Made With Magic Ear Hats?

[TTMom]

Hello everyone!

I did a few searches on the forums but wasn't able to find the answers that I needed - so I apologize in advance if this is a commonly discussed topic, and I am just too darn blind to see it!

We haven't been to WDW in almost two years, and I was going through the Theme Park Merchandise products on the Disney store site to check out what was new in the world of Ear Hats. The Made with Magic ones (and related products) caught my attention!

It says in the description that they ARE programmed to work with Wishes and Fantasmic! The only reports that I have seen about them online are that they don't actually appear to work with the WDW shows - or that people had no idea what they were, or what they were meant to do.

Has anyone used these in WDW lately? Do they actually work with the shows? And, of course, are they easy to find in the parks or at the resort gift shops?

Thanks!

 

[Disneymom1126]

I don't think they are as popular as what WDW expected them to be. There are a few people that had them when we were there, but not enough to make it visually "look" like what the advertisements for them look like (lots of people with them on and they become part of the show). They did change colors/blink along with Fantasmic! when were there as well as celebrate the magic and Wishes. We ended up getting one of the mickey hand holding a magic wand ones and that not only blinked along with the show, but we could also make the colors change on peoples' hats and minnie ears...which was a lot of fun (except the few times I had to apologize that my daughter was creepily sneaking up behind people to change the colors on their hat with the magic wand...it's a button you push on the wand). She was 6, so young enough that people thought it was cute/funny...not sure how people would react to adults running around doing it though The ear hats, minnie ears (minnie's bow lights up), and the magic wands are easy to find all around the parks and they have people walking around selling them at the shows.

 

[trara1375]

We were there last month and my DD4 got the hat, DS13 and DS10 each got the wands. They really enjoyed them. You do see a change in the patterns with the hats and wands when the Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios shows start (and through out the show). Really easy to find as it begins to get darker. My boys REALLY had fun with the wands and loved walking by a display and changing the whole window/cart to the pattern they liked best.

 

[SureAsLiz]

They do work (and well IMO) with Wishes and Fantasmic! the only issue is that not many people buy them so it can seem odd for just a random set here or there to go off. F! actually has a little pre-show right now showcasing them that involves the whole crowd and changing the colors.

They are always available to purchase before a show when the CM bring out the light merch, and they have dedicated window displays in both MK and DHS.

 

[gunderda]

Oh wow I saw so many carts with those things (had to google) when we were there and had no idea those were the hats and gloves that lit up with the show!

We stayed in MK until about 12:30 am when the park closed at 12:00 and I saw a lady with headband ears that twinkled with lights and I was so jealous. I was bummed that I hadn't seen or known about those.

 

[SoccerDogWithEars]

I have the Mickey hat (though when I bought them they were just "Glow With the Show"). It does still work with Wishes, Celebrate the Magic, and Fantasmic. However, as pp's have mentioned not many people wear them. We were lucky enough that we were down there for the premier, so EVERYONE in the Fantasmic crowd had them and it was super cool to see. Now...not so much. And I've actually had a couple of people ask me to remove my hat because they found it obstructive/distracting.

 

[TTMom]

Thanks, everyone!

Looks like I won't have much of a problem finding them in the park - which is fantastic! My son will really enjoy them, and I will be prepared to have him remove them during shows if they become a distraction; he might even prefer to have them in his lap during the shows, so he can see the colours changing!

 

[Gilrond]

I have the ear hat and the wand. The hat comes in one size and is heavy due due to the electronics. It won't stay up on my small head so I prefer the wand.

 

[eyehartdisney]

The hats are deeply uncomfortable.

 

[TTMom]

I have the ear hat and the wand. The hat comes in one size and is heavy due due to the electronics. It won't stay up on my small head so I prefer the wand.

The hats are deeply uncomfortable.

Is it just the weight that makes these uncomfortable? My son doesn't typically wear his ear hat a lot during our trips (he burns easily, so I prefer to keep a ball cap with a brim on his head during the day) - but he did express interest and excitement about wearing these during the nighttime shows. I think for such a small time frame, the weight may not be an issue.

Aside from the weight, are these built differently than the regular ear hats?

