Wireless access/cost

[mnlovesdisney]

I'm thinking of buying a tablet before our trip to OKW in March and am just trying to figure out if it is worth it. I know there is wireless access at OKW but don't know if it is free. I know the regular internet from rooms (wired) is free for DVC members. Does anyone know about wireless? Also would there be any access in the parks or Downtown Disney? Thanks for any info you have.

 

[DvcDoc]

The rooms at OKW are, indeed, wired, not wireless. I typically bring a wireless router with me and connect it to give me wireless service while we are there. As for wireless around the parks or Downtown Disney, if you have 3G access on your tablet, you will be fine. I'm not sure what WiFi hot spots are available in those locations. I typically conntec through the cellular network there.

 

[lions1995]

I think all the DVC resorts have free inroom WIFI as of end of last year. We were at BWV and SSR in early December and got it. I am sure some rooms may have better coverage than others.

 

[JWG]

Yes, as of today, the deluxe villas have wireless access with hit/miss wireless availability and speeds.

During our trip in October, the first week of the roll out mind you, we got no wireless capability at BWV even though we could connect (stuck to our wireless router on the wired connection). At BLT, we had no issues with the wireless, other than their content filters were setup funky and we couldn't surf to some common websites.

And free is a non-guarantee, but free as of now.

 

[Chuck S]

All WDW DVC Resorts now have free WIFI services. It started a few months ago. My understanding is they will be phasing out the wired services.

 

[MsTessP]

We spent a few days over New Years in a 2 bedroom villa in the Turtle Pond area of OKW. We spent a couple of nights before at Caribbean Beach, and I actually found the wifi connection to be much better at CB! I never had more than one bar (actually just had the little *dot* at the bottom - you can see how tech savvy I am) at OKW. I hope the connection improves before we go back down there in May.

 

[psac]

I'm thinking of buying a tablet before our trip to OKW in March and am just trying to figure out if it is worth it. I know there is wireless access at OKW but don't know if it is free. I know the regular internet from rooms (wired) is free for DVC members. Does anyone know about wireless? Also would there be any access in the parks or Downtown Disney? Thanks for any info you have.

To talk about the second half of your question, there is definitely NOT wifi in the parks, I don't know about downtown disney. The wifi in BWV in Nov was spotty but sufficient. On the first day when I could only connect and couldn't get any data, I called the tech support number they had on a card in the room, and the person was able to reset the server I was connecting to, and that fixed it. Moral of the story, if you have problems, call.

 

[luckyman_apd]

Just curious to if you have an android or iPhone? If so, call your provider as they usually can Prorate the wireless hotspot feature on the phone, and you can use your phone as the hotspot if the wifi is spotty. Or as the previous poster said, you can bring your own router from home and plug it in in the resort and it your devices will connect just like you were in your own home.

Not really sure why they would need to phase out the wired service. It would all run on the same network, and wired will always be faster than wireless for those that really need it. It actually would make it easier for them NOT to phase it out, as I'm sure the routers they are putting up everywhere are easier to connect to the wired network already running through the buildings.

 

[Be1021]

Internet access is free for reservations staying on points and $10 for reservations made through CRO.

 

[vicki_c]

Internet access is free for reservations staying on points and $10 for reservations made through CRO.

Yes, I suppose that $10 charge is still true if using the WIRED connection, but WIRELESS is free to all - DVC or not, cash or points.