Can u simply explain bands, fast pass + and MDE

[MrsJobba1]

Hello
It's been over 4 years since our last visit to Florida - a lot seems to have changed .
We are now going April 2015 and I'm starting to plan.
I am reading all sorts about bands, fast pass + and MDE . This is all new to me
We are DVC members so our accomdation will be one of the DVC resorts - the tickets we are using are old park hoppers that have no expiration . What do I need to do and when lol ? Have the kttw cards been replaced by the bands? Do u not put park tickets in fast pass machines ?
Any help is really appreciated thanks

 

[InMemory]

You will use My Disney Experience to link your tickets and reservations to one account. Your magic band will then become your key to the room, park admission ticket and you scan it to use at the entrance to a fastpass ride. It can also be set up to be linked with a credit card to make purchases on. Through my disney experience 60 days out you will be able to book three fastpasses a day at one specific park a day. Once you use those you can visit a kiosk in the park or hop to another park and book another fastpass. Each time it's used you may book another. Essentially it's a reset action to ride at a certain time. Fastpass ticket stations are gone. You register for the magic bands on my disney experience.

 

[Elise79]

You will need a 'My Disney Experience' account - use your same username and password as on DVCmember.com and it will link the 2 together. MDE can be access via the website or apps for smartphones & tablets.

I can't remember if I had to add our DVC booking or if it appeared but if you have to add it just use the 12 digit reference number.

Magic Bands have replaced KTTW cards however they are much more than the old cards as they can access anything stored in your MDE account. Previously tickets etc had to be manually added. My MB is my KTTW card and my AP

FP had been replaced by FP+. There are no more machines in the parks dishing out paper FPs everything is done electronically.

As an onsite guest you can begin pre-booking FP+ 60 days out from MDE. You can pre-book 3 attractions per day and you can within limits choose your times. This requires valid tickets to be linked for everyone who wants to pre-book.

You can still book on the day. There are also kiosks in the parks if you don't want to use the website or app.

Here's a link to the info on DVC member.com My Magic +

 

[2Tiggies]

To clear up the common confusion that follows on from this, Magic Bands do not contact any information. They are simply a point of access to your MDE account. Happy reading

 

[Pegasus928]

As there are no longer any fastpass stations in the parks do those of us who stay off site only have the option of the regular lines at rides/attractions now?

 

[Cinderella2006]

We are out here now and the bands are very easy to use but my only concern is my little ones easily came off twice when just brushed it aside the door etc ... No one else had any problems yet but found it easy using dining plan etc x

 

[2Tiggies]

As there are no longer any fastpass stations in the parks do those of us who stay off site only have the option of the regular lines at rides/attractions now?

No, as of last month everyone with a park ticket can book FP online. You need to set up an account for MDE on the Disney website. Once you have your park tickets there are instructions to link them to your account. For offsite guests, you can make FP reservations 30 days out. The only difference between onsite and offsite now is the window for reservations, however although I was able to make mine at 60 days, I have been in there this week to make changes and even the 7 Dwarfs Mine Train was available for a wide selection of times when I wanted to change it

 

[MrsJobba1]

You will need a 'My Disney Experience' account - use your same username and password as on DVCmember.com and it will link the 2 together. MDE can be access via the website or apps for smartphones & tablets.

I can't remember if I had to add our DVC booking or if it appeared but if you have to add it just use the 12 digit reference number.

Magic Bands have replaced KTTW cards however they are much more than the old cards as they can access anything stored in your MDE account. Previously tickets etc had to be manually added. My MB is my KTTW card and my AP

FP had been replaced by FP+. There are no more machines in the parks dishing out paper FPs everything is done electronically.

As an onsite guest you can begin pre-booking FP+ 60 days out from MDE. You can pre-book 3 attractions per day and you can within limits choose your times. This requires valid tickets to be linked for everyone who wants to pre-book.

You can still book on the day. There are also kiosks in the parks if you don't want to use the website or app.

Here's a link to the info on DVC member.com My Magic +

Thank you all for the replies.

