WiFi in the queues

2Lunds

DIS Veteran
Joined
Sep 26, 2017
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644
Hey everyone! I struggle with FP+ refresh/modify because it seems like I lose my WiFi signal as soon as I get into the building/queue for rides. Does anyone else struggle with this? Is the reason I'm seeing vloggers have so much success with this because they're using their local mobile data instead of the Disney WiFi?
 
Hey everyone! I struggle with FP+ refresh/modify because it seems like I lose my WiFi signal as soon as I get into the building/queue for rides. Does anyone else struggle with this? Is the reason I'm seeing vloggers have so much success with this because they're using their local mobile data instead of the Disney WiFi?
Local live streamer here! Definitely using unlimited data , wifi at Disney is very spotty
 
I find it depends on the attraction. I've definitely had connection in RnR, SM, TSMM, Soarin', PoTC, Buzz Lightyear because I know that I've posted actual wait times to TP/Lines app just before boarding but Test Track seems to have dead spots even outside the building.
 

Local live streamer here! Definitely using unlimited data , wifi at Disney is very spotty

THANK YOU. I felt like I was going crazy, I even wondered if Disney was jamming the signal inside attractions to try and get people off their phones :). I'm going to use my data roaming next trip.
 
I find it depends on the attraction. I've definitely had connection in RnR, SM, TSMM, Soarin', PoTC, Buzz Lightyear because I know that I've posted actual wait times to TP/Lines app just before boarding but Test Track seems to have dead spots even outside the building.
Correct, Test Track is awful, also Dinosaur. living with the land and the obvious living seas
 
This would make an interesting comparison chart. WiFi map rating(s) per area/attraction. I wonder if anyone has done it or even if it is worth doing? It probably fluctuates too much.
 
Hey everyone! I struggle with FP+ refresh/modify because it seems like I lose my WiFi signal as soon as I get into the building/queue for rides. Does anyone else struggle with this? Is the reason I'm seeing vloggers have so much success with this because they're using their local mobile data instead of the Disney WiFi?
Canadian here who is dependent on Disney wifi. It's rough in the parks, especially inside buildings or queues.

It's been my longtime beef that Disney (one of the very few Disney beefs I have) that they have made us dependent on wifi but they don't provide enough for everyone.

PS - I've looked into purchasing a plan for my phone but it would be $80 and only give me 1 GB which would not dent our trips as we spend an average of 12 days in the US for a Disney trip.
 
Canadian here who is dependent on Disney wifi. It's rough in the parks, especially inside buildings or queues.

It's been my longtime beef that Disney (one of the very few Disney beefs I have) that they have made us dependent on wifi but they don't provide enough for everyone.

PS - I've looked into purchasing a plan for my phone but it would be $80 and only give me 1 GB which would not dent our trips as we spend an average of 12 days in the US for a Disney trip.

Fortunately, I switched to Rogers's Infinite this year, so I can use all my data/minutes etc... for $7.00 per day in the USA (with a max charge of 15 days)
 
This would make an interesting comparison chart. WiFi map rating(s) per area/attraction. I wonder if anyone has done it or even if it is worth doing? It probably fluctuates too much.

That would be a great Vlog topic actually - film speed tests at various locations throughout the park.
 
Canadian here who is dependent on Disney wifi. It's rough in the parks, especially inside buildings or queues.

It's been my longtime beef that Disney (one of the very few Disney beefs I have) that they have made us dependent on wifi but they don't provide enough for everyone.

PS - I've looked into purchasing a plan for my phone but it would be $80 and only give me 1 GB which would not dent our trips as we spend an average of 12 days in the US for a Disney trip.

Have you looked into buying a sim?
 
I bounce back and forth between Disney wi-fi and my data also, depending on my signal. I'm in Canada as well so I prefer to use Disney wi-fi but I have a prepaid plan with Koodo that allows me to buy US data at the same rate that I pay for Canadian data. I don't use a ton of data though - I buy a 500mb plan for the US and that usually lasts me a few trips (it doesn't expire).
 
