Weak WDW Wifi - Looking for suggestions

[scrappinginontario]

As an International visitor to WDW I am dependent on Disney's wifi to access MDE. The problem is that it's often weak at the best of times, especially at Disney's Hollywood Studios.

Since we need to access wifi to use the MDE app I wish Disney would invest in upgrading their wifi so that signals are stronger and not dropped as often.

One tip that worked for me at DHS was to stand close to one of the tap stations as the signal is stronger there. I will say that this did work but it meant I had to try and stay out of the way of other guests and cast members. While it was helpful and did work it was far from an ideal solution.

Until they improve their wifi signal, do you have any suggestions for getting a stronger signal?

(Moderators: This may be better on the 'Technical Support' board. Please feel free to move it. I realized that after posting. Thanks.)

 

[ars0525]

Honestly I've never had an issue using the app & wifi in the parks. I make sure not to be in a building or under metal cover/overhang. Granted I'm just browsing/posting FB, checking my email or checking MDE for FP times or availability so maybe that makes a difference?

 

[alliecat523]

I hate the wifi in the parks. I think it's horrible. When I travel I use skyroam. It's a device that connects to cell signal and creates a wifi hotspot for you. Yes, you have to pay but I buy the packs so it come so out to $8/day. Maybe not a necessity in DW but I've used it in foreign countries with great success.

 

[Accident]

The 3 main factors that will greatly improve is to not have the phone is low power mode and disable things that might be using bandwidth that you don't need at disney (email sync, auto-updating apps, etc etc) and last, the bigger the crowd, the more people using it up making a poor experience. The power is going to be the big setting to have different if your not connecting to wifi in the first place.

The last factor has to do with the device itself, if it only supports 2.4ghz and older wifi specs, it'll be more impacting in a negative way than a newer device supporting newer wifi protocols and frequencies..

now there is 1 factor I'm not 100% sure if it'll be an issue or not but there is different frequencies allowed in different countries. an international travel might have to unlock the american frequencies and I have no clue how to go about that or if it's even possible for the average person to do.

 

[wajones2]

Our last trip in December 2016 was the first one that we had no issues with WIFI at the resort or in the parks (prior to that we were there March 2016, and average 3/year before that ). We were actually able to stream Netflix in the room and parks on the wifi (long lines ) without any issues. MDE worked perfectly as well. I don't know if they upgraded or not, but I didn't change anything on our devices.

 

[scrappinginontario]

Thanks for your tips everyone! Our last trip was in September 2016 so I'm hoping you're quite right @wajones2 and that they've upgraded the wifi!

Here's hoping!

 

[PrincessNelly]

I've never had an issue with the wifi in the parks. However, we only use it once in a while to video chat family and mostly are outside when we do that.

 

[Accident]

There are a few things that might be making some experiences worse..

- Not every country uses the same frequencies for wifi so it's possible your phone is getting jammed into the internationally safe frequency with all other international travelers.
- many phones in low power mode severely reduce the radio power for wifi and going into full power mode is more fruitful.
- the phone is just older and limited to older wifi technology which might be right on the edge of what disney may not allow as it impacts everyone else (wifi is weird in where everyone goes the speed of the slowest person connected).

 

[scrappinginontario]

Thanks for the tips @Accident. Some things to consider in September.

Honestly I've never had an issue using the app & wifi in the parks. I make sure not to be in a building or under metal cover/overhang. Granted I'm just browsing/posting FB, checking my email or checking MDE for FP times or availability so maybe that makes a difference?

I've never had an issue with the wifi in the parks. However, we only use it once in a while to video chat family and mostly are outside when we do that.

@ars0525 and @PrincessNelly, are you using your personal data plans or only the 'WDW Guest' wifi? I can only use the 'WDW Guest' wifi and that's what I tend to run into problems with. I would guess on an average day at WDW I lose connection 30+ times when I'm in the middle of doing something. At home I don't experience this when using my personal data plan but do face challenges with WDW Guest in the parks.

I will say that the wifi at Pop is much more reliable and I don't seem to have the same challenges there. Unfortunately it's normally within the parks that I'm checking wait times, FP+ ressies, etc that I tend to use my phone most often.

LOL - I do look with envy at our US friends at WDW who are able to access their own personal wifi plans and don't need to rely on the WDW service.

