Buying Magic Bands if not staying on property

[mdutch39]

I know I have seen on here that if you are not staying on property or are not a APH then you will be able to buy magic bands. So I called Disney and asked if, when the magic bands are officially rolled out, I would be able to purchase the bands.

They said no.

It will be made available to the on property guests (we know), APH (we know), and eventually Florida residents (this was news to me). So I'm kind of bummed because I was really excited for these beauties. Guess I'm not special enough.

 

[wilkeliza]

I know I have seen on here that if you are not staying on property or are not a APH then you will be able to buy magic bands. So I called Disney and asked if, when the magic bands are officially rolled out, I would be able to purchase the bands.

They said no.

It will be made available to the on property guests (we know), APH (we know), and eventually Florida residents (this was news to me). So I'm kind of bummed because I was really excited for these beauties. Guess I'm not special enough.

I'm their mind the card and fast pass+ is all they need to offer to be considered equal. It is interesting that MB will be resort, residents, and AP only. It makes a draw to be one of the to things you can easily be.

 

[Disney_Princess83]

Whoever you spoke to was wrong. It has been known for quite sometime that anyone with a Disney World Ticket will be able to get a Magic Band. It is tied to your park tickets, not where you are staying. Currently it's still testing and rumours are going around that AP Holders may start to get them during October

I know I have seen on here that if you are not staying on property or are not a APH then you will be able to buy magic bands. So I called Disney and asked if, when the magic bands are officially rolled out, I would be able to purchase the bands.

They said no.

It will be made available to the on property guests (we know), APH (we know), and eventually Florida residents (this was news to me). So I'm kind of bummed because I was really excited for these beauties. Guess I'm not special enough.

 

[AndreaA]

Whoever you spoke to was wrong. It has been known for quite sometime that anyone with a Disney World Ticket will be able to get a Magic Band. It is tied to your park tickets, not where you are staying. Currently it's still testing and rumours are going around that AP Holders may start to get them during October

Actually, that's not true. Currently there are no plans to let non-resort guests have MagicBands:

http://www.doctordisney.com/2013/08...ation-on-disneys-magicbands-fastpass-mymagic/

The pertinent passage:

1.) Currently, MyMagic+, MagicBands, and FASTPass+ are only available to guests staying at a Walt Disney World Resort. Annual Passholders will be getting the MagicBands soon.
There are no plans at this time for everyday guests / those not staying at a WDW Resort to get MagicBands and use FASTPass+. This could change in the future, but these guests will receive plastic cards/tickets.

I've seen a few other sources that say the same thing, including quoting Resorts Chairman Tom Staggs

 

[Disney_Princess83]

I'm confused what part isn't true. AP Holders don't have to be resort guests to get Magic Bands once it goes live. Currently it's still in testing and previous official Disney comments have said everyone will be getting Magic Bands and they'll be available for purchase too.

Actually, that's not true. Currently there are no plans to let non-resort guests have MagicBands:

http://www.doctordisney.com/2013/08...ation-on-disneys-magicbands-fastpass-mymagic/

The pertinent passage:



I've seen a few other sources that say the same thing, including quoting Resorts Chairman Tom Staggs

 

[AndreaA]

I'm confused what part isn't true. AP Holders don't have to be resort guests to get Magic Bands once it goes live. Currently it's still in testing and previous official Disney comments have said everyone will be getting Magic Bands and they'll be available for purchase too.

You said that everyone will eventually be able to get a MagicBand and according to various quotes and sources, that is not true. There are NO plans to sell or give the bands to people who are not AP holders or resort guests.

 

[RooRach0906]

Isnt part of the point of the Magic Bands is to have another reason/difference to get people to want to stay onsite??? That is what I got from everything I heard , read, and seen. I always saw that it would be available to resort guest. (I can see why they would include APH tho)

 

[AndreaA]

After doing some real searching, I was able to find one quote from Tom Staggs about regular day visitors being able to buy MagicBands:

Guests staying at Walt Disney World Resort hotels, and Annual Passholders will receive a band, as well as those guests who purchase a photography package. Guests who stay at non-Disney hotels will receive a ticket with features of touch to enter the park, touch to redeem FastPass+ and touch to pay. These guests can participate in My Disney Experience and purchase a MagicBand if they wish.

However, that quote was way back in early January and I have not found anything more recent except things that support my belief that they are not planning to give or sell MagicBands to people who are not AP holders or resort guests, unless they buy Photopass. It's possible that they've either backtracked on that plan or are not planning to roll it out for quite a long time.

 

[hannah'sdaddy]

After doing some real searching, I was able to find one quote from Tom Staggs about regular day visitors being able to buy MagicBands:



However, that quote was way back in early January and I have not found anything more recent except things that support my belief that they are not planning to give or sell MagicBands to people who are not AP holders or resort guests, unless they buy Photopass. It's possible that they've either backtracked on that plan or are not planning to roll it out for quite a long time.

I hope it will be opened up to a wider audience, because I usually stay on property but it is at Shades of Green. I am planning a trip in December and would be great to have the magicbands. I guess I'll keep watching the boards for the latest news and rumors until I leave on my trip.

