Everything you need to know about MagicBands.

[DVCKID]

I just got my magics bands on Friday for my trip on the 1/21/17 and they are the old style. so style 2.0 are still not out yet.

 

[Uncle Donald Wess]

If you want them, yes. They will not ship unless you customize them and you can't do that until they are active. If you never customize them, you never get them.

I personally just wait until there is a reason to get them. For example the slider for the next year or most recent case was to get the 2.0 version.

Oh ok, that answers my question. We won't be activating our passes until we get there. Thank you!

 

[sympatico]

My son/family will be staying with us in a vacation home in Feb. My DIL is running in the Princess Half Marathon on the 26th. I booked a room for them along with their two kids at POP for the 25th so that it would be easier for her to get around for the race. Anyway I have a MDE account which we all used the last time we went to Disney (stayed offsite). I have their room booked and it's on this account. We will be getting 4 day tickets also. What I want to know is: Is it ok to have the tickets linked to this account also and when they check in to POP would it make a difference if the MDE is in my name. (They're all listed on the account and I can give them the password to access it.)
I don't know if that makes any sense or not because I don't stay onsite and I don't really know how it works with MDE. I presume they get magicbands and can put the tickets and everything on them but is it ok to have the account in my name. Sorry for raveling on.

 

[Accident]

My son/family will be staying with us in a vacation home in Feb. My DIL is running in the Princess Half Marathon on the 26th. I booked a room for them along with their two kids at POP for the 25th so that it would be easier for her to get around for the race. Anyway I have a MDE account which we all used the last time we went to Disney (stayed offsite). I have their room booked and it's on this account. We will be getting 4 day tickets also. What I want to know is: Is it ok to have the tickets linked to this account also and when they check in to POP would it make a difference if the MDE is in my name. (They're all listed on the account and I can give them the password to access it.)
I don't know if that makes any sense or not because I don't stay onsite and I don't really know how it works with MDE. I presume they get magicbands and can put the tickets and everything on them but is it ok to have the account in my name. Sorry for raveling on.

Not really magicband questions but generally things in the account get linked to people so as long as the tickets are linked to the correct people, as well as the room it doesn't really matter. With purchases billed to the room (which means your card), and if you happen to be an AP and an issue comes up that might make it a little more interesting. Online checking these day and they may never even need to see the front desk (although hard to miss at pop but dont need to go up to it). that would txt you and not them..

It's actually not that difficult for them to just make their own mde and move over the stuff to their own where they can get their own credit card on file and pin but it's still your purchases and gift for the room and tickets. I've only done it with splitting my daughter off my account so I can't really offer the best way to do that except to say call and ask or post somewhere that isn't the magicband thread to try to get better help. being a room question, the resorts forum might offer some but I find the planning forum to get the most activity from others on here.

 

[sympatico]

OK Thanks

 

[bweagle]

Made reservations last week on Disney.com for an upcoming trip this summer. Looked on the MagicBand Link on mydisneyexperience to choose new MagicBands, but the only thing I see listed are the ones from our last trip (which we no longer have). How soon should I see a link to choose colors for our new bands?

 

[Accident]

Made reservations last week on Disney.com for an upcoming trip this summer. Looked on the MagicBand Link on mydisneyexperience to choose new MagicBands, but the only thing I see listed are the ones from our last trip (which we no longer have). How soon should I see a link to choose colors for our new bands?

unless something has changed, I remember it being right away. I would give it day or two, if your not seeing the option than reach out to disney for help.

 

[Uncranky Donald]

Yes, every disney resort reservation you get has included in price magicbands for everyone staying in the room. they have added the option about a year or two ago to decline the bands if you want. AP and DVC members also get included in price magicbands.

My personal experience, if you care about the ride photos there is a battery in the band that eventually dies and even if not dead, it might be too tweak to signal the ride where you are sitting on it so you should be getting every band that disney wants to send you. If you don't care about ride photos then your band will work for everything else long after that battery is dead. (In theory, forever).

Also, it's not uncommon to see people matching their clothes with the color of their magicband so they get all of them in different colors so they can mix and match their outfit that moment.

