an old Linksys WRT54G wireless router. Works fine everytime.

I have that same router. Don't you need to set up the provider's access info with that? My DD has her iTouch, DH has his Nook Color tablet, and DS plays wirelessly on his Nintendo ds. I want everyone to be able to go on during our stay there and I was wondering how we'd be able to do it.

Can you tell me how you got it to work?

 

[LittleMissMickey]

I have that same router. Don't you need to set up the provider's access info with that? My DD has her iTouch, DH has his Nook Color tablet, and DS plays wirelessly on his Nintendo ds. I want everyone to be able to go on during our stay there and I was wondering how we'd be able to do it.

Can you tell me how you got it to work?

Me too!

 

[BeesKnees]

Netgear Rangemax routers are the best I have ever owned. I have one in my OL.

I will say I am so glad I spent the extra money on the 3g for my iPad. It was an invaluable resource during the period of power outage in dealing with the initial aftermath of the tornado. We have a mobile hotspot too but it takes so long to bring it online and offline where the iPad could be used for 2 minutes to look up a phone number or a BBB rating and then shut right back off easy peasy.

 

[DebbieB]

I use an old Linksys WRT54G wireless router. Works fine everytime.

I have the same one. Just plugged in the eternet cable to the back and my laptop picked up the signal automatically, no new setup required. My friend did a search on her laptop for the signal (it kept the same name as I have at home), I gave her my password and she was in.

Just got home from Villas @ Grand Californian. I didn't bring the router because they have wireless. Unfortunately, the signal was poor and didn't work half the time. Luckily they also have wired but that meant my friend & I could not be on at the same time. Next time I will bring the router.

 

[gkrykewy]

Just got home from Villas @ Grand Californian. I didn't bring the router because they have wireless. Unfortunately, the signal was poor and didn't work half the time. Luckily they also have wired but that meant my friend & I could not be on at the same time. Next time I will bring the router.

This is an important note for anyone staying at VGC. Yes, they have wireless, but they don't have a router in every room-- just a series of routers in/around the lobby. Depending on where your room assignment is, you may not geta wifi signal at all. We were assigned one of the most desirable locations (high floor, paradise pier/world of color view), and couldn't get a signal in our room at all.