Has anyone decorated their Magic Bands? Please show us the pictures!

[Guiness92]

Well, I'm not really good with nail polish. It always comes out gloppy and weird looking lol. I went with spray paint for the white parts. Masked the band up all nice, then sprayed a few coats on. The images are all temporary tattoos, even the mickey signature all found at toys r us. I colored the mickey head in with a good black permanent marker. Once everything was done, I just used a automorive clear coat over the whole thing, hoping that it will hold up better than a cheap clear coat. So far so good, I just can't lay the band completely flat or cracking may occur.

 

[trekkie68]

I just had a cast member (who I'd called because our magic bands are going on a week of "being personalized - grrrr) tell me that paint over Mickey will interfere with the RFID. Not sure I believe her

We're here right now, and our painted bands work like a charm!

 

[LvsTnk]

Well, I'm not really good with nail polish. It always comes out gloppy and weird looking lol. I went with spray paint for the white parts. Masked the band up all nice, then sprayed a few coats on. The images are all temporary tattoos, even the mickey signature all found at toys r us. I colored the mickey head in with a good black permanent marker. Once everything was done, I just used a automorive clear coat over the whole thing, hoping that it will hold up better than a cheap clear coat. So far so good, I just can't lay the band completely flat or cracking may occur.

That's awesome!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I just had a cast member (who I'd called because our magic bands are going on a week of "being personalized - grrrr) tell me that paint over Mickey will interfere with the RFID. Not sure I believe her

And don't believe her. Just finishing a trip and had a puffy sticker over Mickey this time and it worked just fine. I've also had thick "jewels" over Mickey and had no issues at all. I'd actually almost swear it worked better and was easier to line up.

 

[Eetx]

So, I’m a radio frequency electrical engineer and huge Disney geek. Ready to learn more about the MagicBands than you ever wanted to know?

How do they work??
The Disney magic bands use two basic forms of communication:

1) Short-Range or Passive RFID: Passive RFID is what you use when your tap your band onto a receiver (at Disney, usually the glowing Mickey head). This uses a tiny chip like they used to have in the old keys to the kingdom cards. It does NOT require a battery. Basically, the receiver sends out a signal, the chip modulates it and pings back an identification number that is linked into the Disney system (so it knows if you have a valid ticket or whatever). This has a range of usually 0-10 cm, the closer the better. The “kiss” works best because the chip is near the mickey head in the band and there is no arm or the side of the band or whatever to cause interference. It also works best when they are parallel for some chip setups. Since this is passive (no battery, no active signal), the magic bands and receiver have to be fairly close.

2) Long-Range or Active RFID: Active RFID is different, it requires a battery. Here, instead of the the MagicBand just “reacting” to a receiver, it is sending at a signal at all times and the receiver merely listens. It has a range of 0-100 METERS depending on the specific design and battery. The MagicBand batteries are fairly small so I suspect it’s something like 25-50 meter range but who knows. The receiver can read thousands of signals at once. This is what is used for memory maker pictures and videos. The band could run out of battery but I’ve heard rumors that the lifetime of a MagicBand is around 2 to 3 years.

You can see a teardown of the band here: http://atdisneyagain.com/2014/01/27/making-the-band-magicband-teardown-and-more/

Now, to the question of paint/rhinestones on the magic band, the only real problem I could foresee is a really huge rhinestone or bead or something that physically keeps the band from getting close to the reader or aligning properly. Paint, metallic paint, nail polish, etc. have almost no interference at the high frequencies used by this band. So, as long as there is nothing super bulky on the band, all should be fine. I personally have used metallic paint on multiple bands and there were no problems at all.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Just another note about covering the band. Yesterday I was wearing a long sleeve shirt and was getting tired of pushing the sleeve up to use the band so I just kept it covering the band and it worked just fine thru my several layers of polish and the fairly thick shirt material.

 

[phtktz3]

Just finished this one today for my Christmas trip

 

[tsme]

Just finished this one today for my Christmas trip

That's really cute!

 

[MonsterWDWmom]

Okay so just finished my first band (pictures to come later) I did it with acrylic paint with a base coat of clear nail polish. For the top coat would nail polish top coat work better or a sealer that is made for paint? I will be at the store tomorrow and just need to know if I have to pick something else up. Thanks!

 

[dmross]

So, I’m a radio frequency electrical engineer and huge Disney geek. Ready to learn more about the MagicBands than you ever wanted to know?

How do they work??
The Disney magic bands use two basic forms of communication:

1) Short-Range or Passive RFID: Passive RFID is what you use when your tap your band onto a receiver (at Disney, usually the glowing Mickey head). This uses a tiny chip like they used to have in the old keys to the kingdom cards. It does NOT require a battery. Basically, the receiver sends out a signal, the chip modulates it and pings back an identification number that is linked into the Disney system (so it knows if you have a valid ticket or whatever). This has a range of usually 0-10 cm, the closer the better. The “kiss” works best because the chip is near the mickey head in the band and there is no arm or the side of the band or whatever to cause interference. It also works best when they are parallel for some chip setups. Since this is passive (no battery, no active signal), the magic bands and receiver have to be fairly close.

