Laptop in OKW?

[OKWAnneMarie]

This is our first time taking a laptop to OKW. Forgive my stupidity, but, do I need to bring a cable? Where is the connection in the two-bedroom villa at OKW? Thanks.

 

[DVCconvert]

If you've never done it -- it's not a stupid question!

There will be one connection point near the dining table, another (secondary) by the phone in the living room area. You don't have to bring a cable, I always do, but they are supposed to have them available (with a hefty charge I hear if you accidential take theirs home with you).

What I enjoy, is that I had a 20' cable made for me, that way, I can sit out on the balcony to do my work, or at the table, or on the couch.

HTH

 

[OKWAnneMarie]

If you've never done it -- it's not a stupid question!

There will be one connection point near the dining table, another (secondary) by the phone in the living room area. You don't have to bring a cable, I always do, but they are supposed to have them available (with a hefty charge I hear if you accidential take theirs home with you).

What I enjoy, is that I had a 20' cable made for me, that way, I can sit out on the balcony to do my work, or at the table, or on the couch.

HTH

Thanks so much!!!

 

[tuc]

There will be one connection point near the dining table,
another (secondary) by the phone in the living room area.
You don't have to bring a cable, I always do, but they are
supposed to have them available

Forgive my ignorance, but are we talking Ethernet here?
If so, is there a charge to use the connection? (Does it
vary by resort? If so I'd like to know how it works at
Saratoga Springs.)

 

[RobDoc]

Broadband at all WDW resorts costs $9.95 per 24 hour period. At OKW the connection is on the partition next to the fridge (in 1 and 2BR villas). It is next to the dining table. The connection on the wall next to the phone is the modem itself but doesn't provide the connection (I tried and had to call support -only to be told to look for the jack near the fridge). If you don't have a net cable, housekeeping can provide. Another option is to use dialup - cost is just for the local phone call $0.35 for members (but make sure it's really a local number).

At SSR and BCV there is a great desk next to the bed in the 1 and 2BR villas. You can hook up by dialup right there and I leave my laptop right there during the stay. I can't remember if there is a broadband connection there (I don't think there is) - I know there is one in the dining area.

Cost is the same at all WDW DVC resorts for either broadband or dialup. At BWV and BCV there are some WiFI hotspots (these also have a charge), but no WiFi in the villas themselves.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Doc, OKW has the dial up connection in the bedroom too. DH does the same thing and leaves it plugged in there, unless he is connecting to the highspeed. We usually connect to the high speed only a couple of times a stay. We use dialup in between. I really wish they had WiFi so we didn't have to bring the cables along. I'll have to go buy some for my laptop, since I have only used it wireless so far.

 

[RobDoc]

Doc, OKW has the dial up connection in the bedroom too. ...

Yes, all WDW resort phones have a dataport for dialup, but there is no desk in the bedroom at OKW (or BWV or VWL) like there is at BCV and VWL. At OKW, I just leave the laptop connected on the end table bewteen the two couches.

 

[OKW Lover]

Doc, OKW has the dial up connection in the bedroom too. DH does the same thing and leaves it plugged in there, unless he is connecting to the highspeed. We usually connect to the high speed only a couple of times a stay. We use dialup in between. I really wish they had WiFi so we didn't have to bring the cables along. I'll have to go buy some for my laptop, since I have only used it wireless so far.

You might want to re-consider your use of dial-up and broadband. When you connect to broadband, you are agreeing to a $9.95 charge for a 24 hour period. So, if you check in during the afternoon and first get on line at, say 6pm, your 24 hours won't run out until 6pm the next day. Then if the following day (your third day) you decide you need to get on broadband in the morning, a new 24 hour period starts at that time.

 

[DVC-Don]

Bring a long cord. I took a 6' a couple of weeks ago and could only use it on the dining table.

 

[DVCconvert]

When you connect to broadband, you are agreeing to a $9.95 charge for a 24 hour period.

This is true. If you first connect at 5PM, you'll be prompted at 5PM the following day to sign up to pay $9.95 for 24 more hours of connection time.

 

[Beach_Bound9]

This is true. If you first connect at 5PM, you'll be prompted at 5PM the following day to sign up to pay $9.95 for 24 more hours of connection time.

Seems like lots of hotels are offering these services for free..... Of course, this is Disney....[sigh]

 

[Cricket2]

Is there any disclaimer stating that we can't use a wireless router?

 

[OKWAnneMarie]

Do I need to tell them when I check in that I have a laptop or do they automatically charge me when I "connect"? Thanks.

 

[jmminarik]

Seems like lots of hotels are offering these services for free..... Of course, this is Disney....[sigh]

Lots of hotels are competing to get the business traveler's money. Disney isn't. Besides, the service is outsourced and I can't blame Disney. Disney already failed at being a Portal, why would they want to be an ISP?

-Joe

 

[RobDoc]

Is there any disclaimer stating that we can't use a wireless router?

No disclaimer for routers. Several have reported using a router in their rooms.

Do I need to tell them when I check in that I have a laptop or do they automatically charge me when I "connect"? Thanks

You do not need to contact anyone, your room will be charged automatically when you accept the terms to connect from the villa.

 

[dianeschlicht]

You might want to re-consider your use of dial-up and broadband. When you connect to broadband, you are agreeing to a $9.95 charge for a 24 hour period. So, if you check in during the afternoon and first get on line at, say 6pm, your 24 hours won't run out until 6pm the next day. Then if the following day (your third day) you decide you need to get on broadband in the morning, a new 24 hour period starts at that time.

That's why we only do it every couple of days. We get virtually 2 days on each connection and use dialup one day inbetween. It has worked to keep the broadband costs down. We only check email on the dialup days.

Do I need to tell them when I check in that I have a laptop or do they automatically charge me when I "connect"? Thanks.

No, you are just charged when you connect up to the highspeed jack. You will not be charged for connecting to the dialup jack unless you call a local number. We have an 800 number to call, so there is no charge for our dialup usage at OKW.

 

[DVCconvert]

Is there any disclaimer stating that we can't use a wireless router?

None that I've seen.

 

[russct]

Do they have wireless service at SSR. I thought they did.

 

[Nanajo1]

I don't know about SSR but I believe there is wireless available at the Luna Pool area. We just used the broadband in room.

 

[DVCconvert]

Wireless is not available in rooms. It is available in some common spaces like lobbies, pools (BW/YC/BC). This is especially true at convention center resorts.