Current MagicBand+ designs

[Kait_]

Folks, I'm going nuts trying to get my whole party the magic band+ design of their dreams

So, as I understand it... the price for Magic Band+ bought in the parks is about $35 for solid colors and $45 for the designs. You save $10 on the design ones if you buy ahead of time from the disneystore online (aka all are about $35 there). And another $10ish if you buy via our disney resort reservation (about $22 ish for design ones).

What makes this simple task a nightmare is that the bands are constantly going in and out of stock. And it's not even the same between the offerings via the resort reservation (which are SUPER limited) and the online disney store (which are pretty "meh"). For example, the Tiana band my mom wants just went out of stock to buy via the resort reservation, but is still available on the online disney store. It actually was on sale yesterday, but only for a day and I didn't buy in time

I only get 1 opportunity to buy via my hotel reservation. I don't have to get a band for everyone in our party with that check-out. But I only get to do that check-out once. So, I basically need a miracle to have what everyone wants in stock at the same time. I know because I've been checking multiple times a day for months. Never more than 2 of the ones we want there at a time.

Also, if you buy via the hotel reservation, the bands have your name inside. Which seems like a small thing, but it makes my little kids SO HAPPY. Only way to get the name inside is by ordering the bands via the resort reservation.

The selling out is even worse for the "girlie" designs (I'm looking at you Disney Ladies and your magicBands to match each outfit ). And I happen to have all daughters, very "girlie" daughters. I saw one princess design come into stock and sell back out in *minutes* on the app. But they didn't like it anyway LOL.

--> Please correct me if any of the assumptions above are incorrect. Now I'll ask for advice...

If our party of 5 all got bands at about $22 via the hotel reservation, that's $110. If we all got them in the parks at about $45, that's about twice as much: $225.

I'm getting close to giving up and throwing away the $115 difference and just telling my family that we're all going to pick out our own bands at 8am our first day at the Emporium.

Note I've already considered:
- I've looked up how to sync them, and think I can do that in ride lines pretty quickly, even taking to account the expected "firmware update" each will need. I have a Compute Science degree. I'm ready for this!
- I'll get key to the world cards from our resort the night we arrive.
- We're morning people. So no problem getting to MK super early. I believe the stores open 30min before Early Entry. I also believe it's the Emporium that sells MagicBands in MK. Never been much of a shopper, so this is all based on what I've read online, not experience.

But I also think about all the nice drinks and snacks I could get in EPCOT for that same $115 Maybe I should just force everyone to pick out one of the few available via the hotel reservation.

One piece of info I'm missing, that would be really good to know, is what the design selection is like at our resort shop (Wilderness Lodge) and MK Emporium? Is there more selection than online? Less? Designs I haven't seen before or just the same as online?

How do others deal with this? It's a $100-250 cost in our trip, that we'll be looking at every day, in every picture... I want to everyone to like their band, ya know?

Thanks for any advice or info!! This is driving me nuts and I need help
--Kait

 

[Mle8308]

Folks, I'm going nuts trying to get my whole party the magic band+ design of their dreams

So, as I understand it... the price for Magic Band+ bought in the parks is about $35 for solid colors and $45 for the designs. You save $10 on the design ones if you buy ahead of time from the disneystore online (aka all are about $35 there). And another $10ish if you buy via our disney resort reservation (about $22 ish for design ones).

What makes this simple task a nightmare is that the bands are constantly going in and out of stock. And it's not even the same between the offerings via the resort reservation (which are SUPER limited) and the online disney store (which are pretty "meh"). For example, the Tiana band my mom wants just went out of stock to buy via the resort reservation, but is still available on the online disney store. It actually was on sale yesterday, but only for a day and I didn't buy in time

I only get 1 opportunity to buy via my hotel reservation. I don't have to get a band for everyone in our party with that check-out. But I only get to do that check-out once. So, I basically need a miracle to have what everyone wants in stock at the same time. I know because I've been checking multiple times a day for months. Never more than 2 of the ones we want there at a time.

Also, if you buy via the hotel reservation, the bands have your name inside. Which seems like a small thing, but it makes my little kids SO HAPPY. Only way to get the name inside is by ordering the bands via the resort reservation.

The selling out is even worse for the "girlie" designs (I'm looking at you Disney Ladies and your magicBands to match each outfit ). And I happen to have all daughters, very "girlie" daughters. I saw one princess design come into stock and sell back out in *minutes* on the app. But they didn't like it anyway LOL.

--> Please correct me if any of the assumptions above are incorrect. Now I'll ask for advice...

If our party of 5 all got bands at about $22 via the hotel reservation, that's $110. If we all got them in the parks at about $45, that's about twice as much: $225.

I'm getting close to giving up and throwing away the $115 difference and just telling my family that we're all going to pick out our own bands at 8am our first day at the Emporium.

