Buying Magic Bands at the Parks and Not Activating Them

[huntforjulia]

It really is not fair to real campers to book a "throw away" campsite for Your convenience. That is a families "room" at the campsite, Your one night throw away, can mean another family doesn't get the time they want as it makes the campground seem full on paper. Either stay onsite to get the perks or don't but don't "throw away" something that others need and want And will use!

 

[Bete]

You are entitled to your opinion. I am paying "full price" for the campsite so I do so with zero guilt. For $60 I get 9 magic bands, access to dining reservations 180+10, 2 days of free parking, and FP+ at 60 days out. Disney gets the same from us whether we pitch a tent or not.

I agree.

 

[Canuckbiggs]

It really is not fair to real campers to book a "throw away" campsite for Your convenience. That is a families "room" at the campsite, Your one night throw away, can mean another family doesn't get the time they want as it makes the campground seem full on paper. Either stay onsite to get the perks or don't but don't "throw away" something that others need and want And will use!

So - if I pitched a tent for one night how would the "other family" be better off?

Disney is free to close this loop hole and the "throwaway room" one as well. Until then I will keep "working" the rules to maximize my family's experience.

Oh - I forgot this also gets me access to the "BOG" FP reservation too.

 

[Ronda93]

FWIW, I remember, likely badly, a post from several months ago. Family wanted MBs but had no reservation/tix yet. Friend/family visiting WDW purchased a fistful of MBs at DTD (?). The didn't get linked to anything and, IIRC, then couldn't be linked after the fact.

Just be SURE.

 

[HdnOut2WDW]

Not to mention if let's say 6 different families book a throw away campsite for one night of the same week, that campsite is completely gone from a family that want it AND would actually use it. We couldn't get into the fort this Christmas because it was booked solid. So we are staying off site but I would never dream of booking that throw away campsite just to get a magic band because I already realize how hard it is to get into the fort.

 

[erionm]

My DS is going to WDW with a friend in August. I would love for him to get one of the Frozen MBs for DD as a Christmas present. Does anyone know if he could do this if he has one of her regular MBs with him? She doesn't currently have a park ticket attached to her account.

He should be able to according to what's posted on the Disney Parks blog.

Coming next week, we will release three open edition, retail MagicBands at Disney’s Hollywood Studios with pre-printed images of Elsa, Anna and Olaf. As with all retail MagicBand purchases, guests must present one of the following for the MagicBand to be linked to at the time of purchase: valid theme park admission, Memory Maker card or another MagicBand. These items will not be available for purchase online or via Merchandise Guest Services.

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/bl...-frozen-funland-at-disneys-hollywood-studios/

 

[DVCMomBLT]

Not to mention if let's say 6 different families book a throw away campsite for one night of the same week, that campsite is completely gone from a family that want it AND would actually use it. We couldn't get into the fort this Christmas because it was booked solid. So we are staying off site but I would never dream of booking that throw away campsite just to get a magic band because I already realize how hard it is to get into the fort.

Oh well. First come first serve. What if they use it for 2 hours? 6 hours? How much is enough?

 

[wilkeliza]

My DS is going to WDW with a friend in August. I would love for him to get one of the Frozen MBs for DD as a Christmas present. Does anyone know if he could do this if he has one of her regular MBs with him? She doesn't currently have a park ticket attached to her account.

You could buy her a one day park ticket and he would be able to link that to the MB for her.

I think the confusion is people think it needs to be linked to a MDE account. It does not need to be linked to a MDE but rather a park ticket or resort reservation.

 

[HdnOut2WDW]

Your conscience.....not mine.

 

[JimmyV]

You are entitled to your opinion.

I am paying "full price" for the campsite so I do so with zero guilt.

For $60 I get 9 magic bands, access to dining reservations 180+10, 2 days of free parking, and FP+ at 60 days out.

Disney gets the same from us whether we pitch a tent or not.

As to ADRs, I don't think this is true any more. My understanding is that in June, they changed "180+10" to "180+length of stay". So if you book a campsite for a single night, you get 180+1, which is day of check in and day of departure.

 

[DopeyDame]

I think that is TERRIBLE that you book a "throw away campsite" so you can a magic band. Yes it is only one night, but that one night somebody might need to complete their vacation. Sorry but shame on you and everyone else who thinks that is ok!

