Magicband+ at Disney - worth it?

[ArctosTBear]

Taking the family to Disneyland in February. One thing that I am trying to figure out is if magic bands for the 3 of us are worth it. We are staying in a good neighbor hotel, and so it looks like most of the utility really wouldn't be worth it.

What do you all think? Am I missing something about magic bands? They didn't exist the last time I went.

 

[OlliePop27]

Taking the family to Disneyland in February. One thing that I am trying to figure out is if magic bands for the 3 of us are worth it. We are staying in a good neighbor hotel, and so it looks like most of the utility really wouldn't be worth it.

What do you all think? Am I missing something about magic bands? They didn't exist the last time I went.

I stay offsite and my family has Magicband+. We find it worthwhile. We've used the same bands 3 times already at DLR and will be using them at WDW next year.

Whether it's worth it for you is highly subjective. It is certainly not a necessary expense and it is somewhat pricey initially.

There are several recent threads on this exact topic. I encourage you to use the search function at the top right, type in magicband+, and change the filter to "this forum." You'll find some helpful info.

 

[Pluto468]

We love the magicbands. It makes it easy to scan into the park and rides. It's nice because you don't have to take your phone out all the time.

 

[ArctosTBear]

I stay offsite and my family has Magicband+. We find it worthwhile. We've used the same bands 3 times already at DLR and will be using them at WDW next year.

Whether it's worth it for you is highly subjective. It is certainly not a necessary expense and it is somewhat pricey initially.

There are several recent threads on this exact topic. I encourage you to use the search function at the top right, type in magicband+, and change the filter to "this forum." You'll find some helpful info.

Tried to search before posting but only found things for WDW (where magicbands make a lot of sense) or questions about using them for lightning lanes.

 

[obsesseddisneyfan]

We love the bands and use them in Disney world and the cruise line as well so the cost was worth it for us. In Disney Land they work well if you are doing lighting lanes. My friend had to take out her phone and scan for each kid. Not bad but the bands were easier. What my kids LOVED was doing bounty hunting in Star Wars, My friends kids borrowed my husbands and I bands so they could participate. The adults sat down and had coffee as the kids ran around us (all of them 10, got to love 2 sets of twins).

 

[ArctosTBear]

We love the bands and use them on Disney world and the cruise line as well so the cost was worth it for us. In Disney Land they work well if you are doing lighting lanes. My friend had to take out her phone and scan for each kid. Not bad but the bands were easier. What my kids LOVED was doing bounty hunting in Star Wars, My friends kids borrowed my husbands and I bands so they could participate. The adults sat down and had coffee as the kids ran around us (all of them 10, got to love 2 sets of twins).

ooo forgot about bounty hunting. any other magicband interactives?

 

[OlliePop27]

Tried to search before posting but only found things for WDW (where magicbands make a lot of sense) or questions about using them for lightning lanes.

No worries. The search function on here is clunky. It requires you to click "this forum" from the dropdown to keep it to DLR only.

Here's the most recent thread (despite the title, it discusses your exact question): https://www.disboards.com/threads/early-entry-will-magicband-work-as-proof.3954876/.

Here's another very recent thread on the same topic: https://www.disboards.com/threads/park-entry-lightning-lane-room-key-oh-my.3954698/#post-65754480.

I hope it helps!

 

[LKing]

We are staying in a good neighbor hotel,

It doesn't matter what hotel you are staying at. MB+ at Disneyland don't do anything special at Disney owned hotels.

MB+ allow you to tap into the turnstile in each park. Many people screenshot an image of their ticket for easy access. IMO, you are waiting in line to get through the turnstile so it is just as easy to pull up your ticket on your phone as it is to use a MB.

MB+ allow you to tap onto your LL rides. This is very convenient.

MB+ allow a PhotoPass photographer to quickly tap your MB and load pictures to your account. The tap/scan happens after your photo is taken. If you put your phone down for the photo, you'll have to pick it up, turn it on and find the PhotoPass code (different from your ticket) to load your photos. In this case, MB is very convenient.

MB+ light up and glow during entertainment (ex. WOC, Fantasmic) and on certain attractions. Personally, I find this distracting. I'm watching the show, not my MB. I usually wear long sleeves during the evening entertainment, so just feel the buzzing on my wrist. I think the idea is that, if everyone is wearing MB, it will look similar to the light up bracelets that they give you at concerts and will add to the show. In reality, it doesn't.

MB+ allow interactions with some statues in the parks and DTD. You swing your arm in a circle and (sometimes) you will hear sound coming from the statue. I say "sometimes" because, often it doesn't work or it is difficult to find just the right place to get the sensor to pick up your MB.

MB+ can be used for Bounty Hunters. This is something to do if you have a lot of extra time.

