Magic bands and S/D ?s

[vicb]

The last time I was at WDW was early May 2014 when Magic Bands were super new. As a matter of fact we had to buy them in the Studios on arrival day.

Planning a trip back for May 2018, likely staying at the Dolphin.

I know there is a new version (2.0), we have old version (1.0)... if we are staying at the Dolphin would be automatically get new bands or is that only for the actual Disney owned properties? Would our old bands from 2014 still work? Do we need to do anything to reactivate them?

Related... has anyone used any of the covers for the old bands and how did they held up over the course of a vacation in the parks.

Sorry for so many ?s, thanks for any help!!

 

[ngm]

You don't get Magic Bands if you stay at Swan/Dolphin. Your old bands should still work for tickets/FPs, but likely the long-range won't (ride photos, etc.). We're staying at Swan in the spring and I'm planning to buy new MBs.

 

[vicb]

Thanks! We usually don't do photo pass or buy ride photos...

 

[tzolkin]

Yes, they will work.

We stayed at the Dolphin last trip and used bands from our previous on-site trips. You will have to carry your room key, but the MBs make park entry and FP easier.