 

[PrincessNelly]

Thanks for the tips @Accident. Some things to consider in September.





@ars0525 and @PrincessNelly, are you using your personal data plans or only the 'WDW Guest' wifi? I can only use the 'WDW Guest' wifi and that's what I tend to run into problems with. I would guess on an average day at WDW I lose connection 30+ times when I'm in the middle of doing something. At home I don't experience this when using my personal data plan but do face challenges with WDW Guest in the parks.

I will say that the wifi at Pop is much more reliable and I don't seem to have the same challenges there. Unfortunately it's normally within the parks that I'm checking wait times, FP+ ressies, etc that I tend to use my phone most often.

LOL - I do look with envy at our US friends at WDW who are able to access their own personal wifi plans and don't need to rely on the WDW service.

I typically use Disney Wifi. However, I seem to have the opposite experience when it comes to the resort wifi. We always have crappy luck at the resorts. Maybe once you get first coneected to the park wifi, try restarting your hone to see if it would improve the signal maybe?

 

[ottawamom]

scrappinginontario, I don't know who you use for cell service in Canada but I just returned from a trip where I unlocked my Blackberry and used the ROAM service. I can't use data with it but if you have an android you should have no issues. I was able to use the wifi and my browser everywhere in the parks without issues. (well I couldn't get service in the dungeons of Pirates but that was it.) My last trip I used a cheaper phone with ROAM and had lots of issues. Using my regular cell phone (newer technology stronger service) no issues.

Something to look in to. The ROAM website will let you know if your cell phone is compatible with their band widths.

 

[ars0525]

Thanks for the tips @Accident. Some things to consider in September.





@ars0525 and @PrincessNelly, are you using your personal data plans or only the 'WDW Guest' wifi? I can only use the 'WDW Guest' wifi and that's what I tend to run into problems with. I would guess on an average day at WDW I lose connection 30+ times when I'm in the middle of doing something. At home I don't experience this when using my personal data plan but do face challenges with WDW Guest in the parks.

I will say that the wifi at Pop is much more reliable and I don't seem to have the same challenges there. Unfortunately it's normally within the parks that I'm checking wait times, FP+ ressies, etc that I tend to use my phone most often.

LOL - I do look with envy at our US friends at WDW who are able to access their own personal wifi plans and don't need to rely on the WDW service.

I use the guest, but I suppose it bounces back to my data plan when it doesn't work? I recently traveled international & had for $10 per 24 hour period access to my regular data plan/calls/texts. Maybe check with your cell carried what international plans they offer?

 

[AngiTN]

Well, I feel for you. I usually turn off wifi because it is so horrible. I would hate to have to rely on it. Well, couldn't even if I wanted to. It is simply never been functional long enough for us to accomplish a thing, including our trip 1 month ago. Anytime I try I get constant messages saying connecting/disconnecting, like every 10 seconds. It's beyond useless. If I was international I would be finding another solution, that's for sure.

Heck, one trip I broke my phone while at Disney and had a brand new phone delivered while I was there. Even a brand new phone, just released model at that, right out of the box it didn't work reliably.

 

[scrappinginontario]

You've nailed it perfectly @AngiTN! It's just unreliable and frustrating when Disney has made us very reliable on their wifi for day to day enjoyment in the parks.

I've looked at options with my cell provider but unfortunately the cost of them is astronomical! They have great plans if what I want to do is call or text but the moment I'm looking for international data the price is crazy for just a little bit that wouldn't be near enough for our 10 day trips.

I'm going to look into Roam and see if it's an option for us.

Thanks for the tips everyone! I really appreciate your input on this!

 

[AngiTN]

You've nailed it perfectly @AngiTN! It's just unreliable and frustrating when Disney has made us very reliable on their wifi for day to day enjoyment in the parks.

I've looked at options with my cell provider but unfortunately the cost of them is astronomical! They have great plans if what I want to do is call or text but the moment I'm looking for international data the price is crazy for just a little bit that wouldn't be near enough for our 10 day trips.

I'm going to look into Roam and see if it's an option for us.

Thanks for the tips everyone! I really appreciate your input on this!

I know very little about pay as you go cell phones but this may be another option for you to look at. It could be something you have to purchase after you arrive but they are sold all over. Could be worth a quick trip to Wal Mart or the like, if Roam doesn't work out.