Magicband + on DCL

[Alicatt]

I know they are not for everyone but I am excited for the Magicband + coming to DCL. The article I read said it would cme to he Wish this summer. Is there any news about the other ships. I would love not having to worry about my kids losing their KTWs.

 

[Kwami]

There's no news beyond the initial press release. After debuting on the Wish, Disneyband+ will come to the other ships. We don't know when.

You'll still need to keep track of everyone's KTTW card for exiting and entering the ship in ports.

 

[Clarkson U]

I am not excited about the extra costs!

 

[soniam]

I am not excited about the extra costs!

It's an extra expense, but not a required expense. You don't have to buy them. The card keys will continue to be given to everyone and will still work for everything necessary.

 

[Flcruising]

Never understood why people like the Magic bands. They buy more expensive ones to get colors and buy decorations for on them and covers. But they are useless when the person gets home.
I'm not trying to be critical. There just must be something I'm missing. Maybe I just need to ask a cast member to explain it better to me.
But I'm glad it brings joy and magic to some.

 

[CamillaF]

Never understood why people like the Magic bands. They buy more expensive ones to get colors and buy decorations for on them and covers. But they are useless when the person gets home.
I'm not trying to be critical. There just must be something I'm missing. Maybe I just need to ask a cast member to explain it better to me.
But I'm glad it brings joy and magic to some.

I bought the MB+ for my family for our first trip to DW. I choose the MB+ because I assumed that I could eventually use it in DL and on the cruise. I am glad I did. They are very beneficial in the parks for extended hours when you have to check into every ride. It is something that I would highly recommend buying for DW. The extra little things they did was fun.... but not more then that. It is nice to have a seem less trip. I am looking forward to using them rather than a lanyard around my neck for getting into the cruise room. I also like that my kids can use them to check them selves in and out of the the kids play areas. I would not buy one for the cruise however having them I am excited to use them.

 

[Husker Mike]

I am not excited about the extra costs!

Of all the things that people can spend even more money on at Disney, the MagicBand might be the most functional. You can get it wet, it goes on just about any ride... and it simply works. We forgot our MagicBands last fall, and so they gave us key cards at the hotel. Within two hours, we had decided to spend the money to buy new bands just because the bands are so much easier to use. The fact kids love them is a bonus as well.

I'm not sure about the MagicBand+ though; the interactive stuff is a meh to me...and having to recharge it constantly is a PITA, but at least it has a longer lifespan for ride photos.

 

[Clarkson U]

It's an extra expense, but not a required expense. You don't have to buy them. The card keys will continue to be given to everyone and will still work for everything necessary.

My concern is over time they will be required or pretty close to it and then the extra expense will be almost mandatory.

 

[erionm]

My concern is over time they will be required or pretty close to it and then the extra expense will be almost mandatory.

Unless they work out something with security in ports of call, they will never be mandatory. Currently, to get back to the ship in ports of call, you are required to show your room key which must have your name, ship and sail dates printed on it. Adults are also required to show photo id.

 

[happycamper47]

Unless they work out something with security in ports of call, they will never be mandatory. Currently, to get back to the ship in ports of call, you are required to show your room key which must have your name, ship and sail dates printed on it. Adults are also required to show photo id.

The original article even said that...

Key to the World cards will still be issued and required (along with a photo ID) to debark and embark at ports of call.

 

[MamaMermaid]

I'm excited too!

 

[soniam]

My concern is over time they will be required or pretty close to it and then the extra expense will be almost mandatory.

Due to medical issues, ie pacemaker, some people won’t be able to wear MB. So, in addition to the port requirements, they will not become mandatory.

 

[OpieDoodle]

I don't think anything else has been posted officially. I did see in one of the DCL Facebook groups I'm in where someone just got back off the Wish and talked about their experience being one of the guinea pigs. So I think they are just starting to test it out. As they work out the kinks more info will come.

