Annual Pass - magic band question

[Fishteacher]

Hi, I have a question regarding how I receive a magicband. Here is the basic idea...
We will be staying onsite in October. We currently have a code for a pre purchased annual pass however, we will not be activating the annual pass until we are at the park on the first day of our trip.

Will we still be able to customize and receive our magicbands BEFORE we arrive if the annual passes are not yet activated? If not, will we be given a plastic credit card like annual pass again or a gray magic band from guest services at the front of the park.

If we cannot customize our bands, will we be able to customize ones for a trip in the future once we have activated the annual pass?

My girls are really hoping they get to pick their color so I am hoping we can customize them before we go! Thank you in advance for any info

 

[rangebob]

I know you can't customize them before they are active. After the first visit you will see them on the mickey program to customize them. I'm really not sure what they give you when you actually activate them at any ticket window. I would presume they would give you one of the plastic RFID tickets as normal day guests can't purchase the Mickeyband at the ticket window but they can get them after they are in the park.

 

[Raenstoirm]

You are going to get 2 each. 1 for the room and 1 for the AP. The room one you will be able to customize online. The AP one won't be viable till you activate the AP.

 

[GoofyMB]

As mentioned you will be able to customize the one for your resort stay and receive that prior to your October trip. It will come in an incredibles box. Once you activate your AP (you will get the plastic card) you can then log on to MDE and customize the AP Magic Band. They will ship that to you and it will come in a blue Passholder box along with the Annual Pass slider and discount card. Once you receive this they can both be used interchangeably on future trips. If your next trip you are onsite as well you would be able to customize a third band at that time. I currently have all the colors except pink and grey and can wear whichever one I want on a given day.

 

[Fishteacher]

Thank you all very much for the info. We will look forward to the room bands!

 

[DisneyWisher]

Definitely bring the RFID AP card with you to the parks. You'll only need your MB to get in once activated but you still need the RFID card to get discounts, until you receive the discount card. 10% off merchandise at most stores and a few select restaurants.

 

[Robo]

1. Definitely bring the RFID AP card with you to the parks.

2. You'll only need your MB to get in once activated

3. but you still need the RFID card to get discounts,

4. until you receive the discount card. 10% off merchandise at most stores and a few select restaurants.

1. Yes.
2. Yes.
3. Yes.
4. This is correct, but you can ALSO still use the original AP card for that purpose, as well.

So, by extension... a guest with just a valid AP card does not even need a MagicBand at all, but can do everything from park entry to AP discounts using just the AP card, itself (talk about "magic!")

 

[TDC Nala]

You can even use the AP card to open your resort room door...

 

[Robo]

You can even use the AP card to open your resort room door...

Say, now...

This "little flat card" thing just might be the answer to having to wear those
bulky, sweaty wristbands.

And, a parent could keep all the cards together so the kids don't lose them.

MagiCards!

 

[ParrotBill]

Say, now...

This "little flat card" thing just might be the answer to having to wear those
bulky, sweaty wristbands.

And, a parent could keep all the cards together so the kids don't lose them.

MagiCards!

I love this. How innovative!

 

[jcvalenti]

Not to threadjack, but we have a two week trip coming up in ten days (10 Days !). Because we are going back next summer, we bought Annual Passes to be picked up at will-call.

We were told there we would not get any Magic Bands when we pick up our annual passes at the will call window, and that all they can do is ship them to you once you first activate your Annual Pass. As in ship them to our house, 1500 miles away, so they will be no use to us for our trip this year.

Anyone know if this is correct ? Is there any way to get magic bands once we get down there ? I've asked many sources over the past couple months and keep getting different answers.

Maybe it's a drop in the bucket, but our large group having just spent $11,000 on Annual Passes, the idea of having to pay out of pocket for magic bands to be used on this trip is a little infuriating. Seems like they should have thought this out a little better.

 

[illinidp]

This is correct unless you stay on property. You cannot get a MB for your AP until it is activated and the clock on it starts. I have no idea why you can't just get one when you activate your AP like people that buy one can, but you can't. If you want one for the first trip you have to stay on property or buy one.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

As noted, yes, it is correct that the AP band will be shipped to you. The only way you can pick up bands without cost at WDW is if you are staying on property.

