Doing the parks etc WITHOUT a Magic Band

[ww52]

OK - so in a different thread I asked about distinguishing like color bands (and got suggestions about decals from third party sources).

But the option of going band-less was brought up a couple times.

We're staying at the Dolphin, so the utility of the MagicBands is decidedly less.

So - if we decide on "no Bands" - what do we need?

Obviously, a physical ticket. We don't have that for everyone, but obviously could get that.

We're all set up in MDE and have fast passes. Here's are the questions then:

Can we use MDE to activate the FP and get on the ride? Or do we use the ticket?

And here's the wrinkle - most of us have a five day hopper. But two people have a left over 4 day hopper and a one day NON-MK ticket. The system links the FPs to a person, not a ticket. So not an issue? No matter which ticket was used, it would know that person had a FP for that attraction/time?

Side question - is it possible to do Disney without the MDE app? It seems like the answer is "not if you want a fast pass".

It just seems to me that the Magic Bands are worth the convenience, even though we have to purchase them. Ticket/FPs in one pretty hard to lose place.

 

[chalee94]

You would use the ticket for FPs and not the magic bands. FPs are attached to the ticket.

You would need the MDE app to attach a FP to the tickets, yes.

 

[wgeo]

OK - so in a different thread I asked about distinguishing like color bands (and got suggestions about decals from third party sources).

But the option of going band-less was brought up a couple times.

We're staying at the Dolphin, so the utility of the MagicBands is decidedly less.

So - if we decide on "no Bands" - what do we need?

Obviously, a physical ticket. We don't have that for everyone, but obviously could get that.

We're all set up in MDE and have fast passes. Here's are the questions then:

Can we use MDE to activate the FP and get on the ride? Or do we use the ticket?

And here's the wrinkle - most of us have a five day hopper. But two people have a left over 4 day hopper and a one day NON-MK ticket. The system links the FPs to a person, not a ticket. So not an issue? No matter which ticket was used, it would know that person had a FP for that attraction/time?

Side question - is it possible to do Disney without the MDE app? It seems like the answer is "not if you want a fast pass".

It just seems to me that the Magic Bands are worth the convenience, even though we have to purchase them. Ticket/FPs in one pretty hard to lose place.

There will be no problem with the fact that some people have 2 different tickets, other then you'll have to keep track of the other physical ticket. I commented in your other thread, but I had no issue keeping track of my ticket, same way I keep track of my CC and Driver's license while in the park. Just pulled it out when we used it as FP and then put it away while we were getting on the ride. MB's are a convience thing but definitely not a requirement.

But yes MDE app is pretty much a requirement if you want to take full advantage of the FP+ system, I mean you could use the FP+ kiosks located in the park instead of the app, but that would be rather a big pain, in my opinion.

 

[chalee94]

I mean you could use the FP+ kiosks located in the park instead of the app, but that would be rather a big pain, in my opinion.

Thought about that after I posted. You'd have to wait till you were in the park to make a FP and then you have to manually make note of which rides and times so you remembered where to be. Not a good plan...

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

If no magic bands you just need your physical ticket.

No you can't use MDE to use your FP+ you need the actual ticket to scan at the attraction.

Your person/ticket/FP+ question is a bit confusing to me...
The FP+ is based on how many tickets you have/how many days are on them.
As long as both tickets are linked in MDE you can make FP+ selections for 5 days.
Beyond having to make sure that those people use the proper ticket to enter the park there won't be an issue with FP+ once in the park.

You certainly can opt to not use MDE and just go to a kiosk for FP+ but unless you're looking to leave your phones at the hotel I don't see why you wouldn't just get with the tech program and use the app.

 

[goofyernmost]

I have never used the band. My hard ticket (credit card like) has my ticket and accesses my FP's and ADR's. I don't load a CC number, I just use my credit card and I don't stay onsite, but, from what I understand even onsite the card does exactly the same thing as the bands. You scan the ticket instead of the band.

 

[ww52]

OK - sorry to be dense - actually it's more of a concern of "what could go wrong".

