Here Come The Magic Bands!

[Radiorox]

What I am curious about is how they will deal with people like me that I have an AP and then get a KTTW card when I reserve at WDW.

Will I get two magic bands? Or will they add the ressie info to my AP.

(Yes, I just want two magic bands. LOL!!)

Jackie

 

[honeymo78]

What I am curious about is how they will deal with people like me that I have an AP and then get a KTTW card when I reserve at WDW.

Will I get two magic bands? Or will they add the ressie info to my AP.

(Yes, I just want two magic bands. LOL!!)

Jackie

From what I understand from various threads, your resort stay will be added to your AP band.

 

[mesaboy2]

From what I understand from various threads, your resort stay will be added to your AP band.

That's what I've concluded too.

 

[doconeill]

What I am curious about is how they will deal with people like me that I have an AP and then get a KTTW card when I reserve at WDW.

Will I get two magic bands? Or will they add the ressie info to my AP.

(Yes, I just want two magic bands. LOL!!)

Jackie

Are you referring to when you book a package for Free Dining or the like which includes tickets, or just a room?

For the latter, they would simply associate your existing MagicBand with your room.

For the former...who knows yet? They may have to handle ticket entitlements differently, or issue them as separate media you can store away and not interfere with using your AP.

Note that MagicBands technically have a limited lifetime, due to the battery. After the battery (which is not replaceable) dies, the radio transmitter will not function, which will make them no better than the RFID cards and you may lose out on whatever experiences require the transmitter. So it remains to be seen what kind of replacement policy might be in place. I've heard that the battery has about a two-year lifetime given the low power of the transmitter, so it will be a while before we know

 

[DisneyBliss7]

I have honestly never heard of these!?!? Are they offered to everyone? And are they extra money if we want them? We are staying at AKV that we rented points from a DVC member. We will have 4 day park tickets. Would we get them even though we didn't directly book through Disney? I like them but I'll probably carry mine more then wear it if we end up having them...I know my kids would like wearing them though

 

[doconeill]

I have honestly never heard of these!?!? Are they offered to everyone? And are they extra money if we want them? We are staying at AKV that we rented points from a DVC member. We will have 4 day park tickets. Would we get them even though we didn't directly book through Disney? I like them but I'll probably carry mine more then wear it if we end up having them...I know my kids would like wearing them though

They aren't available yet. But we've been talking about them for months. This is just the first official public display of them.

Eventually, everyone staying at a Disney resort will get them by default, as will AP members and people who purchase the PhotoPass+ packages. Others can purchase them for a fee.

No one at this point knows when they will actually be in guests hands.

 

[mm1971]

Looks great, WED, thanks for sharing.

I agree with the comment on the post....Shut up and take my money. Those would be awesome. Hopefully the system will be up by late August. Pretty sure DD would be wearing them forever.

 

[SuperDan523]

I didn't see the first post before...but let me point out a few things.

Bolded part #1: This is actually the first I've ever heard of that, and I actually don't believe it will be true. Allowing it would allow for two or more active devices attached to the same profile, and could allow for a person to be in "two places at once".

Bolded part #2: Those are only possibilities - I don't believe Disney has stated what they will or won't use the transmitters for, other than to enable "experiences" that can be triggered when guests pass certain points, or let a princess call a child by name (by being displayed discreetly somewhere before the child approaches). So not having a magicband would limit some experiences.

I personally don't think they'd be useful at all for crowd control in practice. And to send special offers would require a device to send to - the MagicBands themselves have no receiver, display, or indicators (although I thought a nice feature would be a "restaurant pager" function built-in...)

Reports from people collecting the new RFID AP cards at F&G are saying, at least with APs, that both will be able to be used at the same time. I would imagine the biometric measurements (when working) would prevent double use, as well as possibly placing RFID sensors at exit turnstiles to make sure goings in and goings out match up.

I agree, I only mentioned some of the possibilities. Card users would be at a disadvantage with character meetings and interactive cues. Definitely a point Disney will use to push people more toward the bands which they can track.

Crowd control measures will be incorporated via the My Disney Experience smart phone app. I wouldn't be surprised to see push alerts added to the app once this is in full swing. Non smart phone users will be at a disadvantage, sure, but guests will still be able to check incoming offers via touch screen kiosks throughout the parks.

 

[dadddio]

What I am curious about is how they will deal with people like me that I have an AP and then get a KTTW card when I reserve at WDW.

Will I get two magic bands? Or will they add the ressie info to my AP.

(Yes, I just want two magic bands. LOL!!)

Jackie

You are looking at it wrong, in my opinion. The band only identifies your profile in Disney's system. All of your info will live in that profile. This includes tickets, resort info, photopass, dining packages, FPs, etc. you don't need more than one band because that one band will link to all of your stuff.