EDIT TO ADD: old bands still work if you don't want them.

Ok my friend, you're clearly the one to ask,I have a couple MB questions for you
I have several old bands from '14 & '15, I think 5 total. Two different models, the original and whatever replaced it.
A) Are ALL these still good to use?
B) How do you know if the battery inside is dead? (don't wanna miss ride photos)
C) I have an AP band to order on my MDE for a June trip, how long should I hold out to ensure I get mailed the new model band?
D)I received a custom (regular type) band for Christmas that I also would like to use for June (its a long trip) which leads to......
E) How many bands is TOO many to switch between b4 I risk one of them giving me a problem? Ive only ever used one at a time.
Thanks for you knowing so much!!!!

PS - Im also staying onsite at 3 different hotels, so I could get up to 3 more bands!! Ahhhh thats a lot of bands!!!!

 

[Accident]

Ok my friend, you're clearly the one to ask,I have a couple MB questions for you
I have several old bands from '14 & '15, I think 5 total. Two different models, the original and whatever replaced it.
A) Are ALL these still good to use?

The touch the band features doesn't use the battery so they should last forever in theory. The battery that dies powers the wireless half of the band and that is used for auto-linking of ride photos and videos.

I use the AP bands as my litmus test. Disney gives annual passholders a band every year so I do the same with my bands and it's worked well. There is an exception to this, I picked up a limited edition band in sept 15, it disappeared and was replaced by a new design limited back 1 month later. Worked great that trip. 5 months later it was missing most of the photos. So when looking at purchasing a band that is labeled limited, I just assume it's only good for this trip when I decide if it's worth buying. exception is if it's seasonal or dated. so a 2017 band I would still use in early 2018. Last easter, I'd expect to work most if not all of 2017. etc etc etc.

Another thing to note is near the end of 2015 a thinner but more powerful wireless 1.0 band came out. if it's the thickness of your 2014 band then I personally would replace it.

B) How do you know if the battery inside is dead? (don't wanna miss ride photos)

A picture doesn't show up automatically. There is no other way and I keep stumping disney with this question any time I find someone to ask.

C) I have an AP band to order on my MDE for a June trip, how long should I hold out to ensure I get mailed the new model band?

The new 2.0 model is shipping for AP bands already, I got mine on dec 24th. If the yearly slider is important, mine came with the '16 orange one, I've not heard if anyone is getting a different ap slider yet and nobody really knows if they even plan to change the slider. At this time nobody is reporting getting them for resorts yet and that is expected per the release announcement but any day we'll start to hear resort bands are the new ones.

D)I received a custom (regular type) band for Christmas that I also would like to use for June (its a long trip) which leads to......
E) How many bands is TOO many to switch between b4 I risk one of them giving me a problem? Ive only ever used one at a time.

Right about 20 is where you might have issues and what disney will do is delete your oldest bands from the account if that happens. I have 16 right now and no issues.

Thanks for you knowing so much!!!!

I never wanted to be the magicband expert, it just happened.

PS - Im also staying onsite at 3 different hotels, so I could get up to 3 more bands!! Ahhhh thats a lot of bands!!!!

If anyone in your group/family likes to color coordinate bands to outfits, they will be thrilled!

 

[Uncranky Donald]

The touch the band features doesn't use the battery so they should last forever in theory. The battery that dies powers the wireless half of the band and that is used for auto-linking of ride photos and videos.

I use the AP bands as my litmus test. Disney gives annual passholders a band every year so I do the same with my bands and it's worked well. There is an exception to this, I picked up a limited edition band in sept 15, it disappeared and was replaced by a new design limited back 1 month later. Worked great that trip. 5 months later it was missing most of the photos. So when looking at purchasing a band that is labeled limited, I just assume it's only good for this trip when I decide if it's worth buying.

Another thing to note is near the end of 2015 a thinner but more powerful wireless 1.0 band came out. if it's the thickness of your 2014 band then I personally would replace it.

A picture doesn't show up automatically. There is no other way and I keep stumping disney with this question any time I find someone to ask.

