Magic Band Mess- what is up with this?

[dinosaurgertie]

Some of our party's magic bands worked to get into our room, some didn't. We had to go back to check-in to have them "magically" fixed. Not a huge inconvenience, but there was no rhyme or reason for it. They were all listed as Active in My Disney Experience.

Then, one busy morning in Magic Kingdom, we waited in the long lines, only for my Dad's magic band-- the one he had JUST used to get into our hotel room-- not to work. The Cast Member sent him over to Guest Services for a 40+ minute wait to get it "fixed." When my Dad asked the Cast Member what was up, the Cast Member said it was "something WE'D done, not them, and the magic band had been deactivated." But my Dad had just used the same band to get into the room that morning.

I have lots of experience w/ magic bands, and I couldn't make any sense of this. It definitley put a damper on our trip. Anyone else encounter this?

 

[DisneyWishes14]

I’ve had problems on our last two trips with MBs not opening our room when we’ve arrived even after deactivating every MB but the ones we are using for that trip. I’ve never had park entrance issues though.

 

[AngiTN]

I can shed some light regarding the part about the room at the resort, as I've inquired about them in relation to how they work at the resorts.
The room access data base is different from most all other access/authorizations. And each resort has their own.
So they have to register the serial number for each MB that shows for your account to access the room. If one number doesn't get added or one guest's band doesn't get added, then they can't access your room, even though they show as in your room on MDE. I learned a long time ago to check at the front desk and ask them to confirm the band I have with me at that moment is going to open the door at that resort. Especially important when the room is a long walk from the lobby. Most of the time, we are fine but every once in a while they struggle to get a specific band loaded in their room access data base.

And yeah, I think they can do just the room access and still have errors for charging, tickets, FP, etc. We've had problems where they didn't check a box (their term used, not mine) for room charging. Had to make a few trips for them to figure out what box was not checked that time. Then another time they lost the connection to the credit card on the account so there was no charging set up. Luckily I always carry the physical card that I use for room charging with me, since it's a DV and we need it for photo ops at HS and Epcot anyway.
We haven't ever had problems with tickets or park access (knock on wood)

 

[bumbershoot]

Glitches happen.

I learned a long time ago to check at the front desk and ask them to confirm the band I have with me at that moment is going to open the door at that resort.

We’ve done that, too, and they’ve been wrong. Both ways. We’ve been called and told that our bands would NOT work, but they did.

 

[AngiTN]

Glitches happen.




We’ve done that, too, and they’ve been wrong. Both ways. We’ve been called and told that our bands would NOT work, but they did.

Wow, really bad luck for y'all.
We've not had that, knock on wood.
We have gone all the way to the room without checking first and had them not work a few times but if they've checked our bands first, we have always gotten in the room. They check the serial numbers on their computers and then have us scan them on a special hand held Mickey Reader and if it turns green, they've worked.

 

[Dean Marino]

Dumped - As I will every time I encounter argumentative feedback.

 

[dinosaurgertie]

Wow, this is way more interesting than I thought it would be. Thanks to all for your responses! Glad to know we weren't alone in this (though I wish these failures didn't happen).

Dean, do you think theme park tix are part of the Central database? So, in theory, if MB worked for a restaurant or mercantile in the hotel, it should work for park admission? I'd love to avoid that theme park admission refusal again if at all possible. That was so rotten.

 

[Dean Marino]

Dumped. I should learn to stop offering any advice, as I generally get yelled at.

 

[bryanb]

None of this was a "Glitch". I have yet to find a formal definition for the meaning of that word, regarding a computer system. The issue was a central DataBase download failure, which occurs on a regular basis.

Symptom: One, or more, MBs do not work on YOUR Hotel Key Lock.
BUT: ALL MBs work just fine at Hotel Restaurant(s), or Mercantile.

WHY: Because you are dealing with two DIFFERENT Computer Systems that are trying to "Synch", and FAIL. CENTRAL WDW Database (with your MB in it), is SEPARATE from the Hotel KEYLOCK Database. And they often fail to synchronize.

WHAT TO DO:
1) MB works everywhere, EXCEPT Hotel Key locks. DO NOT "fix" at the desk. This is an UPLOAD from the local Hotel System that could totally screw up your MB if it FAILS. Instead? Demand a local Hotel "Key Card".
2) If refused, reprogram MB at the Desk. TAKE A MANAGER WITH YOU to verify that you can enter your room. But ALSO - TAKE A MANAGER WITH YOU to any Hotel Restaurant, or Mercantile, and do a test run on your MB to insure that the UPLOAD to the central WDW Database WORKED.

The "Magic Band" is nothing more than a KEY. OFTEN, depending on "which computer system" it is communicating with? It can FAIL. Most WDW Systems go RIGHT to "Mother Database". Hotel Keylock Systems do NOT: they work off of a COPY of the "Mother Database". Sometimes? That copy FAILS.

Now, anyone is free to ignore all this . "All personal opinion - I'm not necessarily right, no one else is necessarily wrong." I don't need the (expected) fights. Just a fool - 27 years in Corporate IT.

Just about the ONLY system that is divorced from the real "MB" system is the local Hotel ROOM LOCK system. And there is a fairly good reason for all of this...

At the end of the day, you must NOT be refused entry into your room. You could SUE for that, having paid. ROOM ENTRY, to our knowledge, is close to the ONLY "local system" left at WDW....

So - room screws up.... right off, go to the desk. They will scream "REPROGRAM!"
Nope. That action could just as well screw up PARK, Restaurant, everything else. No, no no no....

