Should Disney offer Free Internet service for its guests?

[angelmav]

I guess I dont see the big deal with providing it. In europe, Mc Donalds offers free wi-fi at several of their restaurants. If Im not mistaken, so do many coffe houses in the US (coffee houses in the netherlads offer something completely different )

 

[shellybaxter]

I guess I dont see the big deal with providing it. In europe, Mc Donalds offers free wi-fi at several of their restaurants. If Im not mistaken, so do many coffe houses in the US (coffee houses in the netherlads offer something completely different )

Yes - but each of those businesses (McDonalds, coffee houses) use the free internet to attract customers. Disney doesn't need free internet to attract customers. From a business standpoint I can't find a reason why Disney would want to other it for free

 

[disneykibbes5]

When I first read this question I thought "Well Yeah it should be free" but then I thought about it for a little while and came to the same conclusion as many others.
I don't use the internet all the time while I an on vacation and don't want my room rate to be raised for something I may not use. I will be more then happy to pay for what I need. I just wish they would have a it a little faster for the price we pay.
The last time I was there it ran so SLOOOOOOW!!!!!!

 

[stacy6552]

NO! No free internet for my husband at WDW. Its hard enough to get him to keep off his phone! You guys are killing me here!

 

[dreamalittledream]

We received free internet at the CR last month. I believe everyone does at the CR, and they also have the online concierge service. We were just in a standard bay lake view tower room.

when we were there last Dec, we also had the free internet with their computer in the room. I believe it was the start of the trial for it so I'm glad to see it continued. It was really nice to have their setup and not have to pull out the laptop for a quick internet check on something. we were not charged. we were in the tower, MK view but my brother was in the wing and he didn't have the same setup.

 

[AnninIowa]

I think they should have it at the Deluxe resorts, and possibly also at the Moderate one that has the convention center. Even our local malls offer it for free!

 

[MommyBuzz909]

If Starbucks can offer it for free, than I think Disney surely should!!!

 

[mjbradeis]

I do think WDW should offer it in the Deluxe and above resorts, I agree with the Starbucks comment as well. McDonalds in my area has it.

I have a Verizon Aircard, I have found that is alot easier then worrrying if the hotel you have you will be able to get internet access.

 

[bicker]

Starbucks now offers wireless broadband Internet service throughout North America, offering T-Mobile HotSpot in the U.S. and Bell Hotspot in Canada.

For T-Mobile:

Pay As You Go: Includes 60 minutes of unlimited data usage and additional minutes, as needed. Get connected at any T-Mobile HotSpot location nationwide. $6.00 per login for the first 60 minutes, whether or not the minutes are fully used; $0.10 per minute thereafter.

 

[Alicnwondrln]

Off Topis:

Hi Bicker!!!!

 

[Lewisc]

I wonder what the response would be if you said you wanted a glass of ice water. It seems like a waste paying for room service for a full ice bucket but I suspect that would be the answer. I was going to ask about a guest that brought a special bottle of wine but I'm sure that kind of resort would have a room service package, perhaps not published, that includes glasses, ice bucket, service and wine/cheese.

Some of us don't appreciate the fact that guests at a "real deluxe resort" are more concerned with 24hour room service then a self service coffee maker in the room. Guests in those resorts won't sit still for a half hour wait to check in.

What's amazing is Disney is able to charge prices that approach "real deluxe hotesl" without having the staff to provide the level of service that's generally given in those kinds of resorts.

Previous posters are accurate. Free internet is more common in moderate business hotels such as Courtyard by Marriott. Deluxe hotels frequently charge for internet service. I don't think many (most?) Disney guests understand that and Disney would probably have issues if the provide free internet to guests at moderate hotels and charge for internet at deluxe hotels.

Very good point. I remember staying at The Balsams some time ago, and I needed ice for a Diet Coke I brought with me, and went looking for the ice machine; there wasn't one. I asked about it the next day and was politely informed that resort considers provision of ice "a service guests can request from room service, as part of an order placed for drinks" (or something like that -- the wording was quite remarkable, being pointed, euphemistic, and solicitous, all at the same time). In other words, they figured that since I was spending so much for a hotel room, I should be happy to spend more money for room service to provide my drinks. Their house, their rules. I rest assured that they know more about running a resort than we do.

 

[Lilolvr]

It should be free, at least in the common areas. I've stayed at Marriotts and Sheratons and they have free WiFi in the lobbies at a minimum.

Fairfield Inn Deptford
Hotel Highlights

* This hotel is nonsmoking
* Offering comfortable guest rooms at a superior value for both business and leisure travelers.
* Complimentary continental breakfast, including "make your own" belgium waffles and hot oatmeal.
* Complimentary Wireless Hi-Speed Internet Access in all rooms and public areas.

