Magic Bands?

[WinterSolider]

The question in particular was asking about magic band use at Aulani. Seems like this response is copied from another thread, or perhaps you misunderstood the question?

Yup didn't realize what thread I was in. And I was so proud of my super thorough answer too.

 

[Paul Stupin]

Yup didn't realize what thread I was in. And I was so proud of my super thorough answer too.

It was still informative!

 

[tfc3rid]

Didn't get a room key, used our original recipe (2012) WDW first generation MBs the entire time for room access, charging, photo pass, etc.

 

[BayGirl22]

Thanks all. Sounds like MB will work for everything there except (probably) photopass. We have a collection of both MB an MB+ so I'll report back if either work.

Only one person in our party (grandma) doesn't already have a MB and I'm hoping my old one will work for her at everything except towel sign in (wrong pic and we won't both be able to check in on the same name). Maybe not for charge $$ if it requires a picture. I'm not ready to pass any of my bands to her or buy one just for this trip..... She may just have to live with a key card or stay with others.

 

[Skywalker3]

That's cool to know that MBs can be used there. Had no idea. We have plenty of them! thanks for the info.

 

[BayGirl22]

That's cool to know that MBs can be used there. Had no idea. We have plenty of them! thanks for the info.

I have to admit - pulling out all the magic bands owned by my family of four to confirm plans for a trip with 6 was..... guilt inducing. How has Disney managed to convince me to buy so many MBs over the years?
I did just get a new one gifted to me from a friend's mom who also had too many, so I have a new one to re-regift to my mom for her birthday. I think these things multiply like gremlins.

 

[achinforsomebacon]

Thanks all. Sounds like MB will work for everything there except (probably) photopass. We have a collection of both MB an MB+ so I'll report back if either work.

Only one person in our party (grandma) doesn't already have a MB and I'm hoping my old one will work for her at everything except towel sign in (wrong pic and we won't both be able to check in on the same name). Maybe not for charge $$ if it requires a picture. I'm not ready to pass any of my bands to her or buy one just for this trip..... She may just have to live with a key card or stay with others.

We only ever scanned one card/band for wristbands for our group so if grandma is with someone else, it won't matter. If she's by herself, I'm not sure if it would matter if both of you used your bands. They don't use pictures for it but not sure if they would see that you already had a band for the day and question it. You could always try to make sure one of you is with someone else when getting wristbands to avoid the issue of doubling up or just use the key card. You can also get the next day's bands in the afternoon so you could swing by together when it's convenient.

Charging to the room should only require knowing the pin so that shouldn't be a problem.

 

[that1jeff]

As far as I know, there aren’t any interactive experiences that the new magic bands trigger.

There's one interactive experience you can trigger with your MB. If you go outside from the Waianae Tower elevators and veer right (as if you were walking to Ulu Cafe), on your left there's a chest high rock face. In that rock face there's a fiber optic turtle that will light up when you wave your MB. See link below.

https://www.disneyaulani.com/activities/menehune-adventure-trail/

Also, there's fiber optic lighting in the floor of the main lobby. But I can't remember if it's triggered by MB, or it just lights up at pre-programmed times.

 

[WinterSolider]

There's one interactive experience you can trigger with your MB. If you go outside from the Waianae Tower elevators and veer right (as if you were walking to Ulu Cafe), on your left there's a chest high rock face. In that rock face there's a fiber optic turtle that will light up when you wave your MB. See link below.

https://www.disneyaulani.com/activities/menehune-adventure-trail/

Also, there's fiber optic lighting in the floor of the main lobby. But I can't remember if it's triggered by MB, or it just lights up at pre-programmed times.

The Menehune Adventure Trail is not a MagicBand activity, it's driven by tablets you rent from the activities desk.

There are two paths on the trail, one indoor and one outdoor. The indoor one hasn't been running since COVID as far as I can tell. We did it in February 2020 but it wasn't running in 2022 or 2024.

There are a few dozen effects throughout the pool area and lobby. Some of them will trigger on their own even if nobody is playing the Menehune game.

 

[that1jeff]

The Menehune Adventure Trail is not a MagicBand activity, it's driven by tablets you rent from the activities desk.

There are two paths on the trail, one indoor and one outdoor. The indoor one hasn't been running since COVID as far as I can tell. We did it in February 2020 but it wasn't running in 2022 or 2024.

There are a few dozen effects throughout the pool area and lobby. Some of them will trigger on their own even if nobody is playing the Menehune game.

Yes, I realize these actions can by driven by the tablets for the Menehune Adventure Trail. I'm saying you can trigger it both ways. Via tablet (for the Menehune Adventure Trail) or MB. Or at least you can for the turtle. Can't speak for the other things on the trail as we never tried it. It worked for us when we were there back in Dec 2023...