Note I've already considered:
- I've looked up how to sync them, and think I can do that in ride lines pretty quickly, even taking to account the expected "firmware update" each will need. I have a Compute Science degree. I'm ready for this!
- I'll get key to the world cards from our resort the night we arrive.
- We're morning people. So no problem getting to MK super early. I believe the stores open 30min before Early Entry. I also believe it's the Emporium that sells MagicBands in MK. Never been much of a shopper, so this is all based on what I've read online, not experience.

But I also think about all the nice drinks and snacks I could get in EPCOT for that same $115 Maybe I should just force everyone to pick out one of the few available via the hotel reservation.

One piece of info I'm missing, that would be really good to know, is what the design selection is like at our resort shop (Wilderness Lodge) and MK Emporium? Is there more selection than online? Less? Designs I haven't seen before or just the same as online?

How do others deal with this? It's a $100-250 cost in our trip, that we'll be looking at every day, in every picture... I want to everyone to like their band, ya know?

Thanks for any advice or info!! This is driving me nuts and I need help
--Kait

Not sure where you are getting the $22 price for the "design" ones via your reservation. The solid colors are $24.99 and the designs are $34.99, there is no additional $10 off, what is shown is the discounted price. The availability, as you have seen, changes hour to hour. There is definitely a much larger selection at the large shops on property, there is one at Disney Springs that is almost all MB's. The main shops in the parks will have better selections than the resorts. You do know that you do not have to buy the bands, you can use an Apple watch or a room key instead. I would suggest if you see a few on the reservation that people in your party like, order those. Then buy the rest when you arrive.

 

[Kait_]

My mistake. The first 2 of the options are $22, but that's a "100" special price. So buying through the reservation or the online disney store is the same price? Huh! I really thought there was a discount for buying through the hotel, but looks like you're right. I guess the only advantage is getting your name on the inside, then.

So 1 assumption wrong. Thank you @Mle8308 !

I figured the MK Emporium would have a better selection than the hotel store. But it has a larger selection than Disney Store online?

I have no problem paying an extra $10 per person ($20 per person started to feel a little steep ), and go through the trouble of buying and linking them during our first park day. But, if we're doing that, there should be an advantage. AKA More selection and everyone being able to get what they want.

 

[champagne&disney]

The battery needs to be charged to a certain level in order to apply the firmware update so it may not work while in line. YMMV.

I'd just order from the hotel reservation site - it's SO much cheaper for something you will only use for a few days .... and this is as someone with more MB+ than I really need. The plain ones are also great bc they go with all outfits. HA.

The MK Emporium is okay on selection, maybe about 20-25 or so options depending on the day? - the best in park at is Creations Shop in Epcot but World of Disney at DS is the best place for all things Disney.

 

[msmayor]

I can tell you that I was at Disney four weeks ago for a single day - I already had my own MB but needed to purchase two more...one for my husband, one for my son. I had been looking on-line at designs and nothing struck me, so I hoped I would find different ones onsite.

I went to World of Disney at Disney Springs and they had a LOT more designs than what I found on-line. I got two Star-Wars themed bands for them and was happy with my choices.

I then stopped in at a Star Wars shop elsewhere in Disney Springs and found an even BETTER band for my son, one he definitely liked better (I sent a picture). World of Disney didn't have this one, so I asked to exchange. I didn't realize that once you buy a band, they are non-returnable/non-exchangeable.

I asked very politely, explaining that I had only JUST purchased the first one 30 minutes prior (had the time-stamp receipt to prove it) and that it was still very much sealed in the original box. A manager agreed to the exception, and I was able to make the exchange.

Bottom line...there are more designs available on site based on my experience. Just make sure what you choose, you are happy with.

 

[erionm]

My mistake. The first 2 of the options are $22, but that's a "100" special price. So buying through the reservation or the online disney store is the same price? Huh! I really thought there was a discount for buying through the hotel, but looks like you're right. I guess the only advantage is getting your name on the inside, then.

If you purchase at pre-arrival pricing through your resort reservation you will save (at least ) $10 when compared to regular retail pricing (either at WDW or from DisneyStore.com). The two Disney100 MB+ bands and the Wish MB+ are further discounted for pre-arrival. The WIsh MB+ is (currently) cheaper from DisneyStore.com. You also don't pay for shipping when ordering through your resort reservation.

The Solid Color MB+ are $34.99 retail or $24.99 pre-arrival.
Most Graphic MB+ are $44.99 retail or $34.99 pre-arrival.

 

[CarolynFH]

- I've looked up how to sync them, and think I can do that in ride lines pretty quickly, even taking to account the expected "firmware update" each will need. I have a Compute Science degree. I'm ready for this!

I want to echo what @champagne&disney said above - the MB+ has to charge before the update can be applied. The one I received a few weeks ago took over an hour to charge, maybe longer, I don’t remember. So unfortunately the possibility of syncing them all while in ride lines is small.

I bought mine through our resort reservation, so it was already linked to me. I have no idea whether you absolutely must charge and update them before you can link them to anyone in MDE, if you buy them on arrival. The most important functions don’t require the MB+ to be charged, but they do require it to be linked to a person in MDE.

