Solution for creating an in-room wifi network

[Lew]

I have previously reported success using an Apple AirPort Express for creating an in-room wifi network at OKW. Since the AirPort Express' parameters cannot be adjusted with an iPhone or iPad, you're kinda' stuck if you didn't set it up correctly before leaving home. Also, the weak wireless signal did not cover our entire 1-BR unit at OKW.

I have since discovered the EnGenius ETR9330 300Mbps Wireless N Travel Router. Click here for product information.

It's about the same size as the AirPort Express; however, it can be programmed via a browser and its wifi signal is more powerful. I'm at OKW right now in a 1-BR and it covers the entire unit as well as our balcony. It's really the answer for anyone who travels and wants the convenience of wifi...and no, I have no connection with EnGenius other than being a happy user.

Last time I checked, it was in the $40 range on Amazon.

 

[vicki_c]

Thanks for the info Lew. We've had always had challenges setting up our Airport Express in the room (with a laptop). We usually get it to work, but it's never the seamless plug & play like I've heard others describe. Might have to check this out.

 

[cvjw]

Oh no! We just purchased a MacBook pro and the Airport Express with visions of easy wi-fi for our laptop and 2 IPADS during our Disney stays. I hate to hear that it isn't as easy as we thought.

 

[erionm]

I have an AirPort Express that I take with me to Disney. I set it up at home first and verified that my iPhone and iPad could connect correctly. I've also not had any issues with the strength of the WiFi signal while using the AirPort Express at Disney.

 

[Cricket2]

I went nutz thinking I could get wireless down to the pool @ Kidani using a Cisco Aironet but it only got to the valet station (approx) before degrading. Close, but not quite. If I was on that side of the building I'm sure it would have made it but I was almost all the way to Jambo on the 4th floor with it maxed out. Pretty good if you ask me. I may have had a little extra glow that trip from it though

I have a Palm Pre now and Verizon throws in the hotspot function now so I don't care about pool access so we just keep a netgear unit in our Owner's Locker and it works great for in room access.

 

[MaryJ]

We have an Airport Express in our Owner's Locker and have never had any trouble with it. As others have said, I set it up at home and made sure both my MacBook Pro and DH's Windows computer could connect to it. It covered all of our 2 BR at AKV (Kidani).

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

We've used the airport express in an OKW 2BR (and other places) and have never had a signal strength problem.

 

[nuts]

What would be interesting would be to setup a wireless router on your patio, then find a spot nearby that has a plug to setup a repeater. Imagine the range then

 

[Lost in Neverland]

You all are too funny. I love my WiFi when I am on vacation but not enough to try and get signal at the pool. When I am on vacation anything that is work related or tied to the PC may or may not get looked at while I am at WDW. Just according to how much pixie dust got sprinkled while I was asleep during one of my many naps . We just returned from a 9 day trip and I can honestly say I did not even touch my laptop except to move it off the coffee table but one time. Relax it is Disney.

 

[Lew]

Thanks for the info Lew. We've had always had challenges setting up our Airport Express in the room (with a laptop). We usually get it to work, but it's never the seamless plug & play like I've heard others describe. Might have to check this out.

With a laptop, you shouldn't have an issue setting up an AirPort Express using AirPort Utility. However, there's no way to set up an AirPort Express with an iOS device such as an iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad.

The beauty of the EnGenius, or any browser addressable router, is that it's parameters can be adjusted or optimized using any device with a browser: laptop or iOS device.

Oh no! We just purchased a MacBook pro and the Airport Express with visions of easy wi-fi for our laptop and 2 IPADS during our Disney stays. I hate to hear that it isn't as easy as we thought.

No reason to worry, setup is quite easy, if you have your MacBook Pro with you. There is a problem; however, if all you have with you is an iOS device.

To those who are using an AirPort Express and are happy with its performance...great!! I've used one on a number of visits to OKW and was less than thrilled. For me the EnGenius' performance is far superior and easier to set up and much more flexible.

 

[Brandis]

I also bring my Airport Express on vacation to use with my iPhone und iPad. However, I never got it to work at Disney even though it works perfectly at home and any other hotel I used it.

So, a couple of month ago, I bought a very cheap Netgear WiFi router and that one works perfectly at Disney. I now store it in my Owner's Locker.

Still bring the Airport Express for other hotels. Also did last month when we stayed at Kidani Village and Vero Beach, didn't know that Vero has free Wifi anyway. So in the end I didn't need the Airport at all. But I also tried it one time at Kidani and it never got a signal even though the Netgear worked perfectly.

I had set up both at home with the same parameters and they both work there but it seems Disney has some special settings...

 

[Brandis]

Also had a strange setup at VWL when we stayed there on October in a 2-BR.

There was a network outlet right underneath the table in the living room but it was dead, then I discovered a modem behind the couch, plugged into the phone line. When I connected the Netgear Wifi to it, it worked great as well.

