Have Magic Bands made your WDW experience better or worst?

[twoplustwins]

They made our trip much easier. I don't like to carry anything, so having everything in the band was nice.

I do, however, prefer the old paper fastpasses. We can't have it all, right?

 

[Richard M Nixon]

I was at Universal and managed to lose my park ticket which had my unlimited express pass on it. I had to go up to guest services and get them remade which wasn't a huge deal but did take about 40 minutes from discovering the problem to resolving it. I love that with the magicband it's a lot harder to do and I'm more likely to notice if the thing falls off my wrist.

 

[LilyWDW]

I love them personally. As others have said, I like that I don't have to dig around for a FP, Photopass card, park tickets, room key, or my credit card. It doesn't save me from having to carry anything (I always keep my ID, credit card, and some cash on me), but I have to carry a bag anyway due to the medications I take. So either way I would have a bag. But when I go refill the mugs for myself and those staying with me, it is a LOT easier to use my MB to open the door then fumble with a room key card!

The only thing I wish they would figure out is how to allow parties to set up different credit cards for charging for different bands. As of now, you have to stop by the front desk to do this.

As for FP+... I really like it, especially as I start to have mobility issues. These days I would be unable to keep up with the pack to get that first FP and would be in the back of that line wasting valuable park time. Plus, if I want to ride something before lunch (to reduce the possibility of getting sick) or at night (for a different experience) then I can make that happen where before I would either have to wait in the standby line or hope for the best.

 

[wdwjeffc37]

The first generation Magic Bands were great and the latest version are even better. We had zero problems with our bands on our trip last week. We used them for everything: room entry, park entry FP+, Express transportation, charging to the room, Photopass pictures, ride pictures. My wife had her Magic Band come off as we walked to enter Animal Kingdom because of a heavy backpack. We went right to Guest Services, got a card for park entry. When she got back to the Coronado Springs, the concierge was able to get her another Magic Band and it worked for everything, not a hitch. Cheers!!!!!

 

[Skippyboo]

I love the Magic bands. So much easier than having to carry the plastic room key, park tickets, paper fast passes. When you go to the water parks or pool, you don't have to worry about someone stealing your key. I know I have lost stuff from my pockets before.

 

[AngiTN]

When the band decides not to work, oh do I hate that. It works fine for 2 days and then the next won't let you in your room. So I had to walk all the way to the front desk, get it reset and then walk all the way back to my room for it to work. Getting really, really tired of this one. It happens a lot to me. Happened twice on a 4 day trip over Memorial Weekend. At least that time I had someone else with me whose band was working since both times was after midnight but I had to stop at concierge the next morning both times and get mine taken care of.
My husband said it's just because I have bad luck.

This goes back to my thought that if you have 1 issue you are stuck with them forever, and they mushroom. Others, never have a single issue. It's so odd. Well, it is but it isn't. It's odd but not a surprise. We all know how bonkers Disney Tech is

 

[tinkerbellandeeyor]

I think correct me if I am wrong that you still need to bring id into the park

 

[AngiTN]

I think correct me if I am wrong that you still need to bring id into the park

It's good idea but not required for admittance.

 

[Spacecow]

I've only had one trip with them but I loved them. Like others have said it's great to not have to carry a lot of stuff or fuss with finding things in a bag. Everything I needed- room key, fast pass, credit card, ticket, whatever- was already on my wrist. Plus they feel kind of futuristic to me and even though i know the tech behind them isn't all that advanced it's still so cool to me that this little thing has all that information on it. AND they're water resistant which I thought was so cool, although again that's not really all that advanced lol.

I already know I'll be missing them (and FP+ too) next time I go to Disneyland.

 

[helenm29]

Love the Magic bands! So disappointed when I get home and holding up my wrist does not result in my door being unlocked, getting onto a fun ride, or being given a tasty snack!

I so agree with you! I always forget to take my band off when I get home. lol

 

[mamamelody2]

Magic Bands are magical!

 

[bryanb]

I changed my vote on this last trip. I used to throw my magicband into my bag and use my plastic card for admission and FP+. I would also use my phone (Apple Pay) for purchases.

This last trip, I decided to go all in with MagicBand. For the first time, I charged everything to my resort bill. I didn't have to worry about my card slipping out of my pocket when the number of times I pulled out my phone. And the water park was so much more fun when I could just stop and grab a beverage with just my band.

The major downsides of Magic Bands?

1. The privacy, which I'm willing to give up on a limited basis on vacation if I'm getting personalized value in exchange.
2. It's so much easier to spend money.
3. There's no itemized bill in the Disney app (unless I missed it). I'd love to keep a running tally of my account handy without stopping at the front desk. At least with credit cards, I can use my bank's app to do that.

 

[maramarrie]

I love the convenience of the magic bands for ticket/room/charging access. I do sometimes wish for the "old way" of doing fast passes, but that involved a lot more walking, so it wasn't really better that way either. The FP+ system is convenient and relatively easy to adjust. I just wish it had a little more flexibility. Overall, I think the magic bands are great.

 

[mikebb]

Magic bands on their own? Better without a doubt: combines payment, FP, ticket media, etc. Don't need to break out the wallet all day. The whole FP+/Magicband/MDE that encourages hyper-planning and take spontaneity out of any trip? Meh, we like to plan but sometimes want to do impromptu, non-planned trips, and the system gets in the way in those cases.

 

[leahlefler]

We loved the magic bands! It made life so much easier for our family on our last trip. We went to California in 2016 and did Disneyland, and the boys kept asking where our magic bands were. LOL! I really, really loved the Magic Bands at Typhoon Lagoon. We didn't have to worry about storing a wallet or any other gear. We just brought towels, sunscreen, and had a blast!

 

[Skippyboo]

The regular plastic key cards for hotels can stop working too. It happened to be at the Hampton Inn by Universal. Went down for breakfast and couldn't get back into my room. Had to go back to front desk and get it reset. Luckily I had my wallet with my ID with me because the desk guy asked for it.

 

[AngiTN]

The regular plastic key cards for hotels can stop working too. It happened to be at the Hampton Inn by Universal. Went down for breakfast and couldn't get back into my room. Had to go back to front desk and get it reset. Luckily I had my wallet with my ID with me because the desk guy asked for it.

I often wondered if I was the only one who found many times where we tried to use a room key at a traditional hotel and found they didn't work. We have it happen way more off site than we do at Disney.

 

[hakepb]

It's good idea but not required for admittance.

I think correct me if I am wrong that you still need to bring id into the park

ID could still be necessary for alcohol and AP purchases.

 

[AngiTN]

ID could still be necessary for alcohol and AP purchases.

Oh, there are tons of reasons to bring one. Hopefully those who do need it know they need it and bring it. At my age not needed for alcohol but we do need it for AP and for using TiW. So I have mine. DH often is without his because he's forever forgetting his ID pouch. And yes he knows better, he is a grown up. Just a forgetful one. Thankfully, I hold the TiW card and he never shops at Disney so we can manage with just mine.

 

[NuJoy]

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