PS - I've looked into purchasing a plan for my phone but it would be $80 and only give me 1 GB which would not dent our trips as we spend an average of 12 days in the US for a Disney trip.

You might want to look into your data usage if 1GB of data won’t last you 12 days. Maybe you have some apps running in the background or you might have your videos turned on? I buy 1GB packages at home and it takes me about 2 months to burn through it with casual data usage. My last Disney trip was 10 days and I used my own data pretty heavily (only when I couldn’t get the WiFi to work of course) and I don’t think I quite burned through 500mb.
 
Canadian here who is dependent on Disney wifi. It's rough in the parks, especially inside buildings or queues.

It's been my longtime beef that Disney (one of the very few Disney beefs I have) that they have made us dependent on wifi but they don't provide enough for everyone.

PS - I've looked into purchasing a plan for my phone but it would be $80 and only give me 1 GB which would not dent our trips as we spend an average of 12 days in the US for a Disney trip.

I’m in the exact same boat and it’s frustrating.


Have you looked into buying a sim?

I do appreciate the suggestion. I haven’t myself (not the original poster of the issue) but I don’t think we should have to.
Disney has created this monster - they should have the services available for all visitors to have a successful vacation. That means greatly improving their wifi. Access on buses was definitely a step in the right direction.
 
Several things come into play on this one. The 2.4GHz (and 5GHz) WiFi signal is affected by attenuation through structures. The more layers in your way (particularly metal), the worse it is. Also, WiFi access points are typically able to handle a certain number of clients per point. Disney uses Cisco and Aruba AP's, which are among the best, but you are still going to hit a limit per AP where it begins to affect the performance. These two factors really kick in when you are in a queue. Most of the queues are indoors, and you have a bunch of people, likely all connected to the same AP. The other factor, which you usually notice as you move through the park and what was once a good signal is now a poor signal, is roaming issues. Disney's WiFi network is a mesh topology. It's designed to allow clients (your phones) to seamlessly move from one access point to another. As your current signal becomes weak, your device should theoretically hop to the next strongest signal. However, most current devices struggle to roam across WiFi mesh networks. They eventually will, but seemingly never when you need them to. A quick fix is usually just turning WiFi off and back on. Once on, it will seek out the strongest signal.

Sorry... really geeked out there for a moment.
 
Hey everyone! I struggle with FP+ refresh/modify because it seems like I lose my WiFi signal as soon as I get into the building/queue for rides. Does anyone else struggle with this? Is the reason I'm seeing vloggers have so much success with this because they're using their local mobile data instead of the Disney WiFi?
Wow, never even thought of this. Have to remember that. Always have mobile data turned off and forget about it usually. We never thought of using mobile data in line. Inside lines are tougher to get disney wifi in
 
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Several things come into play on this one. The 2.4GHz (and 5GHz) WiFi signal is affected by attenuation through structures. The more layers in your way (particularly metal), the worse it is. Also, WiFi access points are typically able to handle a certain number of clients per point. Disney uses Cisco and Aruba AP's, which are among the best, but you are still going to hit a limit per AP where it begins to affect the performance. These two factors really kick in when you are in a queue. Most of the queues are indoors, and you have a bunch of people, likely all connected to the same AP. The other factor, which you usually notice as you move through the park and what was once a good signal is now a poor signal, is roaming issues. Disney's WiFi network is a mesh topology. It's designed to allow clients (your phones) to seamlessly move from one access point to another. As your current signal becomes weak, your device should theoretically hop to the next strongest signal. However, most current devices struggle to roam across WiFi mesh networks. They eventually will, but seemingly never when you need them to. A quick fix is usually just turning WiFi off and back on. Once on, it will seek out the strongest signal.

Sorry... really geeked out there for a moment.

That's an excellent tip... thank you!
 
I have had the same problem the last few years since more are using MDE.
Wifi seems spotty in many areas. Turning wifi off and on has helped. If that doesn't work, will just use data instead and the problem is solved. Once I leave that aea, turn wifi back on.
 

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