Is Magic Bands necessary?

[kylenne]

Please get the key cards and don’t be “those” people. It’s beyond annoying to get stuck behind a group that has to scan EVERY.SINGLE. PERSON. IN.THE.PARTY. By using the key cards, you save money by not getting MBs for everyone and you save the sanity of those behind you

I always get stuck behind these families I swear

Re: tapping in with phones, if you have an iPhone make sure to enable express mode for your Magic Mobile pass (tap the info button on it in your Wallet, the setting is at the bottom). That way you don't have to fiddle with opening Wallet and all that, you just tap and go. And it'll work even if your phone is dead. This is another reason why everyone should have their own pass on their own device if you go this route.

 

[DavidNYC]

And if - for God's sakes - anyone does use a phone for multiple people - please do not have your family block the entire entrance so that no one can use the empty second tap point . . .

 

[VGCgroupie]

I will admit I used my phone for 80% of my party at DL last trip. But I always loaded the app and did a screenshot of the pass and had my photos pulled up so I could scan scan scan. I figured most people would do this and not rely on opening the app and hoping it loads up quickly

 

[Simba's Mom]

Everyone keeps mentioning the plastic card in the context of of staying at a Disney resort, checking in to your resort, etc. Just want to clarify that anyone can ask for a plastic card/ticket upon arrival at the park. You do not need to be staying at a Disney resort to get a card to use as your ticket. If you are staying at Disney resort, ask for a card for each person when you check in. If you are not staying at a Disney resort (or if you are but didn't ask for a card at your resort), when you arrive at the park the first day, you'll scan in using your phone, and at point you can ask for a ticket to be issued for each person. The cast members at the entry points usually have cards in their pockets and devices that they can use to very quickly attach the cards to the guests on your account.

There's just one caveat I was told by a front desk CM. Not sure it's true, but she told me that the Key to the World card won't open the door to your room unless you get it from your resort (message-come to me, don't go to "them"). But I know that the Key to the World card does work for everything else, because DH got one once at the park (he'd grabbed the wrong MB from home and we found out when he couldn't get into the park). He never tried it on the room door, though-let me open the door.

 

[scrappinginontario]

There's just one caveat I was told by a front desk CM. Not sure it's true, but she told me that the Key to the World card won't open the door to your room unless you get it from your resort (message-come to me, don't go to "them"). But I know that the Key to the World card does work for everything else, because DH got one once at the park (he'd grabbed the wrong MB from home and we found out when he couldn't get into the park). He never tried it on the room door, though-let me open the door.

I believe the CM gave you incorrect information. A KTTW card is linked to an MDE account and should behave the same wat whether obtained at the resort or park.

 

[kylenne]

I believe the CM gave you incorrect information. A KTTW card is linked to an MDE account and should behave the same wat whether obtained at the resort or park.

EarScouts did a video a while back about whether or not you need a Magic Band, testing various methods of tapping into things, and an old KTTW card (still linked to MDE) from a previous stay wouldn't open the door to his current room. I'm not sure if this would also apply to one obtained in the park vs. at the resort but at least in one case it does make a difference what you use.

 

[VGCgroupie]

We have magic band+ but I think I will be bringing our old school magic bands and using those instead and getting a key to the world card also. If I do this what do I do about ride photos?

 

[Skippyboo]

We have magic band+ but I think I will be bringing our old school magic bands and using those instead and getting a key to the world card also. If I do this what do I do about ride photos?

You know a MB+ will function like non plus mb when it’s not charged.

 

[VGCgroupie]

You know a MB+ will function like non plus mb when it’s not charged.

Yeah but this battery just doesn’t want to die

 

[Dave006]

We have magic band+ but I think I will be bringing our old school magic bands and using those instead and getting a key to the world card also. If I do this what do I do about ride photos?

As @Skippyboo posted you don't need to worry about you MB+ battery being dead or not wanting to keep it changed. It works just like a MK 2 or even the original MB with a dead battery.

For your ride photos you can always use your smartphone with MDE active and Bluetooth on and it will allow your photos to be linked.

Dave

 

[Dave006]

Yeah but this battery just doesn’t want to die

What battery does not want to die? If you have a MB 2 over 3 years old it's battery is dead.

Dave

 

[VGCgroupie]

What battery does not want to die? If you have a MB 2 over 3 years old it's battery is dead.

Dave

The batteries in the magic band+.

I tested out a “hack” on my old school circa 2021 magic bands with a method I saw online and it seems the batteries aren’t dead. https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2020...your-iphone-with-your-disney-world-magicband/

 

[Dave006]

The batteries in the magic band+.

Oh that battery will run down within 24 hours of use. Then it is just like any other MB with a dead battery.

I tested out a “hack” on my old school circa 2021 magic bands with a method I saw online and it seems the batteries aren’t dead.

OK that is not the battery function that you are using but the NFC chip function in the iPhone (it acts just like a Disney Tap point). Your MB is just a RF ID chip tapping your iPhone. Just like when you tap your MB at the front gate or at the LL entry.

Dave

 

[VGCgroupie]

Oh that battery will run down within 24 hours of use. Then it is just like any other MB with a dead battery.


OK that is not the battery function that you are using but the NFC chip function in the iPhone (it acts just like a Disney Tap point). Your MB is just a RF ID chip tapping your iPhone. Just like when you tap your MB at the front gate or at the LL entry.

Dave

Well darn. I’m just gonna take them and bring the magic band+ as a back up. I will report back if the old old ones worked for me for anything.

 

[Dave006]

I will report back if the old old ones worked for me for anything.

They will work for everything except ride photos that are take on updated attractions were there are no QR code stickers to scan with your smartphone. Again your Smartphone with MDE open, and Bluetooth enabled will handle the communication to the remote (long distance) RF transmitters. Your Smartphone may be in your pocket, wallet or backpack and still work.

The only thing you might want to double check at your resort Front desk is if your selected MB is not your most recent purchase for the day will work on your resort door and/or for charging to your resort folio. Some of the Convention resorts don't automatically download all your MBs serial numbers to their local system.

Dave