Apple Watch en lieu of Magic Band? Glitchy for LL?

[maui2k5]

Has anyone had recent experience with using their Apple Watch (Series 3 or later) with MagicMobile compared to using just the MagicBand? I have an Apple Watch series 4 and several older MagicBands which likely have dead batteries. We (4 of us) are going to WDW in late July/Early Aug 2022 and do not like the pre-arrival MagicBand selections.

Since we all have Apple Watches, is there really any need for MagicBands? How well does the Apple Watch with MagicMobile work for MemoryMaker while on rides? Any other downsides to not having a MagicBand? I know that with older MagicBands where batteries are likely dead, that ride photos may not work which is why I was considering just using the Apple Watch (assuming it works for rides in particular).

Thanks!

 

[OKW Lover]

There was a tread similar to this a week or two ago. Basically we all said that our Apple Watch functions just fine for park admission and any place that requires actually touching the tap pad. No need for a magic band.

 

[erionm]

Has anyone had recent experience with using their Apple Watch (Series 3 or later) with MagicMobile compared to using just the MagicBand? I have an Apple Watch series 4 and several older MagicBands which likely have dead batteries. We (4 of us) are going to WDW in late July/Early Aug 2022 and do not like the pre-arrival MagicBand selections.

Since we all have Apple Watches, is there really any need for MagicBands? How well does the Apple Watch with MagicMobile work for MemoryMaker while on rides? Any other downsides to not having a MagicBand? I know that with older MagicBands where batteries are likely dead, that ride photos may not work which is why I was considering just using the Apple Watch (assuming it works for rides in particular).

Thanks!

Ride photos/videos will not automatically link with a Apple Watch. That functions requires you to have your iPhone with you and MDE needs bluetooth permission. Otherwise, I've used my Series 7 Apple Watch with no issues in the parks.

I typically wear both my Apple Watch and a MagicBand since the Apple Watch is not yet able to unlock room doors at any of the WDW Resorts.

 

[CarolynFH]

Has anyone had recent experience with using their Apple Watch (Series 3 or later) with MagicMobile compared to using just the MagicBand? I have an Apple Watch series 4 and several older MagicBands which likely have dead batteries. We (4 of us) are going to WDW in late July/Early Aug 2022 and do not like the pre-arrival MagicBand selections.

Since we all have Apple Watches, is there really any need for MagicBands? How well does the Apple Watch with MagicMobile work for MemoryMaker while on rides? Any other downsides to not having a MagicBand? I know that with older MagicBands where batteries are likely dead, that ride photos may not work which is why I was considering just using the Apple Watch (assuming it works for rides in particular).

Thanks!

DH has been using his Apple Watch without problems for park entry, charging to room, etc. But as Michael says above, the watch does not work for ride photos. We found that the iPhone MDE Bluetooth connection didn’t work very well for linking ride photos last year, and I’m not sure it’s working well now either - yesterday we got at least 3 GotG photos in our PhotoPass account that were not ours and had been taken several hours before we even entered the park! So, no, you don’t “need” a MB, but having at least one in your party when riding might help you get all your ride photos without having to email or call the PhotoPass CMs later.

 

[MinnieMSue]

DH has been using his Apple Watch without problems for park entry, charging to room, etc. But as Michael says above, the watch does not work for ride photos. We found that the iPhone MDE Bluetooth connection didn’t work very well for linking ride photos last year, and I’m not sure it’s working well now either - yesterday we got at least 3 GotG photos in our PhotoPass account that were not ours and had been taken several hours before we even entered the park! So, no, you don’t “need” a MB, but having at least one in your party when riding might help you get all your ride photos without having to email or call the PhotoPass CMs later.

Thanks for this reply as I was wondering about the Apple Watch/phone and getting ride photos. I think we will take a magic band with us in our bag to hopefully get those pics. We have had lots of issues getting our ride photos in the past with the magic bands so I figured the iPhone might be problematic.