Magic Band worth it for one trip every 5 years?

[nyhitmen]

Hey All

We are heading to disney in about a week. I honestly did not even know what a magic band was. Now I have done some research and wonder is it worth it for people who will only go once maybe every 5 years?

Also since its too late to get them sent to me before we go can I buy them before I enter a park or do I need to wait until I am inside the first time?

Also is it a must for fast pass which we want to use now they we see its free with ticket purchase

 

[Tiggerlover91]

Hey All

We are heading to disney in about a week. I honestly did not even know what a magic band was. Now I have done some research and wonder is it worth it for people who will only go once maybe every 5 years?

Also since its too late to get them sent to me before we go can I buy them before I enter a park or do I need to wait until I am inside the first time?

Magicbands don't cost you anything if you're staying onsite. So that in itself is a yes for me. I have three from our trip back in 2015 in our closest. I opened a new account last year knowing those Magicbands are no longer good. I believe the battery is only good for 2 years.

When are you arriving? I believe they will ship up to 30 days before. It says on my MDE account that we have till May 10 to customize. We'll be there on June 9. Otherwise, they will be at your resort when you arrive. I would buy them before you enter the park. I'm not sure if they can be purchased in the parks. Other DISers can help with that I'm sure!
Good luck! Have fun!

 

[Klayfish]

Do you need one? No.

Do you want one? That's entirely up to you. They aren't all that expensive, around $20 for something basic. I like them, and if nothing else they make for a neat souvenir.

They can be purchased in endless places inside the parks, Disney Springs, etc...trust me, WDW will be happy to sell one to you.

 

[mesaboy2]

Hey All

We are heading to disney in about a week. I honestly did not even know what a magic band was. Now I have done some research and wonder is it worth it for people who will only go once maybe every 5 years?

Also since its too late to get them sent to me before we go can I buy them before I enter a park or do I need to wait until I am inside the first time?

Also is it a must for fast pass which we want to use now they we see its free with ticket purchase

Bands are everywhere at WDW, including inside the parks. They are a convenience, nothing more. A standard ticket will do most everything a band will do.

 

[nyhitmen]

Well we are NOT staying on site. We are off site. And I leave in less then a week. We have the tickets in an email that says to have them scan the one bar code for us both when we arrive at the park. But to me to take out my phone for a bar code all the time for fast pass and such is a pain no? Is there another way>

 

[mesaboy2]

Well we are NOT staying on site. We are off site. And I leave in less then a week. We have the tickets in an email that says to have them scan the one bar code for us both when we arrive at the park. But to me to take out my phone for a bar code all the time for fast pass and such is a pain no? Is there another way>

Get a standard ticket from Guest Relations when you arrive and use that for FP entry (and park entry, and PhotoPass, etc.).

 

[Dr.Mickey]

Hope your trip is awesome! Here are my tips on this:

1. If you just recently learned that FPs are free with your ticket, here’s a reminder that you can make FPs now (up to 30 days early). Which means....

2. If you don’t have MDE account set up with all of your party, now is the time. Your tickets need to be linked to each member of your party. Which brings me to magic bands...

3. Both the tickets you will be issued at a ticket window when you scan your bar code and a magic band do the exact same thing - connect the Disney touch point to the individual MDE account. The only other thing a magic band can do (besides coordinate with your outfit) is load ride photos into your MDE account WITHOUT having to touch your ticket to the screen at the end of the ride.

Hope this helps. If you are already running with all of this, then I’m sorry for the repeat info. If this looks like Greek to you, then you should check out the Disboards FAQ threads on MDE and FP+ soon so that you can maximize your trip.

 

[nyhitmen]

Hope your trip is awesome! Here are my tips on this:

1. If you just recently learned that FPs are free with your ticket, here’s a reminder that you can make FPs now (up to 30 days early). Which means....

2. If you don’t have MDE account set up with all of your party, now is the time. Your tickets need to be linked to each member of your party. Which brings me to magic bands...

3. Both the tickets you will be issued at a ticket window when you scan your bar code and a magic band do the exact same thing - connect the Disney touch point to the individual MDE account. The only other thing a magic band can do (besides coordinate with your outfit) is load ride photos into your MDE account WITHOUT having to touch your ticket to the screen at the end of the ride.

Hope this helps. If you are already running with all of this, then I’m sorry for the repeat info. If this looks like Greek to you, then you should check out the Disboards FAQ threads on MDE and FP+ soon so that you can maximize your trip.

I do have one additional question about what you mentioned With the magic band and the pictures. If I load a picture after a ride does that mean I bought it and paid for it or it that still optional at a later time?

 

[eliseisawkward]

I do have one additional question about what you mentioned With the magic band and the pictures. If I load a picture after a ride does that mean I bought it and paid for it or it that still optional at a later time?

You’ll have a preview of it loaded onto your account so that you may choose to purchase it later (unless you have memorymaker in which case you can download all of your pictures)

 

[nyhitmen]

You’ll have a preview of it loaded onto your account so that you may choose to purchase it later (unless you have memorymaker in which case you can download all of your pictures)

Great sorry last one are those ride pictures pricey? I wiill probably have my eyes closed anyway lol

 

[eliseisawkward]

I do not know how much individual photos cost. Memory maker is $170 in advance or $200 after arrival. If you think you’ll want several pictures from different days/parks it might be worth getting. We had it for our week long family vacation of 12 people, but will not have it for our 1-2 day trip coming up next week.