2) Long-Range or Active RFID: Active RFID is different, it requires a battery. Here, instead of the the MagicBand just “reacting” to a receiver, it is sending at a signal at all times and the receiver merely listens. It has a range of 0-100 METERS depending on the specific design and battery. The MagicBand batteries are fairly small so I suspect it’s something like 25-50 meter range but who knows. The receiver can read thousands of signals at once. This is what is used for memory maker pictures and videos. The band could run out of battery but I’ve heard rumors that the lifetime of a MagicBand is around 2 to 3 years.

You can see a teardown of the band here: http://atdisneyagain.com/2014/01/27/making-the-band-magicband-teardown-and-more/

Now, to the question of paint/rhinestones on the magic band, the only real problem I could foresee is a really huge rhinestone or bead or something that physically keeps the band from getting close to the reader or aligning properly. Paint, metallic paint, nail polish, etc. have almost no interference at the high frequencies used by this band. So, as long as there is nothing super bulky on the band, all should be fine. I personally have used metallic paint on multiple bands and there were no problems at all.

Excellent post! Loved it! Now if they will just use the data for something useful like improved crowd control and not merely to predict buying trends.

 

[dipuppolj]

Okay so just finished my first band (pictures to come later) I did it with acrylic paint with a base coat of clear nail polish. For the top coat would nail polish top coat work better or a sealer that is made for paint? I will be at the store tomorrow and just need to know if I have to pick something else up. Thanks!

I haven't tried it yet, but from previous posts I have learned that nail polish top coat tends to crack. Most people suggest using a base coat as a sealer, and I have heard people say that acrylic paint sealer works as well.

 

[TraJon]

First I want to thank everyone for the artwork, tips, suggestions.. I read every post.. I was so excited to paint the bands which I did.. We leave Sunday.. First attempt: no base coat, acrylic paints, OPI base coat as sealer. Well all seemed perfect, now I got too excited along the way and placed 4 coats of base on top...Oops.. I checked one day and when I moved it around, crack crack crack... Some I peeled off completely, some nail polish remover...

Next attempt: no base, acrylic paint, some nail glitter polish to accent (like a bow) and Americana Gloss Duraclear two very light coats I brushed on.. It seems perfect and flexible..

The base coat probably would have worked if only I left it alone after two but I found the Duraclear to be extremely flexible..

I took pictures and will post after I meet the requirements.. I will also update after the week vacationing.. My good friends purchased two magic bands for me to paint while down there for a day, so when I have the post vacation blues I can work on them.. Ha!

 

[TraJon]

Btw I got a small bottle of the varnish at AC Moore craft store for less then 1.50. If you check coupons online there is usually a 50 percent off a full price item coupon out there. So much cheaper then base coat..

 

[Laurene14]

As Canadians we don't get the magic bands mailed to us, but I have a set from earlier this year. Could I decorate those ones and have the cm at checkin activate them for our December trip? They still show up on our my disney experience account. Thanks!

 

[OnceUponATime15]

As Canadians we don't get the magic bands mailed to us, but I have a set from earlier this year. Could I decorate those ones and have the cm at checkin activate them for our December trip? They still show up on our my disney experience account. Thanks!

Unless you've deactivated them, You don't even need to have them activated The info for your trip is in My Disney Experience & is accessed and delivered by the band itself.

I used mine from Dec/13 back in August/14 - no problem or issues at all. I put it on as we landed at MCO & scanned it at the Magical Express check in, all my current trip info was there to use. It opened my room that first night as well..

 

[1SnowWhiteFan]

For those of you who've used your decorated bands already, did you notice more "wear and tear" on the outside side the band or the inner side of your wrist? In other words, if you were looking at it like a wristwatch, did it wear more on the top or the bottom? I'm guessing towards the top? I'm trying to decide where to put the more preferred artwork. TIA!

 

[ArielRae]

Mine starts to wear on the top sides where it starts to bend. The paint starts chipping there first.

 

[phtktz3]

That's really cute!

Thanks! I have a red one on the way since I'm doing a split stay so I will be decorating that one in some kind of Christmas theme as well

 

[blakefamily]

I got some circle gemstone stickers from michaels I want to put over the mickey head. They are adhesive, but I'm not sure if it is strong enough. How have all of you attached them? Superglue ?

 

[obxlvr13]

I got some circle gemstone stickers from michaels I want to put over the mickey head. They are adhesive, but I'm not sure if it is strong enough. How have all of you attached them? Superglue ?

I used superglue for mine just to be sure they'd stay.