HELP!!! Haven't been to WDW for TWENTY years!!!

[BradleyOzDisFan]

Good morning everyone - So I am now officially five weeks away from heading back to the US for the first time in twenty years! Yeah, I know, I picked a GREAT time to visit, right? Why I'm posting is there are some fundamental things that are now completely different since I was last there in October, 2001.

When I last visited there was no such things as Magic Bands or mobile ordering or any of this other guff. My home resort is Tokyo Disney and (thankfully, if only for just a little while longer), they still use the good old fashioned paper fast passes. I'd prefer to have something I can hold in my hand, something tangible that I can see. I have heard too many horror stories of people's bookings suddenly disappearing from their phones or the app crashing and so on. The tech side of all this scares me because, a). I am NOT a tech person and b). I am keenly aware that Disney's software is notoriously unreliable. I guess I am just wanting some reassurance, along with a bit of advice, so here goes.

I will be staying three nights at the Dolphin before transferring to an offsite hotel, just off property. Toward the end of my time in Orlando, I will be coming back onto property to stay at OKW with accommodation purchased through a DVC reseller. My question is, do I need a Magic Band? If I don't have one, how will I get into the parks? How do Magic Bands suddenly "have" all my info on them?

I will have more questions but for now, this is a big one and I was hoping for some assistance - THANK YOU SO MUCH in advance.

Brad

 

[Disney loving Iowan]

You can use your phone instead of your magic band. The magic bands get your information because you link them from My Disney Experience. My only worry with using my phone instead of a magic band is what would happen if my phone dies. I just think the magic bands are more convenient. I'm not an expert by any means. Maybe someone else will have some more insight for you.

 

[_19disnA]

We hadn't been to Disney in over 10 years when we last went in 2019. We found that some people tend to make a bigger deal about stuff then matters. Magic Band is very convenient since you just snap it on your wrist in the morning when heading to the park and don't have to worry about it getting lost or putting it down somewhere and forgetting about it. The Magic Band is a link to your Disney account. You can also use it pay for things at Disney if you have a credit card on file. Our lives don't revolve around the use of cell phones, so we found the Magic Band a very convenient way to go at Disney.

Disney IT continues to be unpredictable, but we found the information was still there even if at times you couldn't see it on your account or their website. It seemed more of a display issue versus the information being deleted from your account. If their website isn't working, try again later that day or the next and likely the information will reappear.

 

[wpeck]

We just returned from WDW a few days ago. Used Magic Bands as they are convenient, be sure to link band to MDE as Disney loving lowan mentioned. Used cell phones for mobile ordering and checking wait times, photopass, etc. via MDE app, by end of day phone was battery was low.

Hope you have a great trip.

 

[Mrs.AMC]

Magic bands don't have anything "on" them.
Magic bands access the information stored in your Disney account
Not unlike a debit card.
They don't have any money stored on them. They simply are the means for a system to read the data about your bank account

They are easy but not necessary. You'll need one or a card key to access your room at OKW. The phones can open doors but it's one of the most unreliable parts of the app. I would NOT rely on that unless you just want to make extra treks to the hotel desk. If you aren't using a band, get a card key

 

[Best Aunt]

Magic Band uses:
a) open room door at Disney-owned hotel (Dolphin is not included)
b) charge items to your room if staying at Disney-owned hotel (Dolphin is not included)
c) theme park ticket to get in the park
d) lets Photopass photos be posted to your My Disney Experience account
e) enter the Lightning Lane (formerly the Fastpass lane) at Disney parks.

If not staying at a Disney-owned hotel: you can get a ticket which is a plastic card with an RFID chip. This will work for (c) through (d).

If staying at a Disney-owned hotel and you don't want to buy a MagicBand: you can get a room key at the front desk which will work for (a). I don't know if your room key can also be your ticket for (b) through (e), or if you need a separate card which is a ticket for (b) through (e).

As others have said, your phone is supposed to work in place of a Magic Band, but people have had trouble using it to open their room door.

 

[pooh2001]

Our last trip was in 2012 - ten years ago
We tired to go back in November 2020 and COVID-19 hit the USA
We cancelled our trip
We never had COVID-19 and we are fully vaccinated - 2 shots plus the booster shot

But waiting for the COVID-19 scare to be over - maybe another 5 years from now.

 

[fsjking]

Magic Bands are cheap and easy. No reason not to get one IMO. Worst case, if you don't like using it, leave it in the room.