 

[dadddio]

Note that MagicBands technically have a limited lifetime, due to the battery. After the battery (which is not replaceable) dies, the radio transmitter will not function, which will make them no better than the RFID cards and you may lose out on whatever experiences require the transmitter. So it remains to be seen what kind of replacement policy might be in place. I've heard that the battery has about a two-year lifetime given the low power of the transmitter, so it will be a while before we know

the nature of the beast is that there will be some duds and some dying early. I imagine that they will deal with this very easily. If the battery dies, they give you a new band and link the new one to your profile. The entire process should take less than a minute. We already know that the replacement process should be fairly quick and painless since they will be selling upgrade bands.

 

[doconeill]

the nature of the beast is that there will be some duds and some dying early. I imagine that they will deal with this very easily. If the battery dies, they give you a new band and link the new one to your profile. The entire process should take less than a minute. We already know that the replacement process should be fairly quick and painless since they will be selling upgrade bands.

But what we don't know is will you be able to test them, will you know when it dies, and most of all, will they charge for a replacement...

 

[dadddio]

But what we don't know is will you be able to test them, will you know when it dies, and most of all, will they charge for a replacement...

Testing seems fairly straight forward. Certainly, GS would be able to accomplish that easily enough. Also, I see no reason why replacement standard bands wouldn't be free for a number of reasons. First, they would certainly ant to resolve problems with dud or early dying batteries. Second, since they aren't made to last forever, guests will need new ones. This can be provided in one of two ways: sending a new band every time a new reservation is made, or replacing bands that die. Frankly, both options are super inexpensive for the company. The second is probably cheaper as shipping might actually cost more than the bands themselves.

 

[doconeill]

Testing seems fairly straight forward. Certainly, GS would be able to accomplish that easily enough. Also, I see no reason why replacement standard bands wouldn't be free for a number of reasons. First, they would certainly ant to resolve problems with dud or early dying batteries. Second, since they aren't made to last forever, guests will need new ones. This can be provided in one of two ways: sending a new band every time a new reservation is made, or replacing bands that die. Frankly, both options are super inexpensive for the company. The second is probably cheaper as shipping might actually cost more than the bands themselves.

Yes, it certainly seems straight forward...my point is that it doesn't mean Disney will do it that way.

My speculation: I expect them to charge for replacement for lost bands, Same amount as they would charge for those who do not get them by default.

Prematurely failed bands may be replaced for free. But that might depend on what lifetime they will guarantee. A free resort package band might only be guaranteed for the length of stay (although will likely last longer), whereas an AP band would be expected to last at least a year.

As for the designer bands which will be an upcharge to begin with, who knows.

 

[hookedonears]

WOW!

The delivery of the Magic Bands is really going to be "Disney quality"!

How impressive!

http://staree.com/attractions/136387833673016735

I know my daughter would love to have one to wear to school. As I've posted in a previous thread, this is going to be one of those must haves by kids at school.

 

[bjakmom]

the nature of the beast is that there will be some duds and some dying early. I imagine that they will deal with this very easily. If the battery dies, they give you a new band and link the new one to your profile. The entire process should take less than a minute. We already know that the replacement process should be fairly quick and painless since they will be selling upgrade bands.

Sorry, but NOTHING at WDW takes less than a minute!
And when do you find out your battery has died? After standing in line with your family at the entrance, then be sent back out to GS to stand in line for your replacement? After standing in line for FP return and then be sent back to the front of the park to GS to stand in line for your replacement?
I am interested to learn how long the batteries in these things will last in general. I will assume that they will not replace your band until it doesn't work anymore, which in almost every scenario I can think of costs me touring time and an annoying inconvenience. If they issue a new band for every trip, or if AP bands are expected to work for the year, I will feel more assured about not getting stuck somewhere with a band that goes down.

 

[karen l]

I think it's all very cool. By wearing one I'll be part of the Mickey Militia

I'm with you!

 

[dadddio]

Sorry, but NOTHING at WDW takes less than a minute!
And when do you find out your battery has died? After standing in line with your family at the entrance, then be sent back out to GS to stand in line for your replacement? After standing in line for FP return and then be sent back to the front of the park to GS to stand in line for your replacement?

As I understand it, neither park entry nor FP return requires the powered chip. They both use the passive one.

 

[Peanut Giggleface]

I like the idea of it. But the practical side of me says this thing is made of rubber, and it's hot and humid in Florida, which means this thing is going to stick to me and make me sweat. That I don't like.

 

[Minerva Mouse]

I want one, all I get is a new plastic card.

 

[Disney_Princess83]

By the sounds of things, having an AP will mean we have a Magic Band. If we stay on property, we get a Magic Band. If we purchase PhotoPass +, we get a Magic Band.... Here's hoping they can at least all be put on the SAME Magic Band, I don't want one, let alone three...