Try Guest Services. Ask them if you can get your AP bands right there.

 

[Robo]

Seems like they should have thought this out a little better.

I think every WDW executive involved in "MyMagic+" needs to have this tattooed to his/her forearm.

It might have saved them between one and two BILLION DOLLARS!

 

[EPCOTatNight]

Not to threadjack, but we have a two week trip coming up in ten days (10 Days !). Because we are going back next summer, we bought Annual Passes to be picked up at will-call.

We were told there we would not get any Magic Bands when we pick up our annual passes at the will call window, and that all they can do is ship them to you once you first activate your Annual Pass. As in ship them to our house, 1500 miles away, so they will be no use to us for our trip this year.

Anyone know if this is correct ? Is there any way to get magic bands once we get down there ? I've asked many sources over the past couple months and keep getting different answers.

Maybe it's a drop in the bucket, but our large group having just spent $11,000 on Annual Passes, the idea of having to pay out of pocket for magic bands to be used on this trip is a little infuriating. Seems like they should have thought this out a little better.

Are you staying on property? If so, your AP can be linked to your magic band from your resort.

 

[jcvalenti]

Try Guest Services. Ask them if you can get your AP bands right there.

This seems to be the prevailing suggestion. Hopefully it will work.

We are not staying on property.

It just seems as if the whole Magic Band distribution system is somewhat confusing. I've read reports of some people getting two or three magic bands shipped for the same trip, while a group like ours (planning on spending 24 to 30 days in the parks over the next calendar year) is basically told to bug off.

For the life of me, I can't figure out why they don't have a voucher system to redeem for AP Magic Bands at some location (Guest Services) for same day arrivals or walkup AP purchases. It seems obvious.

 

[LaurenT]

This seems to be the prevailing suggestion. Hopefully it will work.

We are not staying on property.

It just seems as if the whole Magic Band distribution system is somewhat confusing. I've read reports of some people getting two or three magic bands shipped for the same trip, while a group like ours (planning on spending 24 to 30 days in the parks over the next calendar year) is basically told to bug off.

For the life of me, I can't figure out why they don't have a voucher system to redeem for AP Magic Bands at some location (Guest Services) for same day arrivals or walkup AP purchases. It seems obvious.

I have to agree. I'm AP and DVC and was in Disney last August - onsite and February - offsite. This is the first time we will be able to use MB and the first time we can book our FP's in advance. It really made me feel like the ugly stepsister even though I spend a huge percentage of my discretionary income with their company.

And now we have an embarrassment of riches! We have multiple A&E FPs, multiple 7DMT FP's because we're staying onsite for two weeks with APs, so were able to make the ressies before 98% of other guests became eligible. I now have two MBs, getting another one when I activate the new AP, DD has three and DH has one....

 

[Travellerman]

Hope you don't mind me asking a question also. I live in Canada, and will be getting an annual pass which will purchase online through Disney, which means I'm assuming that I will have to pick it up at Disney when I get there, instead of anything being mailed out to me?

I've read about people getting annual pass magicbands mailed to them. Do they ship those out to Canada (I know that normal hotel stay mb's wait for me at the hotel)

How are annual pass ones customized? Do they come up in mde like hotel stay ones? Not sure how this part works, or do I have to settle for grey?

 

[EPCOTatNight]

Op, if I could, I would give you some of mine. I currently have 40 Magic Bands in my house.

 

[teentoddlermom]

As mentioned you will be able to customize the one for your resort stay and receive that prior to your October trip. It will come in an incredibles box. Once you activate your AP (you will get the plastic card) you can then log on to MDE and customize the AP Magic Band. They will ship that to you and it will come in a blue Passholder box along with the Annual Pass slider and discount card. Once you receive this they can both be used interchangeably on future trips. If your next trip you are onsite as well you would be able to customize a third band at that time. I currently have all the colors except pink and grey and can wear whichever one I want on a given day.

What you said! My exact experience!