 

[BradleyOzDisFan]

Our last trip was in 2012 - ten years ago
We tired to go back in November 2020 and COVID-19 hit the USA
We cancelled our trip
We never had COVID-19 and we are fully vaccinated - 2 shots plus the booster shot

But waiting for the COVID-19 scare to be over - maybe another 5 years from now.

I think that may be smart and, for the life of me, I really don't know why I thought leaving safe Perth, Western Australia and going to Covid-Central U.S. was ever a good idea!

 

[evman42]

Its been 5 years since we last went to WDW, but I found the Magic Band worked really well and were very convenient. Of course, YMMV.

 

[Karin1984]

I HAVE to know this: if you are "fully vaccinated" why are you scared of going on vacation? You'd think you would be extremely confident and have no need to be worried about anything. Unless of course, you don't fully believe in your "vaccination". You know, we were down in Florida in June and had a marvelous time. Never once got worried about getting sick. I know everyone is different, but I choose to live my life and do what I want---you only live once!

Doesn't have to be that you are scared. But can be because of measures that might be here for a year or few more years.

 

[steviebw]

Good morning everyone - So I am now officially five weeks away from heading back to the US for the first time in twenty years! Yeah, I know, I picked a GREAT time to visit, right? Why I'm posting is there are some fundamental things that are now completely different since I was last there in October, 2001.

When I last visited there was no such things as Magic Bands or mobile ordering or any of this other guff. My home resort is Tokyo Disney and (thankfully, if only for just a little while longer), they still use the good old fashioned paper fast passes. I'd prefer to have something I can hold in my hand, something tangible that I can see. I have heard too many horror stories of people's bookings suddenly disappearing from their phones or the app crashing and so on. The tech side of all this scares me because, a). I am NOT a tech person and b). I am keenly aware that Disney's software is notoriously unreliable. I guess I am just wanting some reassurance, along with a bit of advice, so here goes.

I will be staying three nights at the Dolphin before transferring to an offsite hotel, just off property. Toward the end of my time in Orlando, I will be coming back onto property to stay at OKW with accommodation purchased through a DVC reseller. My question is, do I need a Magic Band? If I don't have one, how will I get into the parks? How do Magic Bands suddenly "have" all my info on them?

I will have more questions but for now, this is a big one and I was hoping for some assistance - THANK YOU SO MUCH in advance.

Brad

We were initially sceptical about using magic bands when they first came out, and they did have a few teething problems. but on our trips since then we've always had magic bands and they've always worked exactly as they should. As long as the information in your MDE account is accurate (tickets, reservations, dining plans etc) then your Magic Band basically just acts as a 'gateway' to that information for Disney CM, usually though their hand-held scanners and computer systems.
As others have said though, you don't NEED one. Your smartphone, if you have one, will do everything you need if it has the MDE app installed, which however will mean more times getting it in/out of pockets etc. If your magic band is on your wrist, then you don't need to go through that extra hassle of digging out your phone. Hope that helps?

 

[BradleyOzDisFan]

Thank you! I just feel the experience will be SO removed from what I remember that it almost won't be worth it.

 

[BradleyOzDisFan]

And SEE? THIS is what I mean - I have now moved into the advance days when I can book restaurants - I thought I'd have a head start as I am 63 days ahead of everybody else. I tried last night to book a couple of restaurants and the app kept telling me it couldn't load the page and I had to reload. After about an hour of that nonsense I gave up in disgust. I tried again this morning and the restaurants I wanted are now gone. It just doesn't work.

This will DEFINITELY be my last time to this woeful place.

 

[Best Aunt]

And SEE? THIS is what I mean - I have now moved into the advance days when I can book restaurants - I thought I'd have a head start as I am 63 days ahead of everybody else. I tried last night to book a couple of restaurants and the app kept telling me it couldn't load the page and I had to reload. After about an hour of that nonsense I gave up in disgust. I tried again this morning and the restaurants I wanted are now gone. It just doesn't work.

This will DEFINITELY be my last time to this woeful place.

Disney has major IT issues. But I just want to make sure you (or newbies reading this thread) understand the rule for making dining reservations.

From the Disney website:
Guests may make advance reservations for dining, the Enchanting Extras Collection, tours, recreation and other experiences up to 60 days in advance. In addition, Disney Resort hotel Guests can make reservations for their stay (up to 10-day stay) up to 60 days in advance of their check-in date.

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/faq/reservation-window/advance-reservations/
So if you are booking 63 days before the date you want to dine, that's not really a head start for extremely popular restaurants. If I am staying at a Disney hotel, at 60 days before my check-in date, I can make reservations for my check-in date and the next 9 days. (Or the next 10 days? I assume check-in date is day 1, but my trips are always less than 10 days so I haven't paid attention.)

