Magic Bands: Why not get them on check in?

[Kae]

I didn't buy one because I was expecting the interactive light one by now. I'll use what I have until that happens.

me too

 

[MakiraMarlena]

you can ask for and receive a regular plastic card at your resort. Otherwise maybe buy bands for the kids if it will work better for them.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Wait, what? They're $10? Are my kids supposed to carry their phones all over disney world? Are my kids supposed to have phones? And if we get the kids their own room keys (they still have those, right?) can you use an adults phone to tap multiple guests (like, say, children, I've heard Disney attracts younger customers than, say, a Neil Young concert...) into a lightning lane or a park?

Thank you both for your replies.

---matt

If you have bands from a prior trip just use those. They will still work to open the door.
The one significant thing they won't do is automatically capture your ride photos. If you want that feature, as long as you plan to travel as a family, and buy one band you'd still get most of the photos. At some attractions, like Buzz, your cart would scan automatically, but your companions (not in your cart) would have to scan a band up close at the end of the attraction.

The bands have a battery that lasts about 2 years. That's when the ride capture stops working, but they will still work to open hotel room door, and when entering a ride (using G+), and when entering a park.

Also, if you have the 2.0 version it is possible to replace the battery. If you buy a new one, you would be able to replace that battery.

 

[Ricguz]

I just bought two magic bands totaling $45 for your trip in December. I rather have a magic band on my wrist than handling my phone for park and room entry. We are going to need our phone battery for the Genie+ craziness going from one end of the park to another and another and another starting at 7 AM.

 

[HashberryOTG]

I'm a bit biased, I collect them and adore magic bands. But, kids are likely to consider them souvenirs. And as far as souvenirs go, they're pretty cheap. They wear them like watches, and they don't outgrow them like shirts. On the other hand, some kids HATE stuff on their wrists. The free key cards are definitely a good option, and they're really cute.

 

[scrapquitler]

Why would I have magic bands shipped to my house? Can't I get them in person when I check into a WDW hotel?

If you have them ahead of time, you don’t need to bother standing in line to check in. You can head directly to your room or the parks.

 

[rwdavis2]

I would just buy the $10 bands. Compared to the cost of a WDW trip it does not even register.

 

[StageTek]

I'll go back to the original question:

Why would I have magic bands shipped to my house? Can't I get them in person when I check into a WDW hotel?

Yes, you can get them in person when you check into a WDW hotel. One reason to have magic bands shipped to you house is to avoid the line at check in. Another is is't kind of fun for the kids to get the box in the mail and open it up in anticipation of your trip

 

[Beer Me]

If you have bands from a prior trip just use those. They will still work to open the door.
The one significant thing they won't do is automatically capture your ride photos. If you want that feature, as long as you plan to travel as a family, and buy one band you'd still get most of the photos. At some attractions, like Buzz, your cart would scan automatically, but your companions (not in your cart) would have to scan a band up close at the end of the attraction.

The bands have a battery that lasts about 2 years. That's when the ride capture stops working, but they will still work to open hotel room door, and when entering a ride (using G+), and when entering a park.

Also, if you have the 2.0 version it is possible to replace the battery. If you buy a new one, you would be able to replace that battery.

I was once wearing a 5 year old magic band and was surprised when a ride photo showed up in MDE. A fluke obviously. You can’t expect them to last that long for anything more than an inch away.

 

[bakerworld]

My eldest who was there February 2020 lost her bands so I ended up purchasing bands and I could only find 2 that were $10 so I ended up purchasing the same band for both kids, the other $10 for my eldest and a sparkling one for SIL for $15. I had them sent to their home because once we ordered bands for pickup at check-in and were handed a row of grey bands instead of the ones we reserved.

 

[HashberryOTG]

You can also get them personalized for free if you order head and have them shipped.

 

[MrsPete]

I'd rather have them ahead of time /get them hooked up, etc. and not waste any vacation time. Also, my artist daughter would want to personalize them all, and that takes time.

I agree that -- for a whole family -- they add up to real money. Last -- was it December? -- the Disney Store had a Buy-One-Get-One-Free sale, and Magic Bands were one of the qualifying purchases. I think that's a fairly standard sale.

 

[kilik64]

There is another thread talking about the advantages/disadvantages of MagicMobile vs Magic Bands and I agree with the folks that said MagicMobile is a pain when you have your kids' tickets on your phone. I was excited to try it in November when we went and definitely wasn't paying for Magic Bands. After my first experience scanning into a park with MagicMobile, I just used the plastic cards they gave us at check in for the remainder of the trip as it took a fraction of the time scanning in.

The phone never scanned in as quickly as the plastic cards and it was a pain flipping to the next ticket on the phone, remembering which design went with each child, and then waiting for it to scan. It was much easier for me to carry everyone's plastic cards and hand them out as we approached the scanner. Same for Genie+ if you end up using that.

All of this.

As we were walking up to tap styles to get in the park id look to see if the person had a magic band on or not, if not id get behind someone who did. Took forever for people with 5 tickets on their dang phone.

 

[TheBigErn]

Wait, what? They're $10? Are my kids supposed to carry their phones all over disney world? Are my kids supposed to have phones? And if we get the kids their own room keys (they still have those, right?) can you use an adults phone to tap multiple guests (like, say, children, I've heard Disney attracts younger customers than, say, a Neil Young concert...) into a lightning lane or a park?

Thank you both for your replies.

---matt

It's just one more Disney money grab rip off.

 

[k5xs]

Added cost? I thought the bands were free? Like, aren't they the room key for the hotel?

As others have pointed out, they used to be free but no longer are.

You can think of charging for Magic Bands as another Chapek "enhancement to the guest experience."

 

[Bullseye]

Just get a plastic ticket mate, it's not that serious.

you can ask for and receive a regular plastic card at your resort. Otherwise maybe buy bands for the kids if it will work better for them.

Yeah old school, everybody used to have a card. Bands are great, but in a pinch cards work fine.

 

[Blondie58]

Free Magic Bands = gone. Magical Express transportation = gone. Free fast passes = gone. Bounce back = gone. Free parking = gone. Mailed bag tags prior to trip = gone. In room stationary = gone. Exceptional concierge food choices = gone. Orchestra at GF = gone. Park hopper any time of day = gone. Etc. Etc. Etc. WDW is different............................