Internet and WiFi access at hotels

[magicjasb]

I am trying to find out if the cabins and BLT have internet access in the rooms and what it cost. Also, if there is a spot for free WiFi at the resorts. Thanks. :mickey:

[DizneyRox]

Internet is $9.95 a day, hard-wired in all the roomsa, many of the Deluxes have paid WiFi in public areas, same $9.95.

[Mickey91]

You know, if Wendy's can offer free wi-fi while you eat a $6 burger and fries, you would think WDW could offer free internet/wi-fi with what you spend while there. Just sayin'...

[LynneM]

Sure they could, but why should they?

Wendy's advertises free wi-fi because they want you to eat there instead of Burger King or McDonalds. It's a competitive advantage.

WDW has plenty of reasons to get people to stay at their resorts. They don't need to eat the cost of providing free internet service to entice visitors to vacation there. There's no business case to be made.

Not to mention, you can provide wi-fi to a tiny little fast food place with a handful of customers for a whole lot less money than it would cost to install and maintain wi-fi service for a multi-acre, multi-building resort with potentially hundreds of concurrent users.

[TammiMcMan]

Some very good points Lynne. Basically it comes down to Disney not needing to provide wi-fi as a free service. I highly doubt there are that many vacationers choosing to stay at an offsite hotel, just because free wi-fi is included.

[dnickels]

Same reason casinos (well the good ones anyway) don't provide free internet. They want you out on the floor playing and spending money. Disney wants guests in the parks and restaurants doing the same.

Besides, it's a good thing for all of us to unplug from the net once in awhile. Our friends back home can wait a few days to know that we 'just rode space mountain' or that we're 'going to see Illuminations after dinner at Norway.' The world doesn't end if we don't respond to that email within 24 hrs (and those on working vacations who HAVE to have internet just have to figure it into the cost of doing business).

We adults deplore today's youth and teens who aren't interested in anything without a video screen, but we're not so good at pulling ourselves away from the monitor either. It's Disney! :mickey: Let's all get out and enjoy it. :cloud9:

[Seasonscraps]

I don't mind the fee so much as the wired connection. The jacks are usually in an inconvenient or uncomfortable location. I would love it if Disney offered Wi-Fi in the rooms.

[Polynesian Dweller]

I agree that wireless is needed and sure that it will be done. But having managed the IT department in a large multi building campus it's a very complicated thing to accomplish and it does have costs to it. The security issues are complex with the bad guys who are out there looking to break in. At some point you have to have dedicated staff monitoring the attempts to break in and they will happen.

Then there are technical issues of radio zones to not interfere with each other, spacings of equipment, secure but accessible locations, wiring to the access points, expected usage and capcity and on and on. It's in no way comparible to a single building Wendy's or motel.

[Seasonscraps]

I agree that wireless is needed and sure that it will be done. But having managed the IT department in a large multi building campus it's a very complicated thing to accomplish and it does have costs to it. The security issues are complex with the bad guys who are out there looking to break in. At some point you have to have dedicated staff monitoring the attempts to break in and they will happen.

Then there are technical issues of radio zones to not interfere with each other, spacings of equipment, secure but accessible locations, wiring to the access points, expected usage and capcity and on and on. It's in no way comparible to a single building Wendy's or motel.

I know it is sooooooooo much easier said and done. It's one of those things on my Disney wish list like a non-commercial premium channel or something. I know they want you out of the room but gees...they make being there as un-fun as possible.

[DizneyRox]

WiFi is already pretty much all over the resort(s), WLAN-TWDC is the SSID. It's secured however. The infrastructure is there, accessiblilty is not.

I beliee it to be a capacity issue more than anything else. We all know if Disney can charge for something, they would.

[DizKnee]

I stayed at Saratoga Springs a couple of years ago and the network port was in the corner of the bedroom in a one bedroom apartment (DVC.) In order to use the wired connection in the living room, I would have had to string a 50' wire from one room to the other, so I went out and bought a wifi router. I plugged it in, set a password, and had wifi in my room for the duration of my stay. Now I always pack a router in my luggage.

I know it's not free, and it doesn't cover everywhere, but at least we can user our iPhones and computers...

What I don't understand is that Steve Jobs is a board member of Disney. Why doesn't he do something about this? Seems like a perfect opportunity to spread Apple products all over Disney World...

[TammiMcMan]

What I don't understand is that Steve Jobs is a board member of Disney. Why doesn't he do something about this? Seems like a perfect opportunity to spread Apple products all over Disney World...I'm pretty sure their clock radios are now IPod compatable ;) . For IPhones and IPads, I'm guessing that Apple makes out better if people just buy the digital service with their monthly plans.

A few years ago, they did set up computer systems in all the rooms at the Contemporary to see if that was a viable option. Unfortunately, upkeep and maintenance costs drove them to remove all the computers.

[DizneyRox]

What I don't understand is that Steve Jobs is a board member of Disney. Why doesn't he do something about this? Seems like a perfect opportunity to spread Apple products all over Disney World...
Not sure what Steve Jobs has to do with the Internet. Now, if you said Al Gore, then I know what you're talking about!

[lovinmesomedisney]

Sure they could, but why should they?

