Magic Band Help

[shb5007]

I am sure this has been asked, but I did some searching around and couldn't find a perfectly clear answer.

I have a quick trip down to WDW coming up this week (Thursday-Sunday) with my girlfriend (2 of us). This will be our first split stay at WRW Resorts, so I was shipped 4 Magic Bands. How do I know which bands to use? And when?

We are staying 2 nights at CBR (Magic Bands 1 and 2) on Thursday and Friday. We are staying 1 night at BWI (Magic Bands 3 and 4) on Saturday. We are doing the Party on Thursday, Magic Kingdom on Friday, and EPCOT on Saturday. We have ADR on Friday evening, Saturday breakfast, and Saturday evening.

So, I am guessing we use our Magic Bands 1 and 2 at the airport to catch the Express, for the Party, and for our stay at CBR. That would include Friday at MK and the Friday ADR. I am planning on checking out early Saturday morning (before breakfast) and heading to BWI (breakfast is at the Boardwalk) to drop off our bags before heading to EPCOT. I know we won't be able to check into BWI that early. So what happens to the Bands between checking out at CBR (say 7am) and checking into BWI (say 8pm)?

Thanks for the help!

 

[Alesia]

the bands are not tied to a specific reservation - they can be used interchangably.

 

[loves to dive]

I'm assuming by 4 MBs you are saying 2 for you and 2 for your GF for a total of 4 and not 4 each. Anyway, you can use any one of your 2 to get in your room at both resorts and to get into the parks. Same for your GF. You can both use your MBs interchangeably to get into your room, you can use yours you can use hers she can use yours she can use hers, you can only use yours to get into the parks after the first time because they are tied to your fingerprint. You can use hers, she can use yours if you have FPs. You can also refuse one of them if you haven't already customized them, there is a little section on the customize page for it if you don't want two bands.

 

[Fangorn]

As has already been stated, MBs are interchangeable. Your MDE account is the single source of the truth for everything - room, charging, tickets, FP, everything. Magic Bands are merely the keys to access your account. You can have multiple keys active at any time.
The only real "gotcha" can come with a split stay. You can only have 1 active room attached to your account at a time. So with a split stay it is important that you be completely checked out of the first room before your bands will work for the second room. Theoretically, this should happen automatically, but it often doesn't. Some resorts (the Values, particularly) don't seem to process the check out in a timely manner and the system says you're still in the first room, meaning you could arrive at the second resort and your MB won't open the door. In that event, you'll have to go to the front desk and they'll need to fix it. Only the room access is affected though, everything else will work just fine.

Steve

 

[raddisneyfan]

As has already been stated, MBs are interchangeable. Your MDE account is the single source of the truth for everything - room, charging, tickets, FP, everything. Magic Bands are merely the keys to access your account. You can have multiple keys active at any time.
The only real "gotcha" can come with a split stay. You can only have 1 active room attached to your account at a time. So with a split stay it is important that you be completely checked out of the first room before your bands will work for the second room. Theoretically, this should happen automatically, but it often doesn't. Some resorts (the Values, particularly) don't seem to process the check out in a timely manner and the system says you're still in the first room, meaning you could arrive at the second resort and your MB won't open the door. In that event, you'll have to go to the front desk and they'll need to fix it. Only the room access is affected though, everything else will work just fine.

Steve

Agree. This has happened the last two times I've had a split stay. The first resort is all fine, but when I go to the next resort, I've always had to go to the check-in desk to straighten things out with the bands. Have a fun trip--I'll be at the world beginning the 10th--can't wait!!!

 

[loves to dive]

Agree. This has happened the last two times I've had a split stay. The first resort is all fine, but when I go to the next resort, I've always had to go to the check-in desk to straighten things out with the bands. Have a fun trip--I'll be at the world beginning the 10th--can't wait!!!

I just call right before I leave the room in resort one and say I'm checking out, takes about a minute. I do always check in at the front desk of resort #2 but that's just because I drive and am usually at resort #2 around 7:30 in the morning. I like to let them know I'm there in case a room opens up early.

 

[Fangorn]

I've done that too. I've also stopped by the desk to check out. Still doesn't always help. In October, I went to the desk (ASMu) to make sure I was checked out prior to heading over to BC. ASMu said we were checked out, but when we got to BC, quickly found out that ASMu hadn't actually checked us out yet. Only took 5 minutes to fix, but still a pain.

Steve

 

[raddisneyfan]

I just call right before I leave the room in resort one and say I'm checking out, takes about a minute. I do always check in at the front desk of resort #2 but that's just because I drive and am usually at resort #2 around 7:30 in the morning. I like to let them know I'm there in case a room opens up early.

Thanks. I will try this in the Spring for Flower/Garden since I have a split and will be driving for the first time in a while as opposed to Magical Express. Call the first when I check out and call the second to say I'm on my way and ready for a text!