AP holders will get MagicBands for free

[ethanwa]

I got the new Mickey Monitor today and it has two full pages of info on the MyMagic+ system "coming in 2014" for annual passholders.

One interesting quote was this:

As a Walt Disney World Passholder, you'll also receive a MagicBand.

Which implies that they will be free, reusable bands provided to anyone who has purchased an AP.

Unless I am wrong, this is the first time we've officially heard that, no?

Here it is in context:

 

[Reddog1134]

It would depend on the context.

Is it saying you can get a Magic band by just having an AP? Or is it confirming that you don't have to purchase a ticket as part of your room package?

 

[TDC Nala]

Well during the current testing phase you have to be staying onsite, no matter what type of ticket media you have. But they've always said that AP holders would be provided with bands if they want them, as part of the full rollout. I've seen that long before the current Mickey Monitor came out.

Offsite guests who are not AP holders are supposed to be given the option to purchase the bands if they want them. Otherwise they will have RFID ticket cards.

 

[Peanut Giggleface]

It is my understanding MB will be mailed to AP holders without cost. A hotel stay will not be required. WHEN this happens is still an unknown and the Monitor did not address this issue. My guess is because they don't know when it will become available. I doubt Diseny will cross-check those who have already booked a hotel stay and already have a MB in their possession. So it's possible and even probable that for those AP holders who have stayed onsite will get another set of MB.

 

[ethanwa]

Updated my original post with a picture for more context.

 

[hydrotony]

It also said APers can get FP+ "before you leave home" but it doesn't say how long before you leave home. I'm expecting that this statement means the morning of the day you wake up and drive to the park, not days, weeks or 2 months ahead of time.

 

[TDC Nala]

As soon as you link the AP to MDX you may be able to make FP+ reservations (assuming you are within 60 days of arrival).

It's being speculated that this will be limited to guests staying onsite - but that is still just speculation. Right now, during testing, you must have an onsite reservation to activate your account for FP+. It can be as little as one night onsite. But there's no way to know if that will be permanent.

"Before you leave home" is subjective - not all AP holders live within driving distance of WDW.

 

[ethanwa]

It also said APers can get FP+ "before you leave home" but it doesn't say how long before you leave home. I'm expecting that this statement means the morning of the day you wake up and drive to the park, not days, weeks or 2 months ahead of time.

I tend to think it means that you can reserve ahead of time... meaning the day before or earlier. If you want FP+ on the day you are at the parks, I'd imagine you'd still need to use the FP+ kiosks? That's just my take on the meaning.

They could change it though... who knows.

 

[TDC Nala]

If you want FP+ on the day you are at the parks, I'd imagine you'd still need to use the FP+ kiosks?

Or the app.

 

[hydrotony]

As soon as you link the AP to MDX you may be able to make FP+ reservations (assuming you are within 60 days of arrival).

It's being speculated that this will be limited to guests staying onsite - but that is still just speculation. Right now, during testing, you must have an onsite reservation to activate your account for FP+. It can be as little as one night onsite. But there's no way to know if that will be permanent.

"Before you leave home" is subjective - not all AP holders live within driving distance of WDW.

Of course, but APers staying in WDW resorts will have the advance FP+ system being used now. I was talking about APers staying in non-WDW resorts or coming from home. However, I have heard that APers who stayed on-site in the test period linked their APs to their MDE/MBs and could make advanced FP+s but I have never gotten first hand details of this. We can hope.

 

[TDC Nala]

There's nothing out there anywhere that says the FP in advance will always be limited to resort guests.

I'm an annual passholder staying onsite and all I needed was one onsite stay to unlock the FP+, I'm now able to make FP+ reservations for ANY day that my AP is valid and not just the days I have a resort stay booked. (There's no reason to actually book any for days I won't be at WDW. I don't live anywhere near WDW though).

What I think is that eventually, when the testing is over, even guests who are not staying onsite will have the same access in advance.

 

[ethanwa]

However, I have heard that APers who stayed on-site in the test period linked their APs to their MDE/MBs and could make advanced FP+s but I have never gotten first hand details of this.

I am an AP holder who has a reservation right now. I got MagicBands and I am able to make FP+ selections for the day of my stay + 60 days out.

So yes, it's true.

My stay is next week but I have already linked my MagicBands to my MDE account with my AP and they work in the park just fine. A few weeks ago I entered the park with them and I got a FP+ at the FP+ kiosk.

 

[raven69david]

We have two sets of 4 Magic Bands already linked to our AP's. We leave tomorrow and all we'll do is tap them on the RFID reader (green mickey head) to link our ADR's and FP+ to the bands themselves. We're mixing and matching the sets to see which ones we like better so it's still an ongoing debate as to which bands we'll actually use.

 

[bumbershoot]

Well during the current testing phase you have to be staying onsite, no matter what type of ticket media you have.

Or to *have had* a hotel stay since the time testing started.

It is my understanding MB will be mailed to AP holders without cost.

Yay, another MB! I'll get yellow, since it's the only color I won't have, because of our October stay and once the FOUR sets of MBs start shipping to me for our January trip.


ETA: oh wait, we might not renew. So crossing fingers that this rolls out before February!

 

[TDC Nala]

There's some stuff out there saying AP holders are now going to be limited to booking FP+ for 7 days at a time and must wait until those are used or expire to book more. Hm.

 

[DOOM1001]

My understanding is that at some point AP holders will get magic bands just for being passholders.That same passholder can also currently book a resort stay and get another set of bands they can also use after their hotel stay by linking the AP to the magic band so they can literally have multiple bands all linked to the AP that they can choose to rotate if they want,wear a green one today and a red one tomorrow.This is just my understanding from other threads,am I correct?

 

[ethanwa]

There's some stuff out there saying AP holders are now going to be limited to booking FP+ for 7 days at a time and must wait until those are used or expire to book more. Hm.

Yes, I can currently only book a certain amount within my 60 days. I can't book all 60 days.

 

[Nudoru]

Well, as an AP holder and Someone who lives in Tampa, we frequently drive up and make FP+ res on our MB's the morning of or the night before if we think about it. Last weekend, we made fp+ res in MK at the jungle cruise when the standby line was 60+ min, so once they are linked its possible with the MDE app.
We have had our bands for about 6 months since a stay at pop and they have worked like a champ ever since we got them and linked them.

 

[Sammie]

Our experience is the same as Nudoru.

Since we have completed a trip with Magicbands and our APs are linked to my MDE account, I can go in and book Fastpass+ for any days without a resort stay booked.

I have no idea how many days I can book, etc. because I don't want to tie them up just to find out.

 

[ethanwa]

Just an update on this... we still use our MagicBands daily with our AP's (all four of us). We book FP+ the night before or the day-of before we leave the house and it works perfect.

So far our family LOVES the new system. We get to ride the rides we want all of the time with no wait. We go to the parks at least twice per week.

Totally worth the $100 or so it cost for us to stay at Art of Animation for one night to get the bands last year.