Do Off-Site Guests get Magic Bands??

[AeroKU]

We are staying off-site and ordering tickets through Undercover Tourist. Do we get Magic Bands? How do we do FP+ and Memory Maker without the bands?

 

[Robo]

We are staying off-site and ordering tickets through Undercover Tourist.

1- Do we get Magic Bands?

2- How do we do FP+ and Memory Maker without the bands?

1- MB's are for sale to all guests at WDW. $12.95 each, plus tax.

2- RFID plastic tickets ("regular park tickets") offer access to your MyDisneyExperience account
(which is where you book your FP+ and MM,) just like MB's.

 

[DisneyDaze928]

Once you get your tickets, you can link them to MDE using the bar code on the tickets. If you aren't getting your tickets until you get down there, not sure how you would be able to do that. You can't book FP+ without adding your tickets to My Disney Experience.

You can purchase magic bands as well. You won't get them comp, since you are staying off property but I think that they are $12 or $15.

 

[AeroKU]

So is there any reason to have a Magic Band? We already have our tickets, so if I link them to my MDE, I can use the tickets just as an on-site guest would use the MB?

 

[richmo]

So is there any reason to have a Magic Band? We already have our tickets, so if I link them to my MDE, I can use the tickets just as an on-site guest would use the MB?

As far as I know, an RFID ticket and a MagicBand are equivalent in every way. It is more a convenience issue, especially when using the band/ticket in park. Would you rather just tap your wrist to the device, or dig out your ticket? Personally, I used to keep tickets and paper fastpasses in my wallet, so I'd have to get it out everytime I entered the park, went to a FP machine or a fastpass return entrance. I find the MagicBand quite a bit handier.

Also, don't think of the $12.95 as an expense for just one trip. If you visit on a regular basis, I would think you could use the same Magicband for multiple trips.

 

[SuperRob]

So is there any reason to have a Magic Band? We already have our tickets, so if I link them to my MDE, I can use the tickets just as an on-site guest would use the MB?

Given that you can't use the MagicBand to unlock your room or make charges to your room, the additional convenience is very minimal, and in my estimation, not worth the $12.95 each.

Your family members, upon seeing others with the bands, may disagree, however.

There is ONE small exception. If you're playing Disney Infinity, placing a MagicBand on the portal unlocks the semi-mythical Disney Dragon. That might be worth it for your kids, since there's no other way to unlock it in the game.

 

[Robo]

Also, don't think of the $12.95 as an expense for just one trip. If you visit on a regular basis,

I would think you could use the same Magicband for multiple trips.

The MagicBands' internal batteries (permanently sealed into the band) are supposedly rated to last for about 2.5 years, so a single new band can be good for as many trips in roughly that time-frame as a guest makes.

No word on if Disney will offer replacement bands (cost-free or at a reduced rate) when a band's batteries eventually die.

 

[AeroKU]

Thanks! We generally go every other year, so it's probably not worth $65 to outfit my family of 5. It would be nice if they punched a hole in the card tickets so we could put them on a lanyard or something.

 

[Robo]

Thanks! We generally go every other year, so it's probably not worth $65 to outfit my family of 5. It would be nice if they punched a hole in the card tickets so we could put them on a lanyard or something.

You can put them in a plastic badge-holder lanyard (Walmart, Office Depot, etc.)
and the RFID will read through the card holder if you hold it to the touch-point
at the gates and FP+ entrances.

 

[EeyoreFan90]

Can you pre-order them or do you need to wait till you get there to purchase them. We are staying of site but bought our tickets through Disney?

 

[Robo]

Can you pre-order them or do you need to wait till you get there to purchase them. We are staying of site but bought our tickets through Disney?

I've not seen MB's offered for advance purchase... yet.