How do you buy/activate the limited edition magic bands?

[amandals2007]

We are going to Disney in Sept, all booked with dinners and everything. My dad really wants that new sorcerer mickey magic band that you can buy. Can we purchase it online now for our trip so we know he will get it? how does that work with the ones disney sends you? how do we activate it so its ready to go when we get there? Thank you in advance for the help.

 

[ladyelizabeth]

I'm not quite sure about ordering prior to coming, but my friend bought the Stitch band last time we were there. He had saw it online and was on the hunt for it when we arrived. The first shop we went to had run out of them that day, but a very awesome cast member pulled up the inventory list of the Stitch bands at every store on property so we knew where to go next. Then he had the concierge at our hotel help him set it up and hook it up to his MDE account. I imagine that someone at Guest Services could have done this, but he wanted to make sure that it would work on our hotel room. So if you decide to wait until you get to WDW and don't see it at the first shop, ask a cast member!

Now, it doesn't matter how many Magic Bands you have, you can use them interchangeably. I have Magic Bands from past trips that I still use (I have different colors, so depending on what I'm feeling (or what I'm wearing), I'll wear a certain band). There hasn't been any definitive number you can have connected to your account - you'll hear things differently from different cast members - some will say you can only have 16 Magic Bands per account, some will say 18, etc.

 

[Itinkso]

When your Dad purchases the Sorcerer MB, the CM at the shop can link it to your MDE account by using his generic MagicBand that he will have for your upcoming stay.

Check magicbandcollectors.com for locations where Sorcerer Mickey is sold...

 

[ninafeliz]

I bought my son a Toy Story MB and myself a 2015 MB during our last visit. Both times the store told us they were all activated and ready to go, and both times they were not and I had to take them to the concierge at our resort to get them activated for use. I did ask the concierge, and he told me the stores could not actually activate them for use? I'm not sure if the stores can or can't, but both times for us it didn't work. FWIW, we were back in our room and I found out they didn't work by trying to use them on our room door, we didn't try first with FP+ or getting into a park. That would be a terrible tine to find out it wasn't activated.

 

[amandals2007]

So you are saying once we buy a special magic band we can keep using them on future trips? that makes me want to get one. so do i have to wait till we get to the parks to get it or can he order it online, and then take it with us and they can activate it there? or how does this work?

 

[erionm]

So you are saying once we buy a special magic band we can keep using them on future trips? that makes me want to get one. so do i have to wait till we get to the parks to get it or can he order it online, and then take it with us and they can activate it there? or how does this work?

Yes, you can continue to use any MagicBand linked to your MDE account. If you have multiple MagicBands, you can use them interchangeably.

Only the solid color MagicBands are available for pre-purchase from DisneyStore.com/MagicBand.

 

[CarolynFH]

In early March I bought a limited edition Flower & Garden Festival MB for my DGD (who wasn't traveling with us that time) to use on our Spring Break trip. At the same time I bought a special one for myself. The CM in the shop activated mine right there, and I used it the rest of that trip without problems. When I got home I linked DGD's MB to her on MDE (I manage her account), and at Spring Break it worked perfectly well. So if you buy one online prior to the trip, you can link it yourself and it will be ready to use when you get there.

To link DGD's MB, I used my PC as opposed to the app. Under My Account I clicked on Magic Bands and Cards, which brought up a list of people whose accounts I manage. At the bottom of that page there's a Link button that you use to link a purchased MB to its new owner. It was very easy - except for reading the tiny numbers/letters on the MB! I had to get out the magnifying glass!

 

[amandals2007]

In early March I bought a limited edition Flower & Garden Festival MB for my DGD (who wasn't traveling with us that time) to use on our Spring Break trip. At the same time I bought a special one for myself. The CM in the shop activated mine right there, and I used it the rest of that trip without problems. When I got home I linked DGD's MB to her on MDE (I manage her account), and at Spring Break it worked perfectly well. So if you buy one online prior to the trip, you can link it yourself and it will be ready to use when you get there.

To link DGD's MB, I used my PC as opposed to the app. Under My Account I clicked on Magic Bands and Cards, which brought up a list of people whose accounts I manage. At the bottom of that page there's a Link button that you use to link a purchased MB to its new owner. It was very easy - except for reading the tiny numbers/letters on the MB! I had to get out the magnifying glass!

thank you so much for this info!! thats exactly what i needed to know!!!

 

[dmband]

So you are saying once we buy a special magic band we can keep using them on future trips?

Until the battery dies, keep that I'm mind for "future trips"

 

[CookieGVB]

If my battery dies on my specialty MB before my generic ones, I will certainly ask for it to be replaced.

 

[amandals2007]

Until the battery dies, keep that I'm mind for "future trips"

how long are they supposed to last?

 

[Itinkso]

how long are they supposed to last?

The long-range RFID for ride photos and videos is expected to last for two years. The short-range RFID is read by the powered entrance and FP tapstiles and is expected to last indefinitely.

There will have to be a means of checking the long-range capability so no one misses their photo ops being linked to MDE and Memory Maker.

 

[soniam]

I would keep checking Disney Store.com to see if they start selling the special edition ones. I bought solid colored ones and was able to link through the MDX website. They sell cool sliders and bandits, so they might start selling the special ones too.

At DHS, one of the shops on Hollywood Blvd near the entrance, either Disney & Co or Mickeys of Hollywood, had a good selection, including Sorcerer Mickey. World of Disney at DTD and the Emporium at MK also had a good selection. Many of the hotels, including POR, sold a decent assortment in the gift shop.

 

[hedberg1661]

The long-range RFID for ride photos and videos is expected to last for two years. The short-range RFID is read by the powered entrance and FP tapstiles and is expected to last indefinitely.

There will have to be a means of checking the long-range capability so no one misses their photo ops being linked to MDE and Memory Maker.

I had no idea the short range part is expected to last indefinitely.

 

[Itinkso]

I had no idea the short range part is expected to last indefinitely.

I had been surprised to learn that each band has two RFID chips. There are some sites that have analyzed the inner components of the bands.

 

[amandals2007]

so really they only last two years then. so im paying 20 bucks for it to only last two trips if we go every year?

 

[Itinkso]

so really they only last two years then. so im paying 20 bucks for it to only last two trips if we go every year?

Your Dad would be able to use it for entrance and FPs. After two years, the MBs may not work for ride photos and videos. He may just want it as a souvenir or a collectible.

 

[smiths02]

so really they only last two years then. so im paying 20 bucks for it to only last two trips if we go every year?

I wish for those of us staying onsite, who get a "free" magic band anyhow, that we could choose to customize to an upgraded one for a smaller charge OR if you already have MBs that you can get a small credit for them not sending them every trip.

 

[hedberg1661]

I wish for those of us staying onsite, who get a "free" magic band anyhow, that we could choose to customize to an upgraded one for a smaller charge OR if you already have MBs that you can get a small credit for them not sending them every trip.

They may in the future. Honestly I love the collectible or limited edition bands so Disney knows how to get more money from me.