Free WiFi now available at Epcot

[BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023]

Walt Disney World has announced that FREE WiFi service is now available at the Epcot theme park.

Cellular carriers supported include AT&T, Spring, Verizon, T-Mobil and MetroPCS.

Guests with WiFi enabled devices can connect by locating the network "Disney - Guest".

Once selected, you then need to agree to the terms and conditions to connect.

If you've already connected to the WiFi network in your Walt Disney World resort hotel, you will not be prompted to agree to the terms and conditions again.

Disney is planning to make the complimentary WiFi service available at Downtown Disney and all Walt Disney World Theme parks - including Disney's Hollywood Studios and Disney's Animal Kingdom - in the next few months.

[Brent... Just Brent 83]

I'm really hoping this will help with data congestion.

[freshlybarked 4]

That is wonderful. We carry a Wi-Fi hot spot with us so I can try to access some apps on my Ipod and it never works inside buildings at Disney and sometimes I can't get a signal outside. Works fine away from the parks so they must do something to make it difficult.

[BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023]

From WDW Magic...

Hands-on with Epcot's new Wi-Fi Internet service

Aug 31, 2012 | 10:08am EDT

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Epcot's complimentary guest Wi-Fi service began last week and we've got all the test details from throughout the park to give you an idea of the performance.

Magic Kingdom was the first park to provide Wi-Fi from the start of August, and you can read our hands-on review of that here. For Epcot, we visited each attraction and land, and carried out a speed test using the standard SpeedTest app on an iPhone 4. In each location we measured the ping time, the upload speed, and the download speed.

Our overall impression was that Epcot has done a great job with integrating the Wi-Fi into the park. We found the signal strength to be consistent throughout the park, with no need to keep accepting login requests as we crossed into new zones. There were a few drop outs in World Showcase between pavilions, but service quickly returned by taking a few more steps. Something that was particular evident was that the signal at Epcot was available inside and outside of the pavilions. Service was also available inside restaurants. This will of course be necessary to power Disney's NextGen experience and the new 'My Disney Experience' apps.

The Magic Kingdom service was a little inconsistent with speeds, whereas we found Epcot's service to be much more standardized. Typical download speeds are in the region of 2 to 3Mbps, with uploads being 2 to 3Mbps. This compares very favorable to a typical at home high speed internet connection, with the upload speed in particular being higher than you would typically experience at home.

The same content filters are in place as in the Magic Kingdom, with access to any slightly questionable site being blocked.

As with the Magic Kingdom, the Wi-Fi service outpowers the 3G service by a long way. Along with the higher speed and more constistent services come a battery life saving with the more efficient Wi-Fi service. So in every sense it is good news all around for park-goers who are making more and more use of their internet devices.

The addition of Epcot to the Wi-Fi service now just leaves Disney's Animal Kingdom, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Downtown Disney and the water parks to officially come online to complete the rollout to all guest areas in the Walt DIsney World Resort.

Here are the complete test results from Epcot.

Main entrance - 90ms, 2.1Mbps up, 2.2Mbps down

Tip board - 111ms, 2.6Mbps up, 2.6Mbps down

Land Pavilion outside - 117ms, 3.02 up, 2.19Mbps down

Sunshine Seasons - 98ms, 3.2Mbps up, 2.6Mbps down

Living seas - 100ms, 3.16Mbps up, 2.5Mbps down

Imagination! outside - 107ms, 2.91Mbps up, 2.93Mbps down

Electric Umbrella - 100ms, 3.07Mbps up, 2.48Mbps down

Universe of Energy outside - 105ms, 3.00Mbps up, 3.03Mbps down

Mission Space outside - 112ms, 3.02Mbps up, 1.37Mbps down

World Showcase Plaza - 121ms, 2.54Mbps up, 2.81Mbps down

Mexico Pavilion outside - 105ms, 2.40Mbps up, 2.90Mbps down

Mexico Pavilion inside - 92ms, 3.26Mbps up, 2.62Mbps down

Norway outside - 103ms, 2.65Mbps up, 1.78Mbps down

China - 112ms, 1.96Mbps up, 1.98Mbps down

Outpost - 93ms, 3.13Mbps up, 2.32Mbps down

Germany coutryard - 109ms, 3.03Mbps up, 2.39Mbps down

Italy Outside - 113ms, 2.71Mbps up, 2.64Mbps down

American Adventure Liberty Inn - 93ms, 3.20Mbps up, 1.73Mbps down

American Adventure outside - 155ms, 0.93Mbps up, 1.28Mbps down

Japan koi pond - 129ms, 1.86Mbps up, 2.33Mbps down

Morroco fountain area - 104ms, 2.06Mbps up, 1.78Mbps down

Morroco back of pavilion - 95ms, 3.16Mbps up, 2.70Mbps down

France fountain - 87ms, 1.71Mbps up, 2.02Mbps down

France bakery - 108ms, 3.10Mbps up, 2.19Mbps down

France UK bridge - 117ms, 1.98Mbps up, 1.13Mbps down

International gateway - 131ms, 2.48Mbps up, 2.51Mbps down

UK bandstand - 113ms, 2.74Mbps up, 2.82Mbps down

UK outside Rose and Crown - 99ms, 2.82Mbps up, 1.66Mbps down

Canada - 117ms, 3.01Mbps up, 2.19Mbps down

http://www.wdwmagic.com/other/internet-access/news/31aug2012-hands-on-with-epcot%27s-new-wi-fi-internet-service.htm

[BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023]

From WDW Magic. Follow link for video and photos...

PHOTOS and VIDEO - iPhone 5 goes to Epcot

Sep 21, 2012 | 6:26pm EDT

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The latest and greatest iPhone from Apple hit the streets todays, and we happened to get one in our hands to take for a test run at Epcot. No better way to see how good a new device is than to take it out for a real life test run, and no better place to do that than at Walt Disney World's Epcot Center.

We tested the iPhone 5 in three areas, photos, video, and network. This is the first Apple device that supports LTE, and it absolutely screamed in our test today. We got an unbelievable 46MB download, and 15MB upload speed in the park with ATT. This is significantly faster than the public Wi-Fi service available in the park.

We have included a stack of photos below to show you how the camera performs, both with regular photos, and with the new panoramic feature, which we have to say, is very impressive. You simply scan the iPhone 5 from left to right, and it automatically stitches everything together and even guides you through the process as you scan the scene. The images are fairly large in file size, and you will definitely want to view the XL versions, so be patient as they load. All the photos are right out of the iPhone and are untouched in any way. The video is also a direct upload from the iPhone 5, with no edit.

The iPhone 5 is an extremely impressive device, blazing fast in itself, and blazing fast when it accesses the internet via LTE. The camera is a definite step up from the iPhone 4, with the speed of use and shutter lag being noticeably improved. You could definitely use this iPhone as a replacement for a lot of point and shoots out there.

http://www.wdwmagic.com/other/iphone-5-goes-to-epcot/news/21sep2012-photos-and-video---iphone-5-goes-to-epcot.htm