Magic Bands

[3DisMunchkins]

With no FP+, please explain to me the advantages of magic bands? We are going in January but already bought nonhopper tickets so likely will not add. Is there enough incentive to purchase them?
thanks!
jana

 

[doleddanielle]

It's just easier when staying on property to have both your room key and park ticket on it and not have to worry about cards

 

[twinmom13]

I love using it to pay for everything, too. Also, it makes things easier if you want ride photos.

 

[Lizgistix]

Gate admission, unlocking your resort room door, unlocking the resort hallway door after hours, linking on-ride photos to your account, linking pics done by Disney photographers to your account, charging to the resort room, accessing the pool if you're a resort guest (I think this mostly applies to Stormalong Bay but I've seen touch points at other resort pools)

I think that's all the other uses for it but I may have missed some.

 

[3DisMunchkins]

thank you all! I'm not sure it's necessary but decided it would make a good stocking stuffer for the kids since the trip is a Christmas surprise!! Now to choose!

 

[MrsBooch]

I hate having to take my phone out constantly or have it in my hands constantly. Magic Band takes a lot of that away.
Even when they aren't "free" I'm still getting them.

Also I love the pretty designs....there. i said it.

 

[subtchr]

thank you all! I'm not sure it's necessary but decided it would make a good stocking stuffer for the kids since the trip is a Christmas surprise!! Now to choose!

Are you staying at a Disney resort?

 

[3DisMunchkins]

yes leaning toward Caribbean Beach.

 

[subtchr]

yes leaning toward Caribbean Beach.

Then be sure to order your MagicBands through My Disney Experience, to get the discount.

Plain colored ones will be $5, specialty ones $10-25.

 

[3DisMunchkins]

Then be sure to order your MagicBands through My Disney Experience, to get the discount.

Plain colored ones will be $5, specialty ones $10-25.

I've read that they are no longer free in 2021...is this a discounted price for 2021?

thanks!

 

[Naterfan]

If not staying at a Disney resort (Shades of Green), if you've link a credit card (and your ticket) to your MagicBand, can you pay for things with your MagicBand in the parks?

 

[Dave006]

No changing via a MB without being at a Disney owned property. So in your case it would only be for park entrance, auto ride photos, and possibly a novel souvenir.

Dave

 

[Simba's Mom]

Without a MB, assume you checked in on-line and get the room ready text so that theoretically you can go straight to your room How do you do that, and actually get INTO your room without your MB unless you go to the front desk first? It seems to me that not having a MB makes it impossible, making it a waste to do the online checkin

 

[Dave006]

You can use MDE and your smartphone to open your Disney resort room door.

Dave

 

[Dave006]

I've read that they are no longer free in 2021...is this a discounted price for 2021?

thanks!

Correct those are the pricing points as of Jan 1, 2021. This was announced back on June 19th, 2020.

However there are rumors of options in the pipeline that will be "free" such as MDE enhancements added beyond the current ability to use MDE as you digital resort room key. And support for smart devices ( think smartwatches ). Stay tuned...

Dave

 

[subtchr]

I've read that they are no longer free in 2021...is this a discounted price for 2021?

thanks!

Yes, those are the prices that show when you go into MDE to order MagicBands for trips booked for 2021. If you booked a 2021 trip before the announcement was made, the option to get complimentary plain colors is still available. You can also click on "Use a previous MagicBand", or just don't order at all, if you don't want one.

If not staying at a Disney resort (Shades of Green), if you've link a credit card (and your ticket) to your MagicBand, can you pay for things with your MagicBand in the parks?

Nothing at all is linked to or "on" a MagicBand. All the bands do is access what is in your MDE account. That's why you can have multiple bands that you can use interchangeably for all purposes.

When you stay at a Disney resort, you can use a MagicBand to charge purchases to your room account, but you aren't linking a credit card to your band. Your charges will be on your resort room folio, and paid at the end of your stay.

You can link a credit card to your MDE account, so that when you book a resort room, or make a purchase using mobile ordering in MDE, you can easily make those payments. That CC can also be used to guarantee dining reservations. But not to make purchases with a MagicBand.

Having said that, I will not be surprised if the future enhancements to MDE provide some type of capability for all guests, not just those staying at Disney resorts, to eventually charge purchases to a linked card. I guess we will see!

 

[Simba's Mom]

You can use MDE and your smartphone to open your Disney resort room door.

Dave

Thanks! Shows how Tech savvy I'm NOT!

By the way, I just ordered 2 different solid colors last month for my trip arriving in mid January and didn't pay anything They arrived a couple weeks ago Oddly they insisted on sending one for DH also, even though it's a solo trip and when I made my reservations, the CM verified that I was the only one on the reservation

 

[DSLRuser]

charging tot he room. so nice to send this kids off to get a pretzal and not have to hand them cash or a card

 

[3DisMunchkins]

charging tot he room. so nice to send this kids off to get a pretzal and not have to hand them cash or a card

There are some stands in DL that only accept cash...is this true in WDW?
thanks!

 

[tlmadden73]

Without FP+ .. Magic Bands definitely lose a bit of their "magic". The kids love touching those things to the touch points.

I enjoy just using it as room charge back and the room key and the ticket. Those are definitely conveniences without having to worry about a card and a wallet all day.

The fact they are no longer offering them for free hopefully doesn't mean they are going to move away from them and push everything to smart phones. While we all pretty much have phones .. having an app open.

I'll be okay with ditching the magic band once they integrate magic bands into smart watches (then just sell me a special Apple Watch band instead of a magic band).

It's VERY hard to resist getting new Magic Bands though (with new designs). I am going on a trip in January . .I don't need any more MBs (we have some from a trip that was cancelled back in June) ...but the fact there are some fun designs just there for the taking is hard to pass up but also hard to justify $10-20 each for a wrist-bound souvenir that may have diminishing use at the parks in the future.