 

[Kait_]

Thank you @champagne&disney and @CarolynFH for pointing out the flaw in my "buy them the first morning" plan. I had assumed they would be charged enough to sync. So if we buy there, we need to either use our key to the world cards the first day. Or drag our jet-lagged-butts shopping the first night.

I confess, I like the idea of being able to look in the shops and potentially find a band I love rather than just taking one I don't hate from the online store (and also for my family). My biggest fear is we decide to do that, knowing that means roughly an extra $50 (honestly probably more because someone is going to want a more expensive one) for our party of 5 and not having magic bands the first day -- and then it turns out the Emporium doesn't have any better bands than online

 

[subtchr]

@Kait_ where are you seeing bands at the Disney Store online for the same price as a resort pre-order? I'm only seeing solids for $35 and designs for $45, which is $10 more than the resort pre-order, and the same as in person onsite.

 

[BrianL]

Thank you @champagne&disney and @CarolynFH for pointing out the flaw in my "buy them the first morning" plan. I had assumed they would be charged enough to sync. So if we buy there, we need to either use our key to the world cards the first day. Or drag our jet-lagged-butts shopping the first night.

Note that even with no charge, you can still use the bands as your tickets and at any tap-points as the RFID chip draws power from the reader and does not require a battery. Only the long-range features/lights and vibrations, etc. will not work. So, if you were running down the battery playing the Bounty Hunters game or something, you can always use the band for admission, etc. Things like ride photos would not work though.

 

[CarolynFH]

Note that even with no charge, you can still use the bands as your tickets and at any tap-points as the RFID chip draws power from the reader and does not require a battery. Only the long-range features/lights and vibrations, etc. will not work. So, if you were running down the battery playing the Bounty Hunters game or something, you can always use the band for admission, etc. Things like ride photos would not work though.

So, OP would be able to link bands to individual profiles in MDE before charging the bands fully? That's what I wasn't sure of, whether the band would "insist" on being charged before being linked. Even though the band is partially charged, and the number is inside the band, and it makes sense that it should be linkable right away, I wasn't sure that it could!

 

[BrianL]

So, OP would be able to link bands to individual profiles in MDE before charging the bands fully? That's what I wasn't sure of, whether the band would "insist" on being charged before being linked. Even though the band is partially charged, and the number is inside the band, and it makes sense that it should be linkable right away, I wasn't sure that it could!

You should be able to link it to your account with the serial number. That is different than pairing it to your phone via Bluetooth, which is what is needed for the interactive features (and would require some battery charge).

 

[Kait_]

@Kait_ where are you seeing bands at the Disney Store online for the same price as a resort pre-order? I'm only seeing solids for $35 and designs for $45, which is $10 more than the resort pre-order, and the same as in person onsite.

I tried to get you a screenshot -- but it's gone now. Maybe I was seeing a Sale... but I also *just* pulled the trigger and did my resort order. Solid Pink came into stock, so I ordered for my 2 daughters and "declined" for the rest of us.

Makes me wonder if I was seeing a special price on Disney Store online up to when I placed the magic band order for my resort reservation. The Disney Store prices mostly had a price around $45 that was crossed out with something about $10 cheaper next to it. I think it said "pre arrival price" or something. But I am just going off memory now.

 

[subtchr]

The Disney Store prices mostly had a price around $45 that was crossed out with something about $10 cheaper next to it. I think it said "pre arrival price" or something. But I am just going off memory now.

I think you might be confusing the two options -- you would never see "pre-arrival" pricing on the Disney Store website.

There was a sale recently that was $10 off 2 select MagicBands on the Disney Store, but that's all I've seen there. They only place you can get the $10 savings with a pre-arrival order is through my Disney Experience.

Glad you grabbed the solid color ones while they are available.

 

[Crescent_Lake]

Note that even with no charge, you can still use the bands as your tickets and at any tap-points as the RFID chip draws power from the reader and does not require a battery. Only the long-range features/lights and vibrations, etc. will not work. So, if you were running down the battery playing the Bounty Hunters game or something, you can always use the band for admission, etc. Things like ride photos would not work though.

We still only have the regular old MagicBand and MagicBand2, lots of them. They've been working just fine for us but now we want some of the newer designs. We don't have any interest in the newer features however. Can we purchase MagicBand+ and just never charge them? Will they work for all tap ins and for opening resort doors just like the old ones even if we NEVER plug them in?

 

[BrianL]

We still only have the regular old MagicBand and MagicBand2, lots of them. They've been working just fine for us but now we want some of the newer designs. We don't have any interest in the newer features however. Can we purchase MagicBand+ and just never charge them? Will they work for all tap ins and for opening resort doors just like the old ones even if we NEVER plug them in?

They should. Even with zero charge, they should work at tap points for. The long-range features will not work nor will th eadvanced features like phone paigint/bluetoooth, lights, etc.