Magic Band Battery Life

[WDWFantasmicFan]

Hi,

I wonder if someone is able to help. We have just booked our next WDW vacation for next summer (late August 2016) (!!!), and we last went in August last year (2014). We purchased MagicBands for all members of our family, as we were not (and will not be in 2016) staying on site. I understand that the battery life for a MagicBand is around 2 years (unless I am mistaken). Our vacation in 2 years and 2 weeks after we purchased our bands back in 2014. Will our current MagicBands still work? Or will we have to buy new MagicBands for this trip?

Also, what happens if we get to the entrance to a park and our MagicBands have run out of batteries?

Thanks

 

[kmb584]

Hi,

I wonder if someone is able to help. We have just booked our next WDW vacation for next summer (late August 2016) (!!!), and we last went in August last year (2014). We purchased MagicBands for all members of our family, as we were not (and will not be in 2016) staying on site. I understand that the battery life for a MagicBand is around 2 years (unless I am mistaken). Our vacation in 2 years and 2 weeks after we purchased our bands back in 2014. Will our current MagicBands still work? Or will we have to buy new MagicBands for this trip?

Also, what happens if we get to the entrance to a park and our MagicBands have run out of batteries?

Thanks

They might work or they might not, and I don't believe there's a way to tell in advance. Be sure to bring your RFID tickets with you just in case you find that your bands aren't working at the turnstiles.

 

[Missyrose]

The batteries for the long-range part of the bans are supposed to be good for two to three years. There haven't been any reports of them going dead yet, so you should be fine using your old ones.

 

[I M Fearless]

I believe that it is the long range functions of the bands that are dependent on the batteries.

i.e. Any time you are using the band to touch Mickey to Mickey it is the passive RFID technology that is being used, and logic would suggest this would not be affected by dead batteries.

The thing that is likely to not work once the batteries die is the automated retrieval of on ride photographs as I believe this function is performed by the long range components of the system. You can still use the Mickey touch points at the photo area following the ride.

As someone has said, the batteries do not appear to be running out just yet, there have been no reports so far.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Usage for short range touch points, (where a park entry card could also be used) such as entry, fastpass, Memory Maker photos (with photographer) should work indefinitely

 

[WDWFantasmicFan]

Thanks all - I am hoping not to have to buy new bands. We will probably be getting Memory Maker, so it would be helpful if the long-range RFID did work. I'm hoping that it should still be fine!

I would assume Disney hasn't experienced dead batteries yet as the system has not been launched for 2 years yet. I guess time will tell to see how Disney deals with the problem. It is a shame that you cannot recharge MagicBands/change the batteries.

 

[I M Fearless]

I don't know about anyone else, but I usually touch the Mickey scanners to claim my ride photos in any case, I always worry they won't show up automatically, although the few times I've forgotten they did show up.

 

[WDWFantasmicFan]

I don't know about anyone else, but I usually touch the Mickey scanners to claim my ride photos in any case, I always worry they won't show up automatically, although the few times I've forgotten they did show up.

I usually trust the fact that they will automatically link, but know that if they don't link, I can go to the PhotoPass desk (in MK its in Town Square) and they can find the photo providing you know the date and approximate time.

 

[I M Fearless]

I tend to just scan my band routinely to avoid the possibility of that, it only takes seconds in any case and although the photopass team seem really helpful I probably wouldn't notice they were missing until a few days after, they don't always appear straight away so it's kind of hard to remember if something is missing. So far though I have never had a problem when I haven't bothered.

At times I've jumped on Splash last thing at night when no one else wanted to risk getting wet, and sure enough, my lonely little ride photo has appeared.

 

[Meriweather]

I usually trust the fact that they will automatically link, but know that if they don't link, I can go to the PhotoPass desk (in MK its in Town Square) and they can find the photo providing you know the date and approximate time.

Not always....they couldn't find 2 of ours with detailed descriptions and pretty close timing.

 

[WDWFantasmicFan]

Not always....they couldn't find 2 of ours with detailed descriptions and pretty close timing.

Yes - I agree, they cannot always find them. I have had that trouble on our past vacation with a photo from Buzz Lightyears Space Ranger Spin, but the camera on the ride was experiencing technical issues that day, hence why they didn't have all the photos. When I last went, touch to link was not an option, they had not installed the readers beneath the screens. I still trust that Disney will have the working technology in place to automagically link the photos though. And you cannot get the on-ride videos without automatic linking anyway.

 

[cindyfan]

Batteries?????? I thought they ran on Magic!!

 

[delmar411]

The band I use on a weekly basis is just shy of 2 years old (1yr 10mths) and it works just fine and still picks up the long range rfid for ride photos.

 

[WDWFantasmicFan]

The band I use on a weekly basis is just shy of 2 years old (1yr 10mths) and it works just fine and still picks up the long range rfid for ride photos.

It'll be interesting to know if they still work when they are older than 2 years. Disney suggests that the MagicBands should last at least 2 years battery life.