wifi is coming to the fort

[super_camper]

I just got back from a two week stay at the fort over Christmas - the hardest part was leaving as we had a great time.

Anyway I had a problem with the cable modem so called tech support and during my conversation the tech said the Fort is putting in wifi. When I returned the cable modem at the front desk the cast member said they were testing now and it would be available soon, she claimed they were doing the entire property including all campsites. This will be a big improvement as those cable modems are a PITA!

 

[2goofycampers]

The only thing better then wifi is free wifi. Thanks for the update.

 

[jbrostek]

Yes their cable modem system is far from adequite no matter what support tried to tell me. Their "low speed" internet they claim is just fine as long as you never leave the providers network (like say go to the internet for anything including disney.)

So I hope the wifi is much much better, or I will plan on an LTE hotspot next time so I can actually do stuff like check out pictures on my photopass account, keep up with family on e-mail or any other random task that has made the internet more essential then it used to be for me.

 

[pooh4me]

Has anyone heard more about the Wi-Fi ? We will be in a cabin on the Jan 23 and if it is in we will not have to sign up for hotspot on our phone.

 

[innoculation]

Wow - that is a big installation. Lots of property to cover there. Using the cabin sites as an example, you would have to have an access point at each cabin. That would/will be great, but very expensive to implement.

 

[NC State Tigger]

Has anyone heard more about the Wi-Fi ? We will be in a cabin on the Jan 23 and if it is in we will not have to sign up for hotspot on our phone.

I'm in the same boat. Had planned to sign up to use my phone as a hot spot, but if there is free wifi---like I tell my kids "free is good!!!"

We'll be there in a camp site about the same time. Wonder if it will be available then

Edit: Now that I reread the wifi posts, I'm not sure. Is it going to be free?

 

[TheRustyScupper]

Yes their cable modem system is far from adequite no matter what support tried to tell me.

1) The WiFi is convenient.
2) But, no faster than the cable Internet.
3) The supplier nor hub has not changed.
4) They just added a router with WiFi ability.

NOTE: The Moderates and Deluxes with WiFi i the public areas
do not have "fast' WiFi. The speed is the same as if using the
cable. In fact, in the evenings, it can get even slower, as more
people are on the system than were using it in the rooms.

 

[super_camper]

I would bet the wifi isn't going to be free - I would guess either the same access fee as today or higher.

When I had the problem with the cable modem I called tech support from the house phone and also asked about why I was asked for my KTTW card before the 24 hour period had expired. The tech said this was a known problem and that it would be fixed when they flipped to their new system. So I guess Disney is looking to replace the back-end of their public network as well as put into wireless connectivity.

 

[jbrostek]

What I was told at the front desk is that they are talking wifi through all of the camping areas. If the service is still going to be slower then a 3g phone then they will have spent a lot of money for nothing. This January I was averaging 170ms outside of their providers network, and less then 500kbps download and 40kbps upload to my office. As a network engineer that has and continues to work on carrier class networks, I can tell you this is not a thriving network as you should only see about 60ms latency depending on carrier exchange points and be able to average much higher speeds out of FL as I have on many other networks.

What frustrated me is the tech on the phone had me test to an internal server which gave me 1Mb/s up and 800Kb/s down. Which means the modem is working, but when you cant get to gmail, yahoo, your jobs vpn through their system, then its not high speed at all.

The central wifi while not speedy, was at least consistent if not faster then borrowing a friends 3g hotspot to get to what I needed to that day. But I really do not like doing my work in public places since its all confidential information.

 

[Mmketeer]

That's great news!!!Thanks for sharing this.

I used their modem only one time and it was horrible, slow and a huge inconvince. Started using my smart phone after that, nice to hear that I can bring my laptop again.

 

[Lady SnowElla]

That would great! We stayed in a cabin over Christmas & paid for a day's internet & was never able to access from cabin even with tech support. They deducted from I teach online so every morning I rode the boat to WL & got a cup of coffee & used the free WiFi available there.

 

[tacoma]

WIFI is now free at the Outpost, the Meadow Trading Post and Pioneer Hall. It may not be fasr, but it is free.

 

[NC State Tigger]

Ended up in the 1400 loop backed up to the meadows area. The free wifi is working at our site tonight. Last night it did not. I was told the same as pp about the areas it would work, but I guess because we are so close to the meadows I may have it available some of the time. I'm not tech savy enough to know about speeds, but is fast enough for me.

 

[bama_ed]

Ended up in the 1400 loop backed up to the meadows area. The free wifi is working at our site tonight. Last night it did not. I was told the same as pp about the areas it would work, but I guess because we are so close to the meadows I may have it available some of the time. I'm not tech savy enough to know about speeds, but is fast enough for me.

NC State Tigger,

Maybe it depends on if the wind changes direction and blows those <bits> in your direction.

Free wifi is fine as long as you are not trying to video conference or anything.

Bama ED

 

[TheGriswalds]

I'm in the same boat. Had planned to sign up to use my phone as a hot spot, but if there is free wifi---like I tell my kids "free is good!!!"

We'll be there in a camp site about the same time. Wonder if it will be available then

Edit: Now that I reread the wifi posts, I'm not sure. Is it going to be free?

Hi,

Was wondering if you or pooh4me had any update on this since your posts said you'd be on site around Jan 23rd. Many thanks!

 

[tacoma]

I am sitting on a Pioneer Hall rocker right now. The wifi is free here, at the Meadow TP and out the Outpost, but still nothing in the cabin.

 

[dfchelbay]

I am sitting on a Pioneer Hall rocker right now. The wifi is free here, at the Meadow TP and out the Outpost, but still nothing in the cabin.

I'm jealous that you are there right now...ugh! How's your stay been? Is the campground really busy right now? The crowd calendar will start to ramp up to 10s soon and was wondering how busy the Fort is. Thanks.

 

[bama_ed]

I am sitting on a Pioneer Hall rocker right now. The wifi is free here, at the Meadow TP and out the Outpost, but still nothing in the cabin.

I hope the Dis-Dudes monitoring this board deep in the Bay Lake Bunker realize that they will need more rocking chairs at the Outpost. Meadow TP, and Pioneer Hall. With wifi it's going to be even HARDER to get a seat to catch up on my DIS postings.

The DIS rocks on FW wifi.

Bama ED

 

[Patsy1969]

We are at the campground now. Free wifi at the posted spots. But it is really cold this morning so we are at the Iron Spike Room at the Wilderness using the free Wi-Fi. It is quiet and Toasty warm by the fireplace.

 

[Musikfans]

Any updates from the loops yet??

We'll be down in 5 weeks and are curious if they're doing a rollout. I know they've switched to free WIFI at the trading posts.

Anything more??