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Osky
12-16-2004, 02:57 PM
I'm back! Hopefully I will get my trip report done today. Otherwise, I leave for business tomorrow and will not be back until Monday. On our trip we had many amazing experiences, and some particularly bad ones as well. But, the good always outweighs the bad, and we had one of our best trips ever.

I did want to mention one thing that I have not seen posted here. Of course, there are a million (or somewhere close to that number ;)) new posts since I left. In the Grand California Hotel, they have installed DSL modems in every room. Because they lacked the foresight to install Ethernet cabling into each room, they decided to use the existing phone wires and implement an in-house DSL service over them. No literature yet as to potential cost or availability. I spoke with the tech at the hotel, and he says they are shooting for a rollout in the first week of January. However, he said the system should be ready by today or tomorrow (told me this on Monday). Now, with that being said, an anonymous source was able to get connected briefly on their last day, right before departing...

Andrew
12-16-2004, 03:00 PM
That's about the least efficient way I could possibly imagine of bringing high-speed access to rooms. If they have to go with existing POTS pairs, why not just install a couple of WAPs on each floor? They could even rent out wireless NICs to those who need them.

It's really hard for me to imagine a brand new hotel built in the last five years without any thought for infrastructure expansion. At the very least, even if you're not going to run dry pairs, run empty conduit with pull cords.

Osky
12-16-2004, 03:05 PM
That's about the least efficient way I could possibly imagine of bringing high-speed access to rooms. If they have to go with existing POTS pairs, why not just install a couple of WAPs on each floor? They could even rent out wireless NICs to those who need them.

It's really hard for me to imagine a brand new hotel built in the last five years without any thought for infrastructure expansion. At the very least, even if you're not going to run dry pairs, run empty conduit with pull cords.
Oh, I completely agree! However, implementation is their detail. As long as I get high-speed access, I am happy. Under the desk/table in each room, they have a fat CISCO DSL Modem, and they have a special cord with a pretty big RJ-45 jack attached that sits on top of the desk. Now the extra outlet at the desk (one is taken up by the lamp) is occupied by the power supply for the modem. I had to stretch my laptop power cord to another outlet.

Javanod
12-16-2004, 03:34 PM
Under the desk/table in each room, they have a fat CISCO DSL Modem
Could the planning really have been that bad... or is this some sweet deal engineered by Cisco?

(I wonder who sold them that set-up? they made more $ than the more efficient wireless approach Andrew points out.)

Maybe some of the floors in PPH or DLH can get wireless soon (so CoasterChickie won't wrap the phone cord around my neck next time. :p)

Andrew
12-16-2004, 03:57 PM
I had to stretch my laptop power cord to another outlet.
So you were able to connect, then? I guess you said that above, too. They aren't charging for it yet?

BQ2
12-16-2004, 08:01 PM
Oh, I completely agree! However, implementation is their detail. As long as I get high-speed access, I am happy. Under the desk/table in each room, they have a fat CISCO DSL Modem, and they have a special cord with a pretty big RJ-45 jack attached that sits on top of the desk. Now the extra outlet at the desk (one is taken up by the lamp) is occupied by the power supply for the modem. I had to stretch my laptop power cord to another outlet.

We just got back from a stay @ the DLH we were on the 4th floor serria tower, same set up as above. Fat cisco dsl modem under the desk, fat power supply the blocking outlets. While I was sitting down at the pool looking up at all those rooms I was thinking... Wow If I sold them all those modems and only made 1 dollar on each of them.... Wow!!!!
As notted above, a really poor way to set up a network. :(

TP2000
12-16-2004, 10:07 PM
I'm going to tack this into the growing category of reasons why the Grand Californian is perhaps the most over-rated major hotel in Southern California.

Disney built a new "luxury" hotel at the turn of the 21st century and didn't include plans for future high-speed Internet service? Who was in charge of this project, some notorious cheapskate like Paul Pressler or something? Oh, wait..

marktips
12-16-2004, 10:19 PM
Whoa... even the old rotted-in-place-meant-to-be-interchangeable-rooms at Contemporary have high speed room connections and the resort itself has wifi.

Opus1guy
12-17-2004, 12:11 AM
Disney built a new "luxury" hotel at the turn of the 21st century and didn't include plans for future high-speed Internet service? Who was in charge of this project, some notorious cheapskate like Paul Pressler or something? Oh, wait..

