Magical express without bands, and couple other MB questions...

[Minniekins]

When we take our trips, they scan our MB's we ordered way ahead of time when we get to the ME place. So, if someone were going on a sudden trip within a month, there's no time to customize and order a MB. So these days, what does the guest do when they get to the ME desk without a MB?

Also, since the guest can't customize a MB and choose a color, they can only pick up a band at resort check in, correct? And, doubt that, their only choice for a free MB is the grey MB, right? They can't choose a color at resort check in?

And, if they order tickets as part of a package, do they mail those tickets or pick them up at resort check in ? Can they use those tickets at park gate if they opt out of MB's?

I think I know what the answers to some of the questions but trying to verify and get the right answers , lol! Thanks for any help!

 

[siskaren]

1. When we take our trips, they scan our MB's we ordered way ahead of time when we get to the ME place. So, if someone were going on a sudden trip within a month, there's no time to customize and order a MB. So these days, what does the guest do when they get to the ME desk without a MB?

2. Also, since the guest can't customize a MB and choose a color, they can only pick up a band at resort check in, correct? And, doubt that, their only choice for a free MB is the grey MB, right? They can't choose a color at resort check in?

3. And, if they order tickets as part of a package, do they mail those tickets or pick them up at resort check in ?

4. Can they use those tickets at park gate if they opt out of MB's?

I think I know what the answers to some of the questions but trying to verify and get the right answers , lol! Thanks for any help!

1. I wasn't aware that a month wasn't enough lead time to get the bands. However, since people outside the U.S. can't get the bands shipped to them, all you have to do is show the voucher that they send to you. (Or if they don't send vouchers, I would assume you would just show ID.)

2. Again, people outside the U.S. can't get the bands sent to them, but that doesn't mean they can't customize them. I would assume it would be the same if there's no time to send them to you. (And by the same, I mean getting the customized bands at the hotel.)

3. Tickets aren't mailed nor are they technically picked up at the resort. What I mean by technically, is that you don't get actual tickets. They're in your MDE account, which you can access with a band or a card key.

4. Yes. You don't need Magic Bands to get in the park or use FP.

 

[Minniekins]

1. I wasn't aware that a month wasn't enough lead time to get the bands. However, since people outside the U.S. can't get the bands shipped to them, all you have to do is show the voucher that they send to you. (Or if they don't send vouchers, I would assume you would just show ID.)

2. Again, people outside the U.S. can't get the bands sent to them, but that doesn't mean they can't customize them. I would assume it would be the same if there's no time to send them to you. (And by the same, I mean getting the customized bands at the hotel.)

3. Tickets aren't mailed nor are they technically picked up at the resort. What I mean by technically, is that you don't get actual tickets. They're in your MDE account, which you can access with a band or a card key.

4. Yes. You don't need Magic Bands to get in the park or use FP.

Well, staying at a resort we had to have our bands customized by thirty days prior to our check in date. I thought if you don't get that done by then your only choice is resort pick up of grey bands, no customizing anymore, I thought that's how things worked. But that's why I asked , lol, in case that's not the case.

 

[HelloMimi]

For our trip earlier this month, we had two people who customized their MB more than 30 days before the trip, and two people who customized their MB 6 days before the trip. I think the timeline is something like if you customize 11+ days before your check-in date, the MB will be shipped to you. If you customize up to six (five?) days before you check-in, your MB will be sent to your hotel to be picked up at check-in. Anything later than that and you'll get the generic grey MB (sans name on back) at check-in.

When we got to ME check-in, the two people who didn't have their MB were asked for their names to check for a matching hotel reservation. If your names are hard to spell/pronounce, ask to write it down on a piece of paper - it'll save a lot of time!

 

[TippeeCanoe]

Well, staying at a resort we had to have our bands customized by thirty days prior to our check in date. I thought if you don't get that done by then your only choice is resort pick up of grey bands, no customizing anymore, I thought that's how things worked. But that's why I asked , lol, in case that's not the case.

We booked a trip with 2 weeks notice. We customized and received our bands with no problems. You just have to go in to MDE and customize them as soon as you can.

 

[loves to dive]

It sounds like you have old MBs and a resort ressie. Just make sure your old bands are attached to your ressie on MDE and you are good to go. The old ones still work.

 

[tjmw2727]

When we take our trips, they scan our MB's we ordered way ahead of time when we get to the ME place. So, if someone were going on a sudden trip within a month, there's no time to customize and order a MB. So these days, what does the guest do when they get to the ME desk without a MB?

Also, since the guest can't customize a MB and choose a color, they can only pick up a band at resort check in, correct? And, doubt that, their only choice for a free MB is the grey MB, right? They can't choose a color at resort check in?

And, if they order tickets as part of a package, do they mail those tickets or pick them up at resort check in ? Can they use those tickets at park gate if they opt out of MB's?

I think I know what the answers to some of the questions but trying to verify and get the right answers , lol! Thanks for any help!

DME still sends out a package with a voucher and the luggage tags and a month is plenty of time for this. You can use the voucher instead of the MB and even if you don't have the voucher it takes very little time to check in at the desk and get one. So using DME is not an issue but you may want to pick up the luggage and bring it on the bus if you don't have the luggage tags. (Alternately you can provide the luggage claim tickets the airline provides and DME will transport it for you- just not something I am comfortable with)

You can customize up to a certain point, if you make the customization point but not the shipping point you pick up the customized bands at check in. If you miss both then you are given grey bands at check in. If you /they have MB's from a prior trip they will also work.

