Help please–Need a crash course on AP/Magic Bands for a sudden trip in 2 weeks!

[marciemi]

We’re moving to Orlando in mid-June, but will most likely be in corporate housing for at least 3 months (and therefore not FL residents until Sept). Just found out the company is paying for a househunting trip, from May 2-6. We’re thinking it makes sense to buy the AP’s then (just me and DH), even though it’s $150ish more per person than the FL rates since it would allow us to use them for 4 months for that price (including during that weekend). I’m assuming first of all that there’s no prorating/refund if we then become residents until the time we renew a year from when we first buy them? However, my more urgent concerns are regarding the trip in two weeks:

1. If I buy the passes online now, do I have enough time to get the magic bands before we leave?

2. If I wait and buy them in person, can I get the bands then or is that only by ordering? What do we use if we don’t have bands?

3. Is there any way I can book any FP+’s in the meantime? We will not be staying on-site.

4. Anything else crucial I need to know about what’s going on in the parks that weekend? I’m assuming SWW (and we’d just avoid that) and we’d be there probably doing ropedrop on Sun/Mon/Tue and hitting what we can for starters and then just doing FP’s if we get them or just enjoying the atmosphere from there on if not. Not trying to accomplish great things.

Thanks for any help you can give me!

 

[mesaboy2]

See the three links in my signature for a relatively comprehensive and current rundown of MagicBands and FPs. Stick to the first posts, the rest are not necessary unless you like to read a lot.

 

[marciemi]

Thanks for the link - I read it but didn't see any of the specific questions I had above answered. Do you (or anyone else!) know anything about those or am I just missing them in the link?

 

[mesaboy2]

Thanks for the link - I read it but didn't see any of the specific questions I had above answered. Do you (or anyone else!) know anything about those or am I just missing them in the link?

Question 3 at least is covered, without tickets no FP prebooking is possible.

1. Probably.
2. You would use a standard RFID ticket.
4. Summer crowds arriving.