Magic Bands 101

[MouseMomx2]

I am getting ready to make our ADR's, which I understand will link to our MDE account. There are only three of us on my account, but I am making ADR's for two families, a total of 5. Will this be a problem?

Not at all. After you make the ADRs you can modify each one to include the members of your party. If you are linked to the other travellers' MDE account(s) they will show up in the drop down menu. If you are not linked you can just leave those spots unassigned. You do not need to modify your ADRs, it is just an option.

 

[twinmom1107]

I'm doing a split stay - POFQ (room only) and then Poly with dining. We were hoping to check out at POFQ and then drive over to CM Cafe for breakfast before heading to poly to check in later in the day. Is that possible with the magic bands?

 

[ougrad86]

Not at all. After you make the ADRs you can modify each one to include the members of your party. If you are linked to the other travellers' MDE account(s) they will show up in the drop down menu. If you are not linked you can just leave those spots unassigned. You do not need to modify your ADRs, it is just an option.

Thanks! My friend is a little nervous about all this, and has not yet sent up her MDE. We have some time though.

 

[MouseMomx2]

I'm doing a split stay - POFQ (room only) and then Poly with dining. We were hoping to check out at POFQ and then drive over to CM Cafe for breakfast before heading to poly to check in later in the day. Is that possible with the magic bands?

Sure.

 

[antree]

My Aunt is still having problems and they check in on Nov 3rd. They have 2 rooms. 1- one bedroom and 1- two bedroom. The 2 bedroom received their bands for half their stay, when the 2nd half popped up to personlaize they was a person missing from the order and it was the wrong reservation number.

I called Tech today for them, because I have to do it all and they told me that the first set of bands will be good for the whole week.

Can someone verify this. I didn't bother to get the 2nd week fixed with the bands that had the wrong reservation number, only because they told me the bands can be used the whole time they are there. Is this true?

My other Aunt in the one bedroom, can not get the magic bands to appear for them. Both the one bedroom and the 2 bedroom is under her acct and the one bedroom will not sure up for the magic bands, even after she received the invite.

I was on the phone 1 hr and 15 mins trying to fix it. They finally said, that the one bedroom reservation is not turned on and that they will turn it on to receive the bands. I told them "time will tell. " I don't believe them because this is our 3 call to them about the one bedroom.

My DD is on that one bedroom. She does have a band that starts at BWV on the 1st, So if the one bedroom never gets the bands. Will my DD band be able used all week, even after she moves to OKW?

TIA.

And I thought making Dining plans was hard.

 

[MouseMomx2]

My Aunt is still having problems and they check in on Nov 3rd. They have 2 rooms. 1- one bedroom and 1- two bedroom. The 2 bedroom received their bands for half their stay, when the 2nd half popped up to personlaize they was a person missing from the order and it was the wrong reservation number.

I called Tech today for them, because I have to do it all and they told me that the first set of bands will be good for the whole week.

Can someone verify this. I didn't bother to get the 2nd week fixed with the bands that had the wrong reservation number, only because they told me the bands can be used the whole time they are there. Is this true?

Yes. The bands are not tied to a reservation. They are tied to a profile on MDE. Anything linked to that profile (for this trip or any future trips) will be accessible by the band linked to it. They are sending out one band per person per reservation right now, but you really only need one.

My other Aunt in the one bedroom, can not get the magic bands to appear for them. Both the one bedroom and the 2 bedroom is under her acct and the one bedroom will not sure up for the magic bands, even after she received the invite.

Have her go in and do on line check in or do it again. That has been working for many people. If that doesn't work she can try giving DVC a call to make sure the right people are associated with the reservation. If that fails have her call IT at (407) 939-7765 (press #2).

I was on the phone 1 hr and 15 mins trying to fix it. They finally said, that the one bedroom reservation is not turned on and that they will turn it on to receive the bands. I told them "time will tell. " I don't believe them because this is our 3 call to them about the one bedroom.

If your aunt is listed on both the 1BR and 2BR reservations it will cause problems in the system. Have her make sure only the people staying in each villa are listed on the respective reservations.

My DD is on that one bedroom. She does have a band that starts at BWV on the 1st, So if the one bedroom never gets the bands. Will my DD band be able used all week, even after she moves to OKW?

Yes it will.

TIA.

And I thought making Dining plans was hard.

Hope that helps.

 

[epcotitis]

How soon should we get FP+ and MB links for a MLK weekend stay?

 

[antree]

Hope that helps.

Thank You for verifying the one band will work all week.

I spoke with IT, they spoke with DVC and DVC said they will fix it. 3 hrs later I get a call from DVC. Very long story short, my Aunts reservation in the one bedroom had no information attached to it, just her name. So I give them her address and email. They say reboot and clear all cookies and the bands will show.

NOPE, No Go! Still no bands for the one bedroom.

Yes, this Aunt is only on the one bedroom, her name is not on the 2 bedroom.

I am going to tell her now to check in and see what happens, if it still don't work they are going to give up and hope they can at least get the standard ones at Disney.
I am tired of being on hold and I am sure she is tired of it too, she has called them for the last 3 days and have gotten no where with this. It is so frustrating!

Thanks for your help

 

[eangel12]

We are planning a summer 2014 trip with annual passes and staying off site. Can we take advantage of FP+ with our annual passes?! I'm so confused!!!!