 

[astephen2]

I personally don't think that they will be opened up, as very few of the features are currently available to non-resort guests. The only exception is FastPass - the other features are only currently available to resort guests.

 

[ArwenMarie]

I don't know about the bands vs. the cards etc...

Regardless, the more I read and think about this, I think that prebooking Fastpasses will not be available to anyone not staying at a Disney resort. Including annual pass holders (unless they are staying at a resort, which many do throughout the year).

The two conditions of the extensive testing that we have seen so far are...1) valid park admission 2) staying at a Disney resort. There has been zero testing for anyone else. I think there is a reason for that...They don't plan on offering it to anyone who doesn't meet those two conditions.

I do think that same-day Fastpasses might be available once you enter the park with your admission media, whatever it is, via the kiosks or the app. So technically, a non-Disney-resort guest will still be able to get FPs. But what will be left at that point especially at certain times of the year?....there's the real question. I also don't think they are going to hold any back for same-day/offsite guests.

No other scenario makes sense in my mind. The new perk for staying onsite, and it's a HUGE one, becomes the prebooking of FPs.

 

[EagleScout]

This perk will also then continue to overshadow the curtailing of emh that already occurred, and potentially pave the way for even further reductions

 

[Disney_Princess83]

Disney has confirmed FP+ will be available for AP Holders and there are rumours that in October, they will be doing an AP test (where they don't need to be staying on property)

The testing has only been for people staying at a WDW resort, probably more for is there are any issues. The Swan and Dolphin and the DTD Hilton have already confirmed Magic Bands will be available to their guests, although they do already offer their guests the onsite perks (EMH, Merchandise delivery ect)

I don't know about the bands vs. the cards etc...

Regardless, the more I read and think about this, I think that prebooking Fastpasses will not be available to anyone not staying at a Disney resort. Including annual pass holders (unless they are staying at a resort, which many do throughout the year).

The two conditions of the extensive testing that we have seen so far are...1) valid park admission 2) staying at a Disney resort. There has been zero testing for anyone else. I think there is a reason for that...They don't plan on offering it to anyone who doesn't meet those two conditions.

I do think that same-day Fastpasses might be available once you enter the park with your admission media, whatever it is, via the kiosks or the app. So technically, a non-Disney-resort guest will still be able to get FPs. But what will be left at that point especially at certain times of the year?....there's the real question. I also don't think they are going to hold any back for same-day/offsite guests.

No other scenario makes sense in my mind. The new perk for staying onsite, and it's a HUGE one, becomes the prebooking of FPs.

 

[ArwenMarie]

Disney has confirmed FP+ will be available for AP Holders and there are rumours that in October, they will be doing an AP test (where they don't need to be staying on property)

The testing has only been for people staying at a WDW resort, probably more for is there are any issues. The Swan and Dolphin and the DTD Hilton have already confirmed Magic Bands will be available to their guests, although they do already offer their guests the onsite perks (EMH, Merchandise delivery ect)

I guess even if it is true that AP-holders/offsiters-with-tickets can prebook at 60 days (and I hope it is!!!), the crux could end up being that onsite guests can prebook X number of days ahead plus their length of stay, which would still be a major perk and advantage, especially during the very busy weeks.

 

[SuperDan523]

FWIW, I'm an AP holder and MDE was allowing me to select FP+ for days that were long before my upcoming check-in at Pop. Looks like they're allowing AP holders at least, if not ticket holders in general, to book a certain number of days of FP+ reservations without a resort stay.

 

[doconeill]

After doing some real searching, I was able to find one quote from Tom Staggs about regular day visitors being able to buy MagicBands:



However, that quote was way back in early January and I have not found anything more recent except things that support my belief that they are not planning to give or sell MagicBands to people who are not AP holders or resort guests, unless they buy Photopass. It's possible that they've either backtracked on that plan or are not planning to roll it out for quite a long time.

I know of no public statements from Disney that they are NOT going to sell the bands to guests who would otherwise not get them, and a few that they will like the one you quoted. In the absence of a public statement contradicting the previous statement, I expect the previous statement is still in force. However, they are NOT TALKING about it right now because they are in the middle of testing and they are worried about that.

Anyone here should know that a phone CM saying something that they aren't directly involved with is quite often incorrect.

And I can't see Disney passing an opportunity to sell something else, especially if the guests want it. MagicBand? Sure, that's $20...and be sure to check out our Wall of MagicBand Bling to spice it up..."

I'm guessing on the $20. But previous reports did say that the replacement price of a MB would be $50 after one free replacement...figure that's to cover the cost of the first two...

 

[Planogirl]

If some of this comes to pass then we are so done with WDW. We stay offsite at times for several reasons and I see no reason to stop that. If Disney doesn't want us to buy their passes and so on then that will be fine. I refuse to pay often more for passes and food than onsite guests and not even be able to buy FP+.

That said, I'll wait and see what happens. I'm not writing off anything until I know a lot more.

 

[ParrotBill]

But you don't have to do the MagicBands... offsite you can still just get and use a ticket card as always.

The MagicBands is an obvious upsell. They'll cover the cost with the accessory sales. I am not thrilled with a band but I do like the convenience of admission, fastpass and door key in one. And making purchases with RFID is so easy and fast compared to the past.

 

[Ckmommy72]

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