Having Magic Bands mailed vs pickup at check-in?

[Swimmergirl]

I was finally able to get my tickets linked to My Magic + tonight, and would like to customize our Magic Bands next. However, I'm curious about having them mailed to us versus picking them up at check-in...

1. What is the benefit of getting them early? Seems like Disney is spending a lot of money to ship them out, but why do you need them before you arrive? Isn't it just one more thing you have to remember to pack?

2. If you pick them up at the hotel will they just be the basic gray ones, or do they offer customizable ones there?

3. We are moving to another city next month. I'm nervous about changing our address too early or too late to get them mailed. How far in advance do most people order them, and how far in advance of your trip does Disney mail?

4. What happens if the Bands are mailed but don't get to you before your trip? What if you forget them at home?

Thanks!

 

[Mickey's Best Girl]

Yes, you can customize them and they will be boxed up for you to pickup upon arrival. I think the only upside to having the bands ahead of time is being able to use them for ME. If the bands don't arrive or you forget them, grey will be available to you at the resort.
I agree, for me it would just be one more thing for me to remember. I'm glad, as a Canadian, we don't have the option of having the bands mailed (but I can tell you I'm in the minority on the opinion )

 

[2Tiggies]

I agree, for me it would just be one more thing for me to remember. I'm glad, as a Canadian, we don't have the option of having the bands mailed (but I can tell you I'm in the minority on the opinion )

I feel the same way, although it would be nice if they sent non US residents an RFID chipped plastic or paper card or whatever is most cost effective to use for ME. The other advantage of having them in advance is of course if you want to head straight to a park on arrival without checking in first.

 

[tinkerbella16]

I was finally able to get my tickets linked to My Magic + tonight, and would like to customize our Magic Bands next. However, I'm curious about having them mailed to us versus picking them up at check-in...

1. What is the benefit of getting them early? Seems like Disney is spending a lot of money to ship them out, but why do you need them before you arrive? Isn't it just one more thing you have to remember to pack?

2. If you pick them up at the hotel will they just be the basic gray ones, or do they offer customizable ones there?

3. We are moving to another city next month. I'm nervous about changing our address too early or too late to get them mailed. How far in advance do most people order them, and how far in advance of your trip does Disney mail?

4. What happens if the Bands are mailed but don't get to you before your trip? What if you forget them at home?

Thanks!

1. It isn't so much a benefit, I thought that they automatically mailed them to everyone in the US. We love Mickey Mail, so having them early is fun and we'll use them for magical express!

2. I did not know that you can customize them and pick them up! that is good to know. I always thought if you were picking them up, they would be grey but maybe that was only during the testing.

3. You My Disney Experience tells you how many days and the actual date you have to customize them. That date is usually a month before your check-in date and once you customize, they will be delivered 2 days later. At least we had ours at our door at exactly the 4 week mark before the trip!

4. Disney is pretty prompt and punctual with the whole mailing/delivery process of these- that is why they give you a certain date to customize by. It is a strict schedule so that they arrive right on time. It literally took 2 days for them to arrive and a lot of people have said the same. BUT if they don't arrive on time, I believe you will have grey bands waiting at check-in. I can be wrong though.

Hope this helps!

 

[Bigmo]

I think the biggest advantage as someone already pointed out is being able to go to the parks or use them for ADR's and other Disney activities prior to actually checking in at the hotel.

 

[MattRyan]

What happens if you do a spur of the moment trip and don't book a hotel until like a week out? Is there any way to get customized colored ones, even by paying? I may be booking a trip beginning on June 7 very soon.

 

[brielise]

According to ME we have the customized ones, a set of gray ones should be arriving (???), and we have another set of gray ones marked as 'pick up at your resort'. So even if you customize it seems pretty easy to get an extra set of gray ones.

Also, we were required to customize a month out or else we would lose the ability to customize. So I would guess if you book within that one month period you wouldn't get the chance to customize and would have to go with the gray.

 

[MattRyan]

According to ME we have the customized ones, a set of gray ones should be arriving (???), and we have another set of gray ones marked as 'pick up at your resort'. So even if you customize it seems pretty easy to get an extra set of gray ones.

Also, we were required to customize a month out or else we would lose the ability to customize. So I would guess if you book within that one month period you wouldn't get the chance to customize and would have to go with the gray.

Can't you buy colored magic bands at select stores on the Disney property though in each of the parks? If so, I don't see why you can't just have colored ones at the hotels if you don't customize ahead of time. I'd honestly just trash the grey ones and go pick up colored ones.

 

[shadeauxe]

I don't think you can customize AND pick them up.

To another poster, you can buy all of the colors in the park.

 

[2Tiggies]

I agree, for me it would just be one more thing for me to remember.

I just noticed the picture in your signature.

 

[Sandi]

Deleted (bad information)

TDC Nala corrected me. My how things can change in 45 days!

 

[TDC Nala]

You can now purchase magic bands on property. Guests who are not staying onsite and want magic bands must purchase them. However, if you ARE staying onsite, I'm not sure they will just let you trade a gray band for a colored one, although you can buy a colored one if you want one.

 

[MattRyan]

You can now purchase magic bands on property. Guests who are not staying onsite and want magic bands must purchase them. However, if you ARE staying onsite, I'm not sure they will just let you trade a gray band for a colored one, although you can buy a colored one if you want one.

Can they be customized with your name if you purchase them?

 

[TDC Nala]

They won't have your name on the back of them if you buy them, but they can be linked to your MDX account.

 

[KeroKero]

Last September by red magic band wasn't working by the second day of our trip and I was so upset that I would be given a grey one as a replacement, but they have me another red one! So ... they've got them there it's probably just easier for them to have mostly generic grey on hand.

 

[Mickey's Best Girl]

I just noticed the picture in your signature.