Why do they charge for...

[cigar95]

Originally posted by sunkissed212
I guess it's just odd that they are on the cutting edge of everything yet...a $59/night Hamptonn Inn hotel offers a service such as this when a $300/night Deluxe resort at WDW doesn't.

That's precisely the point. The two properties serve different clientele. Who's more likely to be willing to pay $10 for access to the internet - the customer staying at a resort hotel and with enough cash to spend $300 a night, or the small businessman on a budget staying at a $59 property?

Economically, the issue of charging for the service has nothing to do with what it costs to provide it, but entirely to do with what it's worth to those who may or may not be willing to pay for it.

For those who *NEED* online access every day, it will be worth the $10. For those who *don't* need it, Disney is well aware of how much money WDW guests spend on things they don't need, but are willing to purchase just on a lark. (How many of us have purchased the photo at the end of the attraction, and two days later asked yourself "why did I waste my money on that?")

 

[my3kids]

We travel a lot and the only place it has ever been free is in Wyndhams, for Wyndham by Request members. They even give free phone useage, for both local and long distance. We've been in a couple of Hiltons recently and my DH is in one now and never has it been free, even with the Honors program. One Hilton did have a business center with complementary internet in that room, which was a Godsend as we were stuck out of town at the airport during hurricane disruptions. That internet room saved our vacation by allowing us rebook and find someplace else to travel.

 

[jenjen212]

I do agree that it would be nice to have it, but if it means that the prices of the room will go up, i'll go without it.

since we have a provider that we can use the dial up anywhere we go, (like aol) we just use that. we just look for the closest dial up number, and dial in. we then just end up paying for making a local call everytime that we use it.

good luck!

JEN

 

[CarolA]

I mean, come on. Just about every hotel in the country...and probably the world now a days...has internet access in their hotel rooms and usually at no additional cost to guests. It amazes me that a place as large and well off as Walt Disney World has to charge a fee.

Well, I don't see that most every hotel in the WORLD has internet access. (Spent four weeks in Europe this summer, no internet access anywhere!)

Also, LOTS AND LOTS of hotels do charge and Disney's charges are actually in line or better then those that do. For example, Marriott Hotels and Resorts charge $9.95 with your day ending a checkout time regardless of when you first log on. So if I log on at the Marriott Marquis in Atlanta at 9 am I have to repay at noon. At Disney I would be paid until 9 the next day.

Actually free internet is much more common at the cheaper hotels then the top levels. So while both Marriott and Fairfield are run by the same company I get free internet at the Fairfield but not the Marriott. Other hotels hide it in the "resort fee" (see Swan/Dophin)

 

[Lewisc]

Some hotels lump internet access as one of the services you get as part of your resort fee; S/D and Gaylord Palms are two Disney area hotels that take that approach.

I agree with most of the previous posters, the lower end chains tend to give you things like free continental breakfast and high speed internet access and the higher end chains tend to charge for those extras.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

Originally posted by Jen D
I think WDW is just behind the curve on internet access because except for the convention hotels, it just isn't a priority for their guests, who are primarily leisure travelers.

We do bring our laptop and just use dial-up when we travel. I'm using it right now!

I think this is probably the reason. If I had to guess, I'd say most people who are on vacation at WDW are not looking to get online.

It would be kind of nice though. But I don't think $9.95 is unreasonable. I doubt I'll be bringing a lap top with me anytime soon though.

 

[robinb]

It seems to me that the cheaper hotels (3* and below) have free internet access and the more expensive ones charge about $10 per day. Probably because business travelers who stay at the Hiltons, etc will pay for it. I will happily pay for high-speed internet at a Disney resort. It's a lot better than dial up!

 

[Imagineering or Bust]

What no one seems to notice is that everyone is focusing on High Speed access, at some resorts. I don't know maybe like, the Value Resorts! There is no charge there to use the dial access, but like all phone calls at Disney there is a $0.75 connection charge, (that is actually charged by the phone company that carries Disney). So keep that in mind, if you don't mind having a decent connection, with minimal cost, think Value Resorts!

 

[Beachangel]

Free internet access is not a perk I'd be interested in, but neither is a refrigerator. I never bring my laptop on vacation - not even the CEO I assist uses the internet while on vacation. If we need to communicate, we use cell phones, hotel faxes and the good ol' blackberry.

 

[old lost boy]

Years ago we were on a tram to the parking lot, when the CM said we are goiing to do a trivia contest with fabulous prizes. Then he laughed and said " Of course there aren't prizes, this is Disney World where nothing is free." Enough said.

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

I use the internet everytime I go to the World...I use my dial up account...easy! I get charged .75 and I can get my email and send live reports to my DIS friends..Piece of Cake!

 

[ScottOKW2K]

The trend I've noticed regarding high-speed internet access in hotels is :

Low end : none, do dial-up.

Mid-range : If it's provided, some provide for free, some charge.

Upper-end : almost all charge, usually a minimum of $10.

The worst example I saw - I stayed overnight at the Hilton at the airport in Amsterdam for a flight out the next morning. Of course, they had the fee-based h/s internet access and pay-per-view movies. After compensating for the exchange rate I calculated that per day h/s access was about $20, individual movies were $12, and unlimited both was $50 (!!!). And they touted the last as an "excellent deal".

Me ? I read a book.

 

[sters]

Originally posted by Jen D
I think WDW is just behind the curve on internet access because except for the convention hotels, it just isn't a priority for their guests, who are primarily leisure travelers.

We do bring our laptop and just use dial-up when we travel. I'm using it right now!

I totally agree! Disney is behind the curve on a lot of things. Way back when they were still using those ridiculous coupon books when all the other theme parks were using a single admission. Other parks were doing front of the line before Disney did Fast Pass (Disney's system is fairer I think). Try finding an ATM! Yikes! Disney is more deliberative, yeah that's it. They like to mull it over a bit.