Magic Bands or not for off site stay? Recent experiences appreciated.

[randbmom]

We are just over a month away from a two week stay in Orlando at our Marriott timeshare. We (DH, DS age 15, and DS 20) will spend six days in the parks on hopper passes. I've already made dining reservations on MDE. My conundrum is whether magic bands are needed for this trip. If I order from disney.com with shipping it's $61.75 for four magic bands. That's pretty much the price of a counter service meal!

I have two questions for recent off site visitors:

If I obtain Magic Bands from Downtown Disney when I arrive, is it true we will all end up with gray bands? (I really hate that idea...)

If we turn in our paper tickets purchased from Undercover Tourist for RFID passes, will we be missing out on much?

We will probably not be returning for two years after this trip, if that plays into the decision. I've been reading the Unofficial Guide and Passporter, as well as listening to podcasts and trolling Disney blogs, but there's not a lot of updates from the past few months. I appreciate your feedback.

 

[WillAustin]

Your kids are older, so I don't think you'll miss much by not getting bands. My kids, 12, 10, and 10, love wearing them.

 

[smitch425]

You can buy any color or character band you want. They are not needed in any way. I would rather spend that money on something better, but do what you feel is best. Have fun!

 

[AriesAriel]

The only reason I loved ours was not having to carry money. Plus, we had memory maker. A band was MUCH better than carrying around a camera! If you get them for the ease of purchases, you really only need one - unless you want to give your kids unlimited access to purchases.

 

[CindySwims]

Not needed in my opinion. My kids don't even like to wear theirs so I reach into my bag for entry and fast passes. I could just as easily grab a card and it would take up less room. We are AP, do ours were free. I wouldn't have bought them otherwise.

 

[CAS239]

They're not needed, but they are nice. Don't have to worry about finding and pulling out cards for entrance and FP's.

You don't have to get a gray one should you decide. They have the solid colored ones for $12.95, character designs for I believe 19.95, and then special editions for about $29.

You could purchase at DTD or at any parks and have the CM link them, or do them yourselves. It's super easy and quick. And even though you won't be going for another 2 years, you can bring back those same bands and use them again.

 

[TinkLoverSam]

If you like ride photos, having magic bands will add them automatically to your mde account and get you videos for 7DMT and TOT

 

[Zarapipe]

We are going to pass on them. If we were able to add our credit card info I would be tempted, but you cant if you stay off site.

 

[subtchr]

The only reason I loved ours was not having to carry money. Plus, we had memory maker. A band was MUCH better than carrying around a camera! If you get them for the ease of purchases, you really only need one - unless you want to give your kids unlimited access to purchases.

The OP is staying offsite, so they cannot use the bands for purchasing.

I would use the $60 for other things, no reason to get the MBs, especially if you won't be back soon.

 

[bumbershoot]

If I obtain Magic Bands from Downtown Disney when I arrive, is it true we will all end up with gray bands? (I really hate that idea...)

Since you don't have an onsite stay, you won't get grey ones. If you buy them you have many choices. i don't think grey is one.

The only reason I loved ours was not having to carry money...

If you get them for the ease of purchases, you really only need one - unless you want to give your kids unlimited access to purchases.

For an offsite person, they cannot charge to the band.

And even if you have a MB and can charge with it, please PLEASE still carry some other way of paying! The advertsiging about the MBs doesn't match reality at all, and glitches/problems/errors can and DO happen. Carry cash, carry a card. And if you think you might want an adult beverage, carry your ID. And for ease, just in case someone steps wrong and the day ends in an ER visit for a broken bone or concussion etc, bring an insurance card.

Those were things I carried with me anyway, so the MB actually ADDS to what I bring with me. So much for convenience!

Plus, we had memory maker. A band was MUCH better than carrying around a camera!

If you are a person that ONLY is interested in pictures taken of the family by others in places where photographers are, then that'll work.

If you are a person who likes spontaneity, that won't work. If you are a person who sees things and wants to capture that moment right now...the sun glinting off the castle, the little bit of theming at a restaurant, etc etc, that won't work.

Good to know yourself!



OP there is absolutely NO need to get a MB.

 

[georgina]

We got RFID tickets from UT, when did you purchase yours if they are paper? Must have been years ago. I agree the magic bands are not needed.

 

[Disneyliscious]

If I order from disney.com with shipping it's $61.75 for four magic bands. That's pretty much the price of a counter service meal!

You could have booked 1 day at a campsite for $64 and got 2 free days of parking plus free magic bands (and you can choose the color). Might still can do it since you have 30 days out. The free parking alone saves you like $36.

