Magic Bands and Annual Passes

[TinselAngel]

Hi. We are travelling from the UK to WDW in early July and will be upgrading our tickets to APs (the standard one that doesn't have the waterparks option) when we arrive. We've heard that they don't send out the bands to overseas AP holders (presumably because of postage costs, customs duty etc) but as we're buying our passes at guest services, perhaps they will issue the bands there and then - does anyone know ?

We really want our bands and would prefer not to have to budget for another 12.95 + tax each to get our hands on them

All info appreciated - thanks in advance
Julie

 

[erionm]

From the Annual Passes FAQs:

Q. As an Annual Passholder, can I pick up my MagicBand the next time I visit Walt Disney World Resort?

A. Unfortunately, we are not able to provide Passholders with their MagicBands when they arrive at Walt Disney World Resort.

If you are an Annual Passholder, please follow these simple steps at least 10 days before you plan to visit Walt Disney World Resort and your MagicBand will be delivered straight to your home:

1. Create or sign into your Disney account.
2. Link your Annual Pass or Passes to your Disney account, if you have not already done so.
3. Customize your MagicBand.

If it is within 10 days of your next theme park visit or your MagicBand did not arrive as scheduled, you can still enjoy the Walt Disney World theme parks. Your Passholder card—with a photo ID—remains valid for theme park entry and can be used for FastPass+ service until it expires. You can use your new MagicBand when you come back the next time!

MagicBand orders cannot be shipped to all countries.

If you have any questions about MyMagic+ for Annual Passholders or you need help, please call (407) 560-7277. Guests under 18 years of age must have parent or guardian permission to call.

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/faq/passholders/park-magic-band-pick-up/

 

[hydrotony]

The cut & paste above doesn't really apply to your situation. If you have WDW resort reservations and tickets already, the magic bands will be waiting for you when you arrive. New info (tickets to APs) can be appended to existing magic bands so you may not have anything to worry about.

Without knowing if there are any unusual rules for foreign visitors and APs...

All AP holders get a free magic band (which could be a 2nd one if the resort stay MB is issued). I would guess they may issue yours at guest services when you buy the APs. You may also get an AP card as well (ask for it and get it issued to you).

Very important...Make sure you have all created your My Disney Experience accounts well before you depart the UK. This account is the lynch-pin for everything magic band/fastpass+/dining reservations/resort reservations. If not, you will have to spend a lot of time at guest services while they are created.

 

[TinselAngel]

Thanks both - hmm, still not sure what will happen. We are staying offsite (would love to be onsite but it just doesn't work for us within our budget ) Does Disney have a FB or Twitter account - perhaps I could find out thru that route?

 

[TimothyG]

Since you live overseas and are staying offsite, you probably won't be able to get MagicBands without purchasing them. It's unfortunate that you will lose the convenience but there's nothing that you can do with the MagicBand that you can't already do with your tickets or AP cards. Is it possible to stay just one night at a resort? You will get them "for free" if that's the case.

Keep in mind that you do not get AP MagicBand orders until AFTER you have activated the AP in the parks (in this case after you upgraded your tickets). So upgrading at the parks won't get you a MagicBand for that trip anyway even if you lived in the US.

Keep an eye on the forums though. I imagine that Disney will find a way to accommodate overseas AP holders in the near future.

 

[hydrotony]

Just to be clear, make sure you create your My Disney Experience accounts now. You do not need resort reservations or APs to do that. If you already have any Disney.com account, you are halfway there. Once you get to WDW and get your magic bands THE FIRST DAY, you could then do Fast Pass+ reservations for the rest of your visit. Except for parade , fireworks and Anna&Elsa FP+s, I expect all attractions will have FP+ reservation times available a day ahead of time.

 

[TinselAngel]

Just to be clear, make sure you create your My Disney Experience accounts now. You do not need resort reservations or APs to do that. If you already have any Disney.com account, you are halfway there. Once you get to WDW and get your magic bands THE FIRST DAY, you could then do Fast Pass+ reservations for the rest of your visit. Except for parade , fireworks and Anna&Elsa FP+s, I expect all attractions will have FP+ reservation times available a day ahead of time.

Thanks - yes we have our MDE accounts all set and ready to go. We are supposed to get a ticket reference number from the travel company at 60 days which will allow us to book our FP+ selections when we get to 30 days - not sure what happens with the selections when we upgrade to APs. Thankfully we're not planning to meet Ana and Elsa (with two teenage boys, that's not a priority), we're not parade people and always seem to manage to find somewhere decent for the fireworks anyway, so hopefully we will get the FPs that matter to us. Also hoping that by July they'll have implemented the booking of more FPs once you've used your 3 for the day (and park hopping!).