Do I really need a Magic Band

[Forevermarypoppins]

To put it nicely: I DO NOT want to spend $$ on more MB's. I had some that were 5 years old and tossed them. I'll have to look to see IF I still have mine from 2 years ago, making it 3 yrs old when I'll be back in WDW.
I know we can handle doing things the old fashion way - tickets!! IS THAT even an option?

I plan on writing to Disney Co about having a Buy Back program for Magic Bands. What at utter waste to throw them and keep buying. There should be a way to have a battery replacement at the resorts or at Guest Services. Money Grabs are a real pet peeve for me!

 

[CastawayDonald]

You don't have to have a magic band. You can use an Android or Apple phone / watch to tap into the parks and pay for things just like with a magic band. I have had hit and miss luck with my Apple phone unlocking the hotel door, but fortunately my wife likes to use her 11 year old magic band so that we don't have to get a separate room key. My magic band of the same vintage still works as well... I just prefer using my watch for most things. The only thing that I have an issue with Tron... you need a magic band OR one of the temporary key cards that the CMs will give you.

Worst comes to worst, you can still use a key card to get into the parks. etc.

 

[Kooks and Bay Bay]

You can use a physical ticket media.
You don't need a magic band.
You also can use old ones so there was never a need to buy another.
So its not a waste.
Just make sure your location is on on your phone for MDE to get your ride pics where there is nothing to tap at the end of the attraction such as Frozen Ever After.
And if you notice a pic is missing you can give Disney info of what ride, what you were wearing, what time of day etc and they can usually find it.

 

[pooch]

Why did you throw the old ones away? Mine go back to 2013 and I plan to use all of them next week!

 

[HopperFan]

Do you NEED one?
No
Do they make it easier?
Yes
What other options?
You can request a card at the hotel or front gate for your door & tickets & all else MB do EXCEPT ride photos without tap option.
You can use your phone, though we found they are much slower and I often see CMs pull cards from pocket to offer those guests.
You can use your apple watch, though DS found it to be less responsive and opted to buy a MagicBand.

 

[Dave006]

I plan on writing to Disney Co about having a Buy Back program for Magic Bands. What at utter waste to throw them and keep buying. There should be a way to have a battery replacement at the resorts or at Guest Services. Money Grabs are a real pet peeve for me!

There is no buy back program but you can hand them in at a resort Front desk on your next visit. It’s a good idea to deactivate your old MagicBand prior to having it recycled.

Your older Original MB, and MB 2 will still work for all tap transactions. The battery function was really just a gimmick that was used for a while to make some ride queues interactive, and to allow you to get Ride pictures without tapping at the exit or pressing a button.

Save you ink, paper, and stamp or your electronic ink. The older original MB, and the MB 2 are don't have a replaceable battery. The latest version is it the MB+ and it is rechargeable. The MB+ arrive in July 2022, and is used a WDW, DLR, and Disney Cruise Line.

Dave

 

[muppets3d]

The batteries in MagicBands are not needed, the tap functionality does not require any battery in the band. It's entirely powered by the tapstile.

So there is no need to constantly buy magic bands. The one you got in 2013 for free still works. The one you bought in 2022, presumably, will still work in 2032.

If you don't have a magicband and don't want to buy one, you can either use a digital wallet on your phone - or get a free Key to the World card from guest relations.

People say you need a magicband with battery to get photos automatically linked. Not true! If you have the WDW app on your phone, it provides the same functionality. And Disney also uses facial recognition to link photos if all else fails.

 

[lovethattink]

Both mine and my dh’s favorite bands are falling apart. His is now a nub. Mine doesn’t always stay shut. We know we don’t need a MB. We didn’t want to pay for a new one. But we broke down last week and ordered MB.

To me, it’s easier to use an MB than dig for a ticket. My oldest ds and his wife use tickets. We’re always ready to scan and they are digging around for the ticket to scan. I think if you keep the ticket in an easily accessible place it would be just as easy to use a ticket as an mb.

Often those using their phones to tap, hold up the queues.

 

[kimmyg26]

When we went in July, it was my first trip back to the World since pre-covid. I was used to the free magic bands. As a family, we decided against buying magic bands and using that money for snacks, souvenirs, etc. We all opted to wear a lanyard and put our keys to the world card inside. No issues at all.

If the magic bands were still free or we went multiple times a year, I would get a band. However, the lanyards were a fraction of the cost and worked perfectly fine for us and the kids.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

When we went in July, it was my first trip back to the World since pre-covid. I was used to the free magic bands. As a family, we decided against buying magic bands and using that money for snacks, souvenirs, etc. We all opted to wear a lanyard and put our keys to the world card inside. No issues at all.

If the magic bands were still free or we went multiple times a year, I would get a band. However, the lanyards were a fraction of the cost and worked perfectly fine for us and the kids.

Nothing wrong with the lanyard/key card approach. But if you had free magic bands from previous trips, why not use them? They still do most of the functions you need.

 

[MamaMermaid]

I love mine but no, you don't.

 

[ParrotBill]

I used my Gen 1 Magic Bands for years because there was no battery.

But I own two of the Magic Band+ newest type and the first one, only 2 years old, won't charge any more so the active functions are broken. And with a deleted battery, it won't sync to my iphone with Bluetooth any more. So it's deactivated and thrown out. If the new generation is going to fail after 2 or 3 years I won't be spending $35-60 on new ones.

 

[Dave006]

I used my Gen 1 Magic Bands for years because there was no battery.

All MBs started with a (button) battery, and as I stated above the battery driven functions are just a gimmick in my personal view. Yes even one that you might have received back in 2013 still would work for all tap functions.

But I own two of the Magic Band+ newest type and the first one, only 2 years old, won't charge any more so the active functions are broken.

And with a deleted battery, it won't sync to my iphone with Bluetooth any more.

Then it would work just like a MB, MB 2, and a now MB+ that will no longer charge. I am not sure why you chose to deactivate it, and throw it out. Since you have an iPhone you don't lose any functional features by having a dead battery on your MB+. Your iPhone can use its Bluetooth for select attraction pictures.

The only thing we hate about the MB+ is that they don't tend to stay securely closed while enjoying the parks.

Dave

 

[peachiepie]

If you are going to use a physical ticket, just be careful about storing it on a lanyard. On my last trip my friend managed to drop their card somewhere between the hotel and the bus, so we had to get a replacement. That lasted until the following day when they lost the replacement on Rock n Rollercoaster somehow. Get a secure lanyard pouch, not one of those flimsy plastic pouches.

 

[pooch]

Or a more responsible friend!!

 

[MirandaB]

We did not use magic bands when there in April. I used my phone and DH used his applewatch. Worked just fine.