2 questions on Magic Bands

[MrsPete]

We're about to make our first trip with Magic Bands, and I have a couple questions:

1. This may be a dumb question, but do people LIKE Magic Bands? I mean, we read questions about their use frequently, but I've not read anything about people saying, "Oh, wow, these things are great!" So, do people like them, or just use them because they're "a thing"?

2. How far in advance can I order them? I read about minimum ordering-ahead time, but I'm not a last minute type of girl. So how soon CAN I do order?

Thanks, All.

 

[DIS_MIKE]

I would say Magicbands have a positive vibe by most people and I personally love them as they can do it all for you. They also sell well and we know this because of how many you can buy in the gift shops with your favorite character. Many are hoping Disney cruise line finally brings a magic band experience to their new ships.

Disney will let you know how many days you have to choose your Magicbands. I’ve booked 2 weeks out and still gotten mine.

 

[cjlong88]

1. I love using the magic band. I say get them. Having everything on your wrist is a huge convenience - tickets, FP's, a way to pay (if you are staying on property), room key (again, staying on property only), etc. I've done the card they give you at the ticket office before, and I prefer the magic band.

2. You can order them now on the Shop Disney website. Once you buy your tickets you can link them on the Disney website, super easy. If you are staying on property, I believe the magic bands are complimentary and will be shipped to you before your trip - you can select from the standard solid colors they offer for free OR you can upgrade them to character / park themed designs for a bit extra.

 

[Skippyboo]

I love the magic band because it’s so convenient. It’s your park ticket, room key and you can charge stuff to it. It’s right on your wrist. You can order your magic band as soon as you see your reservation in the MDE. The solid color ones are free. They started selling theme ones for 10 to 15 bucks but the availability varies. It’s a great deal because the are much more expensive in the parks.

 

[Clockwork]

I don’t like them for 2 reasons, 1 I have to take along additional i.d. 2 I have to bring my Disney debit or credit card with me to get the discount at restaurants and stores, other than that they are great.

 

[DIS_MIKE]

I don’t like them for 2 reasons, 1 I have to take along additional i.d. 2 I have to bring my Disney debit or credit card with me to get the discount at restaurants and stores, other than that they are great.

Wouldn't you still need those things if you had your KTTW?

 

[Clockwork]

Wouldn't you still need those things if you had your KTTW?

What’s KTTW, I’m thinking keys to the world, but I want to make sure before I respond.

 

[DIS_MIKE]

What’s KTTW, I’m thinking keys to the world, but I want to make sure before I respond.

Yup...your key to the world card.

 

[SillySallySews]

I don’t like “stuff” or clutter, and once the trip is over that’s exactly what MBs are. For me the best part about them is how they function as your room key. When you come back to the room with sleeping children it is so nice to be able to simply swipe your wrist at the door. No digging through a bag or having to reach in a pocket for your wallet.

Check your MDE account to see about customizing MBs. The system is pretty glitchy right now, so if your trip isn’t for a while I might actually hold off on ordering them to see if they can get some of those kinks worked out.

 

[MrsPete]

I would say Magicbands have a positive vibe by most people and I personally love them as they can do it all for you.

Good. Judging from the boards, I wasn't sure. I don't hear people saying, "I love these things!"

2. You can order them now on the Shop Disney website. Once you buy your tickets you can link them on the Disney website, super easy. If you are staying on property, I believe the magic bands are complimentary and will be shipped to you before your trip - you can select from the standard solid colors they offer for free OR you can upgrade them to character / park themed designs for a bit extra.

Yeah, yeah, got all that ... but my question is, how soon can I order them?

I love the magic band because it’s so convenient.

Good! I'm getting the same answer from multiple people. Gotta like that.

I don’t like them for 2 reasons, 1 I have to take along additional i.d. 2 I have to bring my Disney debit or credit card with me to get the discount at restaurants and stores, other than that they are great.

Wait ... why do you need a second ID? I don't have a Disney credit card, but I expected I'd need to carry a credit card in addition to the Magic Band.

Wouldn't you still need those things if you had your KTTW?

Seems logical.

I don’t like “stuff” or clutter, and once the trip is over that’s exactly what MBs are.

I understand; I'd throw away tomorrow's newspaper if I could get my hands on it today.
However, I don't mind small things that I use on vacation only. Rather, I have a box on the top shelf of my closet where I store "vacation only" items. What's in it? Those flamingo clips that hold your towel to your pool chair, around-the-neck passport holder, waterproof pouch for keeping up with your phone at the beach, travel-sized toiletries. Oh, and water shoes -- I have such limited shoe space, and I never use these except for vacations, so they're up in the vacation box. When I buy something for an upcoming trip, I throw it into this box. Yes, MBs kicking around the house would irritate me ... but vacation things packaged together in a box, I like.

Check your MDE account to see about customizing MBs. The system is pretty glitchy right now, so if your trip isn’t for a while I might actually hold off on ordering them to see if they can get some of those kinks worked out.

Yup, already did read about customizing ... but it discusses only the idea that you can do it last-minute. Good advice on "glitchy".