Tickets as part of a package will be automatically linked to DME and if they prefer not to use MB's then the front desk can issue the actual ticket. Then the guest will have the option to use either the MB, grey or customized or the theme park ticket to gain entrance to the park and access FP+ reservations.

 

[Minniekins]

It sounds like you have old MBs and a resort ressie. Just make sure your old bands are attached to your ressie on MDE and you are good to go. The old ones still work.

Well, actually I'm asking for some extended family of my DD's. They've never been and DD is gonna help them plan a trip. Yesterday they told her they wanna go in less than four weeks! Since we do have old MB's and plan well ahead (shortest plan time was about 9 wks for 24 hr day weekend), we weren't sure about MB's and customizing and ME on such short notice.

 

[AngiTN]

I'm not sure you are limited to grey even if you don't have time to customized ones

When we checked in at poly last summer there was a family that was checking in next to us. They didn't have bands and the CM was asking them what colors they wanted and they went to the back and got them

I don't know if that is normal or not but it's worth asking

 

[Minniekins]

For our trip earlier this month, we had two people who customized their MB more than 30 days before the trip, and two people who customized their MB 6 days before the trip. I think the timeline is something like if you customize 11+ days before your check-in date, the MB will be shipped to you. If you customize up to six (five?) days before you check-in, your MB will be sent to your hotel to be picked up at check-in. Anything later than that and you'll get the generic grey MB (sans name on back) at check-in.

When we got to ME check-in, the two people who didn't have their MB were asked for their names to check for a matching hotel reservation. If your names are hard to spell/pronounce, ask to write it down on a piece of paper - it'll save a lot of time!

Okay, that's great! Thanks for sharing that info, HelloMimi! I think they just booked tonight so that should work out great then!

We booked a trip with 2 weeks notice. We customized and received our bands with no problems. You just have to go in to MDE and customize them as soon as you can.

Excellent, thanks for responding TippeeCanoe, that's good to know!

DME still sends out a package with a voucher and the luggage tags and a month is plenty of time for this. You can use the voucher instead of the MB and even if you don't have the voucher it takes very little time to check in at the desk and get one. So using DME is not an issue but you may want to pick up the luggage and bring it on the bus if you don't have the luggage tags. (Alternately you can provide the luggage claim tickets the airline provides and DME will transport it for you- just not something I am comfortable with)

You can customize up to a certain point, if you make the customization point but not the shipping point you pick up the customized bands at check in. If you miss both then you are given grey bands at check in. If you /they have MB's from a prior trip they will also work.

Tickets as part of a package will be automatically linked to DME and if they prefer not to use MB's then the front desk can issue the actual ticket. Then the guest will have the option to use either the MB, grey or customized or the theme park ticket to gain entrance to the park and access FP+ reservations.

Yeah, I forgot there was the customization point and the shipping point, good reminder, lol! Also, forgot on the tickets as part of a package. I usually buy from UCT, so don't have a package, but that makes sense they are all linked up already. Which is great so they can get right on making FP+ ressies! They are excited to get MB's, too!
Thanks, tjmw2727!

I'm not sure you are limited to grey even if you don't have time to customized ones

When we checked in at poly last summer there was a family that was checking in next to us. They didn't have bands and the CM was asking them what colors they wanted and they went to the back and got them

I don't know if that is normal or not but it's worth asking

Great reminder, it never hurts to ask! Thanks, AngiTN!

 

[Minniekins]

It sounds like you have old MBs and a resort ressie.

My questions, as I noted above, are not for my own situation, but are for someone who has never been to WDW, and is going for a first visit in mid Feb. We weren't sure about the MB and DME, with her trip in less than thirty days.

 

[Robo]

If you have WDW Resort reservations, you can decide to use DME by calling them directly a day (or even less) before you arrive.

DME runs enough buses to cover the load and can schedule a trip to any resort on any available bus on-the-spot.

No MagicBands needed.
(Imagine the huge number of guests who PACK their MBs in their luggage and, therefore, don't have the MBs when they arrive at the DME airport counter.)

 

[siskaren]

No MagicBands needed.
(Imagine the huge number of guests who PACK their MBs in their luggage and, therefore, don't have the MBs when they arrive at the DME airport counter.)

Not to mention those that come from outside the U.S. and won't get their MBs until they check in.

 

[Minniekins]

If you have WDW Resort reservations, you can decide to use DME by calling them directly a day (or even less) before you arrive.

DME runs enough buses to cover the load and can schedule a trip to any resort on any available bus on-the-spot.

No MagicBands needed.
(Imagine the huge number of guests who PACK their MBs in their luggage and, therefore, don't have the MBs when they arrive at the DME airport counter.)

Thanks, Robo, that's good to know we can call so close to our arrival! I panicked the other year when we didn't have our DME set up a few weeks out, but we got it set and they even sent our voucher packet with luggage tags just in time! Good to know that even a day would be enough time if necessary!

Not to mention those that come from outside the U.S. and won't get their MBs until they check in.

Yes, as for needing MB's for the DME, my response was the same as both of yours, Robo and siskaren, plenty of people don't have their bands for various reasons, (such as left in luggage, picking up at resort). So I figured the voucher they send would still work, or checking in at the DME counter to get set up. My DD25 wasn't sure, so we decided to come here and check with the experts, as we knew some of you would have the correct info! We did not think we should call Disney, figured we'd get conflicting or just wrong info, possibly, lol, so to the experts we went!