Originally Posted By AutoPost This topic is for Discussion of <a href="http://www.LaughingPlace.com/Latest-ID-76988.asp" target="_blank"><b>Latest: Disney World Testing Free Wi-Fi at The Contemporary</b></a> <p>Starting today Disney World is testing free Wi-Fi access in cerain adreas of the Contemporary Resort. The access will be available in the lobby, main pool area, The Wave restaurant and lounge and the Convention Center common areas. Other areas of the hotel that aren't currently covered by this test can continued to use wireless access (in common areas) and wired access (in guest rooms) at the current $9.95 per day rate. </p>
Originally Posted By DlandDug This is one area that I find simply unbelievable. Last December we spent a week at Saratoga Springs-- two adults and two teenagers, in a three room suite (sitting room/kitchen, kids room, master). Four email accounts, three laptops, two teenagers... and ONE hard wired internet connection in the master bedroom. Even the ratty Doubletree opposite Uni Orlando has wireless in the rooms.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip Wi-Fi is GREAT. When it works. I've been in too many hotels where access seemed to be spotty... sure, you could always get a LIMITED connection to the network, but at times no internet access. I don't know if that was a problem with the provider, too many guests attempting to logon at once, or what. But it was VERY frustrating. At least I've never had a problem with hardwired access being able to connect to the internet. If wi-fi is made available I hope hardwired access would still be available as a backup.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip ^^^ That is true... no way to secure the connection when using a public wi-fi network. It might be OK for posting on LP or Facebook, but I'd never access any of my banking information on a public wi-fi network.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 RT- you don't have to access it through the wi fi- just opening up your pc- unless you're wiping every treansaction as you complete it is enough wi fi works for me with my smart phone- because I store nothing of value within the phone...unsecured home wireless networks and wi fi connections are like leaving the door to the bank vault open at night.
Originally Posted By TP2000 Every small boutique hotel I stay in for 80 or 100 bucks a night has free wi-fi. It's hard to believe Disney is this far behind the curve that a "test" like this in one of their hotels is actually news. Sad.
Originally Posted By MousDad ^ Don't forget, TP, they're also the only company in America that you have to dial a local area code to reach them. Lol.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros Why is it that the more 'upscale' a hotel is, the less likely you'll get free little perks like internet and breakfast? It's an industry-wide standard that's always kind of confused me. Small motels often include free internet, but large 'fancy' hotels like the ones you'd find downtown rarely do. I'm also very surprised that they don't already have free wireless at the Contemporary convention center. It seems like that would be an obvious requirement for a lot of groups coming in. Yah, they could make a few bucks more by charging everyone, but it seems like that should just come standard for conventioneers. >>I don't know if that was a problem with the provider, too many guests attempting to logon at once, or what.<< Many colleges have run into this problem with trying to make their dorms wireless. It's a combination of trying to get signals through a lot of floors and walls, and a ton of people trying to log on, so most just went back to wired connections.
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< Wi-Fi is GREAT. When it works. I've been in too many hotels where access seemed to be spotty... At least I've never had a problem with hardwired access being able to connect to the internet. If wi-fi is made available I hope hardwired access would still be available as a backup. >>> I agree 100%. A hardwired Internet connection should be a MINIMUM in each guest room. If they also have WiFi, that's great. Increasingly, I'm reading that having WiFi is becoming a "required" rather than "nice to have" option for many travelers, what with the proliferation of mobile devices that only use WiFi. But a wired connection is still a must-have for people that will be conducting business on a laptop and need to rely on the internet connection working all the time. Another issue is that unless the hotel has free guest internet, the guest room WiFi is usually charged at the same rate as the wired connection ($10-15/day) for EACH DEVICE. <<< Last December we spent a week at Saratoga Springs-- two adults and two teenagers, in a three room suite (sitting room/kitchen, kids room, master). Four email accounts, three laptops, two teenagers... and ONE hard wired internet connection in the master bedroom. >>> That sounds like the group I travel with, except that we just act like teenagers Here's the solution: <a href="http://www.apple.com/airportexpress/" target="_blank">http://www.apple.com/airportexpress/</a> It works great, even if you have no other Apple products that you'll use it with: It's small and has no cords. It plugs into the wired connection, and then you can use up to 10 wireless devices off of the single connection. It pays for itself in one trip even if only a single extra internet connection is saved per day, and with 10 connections, you can have all your laptops and mobile devices connected without worry.
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< but I'd never access any of my banking information on a public wi-fi network. >>> Why not? I do it all the time. Sure, WiFi security is possible to break, but what about the 128-bit SSL that used by the bank's site? I don't think there's *any* danger with using even unsecured WiFi on an SSL-protected website. <<< unless you're wiping every treansaction as you complete >>> Not necessary. There's a setting in Internet Explorer called "do not save encrypted pages to disk" which will prevent any SSL page from getting written to the cache. Firefox doesn't even give you an option: it will never save SSL files to cache. And I'm not even talking about using the "private browsing" sandbox features in modern browsers. <<< you don't have to access it through the wi fi- just opening up your pc >>> In addition to needing the bank transactions being cached, remote users would need to be able to have access to your computer via WiFi. Just turn on Windows Firewall (assuming you're running Windows) and then no remote connections will be accepted. I think the single biggest risk of using WiFi is having your email password disclosed. In most cases, people have their email set to connect to the email server in an unencrypted manner (assuming they're using an email client and not just webmail all the time). Someone sniffing WiFi packets isn't going to be able to see any of the content of your SSL-protected banking sessions and so on, but they'll sure see your email password unless you've gone to the trouble to configure email to always connect via the SSL port (and assuming your mail server supports it). Once someone has your email password, they can passively read (but not delete or mark as having been read) your email. This could go on for months or years without you knowing about it (how often do you change your email password?). That's the biggest WiFi danger, IMHO.
Originally Posted By Tony C I understand it's a different world(no pun intended) but if I'm going to WDW the last thing I'm going to be concerned about is the wi-fi. I go on vacation to get away from the computer.
Originally Posted By virk4 In 8 weeks I will stay at the Beach Club for $600 per night. I will have to pay extra for the internet.....but not at Motel 6. It's about time they started to "think about" this.
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< I understand it's a different world(no pun intended) but if I'm going to WDW the last thing I'm going to be concerned about is the wi-fi. I go on vacation to get away from the computer. >>> Some of us don't have that option. Plus, consider how many visitors WDW gets from families where one of the parents is there on business doing something at the convention center, brings the family along, and stays at WDW.
Originally Posted By Tony C I guess but I go old school when I'm there. Cell phone for at the airport and such, but once I'm there cell phone does not get used. You want to meet? Tell me the time and place and I'll be there.
Originally Posted By Tony C But I understand that people have to use it for business purposes, it's just not a selling point for me.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Yep, some of us are fortunate to be able to take a number of vacations, the down side is being on call or needing to log in for work while away. Challenging.
