News Free Wifi now in Magic Kingdom Park

[flynnibus]

Didn't see this posted anywhere yet...

It was news that Free Wifi was available in the park now. Apparently it has been confirmed on The Hub now as well.

So.. free wifi to use all those NextGen apps now. Network is 'Disney-Guest'

Enjoy!

[mess98]

Re: Free Wifi now in Magic Kingdom Park

Free Wifi makes the tourist inside of me so happy. Gives me a reason to actually bring my phone with me.

[DancinBelle]

Re: Free Wifi now in Magic Kingdom Park

I wonder how Walt would feel? I know we live in a different time, but the whole point of Walt Disney World was to allow you to escape the outside world. Now everyone has a constant connection, and it's taking away from the vacation experience. Countless families go to Disney to spend time together as a family, but mom and dad are still answering work emails and stressing about what is going on back home. I'm sure there will be a lot of people who love having wi-fi available, but it makes you lose sight of the point of vacation: relaxation and family time.

[mess98]

Re: Free Wifi now in Magic Kingdom Park

I wonder how Walt would feel? I know we live in a different time, but the whole point of Walt Disney World was to allow you to escape the outside world. Now everyone has a constant connection, and it's taking away from the vacation experience. Countless families go to Disney to spend time together as a family, but mom and dad are still answering work emails and stressing about what is going on back home. I'm sure there will be a lot of people who love having wi-fi available, but it makes you lose sight of the point of vacation: relaxation and family time.

being "connected" doesn't mean that you're not relaxing.

For example:
Sometimes when I'm travelling around, I like to upload photos to Facebook. Kind of a "hey guys, I'm here... this is a cool thing that I think you'd like".

Maybe I want to look at a map? Maybe I want to check bus times?

I can do none of this while at WDW without Wifi (stupid Canadaland and their wireless plans...)

[Dapper Dan]

Re: Free Wifi now in Magic Kingdom Park

Wow, is it 2005 already?

Epcot should have had this and been doing all kinds of things with it for years.

[Thomas998]

Re: Free Wifi now in Magic Kingdom Park

being "connected" doesn't mean that you're not relaxing.

For example:
Sometimes when I'm travelling around, I like to upload photos to Facebook. Kind of a "hey guys, I'm here... this is a cool thing that I think you'd like".

Maybe I want to look at a map? Maybe I want to check bus times?

I can do none of this while at WDW without Wifi (stupid Canadaland and their wireless plans...)

Uploading facebook photos while at Disney is like saying, "hey world I'm having fun a thousand miles from home, feel free to rob me blind."

Sorry, but I would never do that. I'm much more likely to carry on a fake conversation with an imaginary house sitter that is staying at my house to see that the 150 lb mastiff is well fed.

[danyoung]

Re: Free Wifi now in Magic Kingdom Park

I think many people use technology all wrong, and inside a Disney park is a great place to see it. Whether it's someone yapping away in his earpiece or someone else with the earbuds in listening to tunes, technology can be a huge distraction from a place that has tons of sensory input. I've fought for years to leave my cell phone in my hotel room. But now that I've got a pretty good camera in my phone, I'm more likely to bring it with me. But other than picture taking, it stays on the belt.

Well, other than one time recently, in the single rider queue at Radiator Springs Racers. I had a 50 minute wait in front of me, so I pulled out the phone and used the Kindle on it to do some quality reading. I really had a good time in that queue, and it seemed to go by really fast. So yeah, sometimes tech can be fun. But overall I think it's much better to put it away and just enjoy where you are!

[iillini24]

Re: Free Wifi now in Magic Kingdom Park

Does it work well? It is slow? Wrigley Field has free AT&T wireless, but it sucks

[flynnibus]

Re: Free Wifi now in Magic Kingdom Park

speeds in the park are fast right now - but unknown if they are built out to sustain it. Speedtests were has high as 9megabit down. There is no word from Disney at this point for the targeted speed to support under load.

[GhostHostJeff]

Re: Free Wifi now in Magic Kingdom Park

I think this is a great idea especially since there are now Disney Aps that can help you navigate the park. I for one will be using this service when I arrive at the Magic Kingdom in December!

[Dapper Dan]

Re: Free Wifi now in Magic Kingdom Park

Hey, anyone remember when you could make dining reservations from inside of EPCOT on a touch screen in 1982? It's a lot harder to do that now, if it's even still possible at all. Just saying.

[danyoung]

Re: Free Wifi now in Magic Kingdom Park

I really enjoyed walking up to the screen and booking my dining reservations for THAT DAY. I'm not wild about having to do it 180 days out, but at least they have a pretty good online system for doing it.

[sbk1234]

Re: Free Wifi now in Magic Kingdom Park

I wonder how Walt would feel? I know we live in a different time, but the whole point of Walt Disney World was to allow you to escape the outside world. Now everyone has a constant connection, and it's taking away from the vacation experience. Countless families go to Disney to spend time together as a family, but mom and dad are still answering work emails and stressing about what is going on back home. I'm sure there will be a lot of people who love having wi-fi available, but it makes you lose sight of the point of vacation: relaxation and family time.

Well put. I agree completely. It's a shame that people don't know how to relax nowadays, or "get away from it all."
I've found no real reason to connect with the outside world while in the theme parks. I have a cell phone with me (which IS great for keeping in touch with those I've separated from in the park), so those who are watching over things at home can call me if - and I can't stress this enough to them - and only if there is an EMERGENCY, like someone is hospitalized. Automatic bill pay is set up before I leave on vacation, so I don't have to worry about that.
I know I sound like an old curmudgeon, but enough is enough. I don't think too many people would miss wi-fi in the Magic Kingdom if it was never installed in the first place. Of the many criticisms I've ever heard, "no wi-fi" is not one of them.

It's early here, so I'll stop rambling now.

[Dapper Dan]

Re: Free Wifi now in Magic Kingdom Park

To Do: Go on Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin while watching Delta Dreamflight and If You Had Wings ride through videos on youtube.

[ACEJT]

Re: Free Wifi now in Magic Kingdom Park

It sucks because it's AT&T....LOL!

Does it work well? It is slow? Wrigley Field has free AT&T wireless, but it sucks

[ex-wdi]

Re: Free Wifi now in Magic Kingdom Park

To Do: Go on Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin while watching Delta Dreamflight and If You Had Wings ride through videos on youtube.

Quite possibly the single best post in the history of Micechat.

[ORD84]

Re: Free Wifi now in Magic Kingdom Park

That'll be good, I can get online and post to Facebook etc. when I'm in the park anyways over 3G data, but if I even just connect to the parks wifi, it'll save battery life to take more pictures....

If anything I utilize my Droid to take photos but in addition to facebook sometimes while waiting on ride or just relaxing it's fun to play something like words with friends or songpop with the rest of my group...

also if anyone is on songpop or scramble with friends my name is icegater84 and [email protected] respectively :-P

[jsmith11618]

Re: Free Wifi now in Magic Kingdom Park

Uploading facebook photos while at Disney is like saying, "hey world I'm having fun a thousand miles from home, feel free to rob me blind."

Sorry, but I would never do that. I'm much more likely to carry on a fake conversation with an imaginary house sitter that is staying at my house to see that the 150 lb mastiff is well fed.

Not everyone allows the world to see whats posted on their facebook. Everyone with access to my fb, family, friends, and a small number of co-workers, would very likely know I am on vacation and away, but I am not thinking any would be robbing me while away.

Facebook only shows the world what you allow, its not hard to protect yourself using privacy settings.

[PSUMark]

Re: Free Wifi now in Magic Kingdom Park

I wonder how Walt would feel? I know we live in a different time, but the whole point of Walt Disney World was to allow you to escape the outside world. Now everyone has a constant connection, and it's taking away from the vacation experience. Countless families go to Disney to spend time together as a family, but mom and dad are still answering work emails and stressing about what is going on back home. I'm sure there will be a lot of people who love having wi-fi available, but it makes you lose sight of the point of vacation: relaxation and family time.

I'm sympathetic to your position. I hope that this doesn't result in families where the parents are constantly checking email and the kids are constantly playing Words With Friends, but realistically, that's already happening and will continue to happen.

I think there is a way to use personal technology in the parks though, in such a way that it enhances rather than detracts from the experience and escapism and togetherness. I love the Lines app from TouringPlans.com, but I always get terrible data service in the parks (particularly MK). Free Wi-Fi will enable me to use that app to check wait times and crowd levels at the different parks a lot more quickly and easily (i.e.: less time spent staring at my phone will I wait for it to load), which will help me to have a more relaxing and stress-free vacation with less time spent waiting in huge crowds. For me, that's a big plus. There are other similar uses for Wi-Fi, like Disney's own Mobile Magic app.

It saddens me that more people don't value time with their friends and family away from technological distractions (and I'm far from a luddite - I work in the software field), but whether or not WDW has Wi-Fi, that will continue to be the case. I'd rather see Disney promote ways that technology can enhance your vacation rather than hope that generally poor reception prevents people from using their phones in the parks. (It won't.)

Uploading facebook photos while at Disney is like saying, "hey world I'm having fun a thousand miles from home, feel free to rob me blind."

Sorry, but I would never do that. I'm much more likely to carry on a fake conversation with an imaginary house sitter that is staying at my house to see that the 150 lb mastiff is well fed.

Only if you have your facebook privacy settings set to public and/or are "friends" with a lot of thieves. Both of those can be remedied rather easily.

Wow, is it 2005 already?

Epcot should have had this and been doing all kinds of things with it for years.

Hey, anyone remember when you could make dining reservations from inside of EPCOT on a touch screen in 1982? It's a lot harder to do that now, if it's even still possible at all. Just saying.

So much this. It's embarrassing that Epcot didn't have this a decade ago; even more embarrassing that MK got it first.

[WDW1971]

Re: Free Wifi now in Magic Kingdom Park

Quite possibly the single best post in the history of Micechat.

I second that!