Note: MB+ at Disneyland do not sense attraction photos. You will need to enter the photo code into your app. Most people take a picture of the attraction photo and enter the code later in the day.

 

[nesboy43]

If you are using Lighting Lane it is worthwhile for everyone to have.

Other than that I'd say if taking a lot of photos with the park photographers it's worth it for one person to have just to scan their wrist to link photos vs pulling out a phone and bringing up a barcode.

 

[DizMe]

MB+ allow interactions with some statues in the parks and DTD. You swing your arm in a circle and (sometimes) you will hear sound coming from the statue. I say "sometimes" because, often it doesn't work or it is difficult to find just the right place to get the sensor to pick up your MB.

Wow! I didn't know this!

Just wondering how they came up with the activation method. Surely there could have been something better than swinging your arm in a circle? How do you play that off if it doesn't work and everyone's staring at you as you go around swinging your arm? I could also see the potential for someone to get nailed by an enthusiastic MB+ wearer, but maybe I'm envisioning something more active than what it takes.

 

[LKing]

Wow! I didn't know this!

Just wondering how they came up with the activation method. Surely there could have been something better than swinging your arm in a circle? How do you play that off if it doesn't work and everyone's staring at you as you go around swinging your arm? I could also see the potential for someone to get nailed by an enthusiastic MB+ wearer, but maybe I'm envisioning something more active than what it takes.

That's exactly what happens. I'm sure CM are laughing as people swing their arms in circles. Consistently this can be done at the headless horseman and Big Al in DCA. I don't know that DL & DTD currently have any MB statues. There were several for Disney 100.

 

[obsesseddisneyfan]

That's exactly what happens. I'm sure CM are laughing as people swing their arms in circles. Consistently this can be done at the headless horseman and Big Al in DCA. I don't know that DL & DTD currently have any MB statues. There were several for Disney 100.

My techy daughter found exactly where the sensors were. Never had an issue with the statues going off. Something about a light. I for one could not find it.

 

[StarlitNight05]

MB+ allow interactions with some statues in the parks and DTD. You swing your arm in a circle and (sometimes) you will hear sound coming from the statue. I say "sometimes" because, often it doesn't work or it is difficult to find just the right place to get the sensor to pick up your MB.

This made me laugh because I saw some pretty confused people when I was waving my arm around at a medallion in DtD (with no subsequent effect). I kept trying... probably too many times

 

[FLCA026]

We have used magic bands at Disneyland and we like having them. I find it convenient. Never have had a problem.

 

[wench]

We use MB+ at DLR. Having used MBs at WDW for years we were an easy sell. But, we also like them for the aesthetic, not just the functionality. It’s like wearing jewelry to show your fandom of your favorite Disney franchises. I searched very hard to find my Haunted Mansion MB at DLR that everyone said was sold out & was so happy when I found it.

 

[CarolynFH]

We use MB+ at DLR. Having used MBs at WDW for years we were an easy sell. But, we also like them for the aesthetic, not just the functionality. It’s like wearing jewelry to show your fandom of your favorite Disney franchises. I searched very hard to find my Haunted Mansion MB at DLR that everyone said was sold out & was so happy when I found it.

LOL, I wasn’t going to buy one until I saw Oswald on a puck! (I take the puck out and put it into a slider for my watch band.)

 

[katyringo]

Ours are worth it because we have used the same ones now at both WDW and Disneyland and will now also be using them on our Disney cruise.

 

[DizMe]

LOL, I wasn’t going to buy one until I saw Oswald on a puck! (I take the puck out and put it into a slider for my watch band.)

That's so cool! I love Oswald!! I got a picture with him once in a meet-and-greet

 

[Porsche4]

We use MB+ at DLR. Having used MBs at WDW for years we were an easy sell. But, we also like them for the aesthetic, not just the functionality. It’s like wearing jewelry to show your fandom of your favorite Disney franchises. I searched very hard to find my Haunted Mansion MB at DLR that everyone said was sold out & was so happy when I found it.

Yes thats how I think of them too. I would pay the same amount of money for a nice bracelet or upgrade to my watchband so the fact that this also gets me into rides and through the front gates is a bonus. I can't wait to get mine this time and use it. I am hoping for a Winnie the Pooh one which LKing was kind enough to search out for me. Only a few days now till we fly out to Hawaii and the start of our trip.

 

[DizMe]

Yeah, I don't really get why people complain about the cost of MB+ (I mean, since when does Disney sell you things at cost?). Plus in this case, it's cute AND functional in a pretty cool way, and is not a required purchase.

I get a MK discount and I bought my first one on sale to boot. I don't see MB+ in the same way as the new LLPremier which has the potential to change the dynamics in an unfavorable way for those who don't have it. I'm still pretty miffed about that one.