Magic Bands & Pacemakers, Help

[jnjusoioa]

Hi All, just received my magic band today, didn't even think about it till it arrived that there could be a problem between it and my pacemaker. I have a Medtronic pacemaker and will check with my doctor but was just curious if anyone with a pacemaker has used one yet and how it was. Thank You.

 

[hyzdufan]

Found this article for reference...

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/faq/my-disney-experience/frequency-technology/

 

[soniam]

You can always request a card/Key to the World. You might consider doing that just in case when you check in, so that you don't have to hassle getting one later. Everything that can be done with a magic band, can also be done with the card.

 

[jnjusoioa]

Thank you for the responses, they are appreciated. Hoping someone with a pacemaker has worn one before. However will be in touch with my doctor on Monday.

 

[mountdew1]

Do you have a EZPass/Fast Pass/whatever for tolls in your car? The technology is pretty similar.

 

[jnjusoioa]

Do you have a EZPass/Fast Pass/whatever for tolls in your car? The technology is pretty similar.

Hi There, I do not but have been in cars with people who do so thinking it won't be a big deal, but will double check, but thank you for the comparison, that helps.

 

[GPC0321]

Interested to hear any experiences with this too. My mom has a pacemaker, and we haven't even thought about the Magic Band interfering with it. I'll make sure to have her call her doctor about it.

 

[soniam]

It's very likely that the warning is just a precautionary thing. However, I don't think I would want to take chances with my heart beat

 

[Ra643dp]

I have a medtronics pacemaker/defibrillator and had no problems with my magic bands. The technology that is used by them is very similar to technology that most stores use these days in some capacity. It does not interfere with pacemaker operations.

 

[Bev J]

My sister just returned from WDW a week ago and she has a pacemaker and had no problems using the magic band, this was her second trip with the bands.
Have a wonderful trip
Bev

 

[tarak]

Thank you for the responses, they are appreciated. Hoping someone with a pacemaker has worn one before. However will be in touch with my doctor on Monday.

My daughter has a pacemaker. Now she's three, so hers is epicardial (I assume those posting here have their PMs placed transvenously). I only mention that because her magic band was much closer to her PM with it being in her abdomen. We perform device checks every few months and had one a week or so after we got back from WDW. There was not a single instance of the PM showing interference from the magic band. She has a St. Jude's dual chamber, for what that's worth.

 

[theskyisawake]

I have a pacemaker and have taken 4 trips this year using magic bands with no issues.

ETA: I also have a Medtronic.

 

[MUtiger98]

DH had a Medtronic pacemaker. Cardiologist said MBs are not an issue.

 

[GotLabradors]

Fairly certain with the amount of people who have pacemakers, Disney thought about their technology's impact on the function of pacemakers.

 

[soniam]

Fairly certain with the amount of people who have pacemakers, Disney thought about their technology's impact on the function of pacemakers.

I think there is actually a warning in the magic band packaging. That's why the OP was concerned.

 

[Oomiak]

My dad has a pacemaker and wore a Magic band without any problems. There is nothing actively transmitting from the magic band. I'm sure in this day of legal CYA Disney would have attached a warning if there were a danger to pacemakers.

 

[larryz]

The magic band itself is not the issue -- studies have shown some brands of pacemakers are susceptible to interference from the RFID readers, which transmit a pulse that is used by the MB to power the close-range response. http://www.rfidjournal.com/articles/view?7307

There is nothing actively transmitting from the magic band.

That's not completely true. The MBs don't broadcast all the time, but the RFID tag uses power from the reader and transmits a weak signal that the proximity reader (Mickey head) picks up.

There's also a battery-powered 2.4 GHz tag picked up by the longer range readers used by the ride photo system and guest tracking system.