WDW and WIFI???

[amee]

We are heading to WDW in a couple of weeks.........with a laptop........can anyone tell me if OKW is equipped with WIFI service?

Thanks much!

Amee

 

[DebbieB]

They have wired broadband. $9.95 per 24 hour period.

 

[shellbelle1971]

The best solution for us has been to use an aircard.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Dial up is cheap and works just fine for me.

 

[wdw4me2]

The best solution for us has been to use an aircard.

I agree...we RV frequently in the summer and it helps with keeping my work load down when I get back.

I just got back from DW stayed off property at Floridays Resort...they had Wifi but not in my room. My air card worked great. We decided to get the aircard last year when we vactioned at sites without wifi.


If you just need it for a quick hello, dial up would suffice. But I will not give up my aircard!

 

[MinnieGirl33]

No laughter please...

What is an aircard & how does it work?

 

[doconeill]

Should add that to the "desired benefits" thread - cheaper/free internet access...after all, I'm not going there to USE the network, but I do maintain web sites and would like to check that they are still running occasionally. $10/day for at most an hour of use most of the time? Three days at Disney and I've paid my monthly FIOS line charge.

They could rate-limit users to prevent abuse.

Although I do remember when dialup services like CompuServe were that high, especially if you used a 1200 baud ( ) modem.

Last I looked, aircards were expensive. Maybe I can finagle something with my cell phone and bluetooth...

 

[wdw4me2]

Before we had the air card we used the cell phone mobile office kit. It worked ok. Dial up but you could use it any where you got Data service. So far the only place I could not get data service was in the mountains of West Virginia. It plugged into the cell phone and used minutes if you were using it during peak time...otherwise I used it during none peak time and it was free minutes. But then I got a new cell phone and it did not have a mobile office kit compatible...So then we tried the air card for free for 30 days... That was last year and we still have it.

Costs me 59.99./month...for me that is worth it and now I don't do a Dunkin donut coffee/bagel run before work everyday...I bring my own.

Cost....I break even, but I have to take time to make my own coffee

Time spent on the internet....priceless...


BB

 

[danielc0307]

Aircard = a "pcmcia" card that slides in to the side of most all laptops. Usually rented, but they are cheap to buy now....and soon obsolete as many newer laptops actually just have "wireless" built in already now.

 

[doconeill]

Aircard = a "pcmcia" card that slides in to the side of most all laptops. Usually rented, but they are cheap to buy now....and soon obsolete as many newer laptops actually just have "wireless" built in already now.

Well, not quite. An "aircard" is as you say a PCMCIA card (or Cardbus, which is a newer standard but in the same form factor), but it links into the digital cellular network to provide Internet access over that network. In general, if you can get a digital signal on your cell phone, you can use an aircard (there may be limitations on older digital networks, etc.) We use them for on-call work. Faster than dialup, slower than cable/DSL.

"Wireless" built in to most laptops nowadays is of the WI-FI variety - i.e. 802.11B/G (and some .11A but more rare). It's faster but shorter range, and only available where its been deployed.

 

[wdw4me2]

Aircard = a "pcmcia" card that slides in to the side of most all laptops. Usually rented, but they are cheap to buy now....and soon obsolete as many newer laptops actually just have "wireless" built in already now.

We don't rent ours...it is ours. We have broadband access in most areas and National access in others. We use it while on the road traveling in the Rv. When we have national access it is for sure slower, but most places that have wifi and we are too far from the wifi or we have to pay for it we do get broadband access. Not sure of the speed I will have to get to you on that one.

 

[MinnieGirl33]

OK, tell me if I am understanding this right...

My laptop is already wifi enabled but I would still need to purchase the aircard. But doing so would enable me to access the internet for "free"?

 

[doconeill]

OK, tell me if I am understanding this right...

My laptop is already wifi enabled but I would still need to purchase the aircard. But doing so would enable me to access the internet for "free"?

No no no...

Wifi and aircards are two different beasts.

