Buy Magic bands to use instead of RFID tickets?

[FiveofusNL]

Hi. We are not staying on resort and bought our tickets from UT. I have received the tickets and linked them to My Disney Experience already. During past visits, I would carry park tickets in my waterproof ticket holder that I wear around my neck. It has always been very convenient...the perfect size for the 5 tickets and the old paper fast passes. My brother is heading down to Disney next month and offered to pick me up magic bands while he is there so that I can link them to my account before we head down ourselves. He thinks they make everything much more convenient (quicker access to the parks, can break up into seperate groups without passing around tickets, better for fastpass+, etc), but I have read mixed messages. This time we are going to the water parks as well and I am concerned about losing them there. Would love to get some feedback from the DIS community. Are the bands that much more convenient, even if you are not staying on resort and not taking part in the dining plan? Would you buy the bands and use them instead or stick with the regular tickets?

 

[Robo]

Hi. We are not staying on resort and bought our tickets from UT. I have received the tickets and linked them to My Disney Experience already. During past visits, I would carry park tickets in my waterproof ticket holder that I wear around my neck. It has always been very convenient...the perfect size for the 5 tickets and the old paper fast passes. My brother is heading down to Disney next month and offered to pick me up magic bands while he is there so that I can link them to my account before we head down ourselves.

1. He thinks they make everything much more convenient (quicker access to the parks, can break up into seperate groups without passing around tickets, better for fastpass+, etc), but I have read mixed messages.

2. This time we are going to the water parks as well and I am concerned about losing them there. Would love to get some feedback from the DIS community. Are the bands that much more convenient, even if you are not staying on resort and not taking part in the dining plan?

3. Would you buy the bands and use them instead or stick with the regular tickets?

1. OK. If that's worth about $13 per guest, go for it.
2. Some guests have zero problems there. Some lose their bands.
3. If you like the MBs, buy them.
They will also give you automatic access to the on-ride videos on the couple of rides that offer them.

 

[Princess Disney Mom]

My sisters family was off site and used the tickets just fine.

 

[Cormoran]

I think it really depends on whether or not you're willing to pay another $13/pp for the MB's. We used them last April and we really didn't like them, but I think that was because the system was pretty glitchy. Next week, however, we're going back and using our tickets, no bands. We're staying at the Swan.

Here's the thing, you are going to need cash or a credit card to purchase things in the parks, so MB's won't save anything there. I don't think the bands are any more or less convenient than the tickets for park entry. I don't regard keeping your tickets out walk by 2 RFID readers on a FP+ attractions as a big deal.

But, others will see it differently. But I can think of other things to spend $65 on: quick service meal, multiple mickey bars.....

 

[gunderda]

We are only spending 2 days at disney but we opted to buy them for everyone. Makes it a lot more convenient for photos also

You can buy them online at disneystore.com unless you want the special ones that cost more

 

[CarolynFH]

The number of times you'd have to distribute and then pick up tickets would be limited to entering the parks and twice for each FP+ you use - so not so very inconvenient, and MB are definitely not essential. That said, we like using our MB, even when staying offsite, and DGD age 6 takes a lot of pride in matching Mickey to Mickey! If you get MB, you could always use the lanyard at the water parks. We haven't had any MB come loose or get lost, but I've seen reports of others who have.

 

[tlmadden73]

I did an off-site 2-day trip last October and bought them for my wife and I (son was under 3) to try them out. I thought it was fun and worth it. Definitely easier than wearing a lanyard or digging the card out several times a day .. ESPECIALLY when trying to hold and wrangle a 2-year old. Having them interact with photo pass was nice too. We just figured we would use them next time we came but didn't realize they just send you new ones if staying on resort, so in hindsight was probably a waste for such a short trip .. but at the time the convenience was worth it.

Just depends on what you value .. money or convenience. I'd rather have something on my wrist then digging in pocket or having something hanging around my neck.

Another group we went with did the same thing because they didn't want their elementary age children to lose tickets and be able to go off with other parents in the group without having to redistribute tickets every time.

My only complaint is why they don't have a built-in clock!

 

[Robo]

My only complaint is why they don't have a built-in clock!

Many people under the age of 35 don't wear watches. (Casio is not happy.)
They just look at the time on their ever-present cell phones.
(Like pulling out a pocket watch in the 1800's.)

But, there have been threads (HERE is one)
about buying a cheap watch (Mickey, Minnie, etc.,) removing the band, and attaching the watch head to a MB.

