Is Disneys in park wifi getting better

[ACJT]

Just wondering if the wifi in the parks is getting better? I was there last May, and found it slow and very unreliable ? With all this FP+ stuff rolling out I hope it gets better. I sure wouldn't want to have to pay data roaming charges since I'm from Canada!

 

[mrsap]

Just wondering if the wifi in the parks is getting better? I was there last May, and found it slow and very unreliable ? With all this FP+ stuff rolling out I hope it gets better. I sure wouldn't want to have to pay data roaming charges since I'm from Canada!

It wasn't any better in November! I was very frustrated trying to work the Disney app. Ended up just using phone service because it was so slow, barely working at times. Would be nice if its better this November! Also remember the app kept crashing as well, especially when trying to use the GPS feature! Someone give us some good news, please!

 

[biondagirl]

I don't know if its better, but we are here now and have had no issues.

 

[ACJT]

I don't know if its better, but we are here now and have had no issues.

I hope your experience is an indicator that its better. I can only imagine what a nightmare it will be trying to navigate the mde app if it isn't

 

[amie416]

I hope your experience is an indicator that its better. I can only imagine what a nightmare it will be trying to navigate the mde app if it isn't

^^^ +1!

I won't be able to use data while I'm there because roaming is way too expensive. Hope the wifi will be enough!

 

[mountdew1]

By it's very nature, there is only so much they can do with WiFi. Any access point can only reliably handle a set number of devices, and a set amount of traffic at any time. And simply adding more access points isn't possible due to a limited amount of spectrum for the access points to use. They start to interfere with each other and it just gets yucky.
Think of the access point like a tour guide. A tour guide can only give a good tour to say a dozen people. And can only listen to and answer so many questions at a time. So the first dozen people, get one tour guide. Another dozen show up? Add a second tour guide. Now since they both visit the same stops, they have to stand far enough away from each other so they don't talk over each other, but close enough so that their groups can still see the stop. Now another dozen people show up, add a 3rd guide, and another dozen add a 4th. Except you now have 4 tour guides all standing at the train station trying to talk over each other to talk about the trains. And no one can hear their tour guide. And it just gets worse if you add a 5th, 6th, etc tour guide. Everyone just starts talking over each other, and no one gets a good tour.
WiFi access points are the same way. They all start talking over each other, devices stop dropping off the network, etc. You hit a point of diminishing returns. The same thing can happen if you are in a very dense apartment building.

 

[arlsdimples]

We were there in May and it was terrible. We also had issues with batteries dying quickly and not getting through part of the day a park without having to turn our phones off until we needed them. When we were there at the end of July beginning of August we did not experience these problems. Now we were there for the 24hr event and Star Wars weekend so maybe the crowds were larger (certainly were in HS) and that had an effect. However MK still seemed pretty crowded and we had no issues like last time. We brought a battery charger in our bag and never had to bring it out to use.

 

[asudol]

We've pre-ordered two sim cards from 'handprint.me' - We're getting 14 day cards, unlimited incoming, unlimited US-wide calling, unlimited in/out text (including international), and a GB of 4G LTE data (with tethering!) for $35ea including the SIM cards.

Of course, this only matters if you have an unlocked phone on a supported carrier... We have unlocked iphone 5 phones on Koodo, so this will work for us.

They also offer smartphone rentals (android-based I think) on a daily rate.

We just tell them what hotel we're staying at, when we'll arrive, and they'll have it waiting for us.

Hopefully wifi will be ok, but if not, we're covered.

 

[Otter49]

I think the service has improved dramatically since last winter. I was in Epcot a lot over the summer and was always connected automatically upon arrival in the park and I never really noticed any dropped service.

And I'm not even using a smart phone to connect.

 

[wiigirl]

I think the service has improved dramatically since last winter. I was in Epcot a lot over the summer and was always connected automatically upon arrival in the park and I never really noticed any dropped service.

And I'm not even using a smart phone to connect.

This....but with that being said....it would of been hard to get worse.

 

[TaraPA]

We just returned & it was very spotty in the parks & resorts. We couldn't get wifi for about 4 hours at BWI one day, of course the day DH was planning to get some work done! The best place we found wifi - on the busses!

 

[momof2n2]

I think the service has improved dramatically since last winter. I was in Epcot a lot over the summer and was always connected automatically upon arrival in the park and I never really noticed any dropped service.

And I'm not even using a smart phone to connect.

What are you using? iPod?

 

[CandleontheWater]

I couldn't get my android phone to connect at all in May. There was good 4G coverage (with Verizon) though, so I was able to manage. I'm hoping to use the WiFi in Sept, but we'll see.

 

[frankieeyre]

I'm from the UK so couldn't use my data as it would cost a fortune!! The wifi was perfect for me!! I used facebook, twitter, instagram and vine throughout my trip with no problems whatsoever! Skype and facetime were fine too, as was safari!!

 

[TheRustyScupper]

Just wondering if the wifi in the parks is getting better? . . .

 

[Otter49]

What are you using? iPod?

I'm using a Samsung media player. Does everything a phone can do as long as I have wi-fi. Pretty handy.

 

[momof2n2]

I'm using a Samsung media player. Does everything a phone can do as long as I have wi-fi. Pretty handy.

Good to know!!!

 

[gschon]

I usually don't need the internet when I'm at WDW. Just a phone/camera. The wait times are posted in the park.

 

[jaiminee krikit]

I just got back a week ago, and the only time I had issues (at the park AND resorts) was on the Walt Disney World Railroad. I used my Ipod Touch throughout the day every day that I was there to check wait times, update FP+, change dinner reservations, and look at menus online. It was very handy!

 

[Luvchefmic]

On my android phone Metro-PCS service I have had no issues
with wifi at all lately anywhere on property