Help!! All these changes!!!

[MIALIAS]

We've been to WDW many times and love the planning - but with all the changes I feel like I'm behind ...

QUESTIONS:

1. Magic Bands? Do we use them? Do we want to? What's the advantages to yes or no?

2. Do I really need to make reservations for parks??? There's no fast pass so is this part of Genie?

3. we are a family of 6 - do I need to wake up at 7am to pay for Rise of the resistance?

Thanks!!

 

[The Foolish Mortal]

1. You can, but its not required.
2. Yes. Without a reservation, you won't be able to get in.
3. Well, you don't have to. There is a standby line now, but its likely a longish wait. If you want to avoid the line, you can get up at 7 and pay for the LL access

 

[Disney loving Iowan]

1. We like magic bands because you can use it instead of your phone to open your room and get in the parks.
2.The reservations are not part of Genie but absolutely necessary to get into the parks. Can't get in without a reservation.
3.You don't have too but as Foolish Mortal said the stand by line can be very long. Up to 2 hours. If you don't have MDE yet download it and you can check what the wait times are for the different rides at different times. That will help you decide.