 

[disnut8]

Many people under the age of 35 don't wear watches. (Casio is not happy.)
They just look at the time on their ever-present cell phones.

Heh. I'm 53 and don't wear a watch and use my cell phone for a clock. But, that's about the only thing I use the cell phone for at Disney World. I just don't wear a watch because I find myself stressing out about time and if we have enough of it to do the things we want to do. Drives my son and husband crazy so I just quit wearing a watch. Now I am a calm 53

 

[Tissa]

I can't tell you how many times on our last trip that I looked at my magic band for the time. It just seems natural have something on my wrist that tells time.

We were onsite one day then offsite for the rest. I loved the magic band. No digging out cards for park and fastpass entry. The kids love having them as a souvenir.

 

[amylevan]

Many people under the age of 35 don't wear watches. (Casio is not happy.)
They just look at the time on their ever-present cell phones.
(Like pulling out a pocket watch in the 1800's.)

But, there have been threads (HERE is one)
about buying a cheap watch (Mickey, Minnie, etc.,) removing the band, and attaching the watch head to a MB.

I have no idea whey I never thought of modifying a watch for the magicband before! I am a watch fanatic - I have one on at all times (and for the record, I am 35...) Last trip, I had the mickey band on the same wrist as my watch and the combination was driving me nuts.

 

[lroger01]

I vote for getting them. You can use them for future offsite trips, so the cost is spread out. Also, a lot of people will have them on in the park and the kids will enjoy belonging to the group.

As for not losing them, keep the strap tight enough that they can't be pulled over the hand. Bring a roll of electrical tape (it comes in colors) and tape the end of the band. The tape is waterproof and a loop around the loose end will help ensure it doesn't come undone if caught on something.

 

[kay1864]

He thinks they make everything much more convenient (quicker access to the parks, can break up into seperate groups without passing around tickets, better for fastpass+, etc

None of these are true. Tickets are now plastic cards with RFID chips which work exactly the same as Magic Bands. Perhaps your brother is thinking of old paper tickets, which are no longer used:
- Turnstile time is the same either way.
- There is no advantage of MBs over tickets when breaking into groups.
- The FP+ booking and reading process is exactly the same for a MB vs a ticket. Either one links back to your MDE account.

If you are staying on Disney property, paying for items is more convenient--but if you are staying onsite, your MBs are free.

 

[kj2mom]

I am staying offsite and decided to get them. MIL went to Disney in Feb and picked us up some (as a gift). Part of the reason was I really wanted a Tink one. Another part is that I am gifted a Memory Maker and from what I am reading the band can be helpful when it comes to the ride pics. Essentially I am thinking of them as a souvenir with daily use while we are there (but it does help that MIL gave them to us and would not take $$). Ohh also, we are traveling with a family that is staying on property who will have them so I thought my children might also like to have them.

 

[bumbershoot]

I miss wearing a lanyard and having my ticket in there.

I wonder if pin sales have dropped since lanyards aren't as needed anymore?

 

[Robo]

I miss wearing a lanyard and having my ticket in there.

You absolutely can still do that.

(You know that, but many new readers may not.)

 

[tlmadden73]

I miss wearing a lanyard and having my ticket in there.

I wonder if pin sales have dropped since lanyards aren't as needed anymore?

Prob .. but just to be replaced by those Magic Band charms.

 

[FiveofusNL]

Many thanks to everyone for your input. We would be buying them more for convenience then anything else, and it does not sound like the bands make that much of a difference. My sons (16 and 14 yrs old) and husband have absolutely no interest in wearing them, but would if it was a better option than the tickets. My 12 year old daughter thinks it is cute, but does not really care either way. As Cormoran said, there are many more things that I can spend that money on!

 

[volfan1978]

If you're going to spend money on MB's, I think their primary value would actually be in procuring additional same-day FP's. In that case you wouldn't want to link them to your MDX account though, which would defeat your original goal--the convenience factor of not having to keep track of cards.

 

[georgina]

Heh. I'm 53 and don't wear a watch and use my cell phone for a clock. But, that's about the only thing I use the cell phone for at Disney World. I just don't wear a watch because I find myself stressing out about time and if we have enough of it to do the things we want to do. Drives my son and husband crazy so I just quit wearing a watch. Now I am a calm 53

Yep, I'm 52 and no watch! I also don't use my phone for much else other than a clock at Disney. My 24 year old daughter, however, wanted a watch for her college graduation and wears one daily. They are becoming a trendy accessory again, I think, for young professionals, if they ever stopped being that.

As for the OP, I don't think magic bands are necessary for an off-site stay.