 

[MouseMomx2]

We are planning a summer 2014 trip with annual passes and staying off site. Can we take advantage of FP+ with our annual passes?! I'm so confused!!!!

Right now that is not possible but by the time you go it should be an option. They are doing tests now on FP+ for off-site guests but have not said when it will be fully available.

 

[TXmomX2]

My magic bands have been available to customize for about 2 weeks now. I just went online and paid off our trip. Then I went to finish customizing our bands and they are GONE! I can still my mom and dad's bands (their reservation is linked to ours). Why aren't my bands showing up? Has anyone else had this happen?

 

[omurice]

I never thought of it until my DD asked. How do we remember what rides we choose, on what days and times, when using the FP+? Do I have to carry a print out of everything? How does this work?
TIA

This is what I ran into in Sept. when I was part of the test. You can use the My Disney Experience (MDE) app on a smartphone (android or iphone), but if no smartphone, there are MyMagic+ kiosks set up in the parks already. There are not many of these kiosks yet, but a couple are at the front of each park in Guest Relations (like City Hall in MK), and some are scattered around the parks. For example, in Epcot they have 3 outdoor kiosks around the round, blue information stand in the center of FutureWorld, not far from the fountain; also some kiosks are located by "old time" FastPass machines (not all just some, for example Animal Kingdom had one in Kali River FP).
When testing is over and paper FP goes away, my guess is these MyMagic+ kiosks will be all over the place, possibly in many former FP distribution areas, since that space would not be used for paper FP anymore. Now it takes more seconds to use a touch-screen kiosk than to use a paper FP machine, and there are lines with those, so I hope they create enough of the MM+ kiosks...

You might be saying "What is a MyMagic+ kiosk"? The MM+ kiosks are about 3.5 feet tall, really are just a touch-screen iPad device on a stand, with a Mickey head RFID reader to read your MagicBand. They don't stand out much now but I presume/hope these will be marked out and easier to spot in the future. Some are very plain and functional, and some will be themed to the area they are in. Like outside the Great Movie Ride or Big Thunder, a metal and plastic box will look wrong, hopefully they will make it blend in a little (they already do this with the MB readers -- check out the FP+ entrance queues to these attractions, even the MagicBand readers are themed which is very nice).

So I think smart phones will not be required, you'll be able to check times at these MM+ kiosks, and I hope these will be easy to find and plentiful enough in the parks. Despite all that, I feel that having a smartphone with you in the parks will be a huge advantage! You can make changes to your FP+ times without finding a kiosk, and even set alarms to buzz and remind of upcoming times.

PS -- The resort Concierges and Guest Relations people might be able to print out FP+ lists for the day, since they can print out dining plans, if you ask nicely I might ask for that next time I'm there... just to be able to keep the smartphone swithced off as much as possible!

 

[mitchwebb]

We are 79 days out and still not sure if we are going to have to get 3 sets of MB.

POR 1 night package with 7 day hoppers
GFV 3 night on points
BWV 4 night on Points

I really am hoping we can just get one set of bands to use for all three resorts.

There are five of us, 15 bands would need their own suitcase

 

[stickeymouse]

Is there any risks to creating online profiles for guests after they have already been assigned FP+ and ADR times? I want to create a profile for my parents so they can check in early, and I'm afraid doing so will wipe clean their FP+ and dining reservations. I read that someone had problems checking in, due to some of their party's (in a separate room) not having an MDE account.

 

[Stini228]

Does anyone know what happens when you add someone at check in? We received our bands already, so Im not sure calling and adding them to our reservation would be helpful, since I doubt they would ship an additional band separately? Would they get a generic band at check in?

 

[caroluau]

We are 10 days away from our trip with Magic Bands ready to go. I did online check in and the confirmation showed that DH's magic band had no room key access or charging privileges but DD has room key access! I have both. How do I get his MB to have both, too? I tried to see if I could change his settings but can't online. Should I call before we go or just wait until we get there? I don't want to take away from precious park time to fix this. Thanks for any advice.

 

[MouseMomx2]

We are 10 days away from our trip with Magic Bands ready to go. I did online check in and the confirmation showed that DH's magic band had no room key access or charging privileges but DD has room key access! I have both. How do I get his MB to have both, too? I tried to see if I could change his settings but can't online. Should I call before we go or just wait until we get there? I don't want to take away from precious park time to fix this. Thanks for any advice.

You need to call Disney to make sure he is listed on the reservation. If he is, and everything is set up correctly otherwise, you will need to speak to the IT department.

 

[PrincessPaczki]

Hi. we received our magicbands! I am so excited. Silly question, can you wear them through the metal detector at the airport? Do you think it will mess them up?

 

[caroluau]

You need to call Disney to make sure he is listed on the reservation. If he is, and everything is set up correctly otherwise, you will need to speak to the IT department.

Thank you, I just talked to IT because the reservation is under my husband's name! They said it looks like he is linked and should have access. IT attributed it to a glitch on the confirmation page and not to pay attention to it.

 

[jcarwash]

Silly question, can you wear them through the metal detector at the airport? Do you think it will mess them up?

I think the answer is it should be removed like anything else when they say to empty your pockets, etc. -- a watch, wallet, keys, cell phone, anything like that. I wear a watch but I remove it going through airport security.