Magic bands - yay or nay?

[heather13]

I've always stayed on property but since that was before magic bands we don't have them. When we visit in the fall we're staying off property. We're not really prone to losing things in our family when we're traveling. My daughters are older so I won't be carting around a diaper bag and tons of stuff like in previous visits. So is the band really needed, or just a minor convenience?

 

[CalDisneyMomof2]

Personally I don't think it serves any great purpose when staying off property. Save the money and use it for something else.

When staying on property it's nice to be able to open your room and charge back to your room. It's nice to not have to carry around your park tickets and Fast Passes but I wouldn't spend the money on them for just that.

 

[AmyAnne]

Don't you have to use magic bands for fast passes?

 

[loves to dive]

Don't you have to use magic bands for fast passes?

Nope as long as you have your ticket linked to MDE you just tap the ticket like you would a MB.

 

[HarperLeigh]

If you are staying off property, there is no need to purchase magic bands.

 

[heather13]

Whew - thanks!!

 

[Alesia]

I would recommend one if you're getting memory Maker. Otherwise, you don't need it.

 

[DreamIsaWish]

I would recommend one if you're getting memory Maker. Otherwise, you don't need it.

Agree. there are some rides where the only way to get the ride photo is through Magic Band -- 7DMT, Frozen, Tower of Terror (video needs magic band; photo can be captured without).

 

[heather13]

Memory maker??!! That one more new thing. Sheesh, there's always something to learn when you're not immersed in Disney! it's worse than learning a foreign language!!!

Thanks for that perspective. I've always done photo pass (at least since it was introduced - certainly didn't do it in the 80s) so worth considering

 

[Klayfish]

Do you NEED one? No.

Do you WANT one? Only you can decide that. We always stay off property, and I wouldn't want to do WDW without one. It just makes things so much easier than having to deal with the card. It's not a matter of losing it. It's more about convenience. At first, years ago, we thought MBs were kind of silly. But I got one to test it, and quickly realized how much I liked it. The rest of the family then joined in. At this point, with the APs we've bought and such, everyone in our family has 3 or 4 MBs. I kind of see cards in the same vein I see flip phones...they'll still work, but just are antiquated. And that's coming from someone who just got rid of a flip phone 2.5 years ago, and still doesn't text, do social media, etc...

 

[Eastern]

I like the bands. I could justify buying them as a souvenier.

Also see: https://www.disboards.com/threads/throwaway-room-update.3539209/