Not sure if that was a workaround done by Disney or if someone forgot his modem there, but it was obviously also tied into the internal WDW network, as I also got the $9.95 confirmation screen when logging in.

 

[jekjones1558]

Also had a strange setup at VWL when we stayed there on October in a 2-BR.

There was a network outlet right underneath the table in the living room but it was dead, then I discovered a modem behind the couch, plugged into the phone line. When I connected the Netgear Wifi to it, it worked great as well.

Not sure if that was a workaround done by Disney or if someone forgot his modem there, but it was obviously also tied into the internal WDW network, as I also got the $9.95 confirmation screen when logging in.

I have used my Airport Express for years at BWV with no problems. Then suddenly last year I had exactly the same issue--wouldn't work with the outlet near the kitchen table but worked fine when connected to the modem under the lamp table in the living room.

 

[gkrykewy]

With a laptop, you shouldn't have an issue setting up an AirPort Express using AirPort Utility. However, there's no way to set up an AirPort Express with an iOS device such as an iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad.

how do you connect the iOS device to the router for setup (browser based or no) if wifi is not yet operable?

 

[Brandis]

how do you connect the iOS device to the router for setup (browser based or no) if wifi is not yet operable?

Once I set up my airport at home, the iPhone would connect to it as soon as the airport is plugged in (except at WDW that is... *g*) So, normally, no further setup would usually be needed. I have no idea what's different at WDW.

Well, the iPhone would also connect to the Airport there, but since the airport doesn't find any internet connection, that's not very useful

 

[Lew]

how do you connect the iOS device to the router for setup (browser based or no) if wifi is not yet operable?

Both the AirPort Express and EnGenius router broadcast a wifi signal right out of the box. Your iOS device will be able to see the default network and use it if its default settings work with Disney's network.

With an AirPort Express you would not be able to change your network's name, set up a secure WEP or WPA connection or set up a password for the device. If you're experiencing interference on the wireless channel your AirPort Express is using, you would not be able to change it. You can make all these adjustments and more with a browser addressable router.

Well, the iPhone would also connect to the Airport there, but since the airport doesn't find any internet connection, that's not very useful

The internet connection is there and available to you, but your AirPort Express parameters need to be changed in order for it to see Disney's network. You can't make those changes with your iPhone, but you could make them if you were using any browser addressable router.

 

[Brandis]

The internet connection is there and available to you, but your AirPort Express parameters need to be changed in order for it to see Disney's network. You can't make those changes with your iPhone, but you could make them if you were using any browser addressable router.

I just wonder what those changes would be. As I said, I set up both the Netgear Wifi AND Airport the same with pretty much out of the box standard settings (except for PW protection and encryption, but no special DNS settings or so) and both the Netgear AND the Airport both work at home as well as in any other hotel I tried them, only at WDW I don't get a connection with the Airport.

Well, it's no longer an issue, as I now have the Netgear stowed in my Owner's Locker so I use that one in the future.

 

[Lew]

I just wonder what those changes would be.

My best guess would be an incompatible router mode. The EnGenius can be set up to run in AP Router Mode, AP Mode and Client Bridge Mode. If I remember correctly, the AirPort Express can be set to run in different modes. If not set to the right mode, it won't work with Disney's network

Well, it's no longer an issue, as I now have the Netgear stowed in my Owner's Locker so I use that one in the future.

I think you'll be much happier.

As a big-time Apple fan, it hurts to say that. There needs to be an AirPort Utility app for iOS devices so we can change AirPort Express parameters while traveling.

 

[vicki_c]

Just to (kind of) reply to Brandi's posts - that sounds like the same trouble we have had in the past with the Airport. I can't remember right now, but it was related to whether the router was set up as a bridge, or it was related to "join a network" vs. "create a network" - just can't remember how it all played out.

The instructions we found that finally worked for us were on someone's blog I found, and they were actually fairly complicated concerning all the set up of the Airport Express for use in a hotel room.

So I can't explain the difference between why some people have no issues at all and we usually always had a problem, but I just wanted to agree that for whatever reason, it's not always plug and play. Could be how we had it set up at home, or some mistake we made or whatever.

 

[MaryJ]

Also had a strange setup at VWL when we stayed there on October in a 2-BR.

There was a network outlet right underneath the table in the living room but it was dead, then I discovered a modem behind the couch, plugged into the phone line. When I connected the Netgear Wifi to it, it worked great as well.

Not sure if that was a workaround done by Disney or if someone forgot his modem there, but it was obviously also tied into the internal WDW network, as I also got the $9.95 confirmation screen when logging in.

That happened to me at VWL in May, but we were staying in a dedicated 1BR so it couldn't have been the same room. Sounds like maintenance at VWL needs to give all the internet outlets a once over.