TERRIBLE? Really? He is paying for a camp site. Who cares what he actually does or does not do with that camp site. If he were to book it and then cancel at the last minute to avoid paying (and still getting the free MBs) then there might be some sort of ethical issue. But he's paying for a campsite and using most of the benefits that go along with it. I'm not seeing how the fact that he's not actually sleeping there makes an iota of difference to anyone.

 

[AeroKU]

It really is not fair to real campers to book a "throw away" campsite for Your convenience. That is a families "room" at the campsite, Your one night throw away, can mean another family doesn't get the time they want as it makes the campground seem full on paper. Either stay onsite to get the perks or don't but don't "throw away" something that others need and want And will use!

Using as a throw away is using it, just not the way others are using it. If I'm paying full price for the site, then I can do as I please with it. If the "other families" can't book their vacation because it's full, how is it any different from those that booked and are staying? Is it not fair that I didn't get a BOG reservation because it's all booked up?

 

[DopeyDame]

Disney is free to close this loop hole and the "throwaway room" one as well. Until then I will keep "working" the rules to maximize my family's experience.

How would they even do that? I can see it now... Disney security driving around the campsite and going door to door at the hotels at 3am to do a "bed check!" and make sure everyone is where they are supposed to be.

I'm getting flash backs to high school trips and chaperons checking up on us!

 

[siskaren]

I'm just wondering why the OP wants the Magic Bands ahead of time in the first place. There's nothing you can do with them before you get there.

Using as a throw away is using it, just not the way others are using it. If I'm paying full price for the site, then I can do as I please with it. If the "other families" can't book their vacation because it's full, how is it any different from those that booked and are staying? Is it not fair that I didn't get a BOG reservation because it's all booked up?

That's not a good analogy because I doubt that anyone is booking BOG and then not showing up.

 

[Canuckbiggs]

As to ADRs, I don't think this is true any more. My understanding is that in June, they changed "180+10" to "180+length of stay". So if you book a campsite for a single night, you get 180+1, which is day of check in and day of departure.

Quite possible. Our trip is in November and it worked in May when I booked my ADRs for the 10 days I am down there (with 1 night Res).

 

[JimmyV]

How would they even do that?

Eliminating the "180+10" is one way to remove the incentive to book a throwaway room. But the bump in FP booking from 30 days to 60 days for on site guests may still overide any concerns and provide the incentive to book a campsite. I suppose that they could also wipe out FPs for anyone who does not check in to their room/campsite by midnight of check-in date. They seem to wipe out FPs for lots of lesser reasons!

 

[Canuckbiggs]

Eliminating the "180+10" is one way to remove the incentive to book a throwaway room. But the bump in FP booking from 30 days to 60 days for on site guests may still overide any concerns and provide the incentive to book a campsite. I suppose that they could also wipe out FPs for anyone who does not check in to their room/campsite by midnight of check-in date. They seem to wipe out FPs for lots of lesser reasons!

I'm a Canadian and they don't mail us Magic Bands. So I have to check in at the Fort. So no issues there.

 

[HdnOut2WDW]

I have my BOG reservation for next week maybe I won't show up and then the tables have been turned, but since my family and I love to eat there we won't be doing that.

I suppose we will have to agree to disagree on this subject.

I do hope that everyone has a great vacation whenever it maybe!!!!

 

[JimmyV]

I'm a Canadian and they don't mail us Magic Bands. So I have to check in at the Fort. So no issues there.

Yup. If one checks in to a hotel or campground and doesn't actually sleep there, there is absolutely nothing that can (or should) be done. The only thing that Disney could do is penalize those who are no-shows. In your case, that could not happen.

 

[AeroKU]

I'm just wondering why the OP wants the Magic Bands ahead of time in the first place. There's nothing you can do with them before you get there.



That's not a good analogy because I doubt that anyone is booking BOG and then not showing up.

Bull. There are tons of people who book multiple reservations at BOG and other places for the length of their stay. Since they are onsite and can book them before those staying offsite, I'm unable to find a reservation. Then those that have them will cancel at the last minute. If they don't cancel and get charged the fee, then who cares. No one is blasting anyone for that because other families can't get in.