Talldisfam
Talldisfam
- Joined
- Sep 16, 2012
- Messages
- 12
As a "seasoned" Disney guest, the Magic Band (MB) concept seemed intriguing. Remembering back to having to be the card "mule" for everyone's ticket pass card, room key card, the Disney ID card, etc., the idea of a single repository for all the pertinent data seemed like a great idea. Well, although I am sure Disney is still refining things, there are some important things to know:
1) You can only get three fast passes on the band per day. HOWEVER, your admission cards still function at the fast pass kiosks, just as before. So when you walk in the park immediately grab a regular paper ticket Fast Pass with your ticket card.
2) If the ride you have a Fast Pass+ (FP+) for on your band is out of order (happened to us four times in one week,) you have to find a Disney employee to reprogram your band to a new time. There are a few self services kiosks where you can do this but they are hard to find and scattered. (You can also use your phone unless the time for the Fats Plus + has changed.
3) If you are a DVC member and want to take advantage of your 10% discount at a gift store, you still have to carry your DVC member card AND a photo ID.
So now the count is; wear your band, carry your ticket card, carry a photo ID and carry your DVC member ID.
4) Being there seven days, we had dinner in a variety of restaurants and the quick service locations seemed to function well with the credit card imbedded in the magic band (with a personal pin needing entered) but at one of the sit down restaurants (Coral Sea) the hand held band reader would not work and my light blue Disney ID card (received at check-in) was needed. Another card to carry.
5) Using FP+ we would book four fast passes (family of four) on rides such as Rock n Roll coaster, knowing that our 4 year old was 3 inches shy of the 48". My wife would ride with the 6 year old who is tall enough. Then we would swap bands with kids and the 6 year old would ride with me. (Yes we have tall kids and the 6 year old rides ANYTHING that moves.) I did notice later in the week that when you scan your band your name comes up on the monitor but I don't think an age is displayed.
6) The kids naturally got into the act scanning their magic band on any Mickey kiosk they saw. This was mot amusing to the Disney personnel at "Be our Guest" while we waited for a picture with the Beast.
7) The magic bands are a favorite of the photographers who scan you in and shoot replacing the old Photo Pass (hey - one less card!)
8) The bands weren't particularly uncomfortable but it was cool while we were there. In the summer it may be another story. They are easy to take off so my 4 year old thought it was a game to switch arms, take off my band, etc. (yes he survived the trip) so you are paranoid about it falling off somewhere.
9) Smart phones - Disney must have invested in smart phones. You can use "My Disney Experience" on a smart phone to reroute a FP+ but good luck with the connectivity. We heard there were 69,000 people in Magic Kingdom the day after Thanksgiving and it was impossible to sign in and effectively do anything on the smart phone. It worked great at the less crowded Epcot earlier in the week but the bandwidth is lacking hen there is a large crowd. Ironically, that is when you need the phone to check wait times, change FP+, make dining reservations - and oh yeah (one more thing to carry). I actually saw people carrying IPads as well.
I hope this helps you if you are heading into the fray. The Tuesday before Thanksgiving in Magic Kingdom we were able to hit 23 separate attractions (not counting repeat rides) using FP+, regular fast passes, the phone to monitor wait times and hustling so it can be done but you have to plan, plan, plan.
Have a great vacation!!!!!!!!!
1) You can only get three fast passes on the band per day. HOWEVER, your admission cards still function at the fast pass kiosks, just as before. So when you walk in the park immediately grab a regular paper ticket Fast Pass with your ticket card.
2) If the ride you have a Fast Pass+ (FP+) for on your band is out of order (happened to us four times in one week,) you have to find a Disney employee to reprogram your band to a new time. There are a few self services kiosks where you can do this but they are hard to find and scattered. (You can also use your phone unless the time for the Fats Plus + has changed.
3) If you are a DVC member and want to take advantage of your 10% discount at a gift store, you still have to carry your DVC member card AND a photo ID.
So now the count is; wear your band, carry your ticket card, carry a photo ID and carry your DVC member ID.
4) Being there seven days, we had dinner in a variety of restaurants and the quick service locations seemed to function well with the credit card imbedded in the magic band (with a personal pin needing entered) but at one of the sit down restaurants (Coral Sea) the hand held band reader would not work and my light blue Disney ID card (received at check-in) was needed. Another card to carry.
5) Using FP+ we would book four fast passes (family of four) on rides such as Rock n Roll coaster, knowing that our 4 year old was 3 inches shy of the 48". My wife would ride with the 6 year old who is tall enough. Then we would swap bands with kids and the 6 year old would ride with me. (Yes we have tall kids and the 6 year old rides ANYTHING that moves.) I did notice later in the week that when you scan your band your name comes up on the monitor but I don't think an age is displayed.
6) The kids naturally got into the act scanning their magic band on any Mickey kiosk they saw. This was mot amusing to the Disney personnel at "Be our Guest" while we waited for a picture with the Beast.
7) The magic bands are a favorite of the photographers who scan you in and shoot replacing the old Photo Pass (hey - one less card!)
8) The bands weren't particularly uncomfortable but it was cool while we were there. In the summer it may be another story. They are easy to take off so my 4 year old thought it was a game to switch arms, take off my band, etc. (yes he survived the trip) so you are paranoid about it falling off somewhere.
9) Smart phones - Disney must have invested in smart phones. You can use "My Disney Experience" on a smart phone to reroute a FP+ but good luck with the connectivity. We heard there were 69,000 people in Magic Kingdom the day after Thanksgiving and it was impossible to sign in and effectively do anything on the smart phone. It worked great at the less crowded Epcot earlier in the week but the bandwidth is lacking hen there is a large crowd. Ironically, that is when you need the phone to check wait times, change FP+, make dining reservations - and oh yeah (one more thing to carry). I actually saw people carrying IPads as well.
I hope this helps you if you are heading into the fray. The Tuesday before Thanksgiving in Magic Kingdom we were able to hit 23 separate attractions (not counting repeat rides) using FP+, regular fast passes, the phone to monitor wait times and hustling so it can be done but you have to plan, plan, plan.
Have a great vacation!!!!!!!!!
I was under the impression that the MagicBands would automanitcally be mailed out to all AP holders when the testing phases are all complete. I was told by a CM that it would be 'early 2014' when this happens. I just saw on another board that the testing phase was to be complete on Jan. 5th but I'm sure that's not official b/c the WDW site does not say a date yet under the pasholder info link that explains the bands for us. I did receive a plastic card instead of my paper pass this past summer.
