Disney’s Magic Band FAQ Link

[CarolynFH]

I have done some forum searching but I can’t find an answer to my question. If my wife and I decide not to use MBs on our upcoming trip, will we both need to carry our cell phones for theme park entry or will one phone be able to scan in for both of us?

You can use one phone, switching from one ticket to the other, but a more convenient solution might be to get ticket cards (no charge) at the first park you go to. The CM at the tapstyle can issue them, or you can go to any ticket booth at any park or the Ticket Center at Disney Springs before you enter the first park to get the cards. If you’re staying at a Disney resort, your room key will be your park ticket, too.

ETA remember, you’ll need to scan your ticket at every LL entrance too. Again, you can use one phone, but it’s quicker to scan two cards than to switch tickets on the phone.

 

[highlander357]

@CarolynFH Thanks for the reply. Great advice.

As I was doing more research, I found some conflicting information on the older magic bands. If we have magic bands from 2022, will they work on doors, tap to pay and turnstiles, but just not work on ride photo capture and in park scavenger hunt things? This I could live with.

 

[erionm]

If we have magic bands from 2022, will they work on doors, tap to pay and turnstiles, but just not work on ride photo capture and in park scavenger hunt things? This I could live with.

Older MagicBands will work for any function where you need to touch the band to a reader. That includes park entry, room entry, room charging, LL redemption, etc. Just make sure they are still marked as "Active" in MDE. For ride photos, make sure the MDE mobile app has permission to access bluetooth on your smartphone and the photos should link.

 

[highlander357]

Thanks @erionm

My next trip is focused on Food and Wine festival so unless they are adding cameras to take pictures of me eating lamington cake at the Australia booth, I won’t need the photos.

 

[acellison]

After booking my trip, I received my MB+ in the mail. Then I added another park day to my trip. Will this automatically show up on my MB+?

 

[CarolynFH]

After booking my trip, I received my MB+ in the mail. Then I added another park day to my trip. Will this automatically show up on my MB+?

Anything that is linked to your profile in MDE will automatically link to your MB.

Think of your MB as a key that opens and connects to anything that’s in the treasure chest of your MDE profile.

 

[Tiggerific04]

A couple questions…

1. I have a MB+ from 2022. When I charge it, it initially lights up green and vibrates but then goes dark. When I take it off the charger and try to power it on or off, nothing happens. The battery is dead, right? (I know it will still work for tap functions.)

2. If I want to use my Apple Watch as a MB, how easy is that to do? I have my ticket linked already. Do I need to open anything on my phone or watch before tapping into a park/LL?

 

[CarolynFH]

A couple questions…

1. I have a MB+ from 2022. When I charge it, it initially lights up green and vibrates but then goes dark. When I take it off the charger and try to power it on or off, nothing happens. The battery is dead, right? (I know it will still work for tap functions.)

2. If I want to use my Apple Watch as a MB, how easy is that to do? I have my ticket linked already. Do I need to open anything on my phone or watch before tapping into a park/LL?

Sorry, I can’t help with the first question.

But for the second one, pull up your ticket (MagicMobile card) in your wallet and tap the i in the upper right corner. Scroll down and make sure Express Mode is active (it should be, because it’s active by default). If Express Mode is on, all you need to do is tap your watch to the Mickey, and you’re good to go!

 

[CarolynFH]

1. I have a MB+ from 2022. When I charge it, it initially lights up green and vibrates but then goes dark. When I take it off the charger and try to power it on or off, nothing happens. The battery is dead, right? (I know it will still work for tap functions.)

I took out my MB+ this morning because I had briefly seen something in MDE about needing to update it. I found out there's a lot of information in the MDE app about the status of my MB+, such as battery strength and whether it's paired to my phone or not. Have you looked at your MDE account? It's in the hamburger menu (three lines lower right), all the way down under Account -> Magic Bands and Cards. I just updated mine and then set it to charge, and the app is telling me that it is charging. Hope you find all is well with yours!

 

[erionm]

2. If I want to use my Apple Watch as a MB, how easy is that to do? I have my ticket linked already. Do I need to open anything on my phone or watch before tapping into a park/LL?

If you haven't already, you need to use the MDE Mobile app to setup a MagicMobile Pass. Open the app and touch the menu icon (3 bars) at the bottom right. Swipe up until you see "Set Up MagicMobile Entry". Touch that and then follow the on screen prompts.

 

[Sparrow'sLady]

We cannot stand the new MB+. Absolutely hate that they have to be charged and do not last a full day. My husband refuses to wear one and would prefer to pull his card out of his wallet every time over MB+.

In the past we took the puck out of his MB (original one) and put it in that key ring/chain they offered. He preferred that. Obviously Disney wants everybody to spend $35 on a MB, so that option is no longer an offering in the parks.

We found some key rings/chains on etsy that they claim work with MB+. I would be willing to try that for him, although you still have to charge it.

If he takes his old (2016 - 2019ish) puck in the key ring/chain, will it still work? My understanding is that it will work for ride and park entry, just not for ride photos.

 

[erionm]

We cannot stand the new MB+. Absolutely hate that they have to be charged and do not last a full day. My husband refuses to wear one and would prefer to pull his card out of his wallet every time over MB+.

In the past we took the puck out of his MB (original one) and put it in that key ring/chain they offered. He preferred that. Obviously Disney wants everybody to spend $35 on a MB, so that option is no longer an offering in the parks.

We found some key rings/chains on etsy that they claim work with MB+. I would be willing to try that for him, although you still have to charge it.

If he takes his old (2016 - 2019ish) puck in the key ring/chain, will it still work? My understanding is that it will work for ride and park entry, just not for ride photos.

You don't have to charge a MB+ unless you are interested in the interactive features or automatic linking of attraction photos. Any version of MagicBand with a dead battery is functionally equivalent to a RFID enabled card.

 

[Sparrow'sLady]

You don't have to charge a MB+ unless you are interested in the interactive features or automatic linking of attraction photos. Any version of MagicBand with a dead battery is functionally equivalent to a RFID enabled card.

So the only issue is the ride photos? (that is what the CM at their helpdesk said)

 

[CarolynFH]

So the only issue is the ride photos? (that is what the CM at their helpdesk said)

Yes, that's the only issue. And if you allow MDE to connect to Bluetooth on your phone, your ride photos are supposed to link that way. So no need for a MB with a functional battery.

 

[erionm]

Disney added a bunch of MB+ designs if anyone was waiting for a larger selection.

 

[FLCA026]

Do the magic bands take a while to charge?

 

[CarolynFH]

Do the magic bands take a while to charge?

Yes, ours seem to!

 

[FLCA026]

Yes, ours seem to!

ok seems it has taken all day to charge

 

[CarolynFH]

ok seems it has taken all day to charge

I can’t remember how long mine took the very first time, but I charged it again last week, which was several months after I received it. I think it took a couple of hours for the green light to encircle the puck, but MDE said it was still charging, so I left it for a few hours more. However, at bedtime I said Enough! and took it off the charger - and MDE then said it was charged!

IOW, I believe that when the green light is making a circle around the puck, it’s finished charging.

 

[FLCA026]

I can’t remember how long mine took the very first time, but I charged it again last week, which was several months after I received it. I think it took a couple of hours for the green light to encircle the puck, but MDE said it was still charging, so I left it for a few hours more. However, at bedtime I said Enough! and took it off the charger - and MDE then said it was charged!

IOW, I believe that when the green light is making a circle around the puck, it’s finished charging.

oh ok - that is what is says charging. ok I will check. thanks!