GIVE OUR FAMILY KEY CARDS.

These are LOCAL to the Hotel. The HOTEL can not screw up your MBs. Ask. If refused? Hold the local Hotel Manager Liable for any and all MB problems.
TELL them that... and watch how the tune changes.

Disclaimer: All posts by user Dean Marino are Personal Opinion only - any post may be removed by a Moderator at any time as specified by Board Rules, with my full permission and cooperation. I choose to not reply to any quotes, PMs, or comments, as I have personally found this action to be counterproductive.

Luckily, I have never had to be so confrontational with Disney front desks, forcing me to make demands and talk of liability. Regardless of the resort, they have always been outwardly helpful and interested in my satisfaction. I guess you've had much worse experiences with people and systems, which shapes how you think about these things.

 

[Darklord77]

We have taken 2 trips in last 2 months. Both times several of our bands would not work on the room lock, but were fine for parks and charging. CM's at 2 different resorts said we have too many MBs on our account. However they are all deactivated except for 2 MBs per person. It only took about 45 seconds to fix and it didn't impact our MBs in anyway going forward.

 

[AngiTN]

At the end of the day, you must NOT be refused entry into your room. You could SUE for that, having paid. ROOM ENTRY, to our knowledge, is close to the ONLY "local system" left at WDW....

Who was refused entry to a room? Where on earth did that whole thing come from? Disney is not refusing you access to your room at any point and I think you are seriously blowing things way out of proportion to say otherwise.

Luckily, I have never had to be so confrontational with Disney front desks, forcing me to make demands and talk of liability. Regardless of the resort, they have always been outwardly helpful and interested in my satisfaction. I guess you've had much worse experiences with people and systems, which shapes how you think about these things.

I was thinking the same thing. It doesn't take near the effort PP suggests to resolve things.
Heck, when we needed help with purchases the CM asked what snack we'd like, took my band to the gift shop, made a purchase to be sure it worked and then took the purchase off the account and gave us the item.

I will say though, I have found that if you are kind to them, they are way more inclined to help than if you go in with a chip already on your shoulder. That is liable to get the bare minimum of help, if that. Right or wrong, it's human nature. I always approach with kindness and not surprisingly, am met with it in return. I am not surprised to hear that some others are not finding the same kindness based on the description of the interactions. I actually hope some of them I read are really not accurately portrayed.

 

[TheDisneyNurse]

As far as telling the front desk goes... I buy magic bands in the park all the time (I'm indecisive, okay?!), and link them to MDE without a problem opening my resort room when I get back. Most recent time being late June of this year.

OP, I'm so sorry you ran into some troubles with the bands! Technology can be really wonky at times. I'm hoping every other aspect of the trip went smoothly for you. Were you at RD when the MB didn't work? I could see how frustrating that would be if you missed the RD emptiness to fuss over a band. I always struggle opening the hotel gates with my band. I blame my short t-rex arms for that

 

[sjlogghe]

We just had this happen in April. My MB worked to open the room door, my bf's did not. I simply called on the phone, and within 2 minutes, his worked - didn't even have to go to the front desk. No issues with park entrance.

Then he lost his MB, so we bought another one - linked it in MDE app, and had no issues getting into park or room.

I always say I have a love/hate relationship with technology ... and I am well aware and remember that things never go 100% correct all of the time! It's computer systems, which can be unpredictable. I always try to remember it's not the fault of the CM I'm talking to, kindness goes a long way!

 

[DebbieB]

I was there June 28-July 5, we had a nightmare with room access. We had 4 different reservations, so that caused a mess everytime we switched. We had 1 night Poly Club, 2 nights DVC Poly, 3 nights DVC Poly (different member, same room), 1 night Yacht Club. There were 3 of us, some would work, some didn’t.

 

[Donna3271]

I will say though, I have found that if you are kind to them, they are way more inclined to help than if you go in with a chip already on your shoulder. That is liable to get the bare minimum of help, if that. Right or wrong, it's human nature. I always approach with kindness and not surprisingly, am met with it in return. I am not surprised to hear that some others are not finding the same kindness based on the description of the interactions. I actually hope some of them I read are really not accurately portrayed.

Angie,
You are a cutie!!! AGREED! You get more flies with honey than with vinegar!

 

[DisneyGirlMI]

We had this last year when we went. Question for you? How many old magic bands do you have showing active on your account? We each had several. Never knew that we needed to deactivate old ones, so we simply ran into the problem that we had too many active bands. Once they deactivated all the old ones on our account we had no further issues.

 

[bryanb]

Dumped. I should learn to stop offering any advice, as I generally get yelled at.

Sorry, that genuinely wasn't my intent. You are contributing to these boards and working to add helpful information to the discussion with your own unique perspective. I didn't see any yelling back, just standard Disboards debate.

But if you often get negative reactions to what you say, it's likely that your communication style is harsher and more direct than most people find comfortable. Be more diplomatic, and you won't have to always be ready for confrontation as your signature implies. Hope that helps. See you more on these boards!

 

[AngiTN]

We had this last year when we went. Question for you? How many old magic bands do you have showing active on your account? We each had several. Never knew that we needed to deactivate old ones, so we simply ran into the problem that we had too many active bands. Once they deactivated all the old ones on our account we had no further issues.

Too many to count.
And the advice I was given, don't just deactivate, that doesn't really do anything, you can even still use them. Eventually they, combined with all the other data in the account) will all cause it to blow up (I know from experience)
List them as Lost. That truly removes them from the account, supposedly. I've just started this so I have yet to learn for certain if the advice I was given is accurate or not