Magic band DVC'er review

[tjkraz]

So we need to carry an ID with us to the parks also?

Just one more thing

Why would you ever go out in public without some form of photo ID?

 

[OneMoreTry]

Why would you ever go out in public without some form of photo ID?

The OP indicated he only had his band, TiW card and DVC card -- I was commenting that he might need to carry one other thing.

Actually, I always carry a credit card at the parks too. This isn't a big deal for me --

 

[OneMoreTry]

Two questions:

Is the FP window still going to be one hour?

I have 10 day non expire paper tickets with several days left (and numerous water park days). Will they be linking those to the band or RFID card?

 

[erionm]

Is the FP window still going to be one hour?

Yes

I have 10 day non expire paper tickets with several days left (and numerous water park days). Will they be linking those to the band or RFID card?

Nothing is actually stored on the MagicBand except for a unique id number. That id number ties the MagicBand to your MDE profile.

Paper MYW tickets can be linked to MDE. If you are not selected for MyMagic+ testing, I'd probably just exchange the paper ticket for RFID cards instead of linking it to MDE.

 

[granmanh603]

Why would you ever go out in public without some form of photo ID?

I NEVER take my photo ID with me . It is locked in safe as soon as I arrive.
We also most often park hop. We also go to bus stop with no idea where we are going and get on first bus unless it is where we went the day before. We go rope drop or early and zip around using FP or get on short or no line and leave early afternoon and return somewhere at night. Also no smart phone and do not want one. Also not sure I want something on my wrist. stop wearing watch because washed hands alot and it was constantly getting wet. under and in crystal. Right now have the PAP on the card thing have not noticed any shorter or quicker lines. there seem to be no defined lines just a mass of people trying to figure out where to go. Maybe the wrist band will help that do you still have to do the finger thing with those? The only good thing is they have these CM with ipad that are by the entrances for problems and they are always busy...

 

[tjkraz]

The OP indicated he only had his band, TiW card and DVC card -- I was commenting that he might need to carry one other thing.

Actually, I always carry a credit card at the parks too. This isn't a big deal for me --

Ah...gotcha. Totally agree. ID, credit card, room key, DVC ID, park pass, a few dollars in cash...I also carry my health insurance card, just in case. My wallet has a small removable pouch which stores the essential items easily.

I NEVER take my photo ID with me . It is locked in safe as soon as I arrive.

Sorry but that's just crazy.

What if you have a medical emergency during your trip?

What if your Disney bus/boat/monorail is involved in an accident?

What if you are locked out of your hotel room?

What if your room key / magic band / credit card doesn't properly work for room charges?

What if your AP / park ticket / Magic Band doesn't properly work at the park entrance?

What if your AP / park tickets / Magic Band is lost?

Disney may sell us on the "magic" but health issues, crime, accidents and technical glitches all occur. Not having a photo ID on your person at all times is very unwise, IMO. Even if you've never run into issues in the past...you will someday.

We also most often park hop. We also go to bus stop with no idea where we are going and get on first bus unless it is where we went the day before. We go rope drop or early and zip around using FP or get on short or no line and leave early afternoon and return somewhere at night. Also no smart phone and do not want one. Also not sure I want something on my wrist. stop wearing watch because washed hands alot and it was constantly getting wet. under and in crystal. Right now have the PAP on the card thing have not noticed any shorter or quicker lines. there seem to be no defined lines just a mass of people trying to figure out where to go. Maybe the wrist band will help that do you still have to do the finger thing with those? The only good thing is they have these CM with ipad that are by the entrances for problems and they are always busy...

The Magic Bands themselves are optional. If you wish to have a plastic key card which plays the same role, Disney will accommodate.

As for the rest of this, I'll just say that Magic Bands / My Disney Experience / FastPass+ is coming on like a freight train. You'll have to decide for yourself how you wish to adapt. The current FP system will be completely gone by 2014, if not sooner.

