Are Magic Bands active before you check in?

[BeastsFlower]

We wanted to go to AK before we check in but I didn't know if our Park Tickets are on them right away or not until check in.

 

[Robo]

We wanted to go to AK before we check in but I didn't know if our Park Tickets are on them right away or not until check in.

Some have found them to be.

Some have found them not to be.

Have fun!

 

[MouseMomx2]

With the ability to use them at Disney's Magical Express at the airport they will definitely be active before check-in. During the testing phase some guests' bands are not working as they should, but the plan is for them to be active at the time of shipping. I have two that have not been used yet and both are showing as Active on MDE/MDX.

 

[ParrotBill]

When you say "active" there are multiple answers.

If you bought a package with tickets and you have an MDE account, it is likely the ticket has been linked to each person, and their band, and is active for park admission.

If you bought tickets separately you will have to link them in your MDE account.

Bands will be activated for charging when you check in, give them a credit card, and set a PIN number.

Bands will be activated for your room key when you check in and the room is available.

 

[pooh2001]

The MB may not work for us -
We take a car service with a food store stop to our resort.
With that said - no DME.

As for tickets - we buy from another source, undercover t....., and not WDW to get a discount.

We also use our AAA card to get a discount at the WDW resort, and pay for food OOP - more options for us.

So - the MB - nice thing to have, but if we arrive at 10 am - our park "paper" tickets will be valid, but not a MB.

Oh well

 

[MouseMomx2]

The MB may not work for us -
We take a car service with a food store stop to our resort.
With that said - no DME.

The use of DME does not have anything to do with MBs. Many people drive to WDW. Magical Express check in is just one of the many abilities of the MBs.

As for tickets - we buy from another source, undercover t....., and not WDW to get a discount.

So do we. Just link your tickets to your MDE/MDX account. There is no need to purchase from Disney.

We also use our AAA card to get a discount at the WDW resort, and pay for food OOP - more options for us.

You can still do this with MBs. Just bring your AAA card for the discount. Then you can use your MB to pay for your meal if you wish. You could also use a credit card or other method of payment if you wish.

So - the MB - nice thing to have, but if we arrive at 10 am - our park "paper" tickets will be valid, but not a MB.

MBs are active from the time they are shipped. They are not tied to a reservation, they are tied to a person. If you have linked your UCT passes to your MDE/MDX account they will be accessible with your MB whenever you need them.

Oh well

Please see the above notes.

Safe travels.

 

[JanaDee]

Please see the above notes.

Safe travels.

If they weren't tied to a reservation, people wouldn't be getting multiple bands for split stays.

 

[MouseMomx2]

If they weren't tied to a reservation, people wouldn't be getting multiple bands for split stays.

They are not tied to a reservation but, at this time, each reservation is eligible for a band. In the future you will not get a MB with each reservation. It is expected that you will bring back your existing bands for future stays.

The bands are tied to the person. I have two of them from different stays. Both are Active. There is no information directly on the bands. The RFID chip is able to access Disney's database where your information is stored. Since my bands' RFID chips are tied to my MDE/MDX account they can both access any of my information.

 

[Autumnslight]

The bands are tied to the person. I have two of them from different stays. Both are Active. There is no information directly on the bands. The RFID chip is able to access Disney's database where your information is stored. Since my bands' RFID chips are tied to my MDE/MDX account they can both access any of my information.

I don't know why, but this just made me envision getting a new Magic Band, in a different color, with each different reservation. That way you could swap them out to match your outfit on any given day!

I'm only half kidding. That would be pretty awesome.

 

[MouseMomx2]

I don't know why, but this just made me envision getting a new Magic Band, in a different color, with each different reservation. That way you could swap them out to match your outfit on any given day!

I'm only half kidding. That would be pretty awesome.

Don't laugh. I already have red and gray bands. I have a November split-stay that will, in theory, get me two more. Then I have a New Year's Eve split-stay that will, in theory, get me two more. That means I will have 6 bands by January.

