Magic Bands 101

[jjskribs]

With 76 days till check-in, I just logged on this morning and clicked Personalize MagicBands like I do every morning and today it said I could customize! We check-in on Jan 3. It says I have 45 days to customize (till Dec 3).

The only color option for us right now is gray though Do I need to call Disney so they can fix that or do I need to wait a few days/weeks and the colors will show up?

I'm just so excited for this trip it's hard to wait! My little heart is going pitter-patter!

I'm checking in on January 5th and I can customize our bands but it also only shows gray as a choice. I am hoping that it is because we are not close enough yet.

 

[Scotch]

This isn't necessarily true. I was just able to customize bands for our 12/27 check in. We aren't within 60 days so I cannot do online check in, but all customization options (all 7 colors) were available to me.

Curiouser and curiouser!

Same experience here. Last night MDE allowed me to customize our bands and we're outside the 60 days period so we haven't checked in online yet. Based on the varied experiences, I assume Disney has some system in place that is not necessarily tied to check in date.

 

[jcarwash]

With 76 days till check-in, I just logged on this morning and clicked Personalize MagicBands like I do every morning and today it said I could customize! We check-in on Jan 3. It says I have 45 days to customize (till Dec 3).

The only color option for us right now is gray though Do I need to call Disney so they can fix that or do I need to wait a few days/weeks and the colors will show up?

I'm checking in on January 5th and I can customize our bands but it also only shows gray as a choice. I am hoping that it is because we are not close enough yet.

For whatever reason, MDEx has allowed me into the customize MagicBand area for my February trip since the day I reserved. But I too can only see gray as a color choice. Curious to hear if/when the color choices show up for you folks, or if you decide to call about it.

 

[tlseege]

color choices just showed up today for my Jan 26-30th trip!

 

[DreamSweetsLove]

For whatever reason, MDEx has allowed me into the customize MagicBand area for my February trip since the day I reserved. But I too can only see gray as a color choice. Curious to hear if/when the color choices show up for you folks, or if you decide to call about it.

It was the same for me too (for Jan. 3rd check in) but the other colors showed up 74 days out from our trip. Literally right now, a few hours ago it was only showing grey.

 

[MouseMomx2]

color choices just showed up today for my Jan 26-30th trip!

Interesting. We have a split stay over the holidays. Our 12/27 band order is there, as is our 1/1 order. Our 1/9 order is not there yet.

 

[mjtatman]

where are you going to check this? I think I'm logged in correctly because it shows all of my reservations and family in the tabs, but I'm not finding anything for Magic Bands or FastPass+. We are going on 01/18...so maybe I'm not close enough yet???

When I click on "My Disney Experience" these are my choices in my drop down window...
PLAN AND MANAGE
My Itinerary
My Reservations
FastPass+
Disney PhotoPass

MY ACCOUNT
My Profile
My Family & Friends
My Wish List
MagicBands and Cards
Annual Passholders

 

[MouseMomx2]

where are you going to check this? I think I'm logged in correctly because it shows all of my reservations and family in the tabs, but I'm not finding anything for Magic Bands or FastPass+. We are going on 01/18...so maybe I'm not close enough yet???

When I click on "My Disney Experience" these are my choices in my drop down window...
PLAN AND MANAGE
My Itinerary
My Reservations
FastPass+
Disney PhotoPass

MY ACCOUNT
My Profile
My Family & Friends
My Wish List
MagicBands and Cards
Annual Passholders

Try clicking on Magic Bands and Cards. The orders usually show at the top of that page. Another option is to click on My Disney Experience (rather than choose from the drop down menu). When the page loads there are links on the right. One says either Manage Magic Bands or Personalize Magic Bands. It will say Manage until you are able to customize, at which point it will change to Personalize.

 

[jcarwash]

It was the same for me too (for Jan. 3rd check in) but the other colors showed up 74 days out from our trip. Literally right now, a few hours ago it was only showing grey.

Cool! Thanks for the report!

 

[mjtatman]

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

Did anyone answer this yet? I'm scouring the feed...but it's sooooo big
We are staying the same weekend and I'm wondering when i should start worrying about getting it all down correctly! I finally mastered dining reservations and the old fast passes....added the cruise, so I'm learning that! And now MagicBands! Glad I'm not the only confused one

 

[MouseMomx2]

Did anyone answer this yet? I'm scouring the feed...but it's sooooo big
We are staying the same weekend and I'm wondering when i should start worrying about getting it all down correctly! I finally mastered dining reservations and the old fast passes....added the cruise, so I'm learning that! And now MagicBands! Glad I'm not the only confused one

I believe that they have only opened the system through 1/5. They usually open it through the end of a month, but with the busy end-of-year holiday period it seems that when they opened December they exteded it into January a bit.

