Magic Bands at DLR...what am I missing?

[ParkHopper1]

Just had my first trip with the Magic Bands and loved not having to keep pulling my phone out and opening the DL app all day long! Nice new feature IMO!

Wish they add purchase capabilities soon.

My biggest con is the proprietary charger in this day and age...that is pretty lame IMO.

 

[DizMe]

Just had my first trip with the Magic Bands and loved not having to keep pulling my phone out and opening the DL app all day long! Nice new feature IMO!

Wish they add purchase capabilities soon.

My biggest con is the proprietary charger in this day and age...that is pretty lame IMO.

I agree with everything you said! I, too, hope they get payment and door-key functions soon.

I was quite surprised to learn (after my trip!) that you don't actually have to charge them. That's only for the special effects etc. To use it for entry and ride scans, it doesn't have to be charged at all. But I agree that it would be much nicer if ALL regular devices used the same charger. My phone is android, dh's is iphone, both our earbuds are something else (micro?) and so is my portable charger and my latte frother. It would be so much simpler if they'd just use one kind of charger head.

 

[Pluto468]

I agree with everything you said! I, too, hope they get payment and door-key functions soon.

I was quite surprised to learn (after my trip!) that you don't actually have to charge them. That's only for the special effects etc. To use it for entry and ride scans, it doesn't have to be charged at all. But I agree that it would be much nicer if ALL regular devices used the same charger. My phone is android, dh's is iphone, both our earbuds are something else (micro?) and so is my portable charger and my latte frother. It would be so much simpler if they'd just use one kind of charger head.

Wow, you don't have to charge them? That's great. I was thinking how we're out of luck if we ever lose those chargers. Not like I can just use another cord.

 

[dina444444]

Wow, you don't have to charge them? That's great. I was thinking how we're out of luck if we ever lose those chargers. Not like I can just use another cord.

Correct, they function the way that original and MB 2s function if they are not charged. The charge just allows it to engage with the interactive features such as the bounty hunters game etc.

 

[ironband74]

Yeah, it has two different Transmitters - an NFC which can be powered by the reader and a BLE that needs its own power. Anything that is a "tap" functionality will work without a charge. Anything that needs to communicate at distance or light up LEDs needs power.

 

[colormegreen]

For magic band everyone must have one, right? not all tickets load into one?

My youngest won’t like having it on his wrist.

 

[Lisa24jks]

For magic band everyone must have one, right? not all tickets load into one?

My youngest won’t like having it on his wrist.

Each person does have to be scanned separately. So if everyone else has one, you'd still have to have someone's phone open to scan the youngest in separately.

Alternatively, someone else in the party can always wear his if you don't want to mess with phones. Or there are puckholders you can buy online where you can remove the puck of the Magic Band, attach it to a key fob or pendant and wear it that way or hook it to someone's bag, etc.

It may not be worth it if he won't wear it, but there are alternate ways to go about it if you still want to do it.

 

[Kerr84]

For magic band everyone must have one, right? not all tickets load into one?

My youngest won’t like having it on his wrist.

My 3 year old won't wear it, so I just wear one on each wrist and scan for her. I look very cool.

 

[Chickinvic]

Wow, you don't have to charge them? That's great. I was thinking how we're out of luck if we ever lose those chargers. Not like I can just use another cord.

They work fine without the charge, but you can also buy those chargers too.

 

[ironband74]

My biggest con is the proprietary charger in this day and age...that is pretty lame IMO.

I mean, on the one hand, yeah. On the other hand, most smart watches out there have a proprietary charger. Granted, this isn't a smart watch, but I'm not sure what compatibility with a standard micro USB or USB-C cable would look like. At least it is USB-A on the charger side and not some proprietary plug in unit. I've made my peace with the charger.

 

[Blue32]

I mean, on the one hand, yeah. On the other hand, most smart watches out there have a proprietary charger. Granted, this isn't a smart watch, but I'm not sure what compatibility with a standard micro USB or USB-C cable would look like. At least it is USB-A on the charger side and not some proprietary plug in unit. I've made my peace with the charger.

Besides the unforeseen benefit of Magicband+ in the rain, did you feel like you got enough value out of these? If you would have had sunny skies throughout your trip would you feel the same about them? I know you were in the fence about them….