I also have seen posts about various upgrades and such that have been done on other ships around the pools and such (prior to the announcement) and staff saying it had something to do with magic bands.

So I'd assume it'll be coming to the other ships soon!

We love magic bands, I collect them from our trips. We usually get the kids new ones each trip, so its a cool thing to display for the memory. We buy them when they're on sale/ebay tho so we don't pay full price.

I am super excited about it because this way I can put our KTW cards in my travel bag with our passports and don't have to worry about them getting lost on the ship. Magic Band+ needs to be charged so when we went to the parks we have one spot we charged all of them so each night before bed everyone put theirs on the charger and then when we got up we put them all on. It helped keep track of them because 9 times out of 10 I was the last one to bed at night so when I put mine on the charger I could do a quick check, then I usually would be the last one out the door in the morning so I could do a quick check to make sure everyone had their band.

It's also really nice that its optional! So if you don't want to spend the money you don't have to! I always hated taking off my KTW card by the pool or slides worrying it would get left behind or something. With magic bands I could keep it on the whole time and not worry about it. Its not for everyone but I'm excited that's for sure!

Since the Magic Band+ are more expensive than normal magic bands we probably will reuse the ones we have from our last Disney trip versus purchasing a new ones.

 

[sadiecatie]

To me it's kind of hard to explain the convenience of a MagicBand if you've never used one, but we were so glad we had them on our last WDW trip - of course, we did Genie+ and so we used them for Lightning Lanes for most rides, and you *can* just use your phone or card for that, but in practice those just don't seem to work as smoothly. There were numerous times we walked by people struggling to tap into a ride with their phone, and we were able to just walk straight in because the MagicBands just worked.

So with that, it doesn't seem to me like the DB+ on the ships will be a necessity, but a convenience item - which means many people will choose not to take part and will be just fine, but it will be a great add-on for those that are willing to pay a bit more for convenience.

 

[OKW Lover]

IMHO, MagicBands are in the same category as those Goofy Hats you see around. Fun for a while and never to be used again.

 

[Bound4DisneyWorld]

Of all the things that people can spend even more money on at Disney, the MagicBand might be the most functional. You can get it wet, it goes on just about any ride... and it simply works. We forgot our MagicBands last fall, and so they gave us key cards at the hotel. Within two hours, we had decided to spend the money to buy new bands just because the bands are so much easier to use. The fact kids love them is a bonus as well.

I'm not sure about the MagicBand+ though; the interactive stuff is a meh to me...and having to recharge it constantly is a PITA, but at least it has a longer lifespan for ride photos.

Disneyland, like DCL, only works with MagicBand+. For the reasons you outlined, I got them for my family for Disneyland. Not because of the flashing colors and haptic feedback, but because they’re the only option for admission and lightning lanes. Will use them on DCL when I have the chance, too.

 

[RedHead0186]

Disneyland, like DCL, only works with MagicBand+. For the reasons you outlined, I got them for my family for Disneyland. Not because of the flashing colors and haptic feedback, but because they’re the only option for admission and lightning lanes. Will use them on DCL when I have the chance, too.

You do not need MB+ for admission and LL at Disneyland. My friend and I were just there a couple week ago, you can just use the barcode on your tickets in the app. We didn't have MB+s and had no issues.

 

[leannak]

What is the earliest y’all think this could be rolled out to the older ships?

 

[insureman]

I can't believe the number of people willing to part with 35 bucks for a Disney band+. What am I missing? Sometimes I feel like these boards have Disney moles just to generate fake excitement for more up-selling. It's the Figment popcorn buckets all over again.

 

[Alicatt]

It's super convienient and if i can use it multiple times for all of my trips, it's not that much money. If you get one with a design it's like an accessory. Why do people spend money on mouse ears? I have rarely seen people wearing their ears when it's not Disney related but they are willing to shell out the same amount of money for one, or in some cases, many. Also, I'd rather not wear the lanyard or find a place for my card that's safe. I don't always have pockets.