MagicBand vs. Card

[ciera321]

We go to DW every year, and have for a long time. We LOVE having the convenience of the Magic Bands over the cards, especially since we always stay on site. We try to carry as little as possible, and these just make things so much easier for us!!!

 

[3DisneyFanz]

That's pretty much it.

I bow to Disney's ability to turn this little fact into much, much profit.

I wonder how many they've sold. I think they'd need to move about 200 million of them to cover the investment.

 

[lustergirl]

I think the magic bands are really convenient.

 

[bumbershoot]

My height, arm length, and wrist flexibility make the MBs a literal pain for me. Lanyard and a card are easy for me. I'd do the lanyard and card.

 

[kj2mom]

Save your money to spend on something else (like high priced souvenirs)! We stayed offsite in May and found using our "credit card like" tickets were easy to use for entry, FP+ and ADRs. Sure we had to dig them out of our pocket a few times, no biggie. You won't be the only "outsiders" They might be nice for ease of use for ride photos or MM but still not absolutely necessary for either of those.

If you have MM and want the ride videos I believe a Magic Band is absolutely necessary and I believe bc7ate9 is correct, the only way to get the photo from 7DMT is with a band because there are no picture review screens to tap your card to after the ride. We love watching our 7DMT videos (we did one night and one day) and am soo glad we got bands. We also had the character on our bands autograph them for us to make it our own souvenir.

 

[TeamSy]

Hi guys,

We haven't been to WDW since they've become so...modern. Am I correct to understand that the MagicBand is simply more convenient than pulling out your ticket card at various rides? We are not staying at a park resort so for our party it would cost $12.95 x 5, which seems high for a minor inconvenience. Looking for opinions though! Thanks in advance!

Yes. That's really all it is!! Don't waste your money. It really does nothing that using the card wouldn't. For us, it takes up MORE space than the card, as we'd easily just keep the card in our pocket or wallet. I don't wear my MB and always have to fish for it in the bottom of my purse when I need it. For us, the MB is nothing more than a clever way to bring in more $ for offsite guests... and we stay onsite.

 

[Gianfootography]

I love my Magic Bands. I have four Star Wars Bands and the one from Haunted Mansion. (and two free ones from being an AP, one for each year) I recently switched cars and forgot to put them in my glove box. I skipped going to the parks the other day since I did not have one with me. I had the card in my wallet but I prefer using the MB. I love hearing Donald say "May the Force Be With You" when I FP+ Star Tours wearing my Donald as Mace Windu MB. I hope it gets to the point where there will be a MB based around every major attraction.

 

[OKW Lover]

Lines got jammed up by people using cards

How so? The cards get scanned just as quickly as a MB.

Keeping track of cards for 5 people and having to pull them out over and over will get old quickly.

Why not let the other 4 people keep track of their own card?

I wonder how many they've sold. I think they'd need to move about 200 million of them to cover the investment.

How can anybody besides Disney themselves possibly know how many they would need to move to cover the investment?

 

[3DisneyFanz]

How can anybody besides Disney themselves possibly know how many they would need to move to cover the investment?

It's not that complicated. They've announced how much they've sunk into the project and we know how much they're charging for the MB. It's just division from there plus some adjustment for the cost of producing the MBs now.

 

[OKW Lover]

It's not that complicated. They've announced how much they've sunk into the project and we know how much they're charging for the MB. It's just division from there plus some adjustment for the cost of producing the MBs now.

Yes, its much more complicated than that. Some (many) folks get MB's for free, how do you divide a number by zero?

More importantly, there are operational benefits to Disney that none of us can quantify. They also benefit from increased guest spending by making it so easy for people to charge stuff to their account.

 

[3DisneyFanz]

Yes, its much more complicated than that. Some (many) folks get MB's for free, how do you divide a number by zero?

More importantly, there are operational benefits to Disney that none of us can quantify. They also benefit from increased guest spending by making it so easy for people to charge stuff to their account.

There is no proof that anyone is spending more money because of MB and even Disney has stopped saying that. Most recently they are acknowledging that the increase is guest spending is simply do to raising prices.

As for the free ones the cost of those is being built into other areas of your vacation. Disney isn't giving anyone anything for free. Plus I'd be willing to bet the bands are more expensive than the old key to the world cards.

For the record I really don't mind the bands and we're only one trip away from having a full set of the "free" ones.

 

[mesaboy2]

Yes, its much more complicated than that. Some (many) folks get MB's for free, how do you divide a number by zero?

More importantly, there are operational benefits to Disney that none of us can quantify. They also benefit from increased guest spending by making it so easy for people to charge stuff to their account.

Yep. It's not as simple an equation as one might think.

 

[DISNEY1975]

Do you need to pay for these Magic Band things if you are staying at Grand Floridian?

Everyone gets free plain bands. But there are band accessories and special themed bands that people can buy, if they choose.

 

[mesaboy2]

What does a plain band mean?

Solid color, no flair.

 

[DISNEY1975]

What does a plain band mean?

Plain, no design... solid color

 

[tjmw2727]

Not everyone who chooses not to wear a MB holds up the FP+ line !

If you are staying on site at a Disney resort the band is great - it is included with your room and you can use it for everything, Park Pass, Room Key, Charging and photos. If you are not staying on site then you don't need them IMHO. When we are not on property everyone gets a lanyard and keeps their own pass, just tap it to the turnstile to enter the FP+ line and remember that most lines require you to tap again just before loading. Its just as quick as a MB if you pay attention

You can get neck lanyards or retractable lanyards before you leave at many places including Disney themed ones. I don't like wearing one around my neck so I choose a retractable one that I put on my belt loop.

 

[mesaboy2]

Hey, those are pretty cool and they're free?

I would use the term "included", as in with onsite resort stays or with an annual pass.

 

[tjmw2727]

Yes - when you stay onsite at a WDW Resort!

Hey, those are pretty cool and they're free?

 

[DISNEY1975]

Hey, those are pretty cool and they're free?

Yes.

Themed ones cost $

 

[Summertinkerbell]

How so? The cards get scanned just as quickly as a MB.


Why not let the other 4 people keep track of their own card?


How can anybody besides Disney themselves possibly know how many they would need to move to cover the investment?

We were behind large groups of people with cards multiple times. They moved more slowly than the people with magic bands. There were times when the CM's would be looking over the cards and having them try to scan them again. After a few times, we made sure not to get in line behind people with cards.