Magic bands, AP's and resort hopping

[kaytieedid]

We are staying at a few different DVC resorts this summer during our trip. Can we keep our magic bands from our 1st resort (since we have AP's) and have them re-program each at the other hotels to gain room entry etc.? I didn't want to have to order a few sets of magic bands and keep switching them every few days. Thanks!

 

[disneynutz]

Yes you can, FYI- you need to make sure that the resort you are checking out of actually checks you out in the system or you won't be able to check in at the next resort.

Bill

 

[MouseMomx2]

In our experience, no reprogramming is necessary. Since your reservations are linked to your MDEx account the band will be all set for room access at each one. However, as the PP said, you do need to make sure you are completely checked out of one resort before checking into the next one. Just go to the front desk and ask them to do this for you. When MBs were first introduced there were some issues with this as it was a new procedure, but now the Front Desk CMs are much better about completing the check-out process then and there.

 

[wishicouldgomoreofte]

I am in the same situation. One week at AKV, then move to GFV.
I really don't want to stop at front desk and waste time "checking out".
Isn't that a step they can do at GFV when I check in there? I mean if AKV has not completely "checked me out", won't they be able to do that at GFV?
I am intending to just take and use one magic band, rather than two.

 

[nalajms]

Just go to the front desk and ask them to do this for you. When MBs were first introduced there were some issues with this as it was a new procedure, but now the Front Desk CMs are much better about completing the check-out process then and there.

I would go as far as to tell the front desk that they need to check you out completely because you will be checking into another resort the same day.

We moved from AKV to BWV last week. Even though I went to the AKV front desk to "check out" the person did not do the full check out. It took a while to check in at BWV because of this.

We had issues with DDP and charging to our rooms every time we check-in/out. We had 3 stays, and not all 3 MB worked to open the rooms at BWV. All 3 worked to open the door for our first stay.

 

[disneynutz]

I am in the same situation. One week at AKV, then move to GFV.
I really don't want to stop at front desk and waste time "checking out".
Isn't that a step they can do at GFV when I check in there? I mean if AKV has not completely "checked me out", won't they be able to do that at GFV?
I am intending to just take and use one magic band, rather than two.

In December, the check in front desk had to call the check out front desk and wait on hold. This was after they sent us to our new room to find out that the door key didn't work. We were told that IT had to get involved because the check out resort missed a step.

The problems my be fixed now, I just wanted to let everyone know that there could be a problem.

Bill

 

[wishicouldgomoreofte]

I would go as far as to tell the front desk that they need to check you out completely because you will be checking into another resort the same day.

We moved from AKV to BWV last week. Even though I went to the AKV front desk to "check out" the person did not do the full check out. It took a while to check in at BWV because of this.

We had issues with DDP and charging to our rooms every time we check-in/out. We had 3 stays, and not all 3 MB worked to open the rooms at BWV. All 3 worked to open the door for our first stay.

Thank you for the heads-up. I wonder if just taking and using both magic bands will help, or if I will need to go through that process no matter what?

 

[nalajms]

I really don't think the problem is the number of MB, but more an issue with MDE and multiple reservations. So you'd have to go through that process no matter what.

When you go to the 2nd check in, they "reset" your MB, whichever one you are using. We happened to be wearing our AKV bands, so only those opened the new BWV room on check in day. The next day, the others worked. We couldn't charge to the room until a supervisor fixed it. I fixed mine on check in day. DH did not bother, but was able to charge the next day.... needless to say, we're done with split stays the rest of the year.

FYI - If MBs do not work, ask for a supervisor to reset the pin. Don't waste your time having the CM reset it. The supervisor reset does more.

 

[Meriweather]

In Jan. our second resort could check us out at the first.....since we didn't.
It only took a few minutes and then our doors worked with the MB

 

[bumbershoot]

Yes you can, FYI- you need to make sure that the resort you are checking out of actually checks you out in the system or you won't be able to check in at the next resort.

Bill

This was only a problem when we were trying to checkin before actual checkout *time* in January. When we let official checkout time go by before checking in to the next resort (4 separate checkins) it was fine.

They always wanted to see one band (DS had 5, I had 6, just for the fun of it), just one, at checkin. The MBs always worked.