If I have an old park hopper ticket with 3 days on is it possible to link that and would I only make fast pass reservations for 3 days of my holiday - ?

 

[wilma-bride]

Thank you all for the replies.

If I have an old park hopper ticket with 3 days on is it possible to link that and would I only make fast pass reservations for 3 days of my holiday - ?

You cannot link your old park ticket, it needs to be an RFID ticket for you to be able to link it to MDE. In your case, you would need to wait until you arrive at Disney and can exchange your current ticket for a new RFID one (which you will need to do no matter what) before you can link it to MDE and book FP+. Once you have linked it, you are only able to book FP+ for the duration of your ticket so would only be able to book 3 days worth of FP+ (although, if you are staying on site, as far as I am aware, that could be any 3 days throughout your stay, doesn't necessarily need to be consecutive).

 

[wilma-bride]

We are out here now and the bands are very easy to use but my only concern is my little ones easily came off twice when just brushed it aside the door etc ... No one else had any problems yet but found it easy using dining plan etc x

That is strange as reports have mainly been that they are very secure

 

[Elise79]

Thank you all for the replies.

If I have an old park hopper ticket with 3 days on is it possible to link that and would I only make fast pass reservations for 3 days of my holiday - ?

You cannot link your old park ticket, it needs to be an RFID ticket for you to be able to link it to MDE. In your case, you would need to wait until you arrive at Disney and can exchange your current ticket for a new RFID one (which you will need to do no matter what) before you can link it to MDE and book FP+. Once you have linked it, you are only able to book FP+ for the duration of your ticket so would only be able to book 3 days worth of FP+ (although, if you are staying on site, as far as I am aware, that could be any 3 days throughout your stay, doesn't necessarily need to be consecutive).

Sorry to correct you Joh but you can link older style tickets - just click on the "link tickets" and it will show you serveral styles including the old Tyvek ones.

However you are correct it will need to be swapped for an RFID card before entering the parks

 

[wilma-bride]

Sorry to correct you Joh but you can link older style tickets - just click on the "link tickets" and it will show you serveral styles including the old Tyvek ones.

However you are correct it will need to be swapped for an RFID card before entering the parks

Our (really old) park hoppers didn't have any numbers on them to allow them to be linked

That's good news if you can though as our friends thought they would have to wait until they arrived to link their tickets too.

ETA: Just had a nosey - that is all new since we tried to link ours, that's great

 

[Pegasus928]

No, as of last month everyone with a park ticket can book FP online. You need to set up an account for MDE on the Disney website. Once you have your park tickets there are instructions to link them to your account. For offsite guests, you can make FP reservations 30 days out. The only difference between onsite and offsite now is the window for reservations, however although I was able to make mine at 60 days, I have been in there this week to make changes and even the 7 Dwarfs Mine Train was available for a wide selection of times when I wanted to change it

That's brilliant thank you. I guess it also means that we would have to buy our tickets from a seller that doesn't issue vouchers that are exchanged at the gate and posts them put in plenty of time before the trip. Or do we have to go through Disney only?

 

[wilma-bride]

That's brilliant thank you. I guess it also means that we would have to buy our tickets from a seller that doesn't issue vouchers that are exchanged at the gate and posts them put in plenty of time before the trip. Or do we have to go through Disney only?

No need to go through Disney. Many of th eticket sellers are now trying to make it so that vouchers can be linked but, personally, I would go with the option of buying from somewhere that provides real tickets.

 

[Pegasus928]

No need to go through Disney. Many of th eticket sellers are now trying to make it so that vouchers can be linked but, personally, I would go with the option of buying from somewhere that provides real tickets.

That's what I was thinking. Thanks for that Joh.

 

[crabbie1]

No need to go through Disney. Many of th eticket sellers are now trying to make it so that vouchers can be linked but, personally, I would go with the option of buying from somewhere that provides real tickets.