People who are trying to book an extremely popular restaurant go online the first minute they can make the reservation, and they try to book the popular restaurant for the last days of their stay because that's further out than the first days of their stay. The further out it is, the fewer people who will be competing for that reservation.

In addition, there are services which have a computer do a search for you, and notify you if there is an opening at the restaurant you want for the date and time you want. You have to be fast because they aren't holding the reservation, they are just letting you know that it's there when their computer searched. They do not search continuously; it might be once every 45 minutes. A popular one is offered by Touring Plans. Note that you do not have to pay for a Touring Plans subscription to use its service. If you google, you will find others, which may not be free. Here is the link for the Touring Plans reservation finder:
https://touringplans.com/walt-disney-world/reservation-finder/#
This Disboards thread talks about the notification services. Read all the way through, the later posts are more helpful than the earlier ones.

https://www.disboards.com/threads/best-reservation-finder-app.3864328/
Also a reminder that you can click on a link here even if it appears that it is still loading.

 

[Disney loving Iowan]

And SEE? THIS is what I mean - I have now moved into the advance days when I can book restaurants - I thought I'd have a head start as I am 63 days ahead of everybody else. I tried last night to book a couple of restaurants and the app kept telling me it couldn't load the page and I had to reload. After about an hour of that nonsense I gave up in disgust. I tried again this morning and the restaurants I wanted are now gone. It just doesn't work.

This will DEFINITELY be my last time to this woeful place.

We hadn't been to WDW in 7 years before our last trip. I know it's been longer for you so more has changed but honestly it really isn't a woeful place. Things are different due to covid and there have been changes since you were there but it is still fun and you can still find magic there. For the ADR's I would do as Best Aunt said and use Touring Plans or if you have a travel agent have them book them.

 

[Lilsia]

Your vacations are what you make of it. If you let yourself get boggled down by every little detail, then you will stress yourself out. Make your park reservations, keep checking back for dining but make a back up plan. Many places still have a bit of a walk up list. If you look on the app, right before a restaurant opens, you will see a "walk up" button. That is a great way to get a reservation last minute if you are flexible. You are sounding defeated before you even go. Why is that? Do you only go to eat there or do you enjoy all of the aspects? I love the food too, but it is only 1 aspect of the parks that I like. There are so many places to eat that it does not make or break my trip to find someplace else. If dining is that important, and you can't get what you want, then cancel and save yourself the stress. But it really is still magical there if you open yourself to it.

 

[_19disnA]

There is a no-show charge if you make an ADR and no one from your party shows up. That is part of the reason you can often find a reservation time open up on what was previously sold out closer to the date you are looking for. People cancel their reservation to avoid the no-show charge and it opens up a slot for someone else.

 

[BradleyOzDisFan]

Your vacations are what you make of it. If you let yourself get boggled down by every little detail, then you will stress yourself out. Make your park reservations, keep checking back for dining but make a back up plan. Many places still have a bit of a walk up list. If you look on the app, right before a restaurant opens, you will see a "walk up" button. That is a great way to get a reservation last minute if you are flexible. You are sounding defeated before you even go. Why is that? Do you only go to eat there or do you enjoy all of the aspects? I love the food too, but it is only 1 aspect of the parks that I like. There are so many places to eat that it does not make or break my trip to find someplace else. If dining is that important, and you can't get what you want, then cancel and save yourself the stress. But it really is still magical there if you open yourself to it.

When I first visited the US and WDW in 2001 I was in a much lower paid job and thus had to mainly eat at counter service or go off property to fast food places and so on. Add to that, at the time the Australian dollar was only buying $US0.50c. Of course, dropping to one of its lowest values the week before I left for America! I ALWAYS felt I missed out on a fundamental WDW experience by not getting to enjoy some of the better restaurants, ESPECIALLY at Epcot.

To be honest, it isn't even about the food, as I've heard a lot of it is only just passable. Add to that, a $60 meal in America is currently equivalent to about $AUS85.00!!! Anywhere else I would NEVER pay such a high amount for subpar food but it's the WHOLE EXPERIENCE - the immersion, the theming and so on that I want.

Twenty years later I am financially able to patronise these restaurants and the fact that I cannot get in, now that I am actually financially able to is maddening, to say the least.

It feels like doing ANYTHING at WDW has become a competition and a fight. I'm tired and feel drained.