I already know this is a Magic Band question I should know the question to

[becd]

My next trip I am staying at the Swolphin so I do not get Magic Bands with my tickets. However, I have two sets from a previous trip. Once I link my tickets will the magic bands automatically update or do I need to go by Guest Services? Also, anyone have any idea as to how long the batteries last?

 

[KristinU]

You can link your tickets on MDE as soon as you have them, but you will need to link them to your account. As for battery life, We just used one year old bands successfully, so I know they last at least a year!

 

[hiroMYhero]

MagicBands do not update. They are linked to your MDE and provide the link to all your MDE data when tapped at a park entrance or FP line.

 

[siskaren]

The batteries are only necessary for long range uses like ride photos. They're not needed for park entrance or FP usage.

 

[KristinU]

The batteries are only necessary for long range uses like ride photos. They're not needed for park entrance or FP usage.

FWIW, my year-old MBs worked on the ride photos

 

[jerseygal]

Thought I read somewhere that that the battery life is 2 years.

 

[bumbershoot]

Thought I read somewhere that that the battery life is 2 years.

When they were first introduced they said they had an estimated battery life of 2-3 years. It's all just an estimate. Since MBs came out in mid/later 2013, we're starting to hit that 2 year mark for the oldest ones. I often wonder if the estimate was 2-3 years *of use*, vs 1 week of use, 51 weeks of sitting in a box, etc.

 

[jerseygal]

I "deactivate" the MB's in MDE when we return from our trip. Would like to think that this "extends" the battery life, but probably not.

 

[SarahInMN]

We got our first MBs is fall 2013 and last month one of my original MBs started acting erratically, sometines not opening the door to our room, etc. one of the CMs said the battery was probably dying. I switched to a 2014MB and no problem.

 

[Hibiscus]

We got our first MBs is fall 2013 and last month one of my original MBs started acting erratically, sometines not opening the door to our room, etc. one of the CMs said the battery was probably dying. I switched to a 2014MB and no problem.

Not possible since the short range RFID that controls the door locks is NOT powered by a battery. Deactivating them in MDE also does nothing. It's like asking if your credit card battery will die or if your credit card battery will be extended if you tell the bank you aren't using it. (Not that credit cards use RFID, but that's how silly the question will be to you once you understand how the MB works.)

The only part of an MB that requires battery power is the long range RFID that links you to your ride photos. Other than that, MBs last forever.

 

[Robo]

Not that credit cards use RFID...

My new Visa Debit Card has the mag-stripe and internal RFID chip.

 

[rwdavis2]

I "deactivate" the MB's in MDE when we return from our trip. Would like to think that this "extends" the battery life, but probably not.

Correct, you don't save the battery. You only deactivate them in the sense that they are no longer attached to your MDE account. Think about it, how would doing something via MDE deactivate a battery on a magic band?

 

[Xennia]

I have so many to choose from and never thought of the battery running out.

 

[Robo]

Yup.

I see no reason to worry about not getting new MB's.
Any older bands in Disney's stock will age, and they will just throw them out, anyway.
You might as well use them, at least a time or two.

They are bought in such high bulk and have such low-tech electronics in them that
they are no more significant than the trinkets that you can find at any Dollar Store.

The earth will not end 10 minutes sooner if there are extra MBs around.