September 8, 2014 – Universal has begun beta testing in-park WiFi for guests, Inside Universal has learned.
Currently billed as a service offered on a “limited beta-test basis” by Comcast Business, public wireless access points can now be reached near Universal Plaza and throughout the Lower Lot under the “UNIVERSAL” SSID. While Universal has operated an intranet service (and its associated infrastructure) for park employees for a number of years, this is the first documented instance that the park has offered internet access to the general public. Such a service could offset the park’s notoriously impacted cellphone network, which has often suffered from inconsistent and slow speeds.
Universal Plaza WiFi speeds.
Lower Lot WiFi speeds.
Universal has long been rumored to offer free public Wi-Fi within its park for a number of years. While Universal Studios Hollywood has yet to make any formal statements concerning this potential progression, its sister resort – Universal Orlando Resort – has offered such a service under the XFINITY name for a number of months. Given Comcast’s ownership of NBCUniversal (and consequently, Universal Parks & Resorts), it may be expected that the XFINITY scheme may also be in the works for its west coast park, though such an effort has yet to be confirmed.
If Universal does proceed to add a permanent public wireless network in the park, it will be the first theme park to do so in the Southern California region.
Special thanks to Aaron Rifkind for the tip!
Jon Fu is the editor-in-chief of Inside Universal.
Jon originally founded InsideUniversal.net in 2006 as a summer hobby aimed at providing families and fans a resource for all things “Universal Studios Hollywood.” Since then, the website has taken him throughout the United States and around the world – including to places like Universal Orlando Resort, Universal Studios Japan and Universal Studios Singapore.
Jon currently resides in Santa Cruz, California. You may reach him at jon@insideuniversal.net.