If I don't customize bands for these stays I will be given gray bands at check in (or I have to opt out which I don't want to do) so I might as well get some more colors.

It feels like a waste to me, but eventually it will be a moot point.

 

[Autumnslight]

Don't laugh. I already have red and gray bands. I have a November split-stay that will, in theory, get me two more. Then I have a New Year's Eve split-stay that will, in theory, get me two more. That means I will have 6 bands by January.

I would love to have one in every color! I changed my color like 10 times before I finally just made my daughter choose for me. Of course, I just remembered that there are accessories available for Magic Bands. So that should appease me for the moment, LOL!

 

[juliehoey]

Ok digging up this thread--but I received conflicting information today than previously told. We are checking out of AoA after a one night stay(room only) and have a set of bands. That day we check into YC, new bands. I inquired can I leave AoA at check out and go to HS before heading to YC to check in, would I be able to enter the park. I was told yes in the past. Today, when I changed the reservation to the Memory Maker deal I was told that MM would not activate until check in along with 'everything else'( I had also been told previously charging privileges are already activated because the card is linked to MDE).

So...anyone have clarification on the real deal? Can I enter a park prior to check in and can I charge with my band and use my dining credits? Apparently CM's on the reservation lines give different answers.
Could have been a bus driver too.

 

[PoohsFan1]

Ok digging up this thrtead but I received conflicting information today than previously told. We are checking out of AoA after a one night stay(room only) and have a set of bands. That day we check into YC, new bands. I inquired can I leave AoA at check out and go to HS before heading to YC to check in, would I be able to enter the park. I was told yes in the past. Today, when I changed the reservation to the Memory Maker deal I was told that MM would not activate until check in along with 'everything else'( I had also been told previously charging privileges are already activated because the card is linked to MDE).

So...anyone have clarification on the real deal? Can I enter a park prior to check in and can I charge with my band and use my dining credits? Apparently CM's on the reservation lines give different answers.
Could have been a bus driver too.

Very good question and I am interested to know if anyone knows the answer to it.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

The MB may not work for us -
We take a car service with a food store stop to our resort.
With that said - no DME.

As for tickets - we buy from another source, undercover t....., and not WDW to get a discount.

We also use our AAA card to get a discount at the WDW resort, and pay for food OOP - more options for us.

So - the MB - nice thing to have, but if we arrive at 10 am - our park "paper" tickets will be valid, but not a MB.

Not correct. You can link your Undercover Tourist tickets to your MDX account and your bands will be active for park admission. Also, you cannot use paper tickets at WDW parks anymore. If you have paper tickets you must trade them in for an RFID card, or link them to MDX and use a band or card that is active on your account.

Ok digging up this thrtead but I received conflicting information today than previously told. We are checking out of AoA after a one night stay(room only) and have a set of bands. That day we check into YC, new bands. I inquired can I leave AoA at check out and go to HS before heading to YC to check in, would I be able to enter the park.

You will be able to enter the park so long as you have valid park admission linked to your MDX account. Which band you use has nothing to do with it. No idea about Memory Maker. You won't have access to dining credits until you have checked into the resort. You won't be able to charge to a room reservation until you have set up a PIN.

 

[juliehoey]

[/QUOTE]You will be able to enter the park so long as you have valid park admission linked to your MDX account. Which band you use has nothing to do with it. No idea about Memory Maker. You won't have access to dining credits until you have checked into the resort. You won't be able to charge to a room reservation until you have set up a PIN.[/QUOTE]

I was told by the first CM I can charge and use credits since everything you need is on the band. Since I have not received them to set up and link to MDE yet, my understanding is that is the time to put in the PIN. So wouldn't that make them active to use for credits and charging?

UPDATE 3/24/14-Spoke with another CM who said they are NOT active for park admission until check in. Apparently no one really knows...unfortunately. I have received so many conflicting points of information I am uncertain what to go on. I really dislike the idea of going right to the park when checking out of AoA to check in at YC and finding out they don't admit us to HS. Has anyone tried heading directly to a park whether straight off DME or driving?