Thanks to all who answered. I feel sure of my first question, but I'm still hoping for the answer to the second question: When can I order the Magic Bands? I'm perfectly clear on the last-minute ordering ... but I'm not a last-minute girl; I'd like to order them as soon as it's acceptable. Thanks again to All!

 

[Clockwork]

You have to carry I.D. for adult beverages and other things like if they want credit card verification.

 

[Clockwork]

Yup...your key to the world card.

Ok, I don’t like the Magic Band because for me the only thing it replaces is a room key. I still have to carry my card with me for discount purposes. So basically it’s a door opener, which I don’t even need anymore because you can unlock your room with your cell phone now.

 

[Rossie3]

They make getting into the park and the room easy. Also it is much easier to scan the band when you are taking photopass photos, scanning on ride photos, etc than getting out my wallet to find my card to scan. You can charge to the room if you so like. I will no longer do this thanks to the new CC policies. Also I buy and collect the limited edition bands because of the special effects and sounds they do at gate entry/FP+ touchpoints/on ride photopass scanners.

 

[Master Fastpasser]

1. Personally I like magic bands. Although with wearing a fitbit it can be annoying having 2 things on the same wrist or one thing on each wrist so I got a puck holder that slides onto my fitbit band and used it for the first time a couple weeks ago. It was great.

2. If staying onsite you should be selecting your magic bands by 31 days out.

 

[Gehrig1B]

When can I order the Magic Bands?

You can order right now. A Magic Band can be purchased at any time.

Once you have tickets and a My Disney Experience account you will link it to the Magic Band.

If you purchase a room or package through Disney the Magic Bands are free and can be ordered through Disney immediately after securing your resort through the website.

 

[Akck]

As mentioned, you can place an order right now. If all bands are the free ones, I assume your order will not process until closer to your stay, giving you a chance to change your order. Once you order a special band and succeed through the payment process, they ship them (assuming you have a U.S. address), in about a week.

At least that’s how it worked for us. We originally picked free bands and our order sat there for a couple of weeks. Then a special band became available, was selected and the purchase completed, we received them in under 2 weeks.

 

[Wood Nymph]

If you have a Disney resort reservation then the option to customize your MagicBand will be listed in the drop down menu in your account. When you open that up it will tell you exactly how many days you have to customize your band. The number is right there in a large font. The default for customization is 31 days. That is when Disney will start shipping bands to people who have customized the free bands.

MagicBands have three important functions:
1. they unlock your resort door. I think you can still ask for a key card, if you like. You can also unlock your resort room door by using the MDE app on your smartphone.
2. they act as your ticket to get you into the parks - although you can ask for a hard ticket to use instead
3. you can use your MagicBand to charge your purchases to your reservation. It is recommended that you bring a second form of payment, such as a credit card, Disney gift card, debit card or cash, in case there is some sort of problem when trying to charge to your room. Disney's systems are frequently messed up, and things that should work don't always do that.

A handy feature of MagicBands is that you can go to the resort pool with the MagicBands and leave your valuables back in your room. The band is waterproof. They are also very lightweight and most people don't mind wearing them at all.

 

[tzeitel]

I really like the bands, I carry my phone which I keep in a wallet-style case so I also have my ID and a cc or cash with me anyway. It is just nice to not have to worry about taking a card out every time you have to use a FP or pay for anything etc.
You can order them at any time after you book. I booked for May of next year and can order them already.

Ok, I don’t like the Magic Band because for me the only thing it replaces is a room key. I still have to carry my card with me for discount purposes. So basically it’s a door opener, which I don’t even need anymore because you can unlock your room with your cell phone now.

That doesn't seem to be a real reason to dislike them - you might not care for them but you don't HAVE to get a MB. The only real reason I could imagine for someone to actually dislike the MB is if it was the only way to open your door or charge back to the room, or the only way to have your ticket and you have an issue with the actual band (for example - your wrist gets sweaty or you just don't like to wear it) or you fear there could be security issues using them.

If you have to carry an ID or a specific card for a discount it does no matter if you have a MB or a KTTW.

 

[stewart715]

Magic Bands are a wrist band that:

• Can be disney themed
• Is your room key
• Is your park ticket
• Is your FP+ ticket
• Is your credit card
• Makes Memory Maker lightning fast to use
• Adds personalization to rides
• Helps Disney understand guest flow to better our experience
• Is waterproof that you can swim with
• Is immediately available all day

What’s not to like? It’s not meant to replace your wallet. It’s meant to take care of 9/10 use cases (listed above) Should note they are also available to wear as a lanyard instead of a wrist band.

Don’t want the ‘clutter’ at the end of your trip? Deactivate it and then: Throw. It. Away.

 

[stewart715]

I don’t like them for 2 reasons, 1 I have to take along additional i.d. 2 I have to bring my Disney debit or credit card with me to get the discount at restaurants and stores, other than that they are great.

I don’t think this is a reason to not like them because it solves so much more than this and this would be a problem even if magic bands went away.

But, I do think affiliations should simply be tied to the band when being used (TIW, AP discount, DVC discount, etc)