Mobile coverage around the world

larathydo

larathydo

Member
Best cellphone coverage around the world (& Question) [Poll]

Hey there,

Quick question, which carrier has the best coverage (overall) around walt disney world? I'm not looking/caring if I don't have coverage underground or in a ride, but i'm looking for a carrier that at least has decent 3G coverage when in open areas of the park.

To be more specific, my girlfriend and I live in Canada and travel to florida pretty much on a yearly basis. A couple years ago, we bought an iPad with integrated 3G, and I found AT&T coverage was pretty lousy. This time around, I was thinking about buying a MiFi device and bringing it to the parks with us so we could use our iPhones while at the park itself!

Obviously, living in Canada means that we don't want to signup/have commitments, so i've been looking at buying a Virgin Mobile MiFi 2200 device to use around the parks. We like the notion of Virgin because we also would only need to spend $10 for 100MB or $20 for 500MB (which would be plenty for basic surfing on an iPhone). All I need is decent 3G, I don't need it to be lightning fast. Has anyone used Virgin phones in the park and know what the coverage would be like? Remember, all we care about is having decent coverage as long as we walk into an open place to use our phones. Also - mostly because i'm curious - what kinda coverage do others find they get on AT&T/TMobile/Sprint/Verizon while around the world on average - remember to vote using the poll!)?

Thanks!! :wave:
 
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minniemickeyfan

minniemickeyfan

Well-Known Member
I have always had no problems with Verizon.
However, I have traveled with 2 different people that had AT&T and then ended up using my phone as they had no signal at the resorts we were staying at-Pop and Riverside.
 
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WDW 3

WDW 3

Well-Known Member
I was just there and had sketchy coverage with AT&T. Example in EPCOT by the Land, no coverage. By Test Track, coverage.
 
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lilclerk

lilclerk

Well-Known Member
I have T-Mobile. I've never lost a phone or 3G signal in the parks, but no matter what hotel room I'm in, my data slows down to a crawl. In May, my friend with Verizon came along and had no issues anywhere.
 
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RiverRooster

RiverRooster

Member
My experience has been: sketchy ATT service at POR on my personal cell phone, with better service from Verizon on my company device. With ATT I’ve had varied results and no discernible difference in the rooms between Magnolia Bend and Alligator Bayou - service was not really dependable in either. The signal seems to be better on Ol' Man Island, including 3G.
 
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jcldtrek

jcldtrek

Active Member
tmobile completely sucks with coverage in disney, did many years with tmobile and lost service everywhere Verizon is bout the best, go figure. Never had any issues with them
 
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larathydo

larathydo

Member
Original Poster
Looks like people seem to think that Verizon is the clear winner in this case according to the poll. That's interesting. In a way, it sorta makes sense - I believe Disney partnered up with Verizon with their mobile apps and such.

I looked at Verizon's MiFi plans and they seem to be a minimum of $50 a month and are contractual obligations. With regards to my particular situation, as I said i'm looking for 1) Decent coverage when in open areas of the parks 2) pay-as-you-go data compatible with MiFi devices. 3) No contracts.

It looks like only the Virgin Mobile MiFi can provide all the above, and offer a $10/100MB or $20/500MB non-contractual plan for a MiFi device (I don't need much data. It also seems as though Virgin Mobile 3G service piggy backs off Sprint's 3G network - which is also partly why I asked about Sprint too.

Does anyone have any more knowledge regarding Sprint's 3G / Virgin Mobile's coverage on the WDW property in particular? I'd hate to spend the money on a MiFi for Virgin Mobile only to find out it's an absolute dud coverage / functionality wise.

Thanks again for all the posts, it's all very useful seeing everyone's 2c.
 
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T

timeman

Active Member
I have Virgin Mobile on my phone and the reception is quite good throughout the parks. Magic Kingdom has the best reception, followed by Hollywood Studios and than Epcot. I have noticed that in a couple of spots in Epcot my reception is not that good. I usually stay at POP and have decent reception on property, but inside the room the reception isn't as good.
 
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larathydo

larathydo

Member
Original Poster
timeman said:
I have Virgin Mobile on my phone and the reception is quite good throughout the parks. Magic Kingdom has the best reception, followed by Hollywood Studios and than Epcot. I have noticed that in a couple of spots in Epcot my reception is not that good. I usually stay at POP and have decent reception on property, but inside the room the reception isn't as good.
Click to expand...
Timeman, what kind of phone are you using?
 
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Theresonly1

Theresonly1

Member
minniemickeyfan said:
I have always had no problems with Verizon.
However, I have traveled with 2 different people that had AT&T and then ended up using my phone as they had no signal at the resorts we were staying at-Pop and Riverside.
Click to expand...
I had this problem at Pop for the first time in Sept. with my AT&T phone, it would go into emergency mode, wouldn't even receive texts. I have stayed at Pop multiple times before and never encountered this issue, I wondered if it anything to do with the construction at the new animation resort. Worked fine everywhere else.
 
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larathydo

larathydo

Member
Original Poster
Okay,

So I've been doing a bit more research. My gut feeling tells me that I really should be going for the Verizon MiFi as it seems to get the best coverage around WDW (and abroad, across the US they seem to have good coverage?). Only problem is that their cheapest prepaid data plan for the MiFi is like... $50. I was looking for something closer to Virgin Mobile's plans, around 500MB for $20 - that's plenty for me. Does Verizon have some sort of pre-paid no contract plans under $50 that are not publicly advertised? :)
 
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T

timeman

Active Member
I have a LG Rumor Touch from Virgin Mobile. I have been on property the last couple of days and staying at All Star Sports and even get good reception in the room. The best reception is in the Magic Kingdom. The reception at both Hollywood Studios and Epcot is also good.
 
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dizzney

dizzney

Member
I have an Iphone with AT&T and did not have any issues in August with either calls or texting, (hope I'm not jinxing myself for our February trip) I did have trouble however with my work blackberry which is SPrint, that was sketchy though I had no problems in our Boardwalk Villa itself
 
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