My MB and my wife's MB would light up and give us haptic feedback whenever we walked by the turtle. Not even realizing what was happening the first few days of our trip. We just figured our MBs were triggered by walking outside into the pool area as it was very close to the exit from the elevators, and it continued to happen in the same spot. Until we coincidently saw a young girl walk up to the rock face when we were walking by as well, and she waved her MB and the turtle lit up. (Just like how similar interactive experiences at DL and DCA are triggered). So the next time we walked by, our MB lit up and vibrated just like they had been doing our entire trip, and then my wife waved her MB near the rock face and sure enough the turtle lit up.

 

[WinterSolider]

Yes, I realize these actions can by driven by the tablets for the Menehune Adventure Trail. I'm saying you can trigger it both ways. Via tablet (for the Menehune Adventure Trail) or MB. Or at least you can for the turtle. Can't speak for the other things on the trail as we never tried it. It worked for us when we were there back in Dec 2023...

My MB and my wife's MB would light up and give us haptic feedback whenever we walked by the turtle. Not even realizing what was happening the first few days of our trip. We just figured our MBs were triggered by walking outside into the pool area as it was very close to the exit from the elevators, and it continued to happen in the same spot. Until we coincidently saw a young girl walk up to the rock face when we were walking by as well, and she waved her MB and the turtle lit up. (Just like how similar interactive experiences at DL and DCA are triggered). So the next time we walked by, our MB lit up and vibrated just like they had been doing our entire trip, and then my wife waved her MB near the rock face and sure enough the turtle lit up.

Fascinating that they've launched MB+ functionality without, as far as I can tell, having even officially launched regular MB yet.

I would buy the crap out of an official Aulani MagicBand+.

 

[that1jeff]

Fascinating that they've launched MB+ functionality without, as far as I can tell, having even officially launched regular MB yet.

I would buy the crap out of an official Aulani MagicBand+.

I've only ever known MB+, so forgive me...
What do you mean by "without [...] having even officially launched regular MB yet"???

Same! Was hoping to see an official Aulani MB for purchase when we were there. Hopefully someday.
We only saw the Moana and Lilo & Stitch designs available. (Same MB designs that are/were available at the DL resort parks/stores).

 

[WinterSolider]

I've only ever known MB+, so forgive me...
What do you mean by "without [...] having even officially launched regular MB yet"???

Prior to COVID, there were some banner ads on ShopDisney.com indicating that MagicBands were "coming soon" to Aulani. Then COVID hit and that all disappeared. There are some Aulani MagicBands that made their way to Orlando retail outlets during the COVID reopening but as far as I know the were never sold at Aulani itself.

Same! Was hoping to see an official Aulani MB for purchase when we were there. Hopefully someday.
We only saw the Moana and Lilo & Stitch designs available. (Same MB designs that are/were available at the DL resort parks/stores).

That must be very new itself. MBs were something that fans figured out worked but Aulani wasn't officially acknowledging it.

 

[moanatime]

Last year at Aulani, there was a wall of magic bands for sale at Kalepa's

 

[Iceman93]

Last year at Aulani, there was a wall of magic bands for sale at Kalepa's

True this year as well. But shockingly there were no Aulani-specific ones. It's a rare case of Disney leaving what I have to think would be significant money on the table.

 

[VGCgroupie]

I have to say having the Magic Band at Aulani was amazing. Ive used bands before at WDW but this was a whole new level because of needing to be in the water and not having to worry about credit cards, GC's, room keys.

The band would light up and vibrate from time to time when we passed certain areas in the resort, one being the Grand Villa.

 

[floribr1]

I have to say having the Magic Band at Aulani was amazing. Ive used bands before at WDW but this was a whole new level because of needing to be in the water and not having to worry about credit cards, GC's, room keys.

The band would light up and vibrate from time to time when we passed certain areas in the resort, one being the Grand Villa.

It sounds like you were using a MB plus, is that right? I thought I was told that those were not water proof, but it sounds like that might not be the case? That would be fantastic if I could wear my MB+ in the pools, etc.!

Or were you using the "old style" magic bands, and I misinterpreted?

 

[that1jeff]

It sounds like you were using a MB plus, is that right? I thought I was told that those were not water proof, but it sounds like that might not be the case? That would be fantastic if I could wear my MB+ in the pools, etc.!

Or were you using the "old style" magic bands, and I misinterpreted?

MB+ is indeed waterproof. I kept it on all day doing all the water activities at Aulani. Pool, Beach, Slides, etc.

 

[Chili327]

You can use the MB+ at DLand, so it was the right call.

It makes FastPass so much easier..

Does everyone need to have one or can just one person have one? (for DLR use)

 

[WinterSolider]

It sounds like you were using a MB plus, is that right? I thought I was told that those were not water proof, but it sounds like that might not be the case? That would be fantastic if I could wear my MB+ in the pools, etc.!

They're absolutely waterproof.

I think some people assumed early on that they couldn't possibly be waterproof because they were going to be rechargeable, but that was always a weird assumption.