Magic bands first timer

[ainmemphis]

This will be our first time using magic bands. We normally don't stay at disney resorts but booked one night at the art of animation so we got magic bands. I know we can link to our tickets which were purchased separately, but we are traveling with my parents who do not have magic bands. Would it be worth it for them to purchase magic bands so we can keep all our fast passes together? or can we somehow still use the old fast pass method in coordination with the magic bands. I tried searching the forums but there are so many posts about magic bands and so far I haven't seen this question come up. thanks!

 

[Alesia]

Having magic bands as nothing to do with Fastpass+

There are no more old-fashioned fastpass kiosks.

 

[ainmemphis]

Ok! good to know! its been 2 years since our last visit and the magic bands were semi new.. so they need magic bands then for any fast passes? where is the best play to buy? we have 2 weeks before we travel, should we just buy there? we have young kids so we aren't going to be planning out our full trip in advance. any suggestions for better search terms I can research this more? thanks!

 

[ainmemphis]

Ok now reading up on FastPass+ our 6th trip to disney world and I had no idea about any of this!! just needed to try a few different searches... but opinions if we should buy my parents their own magic bands or not are welcomed!

 

[Alesia]

They do not need magic bands for fastpasses. Magic bands have nothing to do with fastpasses.

They will need to set up an MDE account (if they don't already have one) and link their tickets to it in order to book fastpasses.

When it's time to use a fastpass, you scan either your magic band or your ticket at the entrance.

 

[ainmemphis]

gotcha, I'm glad I started investigating, we would have been so confused when we got there! Now to read about MDE and get all that set up.

 

[plutoloversmom]

Yep, no problem MDE will link it all together and then you can have fun playing the FP+ game.

 

[huskerfanatic7]

anyone know if you can link Disney Gift Cards to the magic band. I know you can link Credit Cards

 

[HizMinnie2015]

anyone know if you can link Disney Gift Cards to the magic band. I know you can link Credit Cards

You cannot link a gift card; however you can pay your bill at the hotel front desk with the gift card.