Wifi, which is now built into most laptops and can be added on via PCMCIA or USB adapters to others, is a short-range wireless technology, used at offices, homes, and even coffee shops to allow network access. You have to be in range (typically 300 feet but it can be more) to use it, and you must be permitted to use it (have the right security code, pay a fee, etc.).

An "aircard" is like a cell phone for your laptop. Think of it as a dialup device, except that it can (not always) go a lot faster. It's still wireless, but works over the cellular network - so it can work in a larger variety of areas, usually anywhere your digital cell phone works.

Neither is generally free. The aircard has at a minimum a monthly fee (it used to be $99/mo, but someone else here said $59/mo, and that could depend on the carrier - I know Verizon and Sprint offer them).

Wifi access depends on who is providing it. Some coffee shops offer it for free (subsidized by the coffee prices ). Hotels/resorts may use it instead of wired connections, but you still have to sign up with a fee to access the Internet. But you must be in the local area it is offered at. A Doubletree I was at recently wanted $12 to let me use it.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

. . . Should add that to the "desired benefits" thread - cheaper/free internet access . . .

1) Most people don't bring computers to WDW.
2) They realize that they are on vacation.
3) Why should my dues for something used by a select group of people?
4) Keep it "pay as you go".
5) It is a good system.

 

[sjdisneywedding]

1) Most people don't bring computers to WDW.
2) They realize that they are on vacation.
3) Why should my dues for something used by a select group of people?
4) Keep it "pay as you go".
5) It is a good system.

1)Actually its a terrible system
2)maybe most dont bring computers, but in todays day many many many
do
3) your dues should pay for it, for the same reason it pays for all the other extras we get that may only be used by a select number of people

 

[pilferk]

I don't mind the "pay as you go", but would appreciate it if, at least in the new construction and during remodels/rehabs, if WDW woudl add wifi to the DVC (heck, even the hotel) resorts, at least.

 

[wdw4me2]

1)Actually its a terrible system
2)maybe most dont bring computers, but in todays day many many many
do
3) your dues should pay for it, for the same reason it pays for all the other extras we get that may only be used by a select number of people

I didn't want to chime in on that one...after all I am just earning my ears.

But I agree. It should be included. My Dh travels frequently and gets free wifi at his hotel stays.

It does get frustrating when you can't depend on Wifi which is why we have the Aircard.

We bring our laptop wherever we go. It has our GPS on it, we do our banking, manage emails from work, so that when we get back we are not overwhelmed with the work load at work. Send pics to family of our vacation. Postcards what are they? It works well for us and allows us to vacation more frequently, because we can still do a little work on the road.

BB

 

[kc4601]

1) Most people don't bring computers to WDW.
2) They realize that they are on vacation.
3) Why should my dues for something used by a select group of people?
4) Keep it "pay as you go".
5) It is a good system.

OMG. Pay as you go is not fine and does not work well. The Wired internet at OKW was all messed up the DNS server wasn't configured right, etc. I called tech support three times.

All of the resorts, not to mention the parks should be Wireless and IMHO free. Let's face it we are paying for Disney's wireless for thier operations already they could alocate fixed bandwidth for guests.

I don't bring my Laptop for fun. I need to get in touch with work daily or at least evey couple of days. It would lessen the inconvienice to the family and time spent be me to have up to date Internet access.

BTW The Grand Floridian and Contemporary have wireless. $10 for 24h. The GF is a great place to sit and do some email, but in my room at OKW or SSr would be better.

 

[bwvBound]

Neither is generally free. The aircard has at a minimum a monthly fee (it used to be $99/mo, but someone else here said $59/mo, and that could depend on the carrier - I know Verizon and Sprint offer them).

Adding to the body of knowledge ... I've been using T-Mobile's data service for 3+ years @ $30/month unlimited data. First two years I enjoyed GPRS using the Sierra AirCard ... more recently upgraded to GPRS/EDGE/WiFi via their MDA phone. In general, T-Mobile's data service isn't as fast as Verizon's (or possibly Sprint's) -- but it far more affordable.