Can not request to use existing magic bands

[maureenmac]

I just called WDW to ask why the feature that allows us to use the magic bands we bought in November for our Thanksgiving trip was not on the site. We are taking a friend for our next trip so I tried to order just one for her while keeping the ones we have. I was told that option is no longer available. We need to order new ones and then go to the hotel to hand them back and make sure the ones we want to use are still activated. Needless to say I feel this a waste of my time and their money and totally NUTS. When we went in November we purchased the bands we wanted. We planned on using them for at least the foreseeable future. We had never purchased bands prior. If I knew this was the new policy we would not have bought them. We have always returned the free used bands to the hotel desk so the chips can be recycled.

 

[Sandisw]

All magic bands work in your account, If you get new ones and don’t want to use them, you can deactivate them on their own, just leave them there Or turn them in. I have never had to do anything special to reuse my magic bands from previous trips.

In Dec, I used 3 different ones during my trip, I just ordered my RiVeria band for my upcoming trip and I will be using that, along with the ones I used in December.

You will have no problem using what you got. I wish there was a way to decline some, if you need for others. When I go by myself or with my DD who has a few, I simply don’t customize and decline at check in.

 

[Tinkerbell58]

You can decline a new Magic Band at the online check-in screen.

 

[Dean Marino]

Deleted

 

[maureenmac]

Just did online check in. Did not see anywhere to decline. When I called Disney the cm told me this is new. I asked could I use my old band to get into the room instead of stopping at the desk first. She told me sometimes that works, sometimes not so bring both to the room. I assume if my band says activated it will work. I ordered new bands.

 

[gillep]

Just did online check in. Did not see anywhere to decline. When I called Disney the cm told me this is new. I asked could I use my old band to get into the room instead of stopping at the desk first. She told me sometimes that works, sometimes not so bring both to the room. I assume if my band says activated it will work. I ordered new bands.

I just did online check in a minute ago, and there is definitely a box to check to decline MBs, the issue is that you need to decline MBs for your whole party. So because you need one for a member of your party you cannot decline them for the rest of the party, that just isn't a functionality that is currently available.

You should have no issue using your MBs from your previous trip as long as they are active in your account. Unfortunately, many of the CMs that answer the phones have no idea what they are talking about and just randomly make stuff up. We would have posts all over the boards if old MBs suddenly stopped working, you were not given correct information. Now that's not to say that the MB system works seamlessly all the time, it's Disney, and their IT is a mess, so issues do happen, but no, they are not making it so that old MBs won't work, there's no reason for them to do that, especially with them using MBs as a revenue stream with people wanting to have different ones based on the different designs.

 

[maureenmac]

Thanks for the replies. The Disney IT Department is the worst I have ever encountered.

 

[Tinkerbell58]

Just did online check in. Did not see anywhere to decline. When I called Disney the cm told me this is new. I asked could I use my old band to get into the room instead of stopping at the desk first. She told me sometimes that works, sometimes not so bring both to the room. I assume if my band says activated it will work. I ordered new bands.

That's strange. I was able to decline new bands two weeks ago.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

You can decline new bands in the online check in. The issue is that they must be declined for the entire party.

 

[Yinn]

Thanks for the replies. The Disney IT Department is the worst I have ever encountered.

Sounds like you were just talking to some people who weren't the best informed. If it was one time use, a lot of the magic bands they sell at the stores would be pretty expensive for what they are.

My family has a band of every color, including some premium ones. Some from 3+ years ago still work, some do not. It's inconsistent. That inconsistency can cause frustration, so Disney prefers people to use newly acquired bands. Even of the ones that do work, they work at different ranges. Sometimes they work for the room; but not for auto sensing rides for pictures and customization that contains your name.

That being said, we just order new ones and swap the puck into which ever band we want. Sometimes mixing and matching colors as well. It's two, eyeglass type screws on the back to do so.

As for ordering; it's an all or nothing. That's why you couldn't decline your own, you had to order one for your friend as well. If you didn't have to, you would've been able to decline.

 

[DebbieB]

Just did online check in. Did not see anywhere to decline. When I called Disney the cm told me this is new. I asked could I use my old band to get into the room instead of stopping at the desk first. She told me sometimes that works, sometimes not so bring both to the room. I assume if my band says activated it will work. I ordered new bands.

I believe you have to use the browser version of MDE.

 

[chicagoshannon]

just order the plain free bands and use the bands you had from your previous trip. I'd deactivate any others you aren't planning on using again so the system doesn't get overloaded.