Let's say I have a one day ticket good at any park except MK as well a 4 day hopper. So I have two tickets for 5 days; I have FPs set for each of those 5 days in advance using MDE.

On the day we arrive, we check in, get settled, and head over the Epcot for late afternoon / early evening. Since we're not "hopping", I use up my one day.

We all have a FP for Frozen - I use my ticket. It will not care that I used the 1 day versus a hopper, right?

But IF for some reason I used the 4 day hopper instead, it will still let me use my Frozen FP, right?

Because it tied the FPs to me, not any particular ticket. And the tickets are tied to me. So as long as I'm using ANY of the tickets assigned to me, that ticket could be used to activate the FP. Because the ticket tells the system "it's WW52"; and then the system knows WW52 has a valid FP for Frozen at this day/time. Is that right?

(And yes, we certainly WILL use the app - that question was more a curiosity; it seemed from what I read that physical fast pass paper tickets no longer exist. Perhaps I read wrong?)

After all this - we'll probably get the MagicBands anyway for the Disney-Geek factor.

 

[anomamatt]

The plastic ticket (which is simply an rfid card that links to your MDE) is almost functionally identical to the RFIDs in the magic bands. The only difference is the long range emitter is in the bands and not the cards, this is used for some on ride photos. That is it. Otherwise, cards and bands are interchangeable.

 

[ww52]

I give up. I'm obviously not making myself clear. Two of us have TWO tickets - not one. Obviously they are not interchangeable.

While all indications are it won't matter re FastPasses, I keep getting responses that say "don't worry, the ticket acts like the magic bands. Not quite - I'd only have ONE Magic Band but I have TWO tickets.

Again, it appears it's not an issue - but the old "what could go wrong" kicks in (ESPECIALLY since it VERY much was an issue getting FPs at our 60 day window).

 

[marcyleecorgan]

No there are NO paper FP+ at kiosks anymore, it's all digital and loaded on your MDE. The ONLY paper FP+ there are now in-park are Pixie Dust Specials given by CM's.

If you linked your tickets, you were able to make FP+ ahead of time. If MDE did not detect any linked tickets, it would not let you book FP+. So you're good if you already have any booked FP+!

It honestly doesn't matter whether you have a MB on your wrist or you have a plastic card ticket, that is what you are going to be scanning each and every time the CM's tell you to scan. That data is all coming from your MDE account.
the Magicbands are simply a wearable technology that has a high novelty factor. Obviously at Swolphin you can't open your door with them which kills some of the novelty, for sure.

As far as your "what-if" scenario, you are correct that as long as MDE detects you have availability for the FP+ (i.e., you scanned a ticket to get through the gates) it will allow you to schedule and redeem them.

You just miiiiiiiight need to be careful at Guest Services to explicitly tell them that you want the 1 day NON Hopper ticket to be redeemed for your 1st EPCOT night. If MDE isn't yet giving you any issue about Tiering and booking them NOW, you very likely will NOT encounter issues at the Park, but a polite request to use the 1 day ticket first won't hurt.

Two tickets, one Magicband. No problem. You have ONE MDE account, you already linked your tickets to your account. If you are NOT getting MB's, then you will have to remember which plastic ticket you are using on which days. Use a Sharpie or something. If you are getting MB's, keep the plastic tickets with you as backup, but wear and scan your MB. BOTH would be using the data from the MDE account to activate things. Does that make sense?

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

OP you are completely overthinking this.
If the tickets are linked and the FP+ is made, you enter with whichever ticket and use it to enter the FP+ line.
No need to be so concerned that something will go wrong.

 

[anomamatt]

I give up. I'm obviously not making myself clear. Two of us have TWO tickets - not one. Obviously they are not interchangeable.

While all indications are it won't matter re FastPasses, I keep getting responses that say "don't worry, the ticket acts like the magic bands. Not quite - I'd only have ONE Magic Band but I have TWO tickets.

Again, it appears it's not an issue - but the old "what could go wrong" kicks in (ESPECIALLY since it VERY much was an issue getting FPs at our 60 day window).