 

[granmanh603]

Well so far been lucky for 13 years none of those things have happened. I do carry room key, credit card and DVC card. and Husband. but I prefer to know I will be able to get back on the plane with photo ID most(since did carry it at one time and lost backpack but was returned in minutes)... and if I need it it is in the room.
And funny that you mentioned about thinking about adapting because we where just discussing getting rid of points if it is no longer relaxing experience and has to be micro managed

 

[thepops]

Yes
Paper MYW tickets can be linked to MDE. If you are not selected for MyMagic+ testing, I'd probably just exchange the paper ticket for RFID cards instead of linking it to MDE.

Actually when we were down in June we had paper tickets, and we were HIGHLY encouraged to switch to the RFID cards. If you still have paper, you'll have to wait for a CM to check you in at the turnstiles vs. tapping and go.

The wait to get them switched over wasn't too bad (10 min or so) but they can only do 1 paper ticket to one RFID ticket (for now). The good thing is (for now) is that I can take all the old ones that I have that have only waterpark days left and put them on their own cards and now they are no longer tied to a specific person anymore (until they use them the first time), so I can "rebalance" a little.

 

[luckyman_apd]

Updates....first I DO carry my photo id. Need it for dvc discount. Second....all along we could have used room key to get fp in the park. Didnt think about as we weren't carrying them. Tried it today amd it gave me a fp.

 

[DutchsMommy]

Updates....first I DO carry my photo id. Need it for dvc discount. Second....all along we could have used room key to get fp in the park. Didnt think about as we weren't carrying them. Tried it today amd it gave me a fp.

LOL - did you have a Doh! moment when it worked Glad to hear you were able to get some 'regular' FPs though.

 

[patrickpiteo]

Updates....first I DO carry my photo id. Need it for dvc discount. Second....all along we could have used room key to get fp in the park. Didnt think about as we weren't carrying them. Tried it today amd it gave me a fp.

So you are able to get reg FP with you KTTW card and FP+ on your MB correct?

 

[SugarSpice]

Than for sharing your Live update! I have this question for you. When you went to SSR did you have to give your bands to the front desk to have them activated for that resort or did they just work automatically on the door/charging/etc? Thank you!

 

[DisneyFreaks]

I'm usually not this stupid but this whole FP+ / MagicBand program is confusing me to a migrain. I read here that the testing will be over and the program will be in full force by october. Our trip is the first week of november. How do we get these bands? Automatically at check in? We are a family of seven. Three of us have DVC PAPs and the other four have regular parkhoppers from UT. I have a My Disney Experience account but the others do not as I do all the planning. Does this make a difference? Can someone explain to me in "kindergarten" terms how we become a part of this program? Please accept my apologies for my DUH moment here.

 

[erionm]

I'm usually not this stupid but this whole FP+ / MagicBand program is confusing me to a migrain. I read here that the testing will be over and the program will be in full force by october. Our trip is the first week of november. How do we get these bands? Automatically at check in? We are a family of seven. Three of us have DVC PAPs and the other four have regular parkhoppers from UT. I have a My Disney Experience account but the others do not as I do all the planning. Does this make a difference? Can someone explain to me in "kindergarten" terms how we become a part of this program? Please accept my apologies for my DUH moment here.

Disney has not yet officially announced a full roll out date for MyMagic+.

Once eligible, there will be a link to 'Personalize MagicBands' on the MDE website. Until you are eligible, the link says 'Manage MagicBands'.

You can manage everyone using a single MDE account. You just add them to your Family and Friends list and don't send them an invite.

 

[NJmouse]

ok I am reading all this about these Magic Bands...first of all I do not plan, we go day to day if we feel like going to the parks we do and never know which one until the morning we get up. I do not do dining ressies until the last minute (we eat when we feel like it) if there is an opening fine if not we go back to the BWV and eat there or make our own dinner. What is MDE I have no clue? I will be picking up our PAP's in Sept. that we bought from the DVC . It is just my DH and me (in our late 50's). I do not like the idea of wearing a band I take my watch off when I start to sweat I cannot stand anything tight on my wrist.