 

[mslclark]

I think "free internet" is a marking tool that some hotels/motels use to attract customers. I don't think Disney needs to use that marketing tools to get people to stay in their resorts, so it will probably never be free.

 

[Lewisc]

Starbucks is switching from T-Mobile to AT&T and will be giving limited internet service for free.

http://www.charlotte.com/business/story/489514.html

 

[kid-at-heart]

Yes! It should be offered and it should be free. For a lot of us, it is our connection with the family and friends. Also, a lot of us stay at Disney while at conferences, etc. The family plays while we work.

 

[WillCAD]

Do, Disney should not raise their already inflated room prices to provide "free" internet service to all Guests, whether they use it or not.

I use the service sparsely when I'm at WDW. On a recent 10-night trip, I used it for 2 days. That's $20 - as opposed to having my room rates increase by $10 a night to pay for it and costing me $100 extra.

I equate this with a poll asking, "Should Disney give a free refillable mug to every Guest at check in?" No - because room rates would go up accross the board for those of us who don't us the refillables, too.

 

[Mouseaholic!!!]

If you compare the cost of a disney resort on any given day to resorts (often far better equipped) outside the gates.....disney should absolutely offer Free Wireless service. I travel for work and have stayed at Hiltons and Holiday Inns....never paid a penny for Wireless.

I am curious to see how free their wireless service (and many other services) will be when the four seasons opens on the northside of the property - with a fabulous 18 hole golf course and TRUE deluxe resort tender loving care for it's guests.....and that's just the beginning.

 

[Contemporary_Man]

It should be free, at least in the common areas. I've stayed at Marriotts and Sheratons and they have free WiFi in the lobbies at a minimum.

Fairfield Inn Deptford
Hotel Highlights

* This hotel is nonsmoking
* Offering comfortable guest rooms at a superior value for both business and leisure travelers.
* Complimentary continental breakfast, including "make your own" belgium waffles and hot oatmeal.
* Complimentary Wireless Hi-Speed Internet Access in all rooms and public areas.

Marriott doesn't offer free internet in what they consider to be their full-service hotel brands (Marriott, JW Marriott, Renaissance, Ritz-Carlton). Bill Marriott touched on this subject in his blog last summer. An excerpt is below:

In our full service hotels in the U.S. and in Canada, we will bundle, on request, high-speed with unlimited local and long distance phone calls for a flat rate. We responded to business travelers who worried that a cell call might be dropped in the middle of an important business conversation, and who also wanted a predictable, all-in-one price.

Meanwhile, high-speed and WiFi are complimentary at Courtyard, Residence Inn, Fairfield Inn, TownePlace Suites and SpringHill Suites. A couple of those brands had already offered free local calling.

When we introduced complimentary broadband three years ago, demand for high-speed was just building. Back then, the economy was weak and occupancy was down. Many hotels in the moderate tier were looking for a competitive advantage.

Times have changed now. Today, nearly every business traveler demands fast access to the Internet. They're also downloading and uploading larger files. And many of our hotels are often sold out. The combination can put a strain on the system. That's why our approved high-speed vendors must be able to manage bandwidth so connections and downloads remain very fast.

Soon, we'll begin replacing high-speed connection boxes in our hotels. They'll be more reliable and they'll reduce guest complaints. But providing high-speed connections and service improvements must be paid for by each hotel, and it's very costly. It affects the bottom lines of our hotel investors-and, as I have mentioned in the past, we don't own our hotels, we manage them for their investor owners.

Occasionally, we hear rumors that Marriott, or one of its competitors, is about to make high-speed free in full service hotels. In the end, they are just rumors. I know this is a controversial topic, but that's why I blog, to have a frank conversation with our guests.

 

[ElizabethB]

My initial reaction to the question from the OP was, "No, why should they?" However, as I thought about it and read the posts, it seems the free internet is becoming so commonplace in so many places that it's kind of getting to be like TV. They don't charge for TV. I think internet is similar -- especially WiFi, which comes across the public airways.

 

[EnnEss]

I'm not sure the internet is essential and should be subsidized by all the guests to suit a few. I feel the same way about phones in hotels actually. I am on the computer 8 hours a day 8 days a week, either 6 hours daily at school plus homework at home (and I'm an arts student, I just use a laptop), or I use it for entertainment, various online games and social activities (msn, facebook etc.). I embarrassingly admit that I am probably in the uppermost proportion of the population when it comes to internet usage. However, I feel no need to use it on vacation at Disney. Furthermore, if you require it for business, its a business expense and you'll have to pay for it or use cellular for it.