Magic Bands from Orlando hotels

[Jrits]

Will we receive magic bands if we booked our trip through the wdw website and staying at B hotel?

 

[Upatnoon]

No. You only get Magic Bands by staying at a Disney resort.

 

[Jrits]

Will 1 1/2 year old MBs work or do I need new ones?

 

[KristinU]

Will 1 1/2 year old MBs work or do I need new ones?

Yep, they'll work, just be sure your admission media is linked to you on My Disney Experience. The only thing that might not work is the attraction photos that you don't tap at the end to retrieve. Those use a longer range that requires a battery in your MB, and the batteries in your 1.5 year old bands is likely dead.

For example, I wore an older band this past week and I was a car behind DH and DS on Slinky Dog Dash. Their pic showed up in our photos, but mine didn't. Not a big deal for us, but you'll need to decide if that's important to you and your crew. We were staying on property this time and my band worked for everything else - admission, fastpasses, room charging, opening the door. Offsite you'll only need admission and fastpasses, of course.

 

[Breezer4]

We’re not staying on property for the first time. Is it worth purchasing magic bands to use? Our “old” ones are 3 years old and have found their way into the toy box.

 

[MantaRay]

We’re not staying on property for the first time. Is it worth purchasing magic bands to use? Our “old” ones are 3 years old and have found their way into the toy box.

Disney is moving away from MagicBands. Old bands should work for tapping into parks/charging, but probably will not be recognised by ride photo bluetooth. Check out the MagicMoble if you have iPhone...Disney's rolling out this feature on MDE to replace MagicBands.

 

[HopperFan]

Will we receive magic bands if we booked our trip through the wdw website and staying at B hotel?

No, only Disney hotels, and they are not free.

As of January 1, 2021 those making reservations would no longer get free MagicBands but you may purchase them at a discounted price when booking an on property hotel.

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/faq/bands-cards/program-eligibility/
MagicBands are not going anywhere, Disney is simply just offering a mobile option because the MagicBands are no longer free. This gives guests a free option (mobile) or a cost option (MagicBands). They will continue to make new ones, designed ones and sell them online and on property.

https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/b...w-way-to-experience-walt-disney-world-resort/
Above posters are correct, an older one should work where you touch the pass because that is a passive RFID chip. But the battery that is in the MB is what operates the non-touch (active RFID) such as ride photos and once battery dies those won't work.