2018 MBs and Photo Pass

[Surgie2]

I have read the FAQs but I may have missed this information. We have MBs from 2018 and are returning Thanksgiving week (11 people) Some of the MBs would need to be reassigned to other family members as my husband and I both have several.

I know if the MB doesn't work on the ride photos, we will still get the photos with bluetooth on in the MDE app. But more important is being able to get Photo Pass pics. I plan to get the bands checked at customer service at Disney Springs in advance of our park days (if that's something they will do?) If the batteries are still good will they work with Photo Pass? If not, will they work with bluetooth and MDE app.

 

[The Iron Giant]

I don’t think you can reassign magic bands.

 

[SkyGuy]

You can’t reassign MBs. MBs should still work at touchpoints and to open rooms, but most likely will not work for photos. You’ll need to have the Bluetooth on your phone in order to get the pics. Some of the rides still have the touch points that you can tap the MB to get the pic, and it will work for that, but you’ll need to stand and wait for your pic to appear, but not all the rides have those and they aren’t always working.

 

[Surgie2]

Ok thanks for that information.

 

[1lilspark]

You can’t reassign bands
You should still be able to tap bands to use as key cards, enter parks/lightning lanes, pay, for photopass photography

Long range like ride photos or interactive queues won’t work

 

[CarolynFH]

Some of the MBs would need to be reassigned to other family members

If you don’t want to buy MBs for those family members (I know, they’re expensive!), they can get Key to the World cards that will work as their tickets as well as to open Disney resort room doors, charge purchases to the room, etc., just like the MBs would. But those cards would not link ride photos unless used to tap the touch points at the end of the rides that have them.

 

[Surgie]

Since we are not staying onsite we don’t need room key and charge to the room function. I think we adults will get new MBs for photos and the kids can keep theirs from 2018.

 

[jimim]

They will still work for in and out of parks like others have said.

Technically bands can be reassigned but a cast member has to do it.

I had the first Halloween even one switched to my daughter by a cast member cause she wanted it once she was older and actually noticed I had it. I asked and they actually did it for me. But I know it’s not a regular thing to do.

And yea it was assigned to me. I was using it for prob 2 years.

 

[soniam]

I don't think that they have anywhere to check if the batteries are still good or not. It's basically trial and error on rides with photos.

 

[Surgie]

Ok well if technically magic bands can be reassigned by a cast member, are the employees at Disney Springs customer service considered cast members?

 

[jimim]

Ok well if technically magic bands can be reassigned by a cast member, are the employees at Disney Springs customer service considered cast members?

No idea. Akl front desk did mine for my daughter. Again I just got lucky I’m pretty sure.

 

[subtchr]

Ok well if technically magic bands can be reassigned by a cast member, are the employees at Disney Springs customer service considered cast members?

Yes, but it seems inconsistent which cast members are able (and more importantly willing) to reassign bands. Since the policy is that it can't be done, you'd have to find one willing to make the exception to the rule. Transferring between family members is likely fine, but I wouldn't count on it.

But to clarify another point, your old MagicBands WILL work to scan with Photopass photographers. Touchpoint scanning of any kind, including a handheld scanner like the photographers have, will work indefinitely for any MagicBand, because no internal battery is required.

It's only the automatic, long range functions, namely ride photos and effects, that require enough battery to allow the function to operate. And as you mentioned, you can overcome that by using your phone, with Bluetooth specifically enabled for MDE. The phone must not be in low power mode.