Will AT&T Save Us From Lousy Disney Wireless?

[drusba]

AT&T and Disney just announced a deal where AT&T is going to take over all wireless delivery in the parks and hotels with plans to improve the piece of junk that exists now. See: http://www.valuewalk.com/2013/07/att-inc-t-becomes-disneys-official-wireless-provider/ Maybe it will actually get better.

 

[erionm]

They are taking over as the Cellular provider (replacing Nextel which shut down it's push to talk on 6/30) for Disney employees. Other than adding AT&T WiFi hotspots, I see no mention of AT&T taking over operation of the WiFi in the Parks & Resorts.

 

[disneynutz]

I don't believe that AT&T is the contracted provider for guest Wi-Fi in the resorts. That is under current contract with another company.

Disney needed improved services in the parks to support their NextGen initiative.

Not to say that AT&T won't be a contender in the future for the resorts.

Bill

 

[WilsonFlyer]

I think it's great that we might finally get an AT&T tower close enough to the parks now to make a difference. AT&T cellular reception is hit an miss at WDW. Hopefully, this will change that too.

Sure sounds like they're putting Verizon out to pasture too.

 

[drusba]

Yep, it looks like I read it wrong and too quickly got excited. At least my iPhone with AT&T will likely work better than it has in WDW.

 

[keishashadow]

I've never had an issue using AT&T in the parks on my dumb phone or kid's iphones.

 

[SuperRob]

I read somewhere else that coverage in the parks was supposed to improve as a result. Is this not the case?

Edit ... Emphasis is mine.

AT&T is also enhancing its network across Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort using a variety of technologies including:

More than 25 distributed antenna systems to increase the wireless capacity in areas with high mobile traffic
More than 350 small cells to extend network connectivity
10 cell sites across Walt Disney World Resort to provide wide-ranging mobile service to guests
More than 40 repeaters to further enhance the mobile experience for both guests and Cast Members

That said, AT&T's problem has never been "coverage." They do fine, for the most part, although Verizon is better. Their problem has always been "backhaul", or the amount of data that can be sent through the pipe connecting the towers to their network. That's why you can have full bars and still not load a webpage. This is particularly problematic in high-density areas like stadiums or theme parks. Note that AT&T doesn't discuss this anywhere. So while this may increase the number of bars you have around the park, it doesn't mean you'll be able to DO anything with it.

And yes, I used to work for AT&T Wireless, which is why I know this.

 

[wdwfan1]

We changed from AT&T to Verizon and we get much better service. However, maybe in WDW AT&T will work just as well. Fingers are crossed!!!!!

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

AT&T and Disney just announced a deal where AT&T is going to take over all wireless delivery in the parks and hotels with plans to improve the piece of junk that exists now. See: http://www.valuewalk.com/2013/07/att-inc-t-becomes-disneys-official-wireless-provider/ Maybe it will actually get better.

Could it get worse?

(Actually yes. Delta used to use tmobile in the Sky Clubs. Amazingly bad. )

 

[bobbiwoz]

We changed from AT&T to Verizon and we get much better service. However, maybe in WDW AT&T will work just as well. Fingers are crossed!!!!!

We have Verizon, also changed from At&T....I had great service when I was in Kidani in late July! I just filled out the guest survey, and had nothing bad to say about Wifi or phone.

 

[DizBub]

I just filled out the guest survey, and had nothing bad to say about Wifi or phone.

I was just going to mention that we had MUCH improved Wifi at SSR and AKV when we were there in May. It was really a nice change for the better.

 

[DebbieB]

When I was at BLT in March, the wifi in both the resort and parks were fine. I did have some problems with cellphone at BLT (I have AT&T).

 

[Kidanifan08]

We just got back from a split stay at BLT and Kidani and had great reception with both the wifi and cellular. We all had AT&T devices and service. My brother's family was with us and used wifi extensively (teens), and no one complained. We did lose reception on some of the attractions, like Soarin'.

 

[granmanh603]

I was at OKW in July and the wifi was practically nil in room. I DGS kept asking me to turn off my wifi devices so he could get a signal? had trouble at pools also.

 

[SueM in MN]

I was at OKW in July and the wifi was practically nil in room. I DGS kept asking me to turn off my wifi devices so he could get a signal? had trouble at pools also.

We have not had any trouble getting wifi at OKW since they began providing it.
Might be more of an 'exactly where you are and how much bandwidth are other people in the area' issue than the wifi actually being bad.

 

[Airb330]

When I was at BLT in March, the wifi in both the resort and parks were fine. I did have some problems with cellphone at BLT (I have AT&T).

ATT, Verizon and Sprint (Unsure about T-Mobile) all have panels right on the Contemporary. They'd be aiming them at the park and surrounding areas, so being too close is actually a hinderance. Think of being in a shadow of a tree. Capacity on those sites is always an issue as too many users are connecting to that site as they are the closest to the magic kingdom.

The microcells and distributed antenna systems ATT will be installing will alleviate the congestion and add service to indoor buildings where the current macro network can't reach.

 

[granmanh603]

We were by Miller Pool

 

[OKW Lover]

They are taking over as the Cellular provider (replacing Nextel which shut down it's push to talk on 6/30) for Disney employees. Other than adding AT&T WiFi hotspots, I see no mention of AT&T taking over operation of the WiFi in the Parks & Resorts.

Correct, this change has nothing to do with WiFi. Its the cellular phone network that is getting the improvements. They are two different things.

I was just going to mention that we had MUCH improved Wifi at SSR and AKV when we were there in May. It was really a nice change for the better.

I was at OKW in July and the wifi was practically nil in room. I DGS kept asking me to turn off my wifi devices so he could get a signal? had trouble at pools also.

This change will not help (or hurt) your wifi reception. Wifi is an entirely different thing.

 

[SueM in MN]

We were by Miller Pool

So were we.