 

[ironband74]

Besides the unforeseen benefit of Magicband+ in the rain, did you feel like you got enough value out of these? If you would have had sunny skies throughout your trip would you feel the same about them? I know you were in the fence about them….

I got a real kick out of watching DW and DS react to the lights after certain attractions - That was worth the price of admission for me. And using them to enter the park/monorail station as well as LL was nice, even when the weather cleared. Part of that was novelty...but the other part was convenience. At the same time, I usually had my phone out when we scanned into a LL so that I could book the next LL. Only HM had a different sound when we scanned in. And while the Bounty Hunter game got tiresome after a few rounds, it was still a neat activity to do.

Also, Photopass was really convenient. In the past it always felt like I was fumbling with my phone to get my photopass code. This made it really easy. If you like to do photopass, I think it gains a lot of utility.

Oh, and while I didn't care that much for the light show part of the night-time spectaculars...The haptic feedback was surprising and fun.

I'd say we got enough value out of them to justify the cost, especially since we can use them again next time. Keep in mind that I cheaped out on my own by getting the discounted Halloween version and "De-Facing" it to make it generic for my future 3d-printed holder endeavors.

It looks like some of the holiday ones are now similarly on sale on Shop Disney.

 

[nalabear]

I do wish the scanners work faster with the MB+. It took a little time between folk for the scanners to be ready for the next scan. Didn't have this issue with MB in WDW. Will be going to WDW next month with the MB+ to see how they work there in comparison.

We do like to little add-on functions. Certainly not $40 fun; but then again this is Disney --- since when is cost an issue in the eyes of the mouse? Over time, the convenience factor really will be there and photo pass once we get believe keys again (if we splurge)

 

[bluecruiser]

They work fine without the charge, but you can also buy those chargers too.

That's if the charging cable is in stock. It's currently out of stock on shopDisney (just like it was a month ago). Or you could pay inflated prices and buy the charger on eBay, etc.

 

[Kit Jackson]

For magic band everyone must have one, right? not all tickets load into one?

My youngest won’t like having it on his wrist.

I'm not sure if this is true with newer versions, but with older versions you could remove the puck and attach it to something else like a lanyard. If the issue is wearing on it his wrist, there are other places he could wear it.

 

[Ladyslug]

I'm not sure if this is true with newer versions, but with older versions you could remove the puck and attach it to something else like a lanyard. If the issue is wearing on it his wrist, there are other places he could wear it.

I know Etsy is chock-full of different puck holders that attach to lanyards, carabiners, keychains, etc. I just ordered a basic puck holder that will slip onto my Apple watch band so I don't have to wear two bands on my wrists. Just make sure you get one that is specifically for Magicband+.

 

[ironband74]

I'm not sure if this is true with newer versions, but with older versions you could remove the puck and attach it to something else like a lanyard. If the issue is wearing on it his wrist, there are other places he could wear it.

For sure. I finally got a got a good design worked out that snaps together around the puck and allows for attachment to a retractable badge holder while also fitting in the charger. I also made one with a keyring and a lobster clasp.

 

[gatorlisa]

For sure. I finally got a got a good design worked out that snaps together around the puck and allows for attachment to a retractable badge holder while also fitting in the charger. I also made one with a keyring and a lobster clasp.

These designs are great. I especially like that they can clip into the charger while still in the holder. Do you have your 3d print files available online anywhere?

 

[MonocularVision]

Are these your own designs? Will you be uploading them somewhere for other 3D printer aficionados? They look amazing.

 

[Music City Mama]

When we go to the parks I am always the keeper of tickets, LL etc on my phone. For me it will be great that the rest of my family can use the magic bands to go one rides or park hop without me.

That said-- there is one instance I can think of where it might be worth it. If you are the one that manages the Genie+ account, and if you don't let your teens (or other family members) log in and use it on their phones.

This will probably be the reason why I wind up getting them for our family of four. This will be our first time at DLR, but at WDW, we've been using MBs for years, so we're used to them and not having to pull out a phone to scan. But more importantly, I'm the one with the Disney account/app that schedules everything -- my DH nor my boys have any interest in having their own accounts and dealing with all of that (and I don't really want them in mine). So, I do think it will be convenient not only to not have to scan them in (tickets and LL), but if the boys want to ride something via LL and I feel like sitting it out or they want to get a photo, they won't need my phone to do it.

With that said, does shopDisney ever have sales on these?