Wendy's advertises free wi-fi because they want you to eat there instead of Burger King or McDonalds. It's a competitive advantage.

WDW has plenty of reasons to get people to stay at their resorts. They don't need to eat the cost of providing free internet service to entice visitors to vacation there. There's no business case to be made.

Not to mention, you can provide wi-fi to a tiny little fast food place with a handful of customers for a whole lot less money than it would cost to install and maintain wi-fi service for a multi-acre, multi-building resort with potentially hundreds of concurrent users.

This may be true, but let's get with the times. Almost every cheesy hotel in the country offers free wi fi. I cannot believe that it costs that much to add it to the resorts. Disney is a top notch resort area, I would think they would want to keep up with what other resorts and hotels in the country are offering. Honestly, I am in the parks from morning to night and have no time for a computer, but there are people who DO rely on being able to access email.

[TheRustyScupper]

This may be true, but let's get with the times. Almost every cheesy hotel in the country offers free wi fi.

1) Cheesy and/or cheaper hotels do offer free WiFi.
2) Again, this is to get you to stay there.
3) I travel at some very expensive hotels.
4) Haven't gotten free Internet in a long time!
5) So, to say that Disney should offer free WiFi is not a good statement.

[TammiMcMan]

1) Cheesy and/or cheaper hotels do offer free WiFi.
2) Again, this is to get you to stay there.
3) I travel at some very expensive hotels.
4) Haven't gotten free Internet in a long time!Yup, we've had a few recent Marriott stays and they charge for wi-fi. I'm pretty sure it was $9.95 per day.

[lovinmesomedisney]

1) Cheesy and/or cheaper hotels do offer free WiFi.
2) Again, this is to get you to stay there.
3) I travel at some very expensive hotels.
4) Haven't gotten free Internet in a long time!
5) So, to say that Disney should offer free WiFi is not a good statement.

Staying at the Hilton this weekend, free wi fi! I don't know where you are staying, but I haven't stayed in a nice hotel in a long time that didn't offer free internet. I stay in Chicago on Michigan Avenue often, and always have free wi fi. Disney is one of the few places I visit frequently that does not offer it.

Just Sayin!

[lovinmesomedisney]

Yup, we've had a few recent Marriott stays and they charge for wi-fi. I'm pretty sure it was $9.95 per day.

Residence Inn Chicago Downtown has free wifi. Had a recent stay there. Stayed at a Marriott in Kansas City and they also had free internet. The point made was, if the cheesy hotels could afford it, then the nice hotels, such as Disney, could also. I don't stay in cheesy hotels. I was just making a point! :confused:

[DizneyRox]

The point is, it's not a matter of affording... Disney could probably afford to give free access to the parks for resort guests, but they would rather collect money for access.

The "cheesie" hotels need a way of getting people to stay there over someplace else. Internet is just one of those ways of enticing people. Given the choice between Motel Swiss WITH Internet and Motel Meunster without, I'd stay at Motel Swiss if everything else was the same.

Now, given the choice of ALK and Motel Swiss, I'm picking AKL, everytime, twice on Sunday.

If people stated staying at Motel Swiss, then Disney may be forced to reconsider, but that's not going to happen anytime soon. Until that happens, Disney is more than happy to collect $10 a day from those making the choice to stay on property. So are the stockholders...

[buzz2001]

EPCOT - In the Lotus Blossom Cafe which is just at the back of the Nine Dragons restaurant in China.The signal seems to be stronger near the back of the cafe, it's called Warpdrive.

EPCOT - Innovations East

Downtown Disney - Inside Wolfgang Pucks Express

Downtown Disney - The cigar bar (Sosa Family Cigars) right next to Raglan Road, just opposite the Harley Davidson Shop. Pretty strong signal even outside the bar

Downtown Disney - Outside The House of Blues. There are a couple here

Beach Club Hotel - In the lobby and pool area

The Boardwalk - Around the area where you get the boat (Might be available in the Boardwalk hotel also, but I can't remember for sure)

Contemporary - Right outside the Fantasia shop on the same floor as Chef Mickeys

Coronado Springs - In the convention centre area. Not sure if this one was only available because there were conventions going on, although it was still available a half hour or so after the conventions had finished

Disney Wide World of Sports area.

The Apple Store at Florida Mall

Orlando International Airport, mainly around the shopping area

[TammiMcMan]

The point made was, if the cheesy hotels could afford it, then the nice hotels, such as Disney, could also. I don't stay in cheesy hotels. I was just making a point! :confused:I realized that ;), the other side of the coin though, is that some hotels don't have to give away wi-fi in order to get customers in (it even varies within the same hotel chains as your Marriott experiences were different than mine). If there's high enough competition for customers, then you'll see more "free stuff". While it would be a very nice gesture, the bottom line is that Disney is a business and they're not competing with anyone for onsite guest accommodations.

[darthmacho]

I think the wi-fi should be free, but that being said, I don't really think it will be a priority on my trip. It would be nice to send my trip reports on my iPod, but it can wait until I get home. I don't think it would be worth $100 to use it for a few minutes a day. I suppose I could make use of it once or twice, but eh... :mickey: