Orlando - Disney offering free wi-fi in the Magic Kingdom

Apologies if this has already been posted, but according to the Orlando Sentinel (http://www.orlandosentinel.com/the-daily-disney/os-disney-now-provides-free-wifi-to-magic-kingdom-guests-20120802,0,4783225.story), Wi-fi was made available in several areas of the Magic Kingdom as of yesterday (Weds, 8/1). No word on exact timing for other parks yet.

If you follow the link, hit the stop button your browser when the page displays, or you might get a login screen.

It's about time ^^^^

They've finally started giving free wifi in all the rooms as well, at least at all the hotels I've stayed in.

Previously it was a mishmash of policies. Some hotels had free wifi in the lobby and some didn't. All the rooms had a $9.99 fee.

I'm truly surprised they're putting it in the parks. My husband and I discussed it, and figured they couldn't because of the bandwidth that would be needed.

I'm truly surprised they're putting it in the parks. My husband and I discussed it, and figured they couldn't because of the bandwidth that would be needed.The assumption might be that most people won't be bringing their laptops or tablets to the park. Phones may be the biggest users and hopefully won't be hogging lots of bandwidth. I would assume most phone users in a park won't be streaming lots of movies and such while walking around the park.

But who knows, maybe they worked a great deal with an I-net provider (i.e. for free advertisement, etc.) and have lots of bandwidth everywhere.

Well, I use an ipod touch, so it's those devices also. But I agree I'm not going to be using a lot of bandwidth.

I do know that the few times I've been in a hotel, my husband and I both were using the internet and the speed was great. Each room had it's own cable modem though. I don't know if that's the case everywhere.

But this is still great news. I'm going in a few weeks and will report back.

I'm seeing QR codes round the park in the future, or maybe an e-version of fastpass, with a guarantee of Disney ads included.

Rumor has it they are going to be bringing a new reservation system online that will also include the ability for onsite guests to reserve fastpasses online.

An e-version of the fastpass isn't such a far stretch :)

Woohoo! Not only is wifi free in the magic kingdom, it's free in Epcot too, which is where I'm posting this from.

Good speed too^^^

The assumption might be that most people won't be bringing their laptops or tablets to the park. Phones may be the biggest users and hopefully won't be hogging lots of bandwidth. I would assume most phone users in a park won't be streaming lots of movies and such while walking around the park.

But who knows, maybe they worked a great deal with an I-net provider (i.e. for free advertisement, etc.) and have lots of bandwidth everywhere.

One of my pet peeves is the fools that bring their tablets to the park and then hold them up to record the fireworks.... The phones are bad enough....

I vaguely remember reading something, probably in USA Today, that Disney was offering some sort of new game where you have to wander around the park holding up some sort of electronic device in different locations, which will unlock different mini-adventures.

Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom. Found it. I guess that's not the tie-in after all, but articles do promote the potential of further game expansion.

Woohoo! Not only is wifi free in the magic kingdom, it's free in Epcot too, which is where I'm posting this from.

Good speed too^^^

Another Orlando Sentinel article (http://www.orlandosentinel.com/the-daily-disney/os-cfb-tourism-disney-wifi-0903-20120903,0,3181203.story) on the topic. It says Epcot rolled out last week, and Downtown Disney and the other two parks should be up by the end of the year.

Hit Stop on your browser when the page loads or you might get a login screen.

You do get a log in screen but all you have to do is press "accept" and you're on your way. When the park is crowded, it's a bit difficult to get access, but other times it's actually quite good.

Just a bit more info, now that I have a regular keyboard :)

Access was great and speedy at certain times of the day, when the parks were not as crowded. It was a holiday weekend, and midday and evening/night posed the most difficulty getting a wifi connection, but once you had it, it worked just fine.

I only hit the Magic Kingdom and Epcot this trip and was even able to send a short video via wifi - so the speed is good.

I'd love to see what would happen when it's really crowded, but overall, it's a great change.