 

[bookwormde]

I have always checked in to my new resort on split stays before checking out.

If this is not possible any more it will be one more big strike against the new system

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

We are staying at a few different DVC resorts this summer during our trip. Can we keep our magic bands from our 1st resort (since we have AP's) and have them re-program each at the other hotels to gain room entry etc.? I didn't want to have to order a few sets of magic bands and keep switching them every few days. Thanks!

You can do this... Disney can't.

So even though you don't order new bands the 'generic" gray will be waiting on you at each new resort.



And this is a big strike against the new system.

Let's say you spend tonight at SSR and you get up at 7 AM tomorrow and race to BWV to start your "campaign" for the perfect room. In order to check you in for your 'campaign' to begin the CM has to check you out of SSR. So then you back to that room and the "Tragic band" won't open the door. Off to the front desk, where they basically reverse the transaction from BWV.

I saw one man at the BCV front desk who was rather upset that at this point he had two rooms and couldn't get into either of them.

Nothing about this system was actually designed to make it easier on the guest LOL!

 

[MightyGitis]

I have always checked in to my new resort on split stays before checking out. If this is not possible any more it will be one more big strike against the new system

When you check in to the new resort it's supposed to "claim" you and switch te bands to the new hotel. But as you see from other posts this is not seamless most of the time.

I did a Pop/WL split stay during testing and it worked fine but apparently we got lucky.

I CAN say with 100% certainty that even though they give you new bands for each hotel you do not have to use switch bands if you don't want. Once you have multiple bands they are all the same at any given times. In other words I had a band from Pop and WL. They both opened my pop room until moved to WL. Then they both opened my WL room.

The band is an identifier that pulls up your MDE account and whatever it is linked to. So if you have one ticket and five bands all five bass will be linked to the same ticket. Or same room. Or same dining plan.

So if you have multiple colors you can swap them in an out to match your clothing if you want.

 

[ems_mom]

We had a one night stay at Pop before checking into the BCV's. We were sent bands for both stays. We successfully used these bands and others from previous trips to enter the parks and our rooms.

Our big problem was once we moved to the BCV's our bands wouldn't work for charging. We were told at a store we were over-limit. It was our first purchase after checking in. The nice man at the store told us there was an error setting up charging on our account. After one stop at the front desk they said it was all fixed. By our third stop they said it would only be fixable if they cancelled our reservation and rebooked. We were politely advised that we should just use our CC for charging, which we did.

It seemed the fix was too complicated for the front desk staff to handle.

 

[bookwormde]

How is that going to work with DDP on check in day if you have a breakfast reservation, if you have not checked out of your old room and into the new one?

 

[jakenjess]

We just did a split stay in April and had no problems. When we left SSR I called and told them we were checking out, but when we arrived at BLT we hadn't been officially checked out of SSR. The CM at BLT was able to do it for us in just a few seconds, so I'm assuming if there was a glitch with this in the past they've got it fixed. I have to say the BLT CM was fantastic!

Now if only the ticket portion of our MB had been so seamless

 

[nalajms]

Our big problem was once we moved to the BCV's our bands wouldn't work for charging.

Same thing happened to us early May. The managers (yes, happened twice) had to "reset" our pin. And that worked.

How is that going to work with DDP on check in day if you have a breakfast reservation, if you have not checked out of your old room and into the new one?

It doesn't When mine didn't work on check-in day, the restaurant suggested we charge to the same CC as the one on file and the resort would credit us back after they fixed the MB issue. (We had already checked out and checked back in at BWV but the MB didn't work.)

My one conclusion/theory is to put split stays on separate MDE accounts. Since I have one just for DVC and one for my ADRs, it would make sense to separate them. Then I shouldn't have any problems, it would be as if Disney is dealing with 2 separate people right? And of course I'd have to remember that only certain MBs work for my AP since they are only linked to one account.

 

[LSchrow]

The band is an identifier that pulls up your MDE account and whatever it is linked to. So if you have one ticket and five bands all five bass will be linked to the same ticket. ....
So if you have multiple colors you can swap them in an out to match your clothing if you want.

exactly
i alternated my 4 different colored MBs according to my outfit on our recent trip - all worked (btw, i often used the yellow MB to attach my yellow refillable mug to my (tan) bag ).

just 2 more colors to go