Will there be internet upgrade?

[Kelly Grannell]

I've read the availability of internet service on WDWinfo and dismayed with the fact that there seem to e no internet service on the budget hotels such as the All Stars.

Since my husband and I won't be going to Disney until October or November 2005, we would like to know whether there is any plan for the hotels to have internet service of anykind (wired or wireless, doesn't matter).

The reason being is that if I know for sure that those hotels will not have the service, the both of us have to arrange something with our offices to get a GPRS cards for our laptops.

Shalom!

 

[mamapajama]

The first time we stayed at Movies there was an internet payphone thingy in the lobby. We used it to check something online. The next trip it had been removed. I've read though they there are some scattered around.

Elise

 

[CarolA]

I think Disney has done all it plans to so until they annouce something else assume dial up is all you get at the Value resorts.

 

[safetymom]

All the hotels have dial up if they don't have high speed. It is not Disney that manages the program. It is an outside company.

 

[Kelly Grannell]

So the answer is "no". thank you all for the information. We will start requesting our EDGE cards as soon as the companies' new fiscal year starts.

 

[safetymom]

I am not sure what an EDGE card is but doesn't your laptop have a modem? You can always use dial up at 75 cents per call, no per minute fees.

If the outside provider thought they could make money on high speed at the other resorts it would install it. I am sure eventually they will. Every hotel has high speed these days.

 

[Kelly Grannell]

EDGE card is a PCMCIA card for GPRS (mobile, or as you call it, cellular based) internet. No dialing necessary. The speed is equivalent to a 56 kbps modem.

The problem with dial up is that none of us have an American dial-up account.

 

[GOOFYFREEK]

Whats kind of funny is you mention the Budget resorts. And belive it or not they are certain areas that are wired for cable modems. Several times a year (usually during competitions) they take 3-4 rooms and outfit them with computers and allow people to send and receive email.

 

[Kelly Grannell]

I see, so they basically already have the infrastructure, just not yet activated (or currently only activated when they feel the need for it)

 

[safetymom]

I think there is probably an area at each resort that has it for large groups and their needs. I doubt the entire resort is high speed ready.

 

[tinan]

Hello! Why not try Coronado Springs instead of a value resort? High speed is available at that resort. We had actually considered going there ourselves since my husband would prefer high speed. If you have cable modem at your house you could always call your provider. Time Warner has dial up access available to us when we're on the road. Just a thought.

 

[Kelly Grannell]

How much is the difference in price per night for double occupancy? The thing is that the internet will be paid by the office, but if we upgrade the hotel, most probably it will come out from our own pockets.

 

[CarolA]

Fair warning. I get HORRID cellular reception at Disney. Can't imagine trying to run my laptop thur it!

 

[Kelly Grannell]

Fair warning. I get HORRID cellular reception at Disney. Can't imagine trying to run my laptop thur it!

Even in the budget hotels? Thank you for the heads-up, however.

 

[ECU Pirates]

We stayed at All-Star Music in December and had great reception with Verizon Wireless.

 

[uva185]

You could always try a free diapup service. I think NetZero has a free version. I dont know for sure though because I use AOL.

 

[tinan]

The price difference for value season was about $200 for a 10 night stay. You would have to price it out for the particular time that you plan on going. I'm not sure if the other seasons may show more of a price difference or not. If you are going to receive poor reception and work expects you to be connected, can you explain that only certain hotels have high speed? If my husband's work expected him to be in touch online, they would definitely pay the price difference to insure he would have access.

 

[Kelly Grannell]

Tinan, a very good idea.

From the answers I received on my other thread, it seems I'll be going in November. Although Birmbaum and Unofficial Guide books suggested that the dates I'm thinking of going is considered as value-season, it seems like for 2005 it will be considered as regular-season, which may make the difference be more.

I'll check.

 

[wkrider]

I did what TINAN did. I have Cox Cable Internet at home. With the package I have all I had to do was pay one $10 fee and now I have five hours of dial-up a month for free. I can add additional five hour blocks for $7.95 if I like. I don't foresee myself ever using the five hours so it should not cost me anything else.

 

[tinan]

I guess I should consider myself lucky! Time Warner doesn't charge extra for the dial up access. It is a free service within our cable modem access. I just have to set the laptop up before we leave.