WIFI Coverage/Signal Strength In The Parks?

[WDWdream97]

Does the launch of the Disneyland app mean DL will soon get free wi-fi? Or do they just assume everyone in SoCal has totally "rad" data plans?

 

[sfeinst]

I went at the end of July. I had no problems getting a signal at any of the parks. I stayed at All Star Movies. No problem most of the time. One or two days, I did have issues in the room for a few minutes.

 

[dreamfinder]

If all you plan on doing is occasional light web browsing with a few picture uploads, you should be fine. Planning on using it for live streaming, watching YouTube, etc you may have problems.

 

[officialtom]

Having only been to WDW once since the start of the Internet age, I only experienced WIFI in the room at my resort (AoA) on my iPad, and it wasn't great, TBH-the signal strength was consistently up and down. I am planning on bringing my iPhone with me to the parks during my next visit, and I was wondering what the WIFI coverage and quality was like in the parks themselves. Are there certain areas that are better than others? I am from Canada, and I am not planning on getting a US phone plan while I am in the US (my DW will have that covered on her phone), but I want to use my phone for pics and for intermittent Internet use while at the parks (texting, WDW app).

Also Canadian and I only ever get a texting package to use in the US. I always turn off cell data completely and only use data-necessary apps when on WDW wifi. Been there the last 3 years between Jan and March (not peak time), and the wifi has always been great in the parks and at the resorts. I'm actually surprised at how well it works. Never have any issues using the MDE app, Facebook, Instagram, etc.

I'm a bit surprised that the Disney transport buses don't have wifi yet, but I'm sure it's in the works.

 

[Nick Wilde]

I was there yesterday and there was very good coverage all over the parks and the speed was about average.

 

[ekutchey]

My trip last year I had no problems at all in the parks but in the resort (Wilderness Lodge) the WiFi was really slow. Cell signal was really good though, so I just used the Hotspot on my phone and it was fine.

We just left from 11 days at WL with no issues. Looks like they may have improved their access points.

 

[DisneyGigi]

The wi-fi was really slow at the parks last year. Didn't use it much but for MDE, which just sat and spun, to then completely stop functioning. It was very frustrating. We had fastpasses that we did not need to use and could not cancle them because of it. No way we were going to eat up our time in a kiosk just to cancel what we should have been able to on our phone. It was however very fast at the resort at night when we viewed our Memory Maker photos. Hope it has gotten better than this time last year!

 

[englanddg]

It has a lot of holes and dead spots, both at the parks and the hotels but unless you are on your phone / device a lot, you won't notice them all that much.

During peak times at the parks WAPs can get slogged at certain areas (restaurants, etc.).

DS /DTD is quite spotty, and the busses / monorails / boats have nothing.

 

[PhotoDave219]

The wi-fi was really slow at the parks last year. Didn't use it much but for MDE, which just sat and spun, to then completely stop functioning. It was very frustrating. We had fastpasses that we did not need to use and could not cancle them because of it. No way we were going to eat up our time in a kiosk just to cancel what we should have been able to on our phone. It was however very fast at the resort at night when we viewed our Memory Maker photos. Hope it has gotten better than this time last year!

Thats a little the service but moreso the really crappy app that MDX is.

 

[blueboxdoctor]

I didn't have much issue with the wifi last year. Didn't use it much while in the parks, but it seems like the My Disney App (is that what it's called) isn't well supported, as it seems my sister and mom had some issues with the app.

 

[SyracuseDisneyFan]

The WiFi at Bay Lake Tower and Art of Animation was pretty good.

 

[cosmicray]

Last visit was in October of 2014, signal was really bad like all the other times I visited before that. Not sure how it is now, though. Downtown Disney's Wi-Fi last month was pretty awful as well.

 

[nelsonj3]

The signal strength I noticed wasn't bad. I was always able to get a signal and connect. The issue is the speed. With almost everyone (except poster above ) trying to connect at the same time in the parks, it tends to get bogged down. There wee times the WDW app would just spin circles and not do anything. Trying to check mail was very slow and almost impossible at times. I think they have added connection towers in the not too distant past and are always trying to improve the experience. They know that guests use it all the time since it's required for the app now.

Exactly! The speeds aren't great at the parks (a little better at the resorts). The coverage and signal strength are pretty good. I usually end up turning off wifi and using cellular most of the time because it's faster.

 

[nelsonj3]

I also recommend an external battery of some sort for in-park charging, unless youre constantly going into airplane mode while not using it.

Couldn't agree more! I always bring an external battery pack. I always laugh at the people who bring their chargers with them and huddle around power outlets in the park. It seems so silly when battery packs are so cheap now ($20 or less on Amazon). I always think about how those people could be enjoying the parks instead of sitting awkwardly on the ground near an outlet (or charging station if they're lucky). I just plug my phone into the battery pack in my pocket when it gets low and keep on enjoying the parks.

 

[RonAnnArbor]

I have an unlimited data plan through ATT so I don't worry too much about my wifi coverage -- BUT -- during several trips this year, the wifi coverage at POFQ and PORIV has significantly improved. The regular ATT coverage seems to work just about everywhere though and it is way way faster than the wifi WDW provides. The park coverage is slow but it works to do things like check your fastpasses and update information on the fly. It doesn't work too well at all for things like Facebook which can be a frustrating experience without a regular data plan.

 

[Jahona]

the wifi coverage at POFQ and PORIV

Odd I had the worst time with Wifi in my room while staying at POR this July. Common areas were fine but outside of that I had issues keeping a good connection.

 

[Communicore]

The rocking chairs area at Liberty Square has good coverage. I've sat there for a couple hours just watching YouTube one time and it did not buffer or lag.

 

[Nick Wilde]

The rocking chairs area at Liberty Square has good coverage. I've sat there for a couple hours just watching YouTube one time and it did not buffer or lag.

Not to be rude, but why would you watch YouTube videos for an hour while you're at Disney World?

 

[Communicore]

Not to be rude, but why would you watch YouTube videos for an hour while you're at Disney World?

That's actually a very good question. I had guests with me and I didn't feel like going on HM and the Riverboat with them so I just hung out there. I love those rocking chairs.

 

[Nick Wilde]

That's actually a very good question. I had guests with me and I didn't feel like going on HM and the Riverboat with them so I just hung out there. I love those rocking chairs.

Oh ok. that makes a lot more sense.