Listen. Phone bills are expensive — data isn’t cheap. In this day and age, having a working, reliable connection to the internet is ESSENTIAL to function, even when you’re on vacation! Take Disney World, for example. It’s practically impossible NOT to use your phone on vacation here; you need that My Disney Experience app to book reservations, check the wait times, view photos, and SO MUCH more. But what if you don’t want to use cell phone data?
Here’s the deal. Disney offers free public Wi-Fi in its parks and resorts, but the connection can be unreliable. Whether you’ve got an important phone call to answer or you just want to be on that speedy Wi-Fi when it’s time to book a Genie+ Lightning Lane, here are a few places to AVOID due to poor internet signal.
Disney World is HUGE, so it’s not totally surprising that there are a few places around the resort that have a weak internet signal. Some of our reporters noted that the Wi-Fi strength is less than ideal no matter WHERE you go on property, mainly because the connection has a tendency to drop after a period of time.
That said, there are some spots that are notorious for having terrible Wi-Fi, so let’s break it down.
Tomorrowland in Magic Kingdom
According to Tomorrowland Cast Members (and our own reporters), Tomorrowland is known for having a poor Wi-Fi signal.
We’re no IT experts, so we can’t necessarily pinpoint the reason for the Wi-Fi issues here, but maybe the citizens of Tomorrowland have evolved past needing Wi-Fi, so the very concept is too antiquated to use — it is the land of the future, after all. Maybe WE’RE the problem.
The Hub on Main Street U.S.A. in Magic Kingdom
Ever tried to send a text on Wi-Fi in the middle of The Hub in Magic Kingdom? During busy times of the day (like right before the evening fireworks show), this area is PACKED with people.
Perhaps that heavy concentration of people all trying to use the same Wi-Fi at the same time is too much for the system to handle! If you’ve got something important to send, share, or download while you’re standing in front of Cinderella Castle, you’re better off using your cell phone data here. The Wi-Fi will likely NOT work for you.
Toy Story Land in Disney’s Hollywood Studios
This is another area known to fill up with people throughout the day. There’s something about small, crowded areas that Disney Wi-Fi does NOT seem to like.
Sometimes, you may notice that your phone SAYS it’s connected to Disney Wi-Fi, yet the connection doesn’t seem to work. You’re not alone! As we said, the Wi-Fi can be spotty at times, but hey, at least it’s free.
World Celebration in EPCOT
Maybe that big old EPCOT ball (a.k.a. Spaceship Earth) is blocking the signal or something, but the area at the front of EPCOT never seems to give us a good Wi-Fi connection!
Maybe we need to start walking about with an antenna on our phones. Perhaps that would boost the strength! (We’re kidding; please don’t lecture us about how bad of an idea this is.)
Dinosaur in Disney’s Animal Kingdom
This ride is a Wi-Fi DEAD ZONE. In fact, it’s also a dead zone for cellular data! We don’t know what it is about this building, but it’s like Fort Knox for Wi-Fi.
Maybe it’s because we’re going back to the time of the dinosaurs. Dinos don’t know about Wi-Fi — a T-Rex could never work a cell phone with those tiny little arms!
It’s Tough to Be a Bug in Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Speaking of rides in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, It’s Tough to be a Bug is another place where our phones become practically useless. It’s Tough to be a Bug? More like It’s Tough to be a Human Who Needs to Use Their Phone.
Don’t try to book any Genie+ reservations while you’re inside the Tree of Life — odds are you won’t have any internet connection.
Area between The Marketplace and The West Side in Disney Springs
Even some areas outside the Disney World parks have spotty Wi-Fi, like the area between The Marketplace and The West Side in Disney Springs. We notice this the most when it’s busy at Disney Springs, so we’re guessing it has something to do with the amount of people on the same Wi-Fi.
Disney’s free Wi-Fi may not be the BEST, but in a pinch, it can come in handy! Most times, you’re probably better off without the Wi-Fi, as your cell phone’s 5G connection is pretty speedy nowadays. In the meantime, we’re always on the lookout for the latest Disney news, so stay tuned for more.
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Have you ever had Wi-Fi issues in Disney World? Let us know in the comments!
Jones says
I do not even own a smartphone! Makes things a bit complicated, and you need the help of cast menbers, but it can be done….
Mary says
Inside Soarin tge wifi never works, can’t even get cell signal in there.
Leanne George says
My phone never works inside of Test Track which breaks down often and there is no way to contact my family waiting outside
Steve says
I haven’t been to WDW in about 4 years. How is 5G connectivity? Is that a way to avoid WiFi cold spots?