When you link the tickets to MDE (which you will have to do to get advance FPs), it will assign them to a MDE profile. The physical card, at that point, simply becomes a link to your MDE. Just like a magic band.

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

Also since you have 2 different tickets to not confuse you even more just use the physical tickets instead of getting a magic band because if you get a magic band then you'll have go to guest services to prioritize your tickets.

 

[ww52]

If the tickets are linked and the FP+ is made, you enter with whichever ticket and use it to enter the FP+ line.

Thank you - I expected that was the case, but wanted to know explicitly.

We ran into an issue due to "2 different types of tickets for one person" when we were booking the FPs at the 60 day window. It wouldn't let us get MK FPs for the 2 people with the one day non-MK ticket; it somehow applied that ticket to the day we were trying to get the MK FPs. It took nearly a half hour for the CM on the phone to get it straightened out (obviously we missed out on some FPs)- and while I don't know for sure, I suspect what they did was in effect convert the "1 day non-MK ticket" to "1-day any park".

 

[ww52]

just use the physical tickets i

Thanks - I know about prioritizing from a different thread (would NOT have even thought of doing that - but glad I know).

The two people with the 2 ticket types don't have a physical ticket for the 1 day. In fact, of our entire party of 7 ticket holders, most do not have physical tickets

So we'd have to get them - which at this point I suspect Disney would charge us something for (at least shipping).. Cheaper than a Magic Band obviously but like I said elsewhere, we'll probably just get the bands for the Disney-geekness.

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

OP honestly after reading more posts you've confused me more than I've confused you lol.

Let me make sure its more clear on my end.
Just use the physical tickets so you don't have to go to guest services to prioritize.
Whichever ticket you use to enter the park is the tticket you will use for your FP+ that day.
Example if you use your non MK ticket at Epcot then use that ticket to enter the park and use that ticket to enter the FP+ lines.
Once you've used that ticket its used.
For the other days use the other ticket to enter the parks and enter the FP+ lines.
Again I feel like there's so much confusion on your part that its just making everything complicated.
It really doesn't have to be complicated lol.

If you want the physical tickets you could likely go to guest services and get them free of charge.

Its unfortunate that your party has made things complicated by not deciding to get a physical ticket or magic band from the get go.

 

[anomamatt]

Thanks - I know about prioritizing from a different thread (would NOT have even thought of doing that - but glad I know).

The two people with the 2 ticket types don't have a physical ticket for the 1 day. In fact, of our entire party of 7 ticket holders, most do not have physical tickets

So we'd have to get them - which at this point I suspect Disney would charge us something for (at least shipping).. Cheaper than a Magic Band obviously but like I said elsewhere, we'll probably just get the bands for the Disney-geekness.

RFID cards are free. You can get them from a ticket booth when you arrive. Or you can buy MBs.

All the RFID cards do (and same with MBs) is to provide a link to your MDE profile. As I said before, the only difference between them is the MB has a long-range emitter that will work on rides to give you photos (cards do not). But both function identically at the entrance and ride tapstiles.

 

[georgina]

Also since you have 2 different tickets to not confuse you even more just use the physical tickets instead of getting a magic band because if you get a magic band then you'll have go to guest services to prioritize your tickets.

Pretty sure this is NOT correct. As anamamatt said, BOTH tickets will link to the online account and act like a magicband. They still need to prioritize beforehand.

 

[anomamatt]

Pretty sure this is NOT correct. As anamamatt said, BOTH tickets will link to the online account and act like a magicband. They still need to prioritize beforehand.

One could always link them to two distinct MDE profiles... but otherwise, yes, if you give the same person both entitlements, the two cards will become a link to the same profile -- and the cards will be interchangeable. Just like having a couple dozen MBs on an individual MDE profile, they all link to the same profile.

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

I've forgotten my magic band a couple of times. Just walked off and left it in the room.

So I used my hard ticket. Worked the same way as my band. Although I guess I wouldn't have received some of the pictures/videos if my husband had also forgotten his band.