OKW internet access?

[Disney Ella]

I've read that some of the resorts are getting high speed internet access in the rooms. Does anyone know if OKW has this yet?

 

[dianeschlicht]

OKW has had it for the last two years. It is $9.95 for 24 hours and you need to bring your own cable to plug into the wall jack that is located near the dining table. I believe there is a second connection in the master bedroom, but not sure about the second bedroom.

 

[Laurajean1014]

Yup! That's correct.

 

[flexsmom]

Housekeeping will provide a cable upon a phone call - mine was delivered within about 15 minutes.

 

[Disney Ella]

Thanks everybody!

 

[RAD]

I used it last week and was a bit disappointed in the service. For $9.95/24 hours you get speeds up to 5 times faster then dial up. I ran a speed test a few times and was seeing about 240Kbps down and 250Kbps up. When I was at SSR a few days earlier their speeds were over 1.2Mbps down. I called the support number and they said that you might get a room that's over 4Mbps down all they say is 256Kbps is their speeds. IMHO 256Kbps isn't high speed especially for $9.95/24 hours, I've seen much faster speeds in Holiday Inn's which don't charge for service.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I wonder if the slow speeds have something to do with the number of users at a given time?

 

[RAD]

I wonder if the slow speeds have something to do with the number of users at a given time?

It could be a cause but I tried this a numerous times during the day/evening and it was always about the same, give or take a couple of bps.

 

[dianeschlicht]

We noticed that too, but assumed it was the number of users. All the on-site DVCs use the same service, and DVC buys the service. That's why the cost is high too.

 

[RAD]

Now here's a question. Did Disney/DVC say OK, go install this service in our resorts and you get to keep all the money or is Disney/DVC getting a cut of the profits? If not why aren't they and if they are getting a cut why isn't it showing up in the DVC annual statement? Just curious.

 

[CarolA]

Disney is not running this service. The service is run by an outside agency.

I doubt that any "cut" is going to be substantail enough to show up as a line item. DVC is not going to be where the big use is. I would expect that at convention hotels Disney would see a bigger "kickback" but at DVC it's probably just going to be miscellaneous income. Plus the contract could easily be written so that Disney does not get a cut until all fixed costs have been covered. That could take a while at a place where everyone isn't using it a lot. Now if you are the YC and have huge conventions with business folks getting it paid by their company things happen faster.

As to "free" I am at a Fairfield Inn this week... Highspeed is "free" and you get what you pay for I have not been able to make it work this week and customer service appears to only be staffed while I am at the office!!! I had to call the guys Disney used once. They were great. (Someone had unplugged my modem from the power source and they didn't make me feel like an idiot for not noticing this on my own)

The other problem with "Free" is that then someone would have had to pay for installation and customer service. That would then be reflected in higher dues. This way those of us who use (ME) are not subsidized by those who don't.

I used OKW and had no problems with the speed, but that could be because I am only doing email.

 

[dianeschlicht]

We actually asked that same question the last trip, and DVC/DIsney is not getting any of that fee. They didn't want to mess with the internet stuff, so it is totally contracted for.

 

[mickg7dyd]

Hi,
Just as a side issue I stayed in a Marriott Vacation Club property through an II trade and it had free wired AND wireless access in all rooms. Not sure what speed I was getting but it seemed ok and everything worked first time every time. Interesting comparison imho.

Mick.

 

[SueOKW]

My theory is the more expensive the hotel - the better your chance is to be charged for internet. Fairfield and Courtyards don't charge.. the straight old Baltimore Marriott I stayed in - - charged. Ritz - charge. W - charge.

Q - - if there are two ports, can you hook up two diff laptops? AND do you get charged for two?

 

[dianeschlicht]

One charge, Sue. We used both ports and will again in January, since we will both bring our laptops.

 

[SueOKW]

Thanks!!!!!!!!!!