 

[DisneyFreaks]

Thanks so much for the reply erionm. I thought I had missed something really important. I am having some problems with MDE though. All of my hotel reservations are not listed and when I try to add some I keep getting a message that they can't be found. We have a split stay. Two rooms at VWL and two rooms later in the week at SSR. It won't let me link the one room at VWL and doesn't show one room at SSR although it says that one is linked when I tried to re-add it. All four rooms do show at the DVC website.

 

[lodge]

I truly hope they work better than room charges. I've dealt with numerous errors on bills through the years.

 

[jerseyduke]

That's my thinking as well. When you are holding a FastPass, you're essentially occupying space in two queues at once--the queue for which you have a FP and the one you're actually standing in. Every FP issued means a Standby rider has to wait longer for his/her opportunity.

Assume an attraction can handle 2000 riders per hour. If they grant 1000 FastPasses, then another 1000 people will board via Standby.

But if they raise FP to 1500, only 500 are getting on via Standby. That makes for longer, slower-moving lines.

And it's probably a big part of the reason they are limiting FP+ to just 3 per person. FP+ may increase USAGE of attraction Standby lines...but if all works out, those lines will be moving faster.

IMO, one of Disney's biggest challenges with FP+ will be fighting the PERCEPTION that it's not as generous as the current system. 3 FPs per day sounds a little stingy...but if Standby lines are positively impacted, it could be a net win for guests.

On a related note, I also suspect that Disney increasing FastPass allocations over the years has contributed to the perception that the theme parks are far more crowded. Think about it--many Disney attractions have massive Standby queues which are only used during the busiest days of the year.

Honestly I have never spent any noteworthy amount of time in line at attractions like Kali River Rapids, Everest, Soarin, Space Mountain, Tower of Terror and many others. During non-peak times, you breeze through the FP lines in just a couple minutes time, then are back out clogging up public walkways.

Over the last 5 years, attendance at all WDW parks is only up 2.5%. But everywhere you turn, people claim "crowds are worse than ever!" It's not too far-fetched to think that FastPass is to blame. Disney is probably using FP+ to try an fix many of the evils that have crept into FastPass over the years.

I think that is what Disney is trying to fix. While it is nice to think that Disney Wanted you to wait in line less so you could ride more rides, the goal of fast pass was to get you to wait in line less, true, but less time in line means more time to shop. Disney would probably be happier if nobody rode the rides!

I am curious to see how it all plays out.

 

[cemeb4dk]

Lots of good information, but I am with some of you, this whole magic band/ FP + is super confusing. I am sure its easier once you have used it, but just reading everything on the web makes it really confusing.

We have a trip booked 12/30-1/9/14 at BCV. We are obviously DVC members and I do all the planning. My wife has an annual pass from her girls trip this past Jan. I have linked our reservation and dining reservations to the MDE on the site and the app. I have not linked her AP to it, and her pass is the older paper style. My plan as we always do is just go to the concierge upon check in and get our park tickets for myself and my daughter. So assuming everything is in place by this time, we will all get magic bands, and they will put my wifes AP on her band. Now assuming what I just typed is correct, I cannot book my FP+ tickets I want until my park tickets are added, or can I book FP's without having any tickets linked to my MDE? I hope I made that somewhat clear, because I am confused

 

[erionm]

Thanks so much for the reply erionm. I thought I had missed something really important. I am having some problems with MDE though. All of my hotel reservations are not listed and when I try to add some I keep getting a message that they can't be found. We have a split stay. Two rooms at VWL and two rooms later in the week at SSR. It won't let me link the one room at VWL and doesn't show one room at SSR although it says that one is linked when I tried to re-add it. All four rooms do show at the DVC website.

From the unofficial test resort list that someone else has posted for Oct, VWL and SSR are not included.