Magic Band Question

[Susiequsie60]

OK, this is strange. I really wish I'd paid better attention when I "personalized" my Magic Bands for my trip starting on January 31.

Here's the story: My husband and I took virtually the exact same trip at the exact same time last year. The first week in February staying at the Boardwalk Inn. We got our Magic Bands in the mail about a month before we went. They were both red. They're probably sitting somewhere in my house right now.

Flash forward to right now: I booked our trip for February 2015, but for the first time, used a travel agent (one I got here actually.) I'm totally happy with everything, the only little snag is that I seem to have less control on My Disney Experience site when I'm there - payments went to the TA, etc. That's not a big deal. But now, here we are 3 weeks and 2 days before vacation, and I don't have my Magic Bands. I got all of my other documents from the TA about a week ago. When I go on the Disney site, it says they are being processed. What I'm really worried about is the fact that the Magic Bands they are actually "showing" on the site seem to be the ones from last year! I'm almost positive that when I personalized this year's bands they were NOT red; I made mine and my husband's different colors this year, but I don't remember what I did. My concern is that they are NOT making me new bands, but that my old ones are still activated. The site does in fact say that these 2 red bands are activated. As a matter of fact, I have the option to deactivate these bands or list them as "lost." But I'm not sure if I'm actually working with my old or my new bands on the site!!!! It shows a picture of the 2 red ones, but it also says my Magic Bands are being "processed." I'm a little confused.

Anyone have any advice or info on how this works? I don't really care if I have personalized bands or not. It's just that I don't know where the old ones are and I'd like to avoid any confusion or problems with our bands. I want to arrive at WDW with my correct working Magic Bands in hand!!!

Thanks in advance to anyone who can help.

 

[ghtx]

They will either be sent to you, or if you didn't personalize them, generic ones will be waiting for you when you check in. You can call if you don't get them in the mail a week or two ahead of the trip.

 

[Susiequsie60]

That's what I've been assuming this entire time. And I know I did personalize them. I just don't remember what colors I made them. And honestly, I've found that the site just doesn't seem to work about as often as it does work. For me, using the site had a whole lot more issues this year than last year. I just hope that my personalization was successful.

So all of my worrying about the picture of my "old" Fast Passes is not necessary? I wish I was seeing a picture of my "new" Fast Passes instead!!

 

[siskaren]

You can use the old Magic Bands. Specifically, you can use both the old and the new ones. Magic Bands are just keys to unlock the information in your MDE account; nothing is on your Magic Bands.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

You can use any magic band that is assigned to you and still active. The old ones, and the new ones. You can use each one interchangeably. If you can't find the old ones then consider deactivating them in MDX. If you didn't get yours in the mail, you will be given bands when you arrive (don't know if they'll be anything other than gray though).

 

[DavidNYC]

The TA is generally out of the band process at this point. If you've personalized and shows as being processed should be shipped shortly. Not unusual to not have them sent with that long to go. Seems they've been sending them a bit closer than they did initially.

 

[Susiequsie60]

So, the good news is a found my old (red) Magic Bands. Since they are still active, at least I know I have a back-up. The only point that I'm still a little confused about is why my Magic Experience site says that my Magic Bands are being processed, but the only picture they show is of my old red bands. Again, I know my new bands are not red. I think I was real original and made my band pink and my husband's blue. So obviously, no big deal here. I seem to have Magic Bands that will work at WDW. I guess I'm just curious if I'll actually be getting new bands in the mail. Time will tell.

 

[Wood Nymph]

Make sure you check the shipping address if you can. When I booked our April trip through Orbitz the shipping address for the MagicBands defaulted to the Orbitz office address instead of our home address. If I hadn't noticed then they would have been shipped there.

When I make a reservation through Disney the MagicBands default to grey until I go in and customize them. When I made the reservation through Orbitz, our MagicBands were not grey but a color. I'm not sure what color they were but I think it was the same color as the bands for the most recent trip.

 

[lilclerk]

Just to clarify, when you go to that MB screen, it shows an order being processed plus your bands from last year, right?
If that's the case, I'm guessing that order being processed is the new set for your trip this year.

 

[Disneylovingmomof3]

hmm - I hope you figure this out. I would definitely call Disney because I am sure they can tell you why it still says processing. I know you can always get a band there but if you personalized them they should be able to tell you what is going on. Good luck!

 

[Susiequsie60]

Just to clarify, when you go to that MB screen, it shows an order being processed plus your bands from last year, right?
If that's the case, I'm guessing that order being processed is the new set for your trip this year.

Yes. Exactly this. And I'm glad I started this thread because for some reason, it was confusing me, and I think that your answer is exactly what's happening. That makes perfect sense. (Part of the problem was that I really didn't realize that last year's bands were still active and actually able to use!) I feel much better about the situation now. Thanks.

 

[mhake01]

I have been calling almost everyday about our magic bands for our trip coming up in less than two weeks. Finally I got ahold of someone yesterday and I was told that they have been having problems at the fulfillment center for the magic bands in my region. They were very behind because they were not getting the orders pushed to them by disney part. Mine just shipped out today and my trip is 13 days away so do not be worried.