Apple Watch

[TGM]

Hello everyone! I recently got an Apple Watch. Currently there is only one app made by Disney on the Watch. Hopefully, soon there will be a My Disney Experience app for the Watch, and you will be able to use it instead of a Magic Band for park tickets. The watch has NFC (near field communication) capabilities, but not RFID, which is what Magic Bands use (to my knowledge). Currently, you can use Apple Pay with the Watch at any Disney store (in the parks) Does anyone know if there is anything in the works at Disney for this to be possible?

 

[zaccaglin]

The RFID used by the bands is different than that of NFC used by the watch. Many guest have Apple Watch and Disney is currently making money off them by still selling that that must have magic band. I don't see them merging or integrating a work around with the apple watch anytime soon.

 

[rteetz]

Apple Pay is available everywhere in WDW as far as I know.

 

[Tomh]

I wrote to Samsung last year, and suggested exactly this, that they team up with Disney to offer a watch that is rechargeable, works with the RFID system in Disney World, and is capable of running MDE. It would be an awesome partnership. I have no intention of buying any of those smart watches, BUT . . . if it worked with MDE and as a replacement for my Magic Band, that may well be enough to make me hand over some money.

 

[katt789]

You can use apple pay in the parks, guests were able to pay with it the same way you would use a magic band at my location.

 

[erionm]

Apple Pay is available everywhere in WDW as far as I know.

Not at table service restaurants. Also, locations operated by a 3rd party may or may not accept contactless payments (which includes Apple Pay, Android Pay, etc.).

Most Disney operated stores & quick service restaurants should accept contactless payments.

 

[hyzdufan]

I just got one too! Even if I was able to see Touring Plan steps, or MDE stuff on it, I'd be pretty stoked.

 

[hiroMYhero]

I wrote to Samsung last year, and suggested exactly this, that they team up with Disney to offer a watch that is rechargeable, works with the RFID system in Disney World, and is capable of running MDE. It would be an awesome partnership. I have no intention of buying any of those smart watches, BUT . . . if it worked with MDE and as a replacement for my Magic Band, that may well be enough to make me hand over some money.

That would be interesting except Bob Iger is on Apple's board. That's why Disney was one of the first to team up with Apple Pay.

 

[TGM]

That would be interesting except Bob Iger is on Apple's board. That's why Disney was one of the first to team up with Apple Pay.

Yeah, and the CMs at park entrances all hold iPads, so that's why I thought it would be the Apple Watch, not the Samsung Gear-Android-Galaxy-Wear-Thing.

 

[Tomh]

I forget what it was that made me think Samsung, perhaps I saw a bit of their tech being used somewhere on property, or just wishful thinking since I have a Samsung phone lol.

 

[PolyRob]

I have an Apple Watch that I pre-ordered last April, and I love it!

I have considered not even brining it to Disney World since I will need to have that on one wrist and a Magic Band on the other. I will still need my iPhone that will track my steps and provide me the time and I still need my physical Disney Visa to take advantage of discounts. Plus my iPhone will also do Apple Pay.

Just wondering if anyone has also ditched their Apple Watch for their trip, or if they feel it is beneficial in touring

 

[ITALIANNYC]

Nows the time to buy one..

249 on sale at best buy ;]

 

[CAS239]

I love my Apple Watch. I would love for Disney to make MDE compatible with the Apple Watch and for them to do a partnership. It would be nice to automatically have FP times and everything pop up.

I got mine at target last month when it was on sale for $249 as well. For anyone looking to get an Apple Watch they frequently do the $100 off sale or run it where you get a gift card with it. It's a neat little piece of technology

 

[coley444]

I used my Apple Watch on my October trip - set to the Mickey watch face of course.

I manually input my FP+ return times, ADR times, and any key events like MNSSHP into my calendar app.

Then I customized the watch face to show events at the bottom of the screen. This way I was prompted with reminders during the day.

Also with the Mickey "time travel" feature you can spin the crown and it scrolls through the upcoming events in your calendar. It was a cool functionality.

 

[PolyRob]

I used my Apple Watch on my October trip - set to the Mickey watch face of course.

I manually input my FP+ return times, ADR times, and any key events like MNSSHP into my calendar app.

Then I customized the watch face to show events at the bottom of the screen. This way I was prompted with reminders during the day.

Also with the Mickey "time travel" feature you can spin the crown and it scrolls through the upcoming events in your calendar. It was a cool functionality.

I currently have my watch face set to Mickey as well! That sounds like a very good use of the watch, especially with the "Time Travel" feature. I will have to make a calendar on my Mac, and sync it with all our reservations. Thanks for the idea!

 

[coley444]

I currently have my watch face set to Mickey as well! That sounds like a very good use of the watch, especially with the "Time Travel" feature. I will have to make a calendar on my Mac, and sync it with all our reservations. Thanks for the idea!

You're welcome!

 

[rteetz]

I have an Apple Watch that I pre-ordered last April, and I love it!

I have considered not even brining it to Disney World since I will need to have that on one wrist and a Magic Band on the other. I will still need my iPhone that will track my steps and provide me the time and I still need my physical Disney Visa to take advantage of discounts. Plus my iPhone will also do Apple Pay.

Just wondering if anyone has also ditched their Apple Watch for their trip, or if they feel it is beneficial in touring

Nope wore mine the whole time. I enjoyed having it in Disney.

 

[CAS239]

While at Disney last month I also had my watch face set to the Disney one. However I noticed it would drain the battery pretty quick due to the movement and motion that Mickey makes. Changed mine to one of the more tradition watch backgrounds and the battery lasts a lot longer. So if you're at Disney (or anywhere really) and notice your watch battery draining pretty decently, try changing it from one of the motion backgrounds.

 

[TGM]

I wrote an app for the Watch will all of my FP and ADRs. I would put it on the app store, so you guys could use it, but I'm not paying $99.

 

[OKW Lover]

While at Disney last month I also had my watch face set to the Disney one. However I noticed it would drain the battery pretty quick due to the movement and motion that Mickey makes. Changed mine to one of the more tradition watch backgrounds and the battery lasts a lot longer. So if you're at Disney (or anywhere really) and notice your watch battery draining pretty decently, try changing it from one of the motion backgrounds.

That's been my permanent watch face since I got my Apple Watch many months ago. My battery easily lasts all day.