Eventually the system will open 60 days before check in, so that is when you should start looking. If you do not have access at that point don't worry. For October, November and December, guests began getting access about 6 weeks before the first of the month. So, for October check ins, guests got access in mid to late August...for November it was mid to late September and for December it was mid to late October. Those that were already within their 60 day window got immediate access. Those that had check ins in that month but were not yet within 60 days got access at the 60 day mark. If things progress as they have, guests with check ins on or after 1/6 should get access in mid to late November.

 

[mitchwebb]

Got home last night and was able to customize all three sets of bands. Checking in 12/26. Decided to pick different colors for each set. Not sure way I need three seems redundant.

 

[MouseMomx2]

Got home last night and was able to customize all three sets of bands. Checking in 12/26. Decided to pick different colors for each set. Not sure way I need three seems redundant.

It is, and you won't need all of them. Each of the bands will work for your entire trip. We, too, choose different colors each time. It's nice to have wardrobe-matching options.

Disney is suggesting that you bring all bands with you during the testing phase, just in case there is an issue.

 

[kimara]

We are checking in Jan. 22nd and we just got to customize our bands
Now, how many times will I change it before they mail it to us? It's just so hard to choose.

 

[OnlyDisney]

We check-in Jan 3 and I was able to pick our colors today - Goodby gray! I'm having such a hard time deciding on colors

Me - Green or Pink
DH - Green
DS - Green
DD - Pink

I'm not sure if I should go with green or choose pink to match my daughter (then the colors would also be even)

 

[SarahD]

So how do I plan a vacation for an extended family of 15 when only some of us are staying on property? Some on property, some off, some who live locally. I need to book fast passes ahead of time for eight of us and the others have to try to get fast passes for those time frames when we're at the park?!

 

[wdwmom0f3]

We check-in Jan 3 and I was able to pick our colors today - Goodby gray! I'm having such a hard time deciding on colors

Me - Green or Pink
DH - Green
DS - Green
DD - Pink

I'm not sure if I should go with green or choose pink to match my daughter (then the colors would also be even)

You sound like me! We had a hard time deciding on the colors too but since we got some for our arrival day at a different resort I got all of the colors except gray. I was surprised how much I loved the yellow and orange ones. Our main bands are pink, green, red & blue. Or first set are pink, green, yellow and orange.

 

[Minniekins]

So how do I plan a vacation for an extended family of 15 when only some of us are staying on property? Some on property, some off, some who live locally. I need to book fast passes ahead of time for eight of us and the others have to try to get fast passes for those time frames when we're at the park?!

Well, those staying off site can't get FP+ yet. And, sorry, I don't see anyway that it would work out that you choose FP+ times now when you book and then hope the FP- times match up. I don't think there's anyway to know when the FP- machine will spit out the paper FP you need, and that'd be a lot of waiting around to see. And they could be out by the time you get there for big ticket rides. Pretty much stinks!

 

[sunnnshin]

So how do I plan a vacation for an extended family of 15 when only some of us are staying on property? Some on property, some off, some who live locally. I need to book fast passes ahead of time for eight of us and the others have to try to get fast passes for those time frames when we're at the park?!

This is one of those things Disney has NOT thought through about this whole process. Of course, you do not have to book your fast passes ahead of time - you can book them day of. But, since they are planning on doing away with the room keys you may not be able to use the regular fast pass process and still have to use the fast pass plus. Which means, while the others are getting their regular fast passes you will be staring at your phone going through the tedious process of trying to set up matching fast pass plus for the same time. Of course, you can always try to track down a cast member with an Ipad to do that for you.

Keep in mind, that park hopping is discouraged in the new system. You can only have 3 fast passes per day, and only in one park. And, when you choose a fast pass, you still have to choose 3 whether you want them or not. So, once you make one, the next time in the same park you have to "change the time or experience" of an existing pass.

My recommendation is to provide feedback early and often to guest services. I know I will. I am not impressed with the rollout of the system, the limitations, and the TEDIOUSLY slow and cumbersome website.

 

[Wood Nymph]

Resort guests are being issued KTTW cards which they can use to pull traditional fast passes. That rumor about taking it away from resort guests while allowing off site guests to pull fast passes not only is not true, but it doesn't even make sense.