It really is amazing, isn't it. There was the opportunity to state-of-the-art this new hotel right from the beginning, but it just never happened. It is amazing. And sad. Wasn't like hi-speed wired ethernet and Wi-Fi weren't around already in the days it was being planned or anything.

Osky
12-17-2004, 08:59 AM
When I was at the GCH, I was able to connect, but there was no advertising or information. Also, DHCP was enabled, but without DNS (probably to keep people from using it). I used my own DNS servers to resolve domain names. I remember back when they were building it, thinking that it would be great to have a room with high-speed access. The technology was definitely mature and cheap long before then. Universities (which are ahead of the curve) were installing high speed lines back around 1989-1993. As Andrew mentioned, it is hard to believe that they didn't install conduit to make future wiring a snap.

This being said, many of the newer hotels on the strip in Vegas also do not have high-speed access in the room. Go figure.

Surfingstitch
12-17-2004, 09:03 AM
I would have to assume that they didn't think people would do that much work in their rooms while on vacation. Here at the Grand or in vegas.

Andrew
12-17-2004, 09:12 AM
I can almost see Vegas, though I'd think the more upscale places would have it. When you have families spending a week at the Resort, though, Mom & Dad are going to have to keep up with business somehow.

When Jen and I travel, we look for hotels offering in-room Internet access. Those who don't have it usually do not place very high on our list. The worst, though, is when you get to a hotel advertised as having a connection and either it doesn't work (and it's Friday night with no hope of getting anything fixed until Monday) or they are charging an exorbitant amount of money for access. One of the hotels on Harbor in Garden Grove (near Outback/Buca di Beppo/Red Robin) charges $10 for 24 hours!

Osky
12-17-2004, 09:26 AM
I would have to assume that they didn't think people would do that much work in their rooms while on vacation. Here at the Grand or in vegas.
You have to remember that the Grand, and just about every major hotel in vegas has some percentage of the people there on business, using the convention center. GCH has several large convention halls and is regularly hosting events. If you happen to be up in the lobby at 6:00 am on a weekday, or by the convention halls at noon or 5:00pm, you will see more suits then you expect to see at DLR.

the mad hatter
12-17-2004, 10:04 AM
why would you want to be on the net anyways? you're 100' from DL. well...i guess you could look at pics of DL while the park is closed. :|

marktips
12-17-2004, 10:12 AM
When they port Photopass from WDW over to DL, you'll be able to look at photos taken of your family throughout the day and the custom order pictures with special borders and such. Again, at WDW you'd be able to look over your online itenerary plan at Disneyworld.com or send a email to everyone else staying with you or arriving in the next few days to meet you via the Magical Gatherings software system too...

Just a thought...

Osky
12-17-2004, 10:18 AM
why would you want to be on the net anyways? you're 100' from DL. well...i guess you could look at pics of DL while the park is closed. :|
My number one use for my laptop at Disneyland...

Transferring more money to my bank account because I have gone over budget again! Online banking is both great and evil.

Opus1guy
12-17-2004, 11:01 AM
This being said, many of the newer hotels on the strip in Vegas also do not have high-speed access in the room. Go figure.

Until very recently, standard hotel rooms in Vegas didn't have a lot of anything that would keep you in them. Has nothing to do with nobody wanting to use such services. It's simply the joints don't want you sitting in your room very long. They want you downstairs gambling!!

In fact, recently the Vegas newspapers were running articles about how the new Westin in town (formerly the Maxim, but a complete gut and rebuild) had put...gasp...Coffee Makers in their rooms! I had never realized that none of upper scale hotels along the Strip had Coffee Makers in them as they wanted you to head downstairs for coffee and pass by those sparkling dream machines and tables along the way. They are all casinos with hotels attached. The hotel business is secondary.

This new Westin is in fact marketing themselves as the first true "hotel first, casino second" property in Vegas. And in fact they have a very small casino. But it is friendly, intimate, and seems a bit classier than most (read: less gaudy). Tremendous spa facility for a small hotel of this size. Very nice and classy uncrowded pool. Good spot if you are looking for more than just gambling, and still want something affordable and nicer for the average Joe. Good free Business Center and hi-speed internet in all the guestrooms. And their signature and renowned Heavenly Bed makes you never want to leave it (which would be counter to most Vegas hoteliers goals).

