Magic Band Battery and Memory Maker

[piccolopat]

Is there a way to verify that the battery in my Magic Band is still good? This one is from a May 2014 trip. I bought Memory Maker for our trip next month and want the pictures and video to load to our account automatically. How would we know if the battery failed during the trip? I know the bands will still work to get into the park, FP+, etc. when it is held up to the sensor so it's just the long range use with Memory Maker that I am worried about. Thanks!

 

[BrianL]

Unfortunately, there is no way to really know (without tearing apart the band anyway), however those batteries should last years so a band form 2014 will probably still function. Check for your ride photos periodically throughout the trip to make sure they are showing up.

 

[TSR6]

I think they suggested replacing them every 2 years. (the bands)

 

[Alacrity]

It looks like the MagicBands work on RFID at the readers. It also looks like the battery powers a longer range transmitter. Must be how they can read where you are for on ride photos and the like. If that is so, in theory, a band with a dead batty should still get you into the park and work for short range stuff but not allow tracking for the photos.

 

[piccolopat]

Thanks everyone for your help.

 

[5Hfan]

We used year old bands and had no problem with ride photos automatically linking up. Well one Buzz light year of 3 was missing, but they tracked it down no problem.

 

[ReluctantDisaholic]

We used our March 2014 bands in August 2015 with no photo problems.

 

[CAS239]

The bands will last at least 2-3 years

 

[larryz]

So, when customizing my bands, I work the trip date into the custom label, so I can track which year the band is from... this year's will be "Larry-16"

 

[SarahInMN]

One of my 2013 bands was behaving erratically this trip and a CM said 2 years is what they have been finding battery life to be.

I really like Larry's idea above about dating the bands.

 

[squeegee]

So, we're going in December and some of our friends have a trip planned for next October. I was thinking of getting them a couple of the decorated bands for Christmas, and was worried about how long they'd be good for. This is good news.

 

[DisneyisaBLAST]

I purchased some Limited Edition bands and have the same concerns about battery life. Since the OP asked specifically about Memory Maker and Magicbands why couldn't you just have an extraneous Magicband in your purse/backpack/pocket that is linked to your MDE account? Like one of the free ones they send you for every trip unless you opt out. Wouldn't that cover the concern about long-range battery life on the readers that rely on it? It seems like the only thing that is impacted by the battery is Memory Maker.