 

[Tiggerlover91]

Great sorry last one are those ride pictures pricey? I wiill probably have my eyes closed anyway lol

Yes ride photos can be pricey. For me, I just prefer to purchase the advance package of Memory Maker. Here's something I pulled off a website, you asked about individual ride photos:

There are several kinds of products you can buy with your PhotoPass pics including:

• Items with your photos printed on them - calendars, greeting cards, mugs, mouse pads (do people still use those?), etc.
• Individual photos - for $16.95-20.95, you can order individual prints
• Memory Maker - a digital download that includes all of your pics taken in the parks and on rides. People who buy this package have the rights to use the photos however they'd like, including printing them at a local printer and ordering products with the photos (such as ordering products from Shutterfly or Snapfish). Purchasers also get on-ride videos and animated Magic Shots that are not available to anyone else.

Here's the website I pulled that from:

https://wdwprepschool.com/how-memory-maker-works/

For me, I'll spend the $169 and have the option on if I want to download the ride photos as we exit the ride. I've never been big on the ride photos because I'm not looking my best in most of them. That website gives a good break down of Memory Maker and @Tomh has an awesome sticky on the top of the Theme Park Boards! Hope I've helped!

 

[Tiggerlover91]

I do not know how much individual photos cost. Memory maker is $170 in advance or $200 after arrival. If you think you’ll want several pictures from different days/parks it might be worth getting. We had it for our week long family vacation of 12 people, but will not have it for our 1-2 day trip coming up next week.

That's a pretty smart move. I guess you have to ask yourself, how many photos are you going to get in those 1-2 days. Say you only visit 2 parks and in those two parks you get only 20 photos taken. That's 40 photos that you just paid $169 for? I would say, you wouldn't get your monies worth in that case. I can remember doing the math on our 2011 trip. I think back then PhotoPass was only $99 pre-purchase. With the number of pics we had from that trip, I believe each pic came out to be somewhere around .56 cents each. We had 174 pics. That included the ones they took of my family and the special ones they stick in of just the characters. In 2015 I believe I did $149 pre purchase. I had 149 pics that year, so the cost nearly doubled....I paid $1 per pic. Still....that's not a bad deal! This year, I'll need to have at least 200 pics to balance out. That would include the extras they throw in from each park of characters and animals, but it works. We'll be there 4 days in the park and one day in Disney Springs. I'm sure we can get 200 pics easily with all the character greets I have planned this year!

 

[Tomh]

One day Memory Maker (can be purchased in the app, after you have photos taken) is only $59. For a two day trip, that would be $118, which is significantly less expensive than buying the Memory Maker, even at the advance purchase price.

Additionally, you could concentrate on getting Photopass Pictures on just ONE of your two days, and then buy the One Day Memory Maker for just that one day, cutting your cost down to $59.

 

[Tiggerlover91]

One day Memory Maker (can be purchased in the app, after you have photos taken) is only $59. For a two day trip, that would be $118, which is significantly less expensive than buying the Memory Maker, even at the advance purchase price.

Additionally, you could concentrate on getting Photopass Pictures on just ONE of your two days, and then buy the One Day Memory Maker for just that one day, cutting your cost down to $59.

See! This was the man to get the information from!

 

[Tomh]

See! This was the man to get the information from!

Thanks for the kind words.

Now that I have taken time to read the entire thread, there are a few other clarifications I will try to make.

Magic Bands that are MORE than two years old will still work for park entry, FP+, and can be scanned by a Photo Pass photographer, or used at a touch point after a ride to claim your photo. The ONLY place they will not work is in the long range readers, so that means rides where the photo links automatically, and there is no place to claim your photo they will not work, and where the ride displays your name on the screen at the end of the ride they won't work. Everywhere else, they will work for many many years.

Magic Bands can be purchased in the parks, or at any ticket window for I believe $15.97 (including tax) for the basic solid color bands.

OP, you will not have to show your phone constantly. When you have that bar code scanned, you will be given plastic ticket cards. They will be what you scan to get into the park, and use your FP+, as well as how you claim your photos.

As others have suggested, please, make your Fast Pass reservations NOW. The later you wait, the fewer choices you will have available.

 

[ClapYourHands]

Get a standard ticket from Guest Relations when you arrive and use that for FP entry (and park entry, and PhotoPass, etc.).

To make things easier, consider getting a lanyard with an ID holder on it. The standard ticket you get from Guest Relations will look like a credit card, and fit perfectly inside the holder. Then you just scan that for park entry and fast-pass entrance. Much easier than getting out your phone or digging into your pocket/bag every time you use a FP. I've had good luck finding cheap generic ones at places like Five Below, but if you have Amazon Prime, there are lots of options to get Disney ones with 2-day shipping. I did a quick search, and found a 3-pack that come with little coin purses that have id/ticket windows on them for like $10.

 

[AnnieOakley]

We enjoy the convenience of our magic bands, but they are not a necessity.
One thought on all this, if you are considering photo options and depending on the length of your trip you might consider upgrading one person's ticket to an annual pass. It might or might not pay off for your group. But you get free parking at the parks, free Memory maker, and 20% merchandise discounts. Something to consider.

 

[NickC]

Wearing a Magic Band always make me feel more immersed in the Disney bubble. Not sure what dollar amount that is worth, but I love having it.

 

[Tomh]

We enjoy the convenience of our magic bands, but they are not a necessity.
One thought on all this, if you are considering photo options and depending on the length of your trip you might consider upgrading one person's ticket to an annual pass. It might or might not pay off for your group. But you get free parking at the parks, free Memory maker, and 20% merchandise discounts. Something to consider.

You pretty much have to be spending more than 10 days in the parks for an Annual Pass purchase just to break even. In order for it to save you money, you really need to be able to make two trips within the year.