 

[Gilrond]

These are adult size hats with a rectangular electronics pack on the inside at the the top. This makes them top heavy. If they fit snugly, not a problem but for a small adult or child, they don't stay on well. I suppose, one could plan for both issues with something that would provide padding and take up excess space.

 

[AngiTN]

I believe the newer ears are more comfortable. I bought DL 60th anniversary version and they are not heavy and they have a foam lining. very comfortable to wear

I know if won't see many there but I'm bringing them to WDW next month

And I loved it when people walked around with the wands that change the ears and clicked them at me, adult and child. It was fun. And in didn't care what blink pattern they left it on. I couldn't see it anyway

 

[aretha30]

I don't think they are as popular as what WDW expected them to be. There are a few people that had them when we were there, but not enough to make it visually "look" like what the advertisements for them look like (lots of people with them on and they become part of the show). They did change colors/blink along with Fantasmic! when were there as well as celebrate the magic and Wishes. We ended up getting one of the mickey hand holding a magic wand ones and that not only blinked along with the show, but we could also make the colors change on peoples' hats and minnie ears...which was a lot of fun (except the few times I had to apologize that my daughter was creepily sneaking up behind people to change the colors on their hat with the magic wand...it's a button you push on the wand). She was 6, so young enough that people thought it was cute/funny...not sure how people would react to adults running around doing it though The ear hats, minnie ears (minnie's bow lights up), and the magic wands are easy to find all around the parks and they have people walking around selling them at the shows.

We've been looking at the Minnie ears for me and our boys really want the wands. I have a feeling they will be changing other peoples ears too!

 

[TheDisneyNurse]

My little brother just HAD to have them during our March 2014 trip. He wore them during fantasmic, but that was it. Way more heavy than a normal pair of ears, they are very uncomfortable to wear. Definitely something you carry around all day, then throw on your head at the last minute. The problem is, we don't wanna carry them around the park all day leading up to the show. Also, there's not nearly enough sold to make the desired effect. Understandably, they didn't catch on

 

[Mom2Stitch]

Bought a pair for my DGS las May-too big for a 7 year old and were left in the room after the F! show--they now sit in a box in my garage. I was debating taking them in September, but maybe they are more trouble than they are worth...

 

[eyehartdisney]

These are adult size hats with a rectangular electronics pack on the inside at the the top. This makes them top heavy. If they fit snugly, not a problem but for a small adult or child, they don't stay on well. I suppose, one could plan for both issues with something that would provide padding and take up excess space.

I have a fairly large head, not so big that it's weird, but an adult female, surely. it feels like there's not enough hat to stay on. It's like 2" deep, and it tilts from side to side. It's not just small heads. No head can fit snugly with that hat.

 

[mom2mickeyfan]

I have the Mickey hat (though when I bought them they were just "Glow With the Show"). It does still work with Wishes, Celebrate the Magic, and Fantasmic. However, as pp's have mentioned not many people wear them. We were lucky enough that we were down there for the premier, so EVERYONE in the Fantasmic crowd had them and it was super cool to see. Now...not so much. And I've actually had a couple of people ask me to remove my hat because they found it obstructive/distracting.

We had FP+ for Wishes in June and there were a couple of kids sitting in front of us with their's on and our family found them very distracting. The reason they turn the lights down when the fireworks start is to make them more enjoyable and the focal point of the moment. The idea sounded great but a whole crowd full would very much be distracting from whatever show Disney would be doing.

 

[Stitch808]

I wished it was more popular, but with that price tag and the distraction it was inevitable for it not to take off as WDW would've wanted. Maybe, they'll do something else to get the effects they wanted.

 

[Twende]

I bought a hat last year when they first came out in WDW. I find them pretty and fun but not comfortable to wear. As others have said the electronics make them top heavy and tilt prone. The hurt the top of my head due to so little padding. I prefer my old lime green ears!

 

[AngiTN]

We had FP+ for Wishes in June and there were a couple of kids sitting in front of us with their's on and our family found them very distracting. The reason they turn the lights down when the fireworks start is to make them more enjoyable and the focal point of the moment. The idea sounded great but a whole crowd full would very much be distracting from whatever show Disney would be doing.

Wonder why Disneyland guests do not find them distracting? They add to the show, not distract from it. Maybe being so few at WDW is where they are distracting vs. enhancing?