Magicbands - I've got Questions

[caroline7238]

Hi All,

My trip is getting close, almost 60 days out! I am looking to get magicbands for a family of four and I have a few questions. First, do all magicbands fit kids - I have a 4 and 7 year old. Are all magicbands waterproof - can they go in the pool? If I get one from ebay, do I need to make sure it's a magicband 2 or would a just a magicband still have all the features? And if I order via the MDE app with the associated discount for staying there, do they ship to my house or the hotel? I think that covers it, thanks all!

 

[tobikaye]

1. MB have a removable gray strip that makes the MB smaller. As an adult with smaller wrists, I sometimes remove the outer band. Have the kids put on to make sure before removing as you cannot put the strip back on.

2. MB are waterproof.

3. Be cautious on eBay. If the MB was ever assigned to someone else, it is no longer available to be added to another person’s MDE account.

4. The only concern I can think of, about the MB prior to MB2 would be battery range. The batteries are expected to last 2-3 years for long range use, such as ride photos.

5. The MB ordered through MDE ships to your home address, guessing you are in the US. I believe outside the US may be able to pick up at resort, but not 100%.

 

[caroline7238]

Awesome, thanks!

 

[CaptainAmerica]

1. MB have a removable gray strip that makes the MB smaller. As an adult with smaller wrists, I sometimes remove the outer band. Have the kids put on to make sure before removing as you cannot put the strip back on.

Ditto having your kids try them on first. My kids hate the feeling of the band when the strip is removed. It's not perfectly smooth and they say that it irritates their wrists. We always leave the strip on and then just tighten the band to one of the smaller holes.

The only concern I can think of, about the MB prior to MB2 would be battery range. The batteries are expected to last 2-3 years for long range use, such as ride photos.

MB1 has significantly worse performance at touchpoints. You end up rolling your wrist around trying to find the exact spot where the scanner is able to pick it up properly. I think it has something to do with the RFID chip being behind the rubber material instead of the hard plastic puck/icon on the MB2.

 

[Her Dotness]

An easy solution is to ask for the good ol' KTTW--Key To the World card--at your resort's front desk or at any Guest Relations. They're still free for the asking and no fitting issue.

A parent concerned about kids losing the card can simply bundle and stash them until the family enters a park or needs to tap to go on a ride.

I actually found the KTTW we both got last fall for the 50th Anniversary design worked better for park entry than my MB at times. Could be much easier for a kid just to lay the card on the Mickey sensor at park entry.

 

[JBRB828]

I've been looking at MagicBands through the website and the pickin's is not very good. We have bands but they are close to 6 years old, so I doubt they will work. KTTW may be a better option if I can't get the band I want.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

An easy solution is to ask for the good ol' KTTW--Key To the World card--at your resort's front desk or at any Guest Relations. They're still free for the asking and no fitting issue.

A parent concerned about kids losing the card can simply bundle and stash them until the family enters a park or needs to tap to go on a ride.

I actually found the KTTW we both got last fall for the 50th Anniversary design worked better for park entry than my MB at times. Could be much easier for a kid just to lay the card on the Mickey sensor at park entry.

Yeah my flow chart is something like:

If you like one of current MB designs, buy it.

If not, and you already own an existing MB, use that one.

If you don't already own an existing MB, get a plastic ticket.

MagicMobile to me is no more than a backup plan to get you by if a band or card gets lost.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

I've been looking at MagicBands through the website and the pickin's is not very good. We have bands but they are close to 6 years old, so I doubt they will work. KTTW may be a better option if I can't get the band I want.

Your 6 year old bands will work just fine, for everything except long-range photo linking. But your KTTW card wouldn't be able to do that either.

 

[Her Dotness]

I've been looking at MagicBands through the website and the pickin's is not very good. We have bands but they are close to 6 years old, so I doubt they will work. KTTW may be a better option if I can't get the band I want.

They should still work for the basics--room and park entry, room charging food and souvies, etc. The battery remains good almost indefinitely for the simple stuff, I've read.

It's only the in-ride photos and videos you won't get with an MB more than a couple years old.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

They should still work for the basics--room and park entry, room charging food and souvies, etc. The battery remains good almost indefinitely for the simple stuff, I've read.

It's only the in-ride photos and videos you won't get with an MB more than a couple years old.

This is functionally correct, but a minor point... the "simple stuff," as you described it, doesn't require a battery at all. Even with a 100% completely dead battery, the things that work at touch points should continue to work at touch points. The power for that "transaction" is provided by the scanner, not the thing being scanned.

 

[Her Dotness]

This is functionally correct, but a minor point... the "simple stuff," as you described it, doesn't require a battery at all. Even with a 100% completely dead battery, the things that work at touch points should continue to work at touch points. The power for that "transaction" is provided by the scanner, not the thing being scanned.

Okay, thanks for the enhanced explanation.

I insist that MBs work by means of Disney magic. Battery-schmattery, it's magic and pixie dust to me.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

I insist that MBs work by means of Disney magic. Battery-schmattery, it's magic and pixie dust to me.

Brada-brada-BRING! "Welcome home."