Do you still get magic bands?

[coolbrook]

We use Magic Bands: fast, convenient, and cute.

 

[buzz1fan]

We have bands from our 2019 trip- I get worried they won’t work. We have a bunch in drawer. Not sure I k ow exactly which ones are from 2019 or before! I may just order new ones

 

[chaoskids]

We like magic bands much better than the phone. It's more convenient to use the band then pulling out our phones.

 

[Violet Parr]

We are arriving in less than a month, and every member of our family has a smart phone, and I have an Apple Watch. Our kids are also older, so they will be able to begin to really explore solo on this trip.

What would be need Magic Bands for? Am I missing something? Will they be useful with Genie +, perhaps? I don't want to spend $40+ to get new bands if we are not going to actually use them in the parks.

Thoughts?

ETA: Just thought about charging to rooms. Can my kids do that on Magic Mobile? I want them to be able to get a drink, etc. if they need to rather than handing them credit cards or cash.

 

[Robo]

MagicBands have never been "required."
You can use a plastic ticket card (free) for virtually anything a MB can do.

And, if each of you still has any "old" MBs from any previous WDW trips, the old ones will still work for your upcoming trip.

 

[plutolovr]

I have an AP and now I only use either my Apple watch or my phone. The watch can be used for access to the parks, entrance into FastPass queues (used for previous VIP tour)...or Lightening Lane in the future I guess. I use my phone to unlock my room, if staying onsite. I don't charge back to my room. I just use Apply Pay at most places.

 

[Robo]

Another current "Are MagicBands necessary?" thread HERE.

 

[joshstamp]

I don't think that they're necessary anymore but it wont stop me from buying them , stops me having to look at my phone any more than necessary throughout the day

 

[reddog21]

I tried using my phone when I was at the park and it working perfectly. If you have people in your party that don't have there own phone I would highly suggest magic bands. You can load all your park tickets on one account on your phone but you have to swipe each ticket one at a time at the park entrance. It's easy to do but kind of a pain.

 

[Schneewittchen37]

I don't think that they're necessary anymore but it wont stop me from buying them , stops me having to look at my phone any more than necessary throughout the day

I basically agree here. It makes getting in and out of the room easy, especially since I will not buy phones for DS11 and DD9. And it's nice to not have to dig stuff out for park entry or charging things to the room. I have a Disney Visa card, but that discount doesn't apply to every transaction and sometimes I no desire to dig out a card just to fill a popcorn bucket.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

as far as I can tell, they are no longer necessary at all. However, they can still be used, and they might still be more convenient than other forms. I have old MagicBands to use, but I literally never need to buy another one.

 

[ftbaker1313]

For our next trip in Feb we are buying bands for everyone. Our plan is to wrap them as Christmas presents and give to all who are on the trip. This will be how some of them find out about the trip.

 

[loves to dive]

Necessary? Probably not. Easier? For me, yes. I don't use them to charge to the room because I usually stay at Dolphin and you can't but even if I'm staying in a Disney resort I still don't. I like to keep my hotel stay separate from my other expenses. I don't have an Apple phone (we actually only have one Apple product in our home, my very old IPOD nano). I don't like using my phone for everything, I take pictures on it and about twice a day might check MDE while in the parks and read on my Kindle app while in lines. It's just simple to have the MB on my wrist and hold it out when needed without having to turn on the phone and look for whatever. My son's SO doesn't have any MBs so used a good old fashioned plastic ticket to get into the parks a few weeks ago. He had his MB which he used for Photopass. I have lots of old MBs so it's no big deal for me.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

I have an AP and now I only use either my Apple watch or my phone. The watch can be used for access to the parks, entrance into FastPass queues (used for previous VIP tour)...or Lightening Lane in the future I guess. I use my phone to unlock my room, if staying onsite. I don't charge back to my room. I just use Apply Pay at most places.

Do you do the Apple Watch access through the MagicMobile tech?

 

[suzimar57]

Do you buy Magic Bands when you purchase tickets? (are they an "option"?) Or where would I buy MB?

Haven't been to WDW in 14 yrs, so this is new to me - thanks!

 

[jimmymc]

You can buy them but you don't have to. You should get a small plastic card with your tickets, and this will work the same as a magic band. You can also use an older band.

 

[scrappinginontario]

We are arriving in less than a month, and every member of our family has a smart phone, and I have an Apple Watch. Our kids are also older, so they will be able to begin to really explore solo on this trip.

What would be need Magic Bands for? Am I missing something? Will they be useful with Genie +, perhaps? I don't want to spend $40+ to get new bands if we are not going to actually use them in the parks.

Thoughts?

ETA: Just thought about charging to rooms. Can my kids do that on Magic Mobile? I want them to be able to get a drink, etc. if they need to rather than handing them credit cards or cash.

Merged with a current thread discussing same questions.

 

[jimmymc]

Do you buy Magic Bands when you purchase tickets? (are they an "option"?) Or where would I buy MB?

Haven't been to WDW in 14 yrs, so this is new to me - thanks!

Not when you buy tickets. You can buy them when you make a resort reservation, in the parks or resorts, or on shopdisney.com.

 

[heresabe]

I like the convenience of the Bands. I have several that I received for free and one for which I paid $5. I don't intend to pay more than $5 for a MB- my oldest Band still works.

 

[PrincessJazmin]

Do the cards with the tickets have a hole to attach to a lanyard?