A couple of the big boys in town have taken notice of the tiny Westin, and are starting to do the same or convert one of their towers or a few floors to a "hotel first" philosophy.

JeffG
12-17-2004, 06:18 PM
One of the hotels on Harbor in Garden Grove (near Outback/Buca di Beppo/Red Robin) charges $10 for 24 hours!

I'm pretty sure that was what they were charging at the Contemporary at WDW when we were there last week as well. I had thought about bringing a wireless router along and using the in-room high-speed connections with my PDA (which does both wi-fi and Bluetooth), but decided against it after seeing the price. I could put up with the slower speed using the GPRS connection from my cellphone when checking email at that price.

-Jeff

Opus1guy
12-17-2004, 08:57 PM
One of the hotels on Harbor in Garden Grove (near Outback/Buca di Beppo/Red Robin) charges $10 for 24 hours!

That's actually fairly average at U.S. hotels that charge for hi-speed internet. In New York City and other major cities it goes up to $14.95.

At the Five Star luxury Prince de Galles hotel on Avenue George V in Paris, France, 24 hours of hi-speed will cost you 50€, or a whopping US$66.60!! :(

Of course there are many hotel brands that offer complimentary hi-speed as a normal hotel benefit. Hilton Garden Inns and Four Points by Sheraton are just two that offer this, standard at all properties.

If you travel a lot you get to know all the hotels that have free Wi-Fi and can occasionally use it even if you're not a guest. I often pull into a Four Points and go to the bar, order a drink and perhaps some food, and log on to their free Wi-Fi and get some work done. Or just sit in the lobby and do some work.

I often use this link wherever I'm at:

http://www.jiwire.com/search-hotspot-locations.htm

...to find free Wi-Fi nearby. I'm quite pleased with the growing number of places that have free Wi-Fi. From independent coffee shops everywhere, to restaurants and pubs all over the world. Byrant Park in NYC has it. Sit out there in the wonderful park setting right in the heart of Manhattan and surf! Many McDonalds in Europe have free Wi-Fi. Pretty cool.

But when all else fails, I can always rely on T-Mobile service at almost any Starbucks worldwide. Got a stash of promotional free day passes I've hoarded over the years that I use at those when I have to.

Andrew
12-17-2004, 09:00 PM
We love love love the Hilton Garden Inns and stay at them whenever possible. The one in Garden Grove is convenient to DL, offers free Internet, and almost always has a special travel agent rate.

Mark Goldhaber
12-20-2004, 04:14 PM
At Old Key West, they had a three-tier structure based on what speed you wanted, with price levels at $9.95, $7.95 and $2.95. I was surprised and pleased to see that we weren't charged for our access when we checked out. I'm not sure if it's a DVC members-only perk or if the DSL ISP screwed up their billing. Either way, I had broadband for free. Nice.

Javanod
12-22-2004, 09:37 PM
We just got back from a stay @ the DLH we were on the 4th floor serria tower, same set up as above. Fat cisco dsl modem under the desk, fat power supply the blocking outlets.
I'm in the Paradise Pier hotel, and the same setup is in here too. No ability to connect, as the ready light isn't lit yet.

Osky
12-23-2004, 02:02 PM
I'm in the Paradise Pier hotel, and the same setup is in here too. No ability to connect, as the ready light isn't lit yet.
Ah. The ready light was lit when I connected. In fact, they were running other tests that day and sent a tech with a housekeeping person to each room to make sure the ready light was lit. They might have turned their equipment off in the server room until the official rollout which I was told would be around January 6.

Opus1guy
02-02-2005, 07:05 PM
NEWS FLASH and UPDATE!

There's currently Wi-Fi in the lobby of the Grand Californian...and it's FREE!

Well...at least it is for now. It's not accidental slop either. They aren't advertising it but if you ask, they'll tell you it's there and it's free for the time being.

So if you see a guy sitting very comfortably in a huge leather chair across the lobby from you, that has a big 17" Fujitsu laptop cooking his groin? That's might be me! ;)

Earkid
02-02-2005, 07:18 PM
Me to DH: "Honey we have to make sure we go to the GCH and see if Opus1guy's groin is cooking".

DH to me: "You've been on that Disney board too long again".