iPhone and reliability in WDW parks?

[robinb]

I have an old iPhone 3G with AT&T and my experience in the parks with my phone is spotty. It's usually OK in August with a few signal outages and dropped calls, but in December it is abysmal. I don't have a signal (data, phone, text) for HOURS around Christmas and NYE. Then suddenly I have a spate text messages and voicemails come through at around 8:00 pm. My current phone is drying an needs to be rebooted to reestablish the signal multiple times a day and it's making me crazy! I love that I can multitask on my AT&T phone and I was planning to get another phone with AT&T when the iPhone 5 when it comes out in the fall. But now ... I am not sure that I will be happy with the AT&T reception if it is still the same crappy service with a nicer/newer phone.

So, what has you experience been like in the parks? Do you have AT&T or Verizon? Do you have signal problems? Data problems? I love my iPhone and I get a better deal with AT&T but I'm not sure if I want to switch to Verizon or not.

 

[*NikkiBell*]

I also have the iPhone 3G, but don't have many signal issues especially at WDW. The only spots that it is off is in certain queue lines like Space Mountain's. I've never had a problem otherwise.

 

[ADP]

I have an IPhone 3Gs. My experience has been pretty good. What I notice most is my signal and speeds are great in the morning then drop considerably in the afternoon once the park fills-up with guests. More people in the park jump on the network which in turn slows down my speed and quality because we're all competing for the same cell tower(s).

 

[bkoehl]

I have crap reception with AT&T at the parks and resorts especially inside rides (except RRC which has the best reception I've ever had in the parks) I have a friend who has Verizon and in April Springbreak and July 4th weekend we would be right next to each other and I'd have no signal or bars but nothing happening and he'd be uploading pics to FB like it was his job. I am desperately trying to convince my hubby to let me switch to Verizon before our trip in 2 weeks but he wants me to hold out until the new phone is released. Not sure I'll make it...so FRUSTRATED!!

BTW, had same situation with same friend in LA on the Feb ABD trip.

 

[robinb]

I have crap reception with AT&T at the parks and resorts especially inside rides (except RRC which has the best reception I've ever had in the parks) I have a friend who has Verizon and in April Springbreak and July 4th weekend we would be right next to each other and I'd have no signal or bars but nothing happening and he'd be uploading pics to FB like it was his job. I am desperately trying to convince my hubby to let me switch to Verizon before our trip in 2 weeks but he wants me to hold out until the new phone is released. Not sure I'll make it...so FRUSTRATED!!

BTW, had same situation with same friend in LA on the Feb ABD trip.

What version phone do you have?

 

[OKW Lover]

We've got the iPhone 4 and have no problem at WDW.

There are a few places deep within show buildings where you won't get reception (Soarin comes to mind) due to the shell of the building blocking the signal.

 

[Golf4food]

Sure Verizon iPhones will get a better signal... for now... because there are fewer people on the network. But as more people switch their signal will get clogged up, too, just like AT&T's. Verizon is already started with data caps. That should tell you something right there. During busy times our 3GS's get slower data speeds at WDW compared to home, but that is to be expected because of the large amount of people on the network at once. Just like the ride lines move slower during peak seasons so does the data network - more people, more waiting.

Soon we'll reach an equilibrium point where ATT and Verizon have roughly equal numbers of users for the smart phones and everyone will have about the same signal until somebody comes up with a new signal technology and revamps their towers to use it.

 

[DisneyWorld Delight]

I have to practically be on the balcony at Yacht Club for my iPad to be online. Stinks.

 

[TMcDwyer]

I used my iPhone 4 (AT&T) in the parks last December and had very little problem.

 

[AB6876]

I had so many problems with my signal(data and voice) on my iPhone 3 the iPhone 3GS was a bit better, however since I have upgraded to a 4 (about 6 mo ago) I have not had any of the same signal problems. Data and voice were problems with the other 2 iPhones I have had. Keep in min the VeriZon iPhone is a iPhone 4 so it may not be apples to apples.. Hope this helps!

 

[kaligal]

I had an AT&T iPhone and dropped calls left and right at home, but it wasn't as bad at WDW. It did okay there.

Now I have Verizon and - with the exception of WDW hotels - I haven't dropped a single call.

I don't know why I'm okay in other buildings and hotels, but at WDW I have to go outside of some rooms to ensure I stay connected...but that's how it is. Still better than AT&T, though.

While I advise people with crappy AT&T service to switch, I wouldn't do it just for a WDW trip.