The new 2.0 model is shipping for AP bands already, I got mine on dec 24th. If the yearly slider is important, mine came with the '16 orange one, I've not heard if anyone is getting a different ap slider yet and nobody really knows if they even plan to change the slider. At this time nobody is reporting getting them for resorts yet and that is expected per the release announcement but any day we'll start to hear resort bands are the new ones.

Right about 20 is where you might have issues and what disney will do is delete your oldest bands from the account if that happens. I have 16 right now and no issues.

I never wanted to be the magicband expert, it just happened.

If anyone in your group/family likes to color coordinate bands to outfits, they will be thrilled!

This is SO much great information & exactly what I was looking for!!!
So yes, all the old bands I have resemble the thicker old ones, so I think accepting all new ones from the resorts, plus the AP and custom one will give me the best selection And 20?!! Woah, I thought you were gonna say like 6, thats a lot! OK, then I shall join the tribe of MagicBand-ers!! Bummer about the pictures,having to lose a couple to find out your bands lost its wireless battery...but I guess it won't matter for this trip as I will be starting fresh with all new bands.
I think thats it!! So I'll hold off ordering MagicBands for everyone else on MDE who have regular tix until I see the new bands being released to resort members.
Thanks again

 

[Surgie2]

A question about Magic Bands and small children. My grandchildren will be 5, 5, and 4 at the time of our trip in May 2018. They are all pretty slightly built with small wrists. Are there any issues with bands not staying on well?

 

[Tigerlulu]

Made reservations last week on Disney.com for an upcoming trip this summer. Looked on the MagicBand Link on mydisneyexperience to choose new MagicBands, but the only thing I see listed are the ones from our last trip (which we no longer have). How soon should I see a link to choose colors for our new bands?

Did the link ever show up for you? It's not showing up for me either. I did the help chat tonight and of course was referred to Disney IT over the phone. Spent twenty minutes on hold and quit. Wondering if anyone else is having this issue. Maybe it's a glitch with the new band switchover? (Yes I know that shouldn't make much sense, but this is Disney IT...)

 

[MSPeeler]

A question about Magic Bands and small children. My grandchildren will be 5, 5, and 4 at the time of our trip in May 2018. They are all pretty slightly built with small wrists. Are there any issues with bands not staying on well?

I'm not sure if this is allowed, but I found a site that goes into detail about this exact topic and has good advice:

https://projectsinparenting.com/2016/03/12/kids-size-or-small-wrist-magic-bands/

 

[Accident]

There are reports of people checking in near 1/27/2017 that received 2.0 bands in the mail.. Some are saying they are split say and got 1 set of old and 1 set of new as well..

I think we hit the point that resort bands are 2.0 so if your checking in near or after 1/27 you are probably getting 2.0 bands.

 

[Surgie2]

Thank you MSPeeler, that site had a simple solution.

 

[Link2016]

Is there a better selection of magic bands in the Park or at Disney Springs? We will be having dinner at Disney Springs the night before we go to the park and I read you can purchase them there.

 

[Accident]

Is there a better selection of magic bands in the Park or at Disney Springs? We will be having dinner at Disney Springs the night before we go to the park and I read you can purchase them there.

They are all over the park but yes you'll find the most variety including design your own which has a lot of retired designs available around property. Pin traders is probably the larger selection and design your own is in co-op at springs. but there are some designs only available here and there, especially if they are limited so there isn't enough stock to put everywhere.

 

[mysteriouspnai]

I have a magic band from a trip in may 2014. Would I still be able to use this magic band for a trip in Feb 2014 or would there be some capability or software issues?

 

[siskaren]

I have a magic band from a trip in may 2014. Would I still be able to use this magic band for a trip in Feb 2014 or would there be some capability or software issues?

I assume you mean Feb 2017, not Feb 2014, but yes, you can still use it. The only issue would be the battery, but even that is only an issue for long-range functions like ride photos. For things where you touch it to something - park entry, hotel room entry, FP use - the battery isn't needed.

 

[Tpeila]

My children used magic bands at Auntis in Aulani. Can these same bands be used in WDW? We would like to gift them to some friends.