Nearly 5 billion people (around 60% of the world’s total population) are active internet users. More than 90% of them use the internet on mobile devices. For many of us, a world without the internet is unimaginable. Which brings us to wi-fi access while on vacation. You might need it to update your social media, stay connected to work, and of course, when you’re vacationing in Disney World, to check the My Disney Experience app for wait times, showtimes, character greeting times and locations, to browse restaurant menus, use the interactive map at theme parks, preview your PhotoPass photos, shop for Disney merchandise, and more.
Unfortunately, data roaming charges can add up pretty quickly when you’re outside your home network, especially if you’re visiting from overseas. So, free wi-fi is always welcome. Today, we’re answering the question: Does Disney World have free wi-fi and is it good?
The good news is that Disney World does indeed have complimentary high-speed wireless internet access (wi-fi) for guests throughout public spaces in the theme parks and hotels. The not-so-good news is that while the free wi-fi at Disney World works just fine most of the time, it can be spotty due to the number of users. Our advice? It’s okay to rely on Disney’s wi-fi for quick social media updates and e-mail and for using the My Disney Experience app, but don’t rely on it to get any heavy-duty online work done.
Keep reading to learn how to access wi-fi at Disney World, where you can get connectivity and where you can’t, and what to do if you’re having connectivity issues.
Who is the official wireless internet provider at Disney World?
AT&T provides the free wi-fi service at Disney World. Guests can connect to the complimentary Disney wi-fi throughout public areas in the theme parks, water parks, resort hotels, and Disney Springs and BoardWalk shopping, dining, and entertainment locations. Once connected to the free Disney World wi-fi, guests can connect to the My Disney Experience app, browse the internet, check e-mails, and log on to social media platforms.
How to connect to wi-fi at Disney World?
It’s quite easy to connect to the free Disney wi-fi service. Simply go to the list of available networks on your mobile device and choose the DisneyGuest network. The first time you try to connect, you’ll be asked to accept the terms and conditions, but you won’t have to do this every time you log in. As long as your device is iPhone 3GS or newer or has a 3.0 operating system or newer, you’re good to go. It doesn’t matter if your home network is AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon, or MetroPCS – you can still connect to the Disney wi-fi service free of cost.
Charging your Mobile Device at Disney World
Free wi-fi is great, but just using the My Disney Experience app can be a big drain on your battery. If you’re a heavy social media user, you can run out of battery power even more quickly. No worries. If you’re in the Magic Kingdom theme park, there’s a mobile device charging station located in Fantasyland (near the restrooms at Rapunzel) and also one in the gift shop at Space Mountain.
If you’re in one of the other parks, you’ll have to look for a wall outlet to charge your device; unfortunately, these are not easy to find. Many Disney World buses have USB plugs in front of each seat, so if you see one, don’t miss the opportunity to add some juice to your device battery. If you don’t want to rely on finding a charging outlet or not, we recommend carrying your own portable power bank.
Disney also offers a service called Fuel Rod. You get a reusable, portable charger to fuel your devices on the go. When the Fuel Rod runs out, you can swap it for a fresh battery an unlimited number of times. Starting in 2020, Disney did away with the free swaps. So, in our opinion, Fuel Rods don’t make sense anymore. It’s just not worth the cost and inconvenience.
Wi-Fi at Disney World Theme Parks
Disney has installed wi-fi across all four theme parks – Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, and Epcot – as well as both water parks – Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach – and Disney Springs and BoardWalk. In general, complimentary Disney wi-fi is available in attraction queues, public walkways, merchandise stores, table service and quick service restaurants, and transportation waiting areas.
Wi-fi is not available in the public restrooms, backstage areas, animal exhibits, and at select shows. There is also no free wi-fi at Disney’s miniature golf courses and on some of the transportation options.
Wi-Fi at Disney World Resort Hotels
Disney World offers free wi-fi to guests at all its resort hotels, including in the guest rooms and in public areas like the lobby and hallways, pool areas, restaurants, food courts, merchandise locations, bus stops, arcades, concierge lounges, meeting rooms, and convention centers. Earlier there was no connectivity in the Fort Wilderness Campground, but Disney now offers wi-fi throughout the entire campsite grounds. Besides, you can access the internet and check web-based e-mail at the business centers in Walt Disney World Resorts. These centers also offer fax and photocopying services.
If you want to connect to Disney World’s wi-fi network at a resort hotel, look for “Disney In-room Guest Wi-Fi” or “Disney Public Space Guest Wi-Fi” in the list of available networks on your device.
Troubleshooting Wi-Fi at Disney World
If you’re having trouble connecting to the Disney wi-fi network, you can call (407) 827-2732 for assistance (guests under the age of 18 need a parent or guardian’s permission to call). If you’re staying onsite at a Disney resort hotel, technical support is also available 24×7 through your in-room phone by dialing 56.
Like we said before, the free wi-fi at Disney World works well for most people. However, you should not rely on it to do heavy-duty online work like loading large videos or watching movies. If you’re planning to get a ton of work done in between having fun, the wi-fi speed at Disney World can be frustrating (some people report speeds as low as 1MB/second and patchy connections). So, if this is the case, we recommend purchasing a data roaming pack on your arrival in Orlando or heading to one of the nearby coworking spaces in the Disney area.
Disney World’s complimentary wi-fi service is a great way to keep data roaming charges in control, which honestly can be extortion in some cases. Having internet on the go is a great way to enhance your Disney experience by using the My Disney Experience app to check attraction times, modify FastPass bookings, and make dining reservations, for example.
A last word of caution, like any public network, the wi-fi at Disney World is inherently insecure. Even when you’re using it in your room at a resort hotel, remember you’re on a public network and others can access your data or see what you’re doing online. While encryption has made web surfing somewhat safer, it is not completely risk-free. Our advice? Avoid using Disney World’s public wi-fi for any sensitive data.