 

[gunderda]

We are only going to WDW for 2 days but decided to get the bands. Just for the ease of everything. I suggested we only get like 2 so that ride photos are covered but my dad told me to buy them for everyone - so I did!

 

[SJSloan]

We just returned from an off-site trip where we purchased Magic Bands. Our kids are 10, 7 & 7, and while one of them didn't prefer to wear them he did but would take it off the second our last FP+ was over. Looking back I couldn't imagine our trip without them. They were so much easier than me pulling out and dispersing everyone's ticket for park entrance, FP+, Memory Maker pictures, rides pictures, etc. So I would definitely recommend them. An if you plan on returning on a future off-site trip you can use them then too, so they aren't an expense every single trip.

 

[hsmamato2]

I vote don't bother....since they work most of the time, but when they don't you need all your backup cards and money anyway.... I don't see the hype about them after using them once.... in fact my Dad hated it on his wrist he just kept it in his pocket for when he needed it

 

[AriesAriel]

If you are a person that ONLY is interested in pictures taken of the family by others in places where photographers are, then that'll work.

If you are a person who likes spontaneity, that won't work. If you are a person who sees things and wants to capture that moment right now...the sun glinting off the castle, the little bit of theming at a restaurant, etc etc, that won't work.

Good to know yourself!
OP there is absolutely NO need to get a MB.

We used our cell phone cameras to catch those moments. Still need the phone for the app and to text with others in the party when separated.

We didn't carry money; didn't have any problems. I'm sure if there had been problems we'd have been stressed, but we lucked out. We had some snacks in our bag and could get ice water from any counter service.

I liked not having to stress about a stolen bag with valuables like money, cards or a camera. If someone had stolen our snack back-pack thinking they were hitting the jack pot, oh well.

 

[wdwpracticalprincess]

We are staying off-site and are planning to buy 1, *maybe* 2, (there are 6 of us going) expressly for ride video.

 

[itchin2go]

We are just over a month away from a two week stay in Orlando at our Marriott timeshare. We (DH, DS age 15, and DS 20) will spend six days in the parks on hopper passes. I've already made dining reservations on MDE. My conundrum is whether magic bands are needed for this trip. If I order from disney.com with shipping it's $61.75 for four magic bands. That's pretty much the price of a counter service meal!

I have two questions for recent off site visitors:

If I obtain Magic Bands from Downtown Disney when I arrive, is it true we will all end up with gray bands? (I really hate that idea...)

If we turn in our paper tickets purchased from Undercover Tourist for RFID passes, will we be missing out on much?

We will probably not be returning for two years after this trip, if that plays into the decision. I've been reading the Unofficial Guide and Passporter, as well as listening to podcasts and trolling Disney blogs, but there's not a lot of updates from the past few months. I appreciate your feedback.

We had them - for less than the price you quoted above (throwaway room). Actually, part of the reason we did a throwaway room was that my daughter wanted a magic band, so when you ran the prices of magic bands and parking, it made financial sense.

I guess they were convenient. I enjoyed decorating them. They worked well for FP+, and we had no trouble using them to enter the parks. You can't charge using them if you're offsite.

I don't have a huge bias one way or the other. The throwaway worked well enough that we'll probably do that again, and the Magic Bands will come with it.

I will say, Disney does a great job of presentation as far as sending the Magic Bands (in conjunction with a resort stay, I'm assuming). They came packaged in a great box, and they definitely amped us up for the vacations.

 

[Kathryn777]

I found the bands easier to keep track of. I know 15/20 year olds aren't kids, but I wouldn't want them carrying their only ticket, I like the MB as a backup , even for me. I agree with booking a campsite, we did that as well. Between the Bands and the parking it works out

 

[tlmadden73]

I stayed offsite in October and bought them simply to try them out.

I found it VERY convenient (even on a short stay) just to have them on my wrist and not have to dig out a ticket .. ESPECIALLY since we were wrangling a 2 year old in a stroller. The less digging (or wearing a lanyard around your neck) the better in my opinion. We used them at the ticket booth .. at photo passes .. at fast passes .. a lot more than I expected it and I was NEVER worried I would lose or misplace my ticket.

Plus I was planning on coming back (we have no expiration tickets) often.
I didn't realize though at the time .. that if you stay on-site you get them for free, so I may not have bought them in October if I would have known that our next stay .. we'd get them for free. So now they are just souvenirs.

BUT .. I thought the money was well spent at the time simply for the convenience.