This was my only concern. Im new to all the FP+ as well as as own at dvc was wondering how we added tickets if not bought through disney direct. Im all for saving a few pounds but the way things go for me Im probably safer booking through disney. Are the dining reservations still booked the same? 180 days out. Will these show on the magic band as well? If I made changes would they automatically update on the band?
Also dvc members ,annual pass holders does anyone know if the TIW would be added to the band or would it still be a card? Finally will the band recognise we are dvc members or do I still need to take my dvc card for discounts?
Sorry for taking over post but lots of changes in 15 months.

 

[wilma-bride]

This was my only concern. Im new to all the FP+ as well as as own at dvc was wondering how we added tickets if not bought through disney direct. Im all for saving a few pounds but the way things go for me Im probably safer booking through disney.

I always buy my tickets through Undercover Tourist (unless we are buying APs). No problem with linking the tickets to MDE. Everything is linked separately so accommodation is linked spearately to tickets so doesn't matter if you are DVC or not.

Are the dining reservations still booked the same? 180 days out. Will these show on the magic band as well? If I made changes would they automatically update on the band?

Dining is booked exactly the same; at 180 days prior to your check-in date, you can book 10 days worth of reservations (or as many as you are staying onsite for). The only difference, of course, is the fact that ALL dining reservations now require a credit card hold. Mine did not work on the app - some people have managed with no problems (and I did previously for my March trip) and some people end up having to call. If I wanted any hard to get ADRs I would probably try the app first (at 11am) but be prepared to call at 12 if needed. Any reservations you make through the website or the app will (should) show automatically. If you call, you may have to link them. Don't forget, they don't show up on the MagicBand as that is just a piece of plastic/rubber you wear around your wrist, whcih provides a 'portal' into the information on MDE.

Also dvc members ,annual pass holders does anyone know if the TIW would be added to the band or would it still be a card?

TIW is still a card, not linked to MDE in any way at all.

Finally will the band recognise we are dvc members or do I still need to take my dvc card for discounts?

As mentioned previously, if you use the same login and password as you do for your DVC account, it should link your DVC membership automatically (listed as an affiliation on MDE), and it has been reported that some DVC members are receiving a DVC 'slider' with their MagicBands when they check in at a DVC resort, however you will still need your membership card as proof in order to get discounts, verify membership etc. as the band on its own does not do that (similar to previously when 'DVC Member' used to be printed on the KTTW, you still needed to show your DVC membership card as proof of membership - although I'm well aware that many places did not necessarily insist on it).

 

[crabbie1]

I always buy my tickets through Undercover Tourist (unless we are buying APs). No problem with linking the tickets to MDE. Everything is linked separately so accommodation is linked spearately to tickets so doesn't matter if you are DVC or not. Dining is booked exactly the same; at 180 days prior to your check-in date, you can book 10 days worth of reservations (or as many as you are staying onsite for). Mine did not work on the app - some people have managed with no problems (and I did previously for my March trip) and some people end up having to call. If I wanted any hard to get ADRs I would probably try the app first (at 11am) but be prepared to call at 12 if needed. Any reservations you make through the website or the app will (should) show automatically. If you call, you may have to link them. Don't forget, they don't show up on the MagicBand as that is just a piece of plastic/rubber you wear around your wrist, whcih provides a 'portal' into the information on MDE. TIW is still a card, not linked to MDE in any way at all. As mentioned previously, if you use the same login and password as you do for your DVC account, it should link your DVC membership automatically (listed as an affiliation on MDE), and it has been reported that some DVC members are receiving a DVC 'slider' with their MagicBands when they check in at a DVC resort, however you will still need your membership card as proof in order to get discounts, verify membership etc. as the band on its own does not do that (similar to previously when 'DVC Member' used to be printed on the KTTW, you still needed to show your DVC membership card as proof of membership - although I'm well aware that many places did not necessarily insist on it).

Wilma thankyou so much. You have answered all my queries. I have screen shot this and added to my disney do file lol

 

[Ellwood970]

That is strange as reports have mainly been that they are very secure

mine fell off at the magic kingdom and I never found it. A CM told me the plastic connectors are prone to break.