my last comments about magic bands

[pampam]

There's no need to wear or even carry a MB with you to use as a "ticket" or for FP+
or for opening your WDW resort room door or for charging your various purchases.

Just request a standard plastic RFID ticket, which will work in place of the MB for all of the above.

this. I personally don't care for the tracking when using the bands, so I just got the card. Some CMs were confused that I didn't have a band, but I just didn't want it and truthfully, I never missed it.

 

[JimmyV]

Yes they did, but you had to wear a lanyard or have pockets to carry the card around. And if you wanted your kids to be able to get in and out of the room you had to trust them to take their card with them.

I have never in my life worn a lanyard. But every pair of pants that I own has pockets. Maybe it's a "gender thing". Guy's pants have pockets. If you go to WDW 10 days a year, that leaves 355 other days in which you survive by using car keys, house keys and credit cards and we all get along just fine. Having all of that on the KTTK card or a MB is definitely easier. But the only difference between the two is that instead of having my "all in one" device on my wrist, I have my "all in one" device in my pocket. When my arms are hanging down by my side, my wrist is directly in line with my pockets. So the only thing that has changed is that my "all in one" device has shifted about 3 inches to the right. Forgive me if I don't think that this is a dynamic shift. As for children, trusting them to take a card with them is no different than trusting them to take a wrist band. Or cell phone. You either do or you don't. Again, I am not bashing MBs. I just don't see the huge upgrade over the old system. As one who does not wear jewelry, bracelets, etc., I prefer an invisible card in my pocket to a plastic band on my wrist.

 

[mom2rtk]

You should look into switching banks. My branch of a large bank is open until 6 PM every weekday and 3 on Saturdays.

That's exactly what we did. Chose to go to Disneyland last year and heading back this year.

 

[mom2mickeyfan]

MagicBands can be like electric car windows.

They can be convenient, and some people love them.
Some people would never again be without them.
Others don't care if they have them or not, as it is very easy to
get along without them.

Also, if they stop working, they are a MAJOR pain.

Oh I've been there! Many year ago, my stopped working while half way down. Then it started snowing! And I live in the south! We finally got it up but it wouldn't work anymore and it sure was a pain to have to use an ATM!! Great when it works, a pain when it doesn't and no easy way to fix it.

 

[Infamousmare]

I have never in my life worn a lanyard. But every pair of pants that I own has pockets. Maybe it's a "gender thing". Guy's pants have pockets. If you go to WDW 10 days a year, that leaves 355 other days in which you survive by using car keys, house keys and credit cards and we all get along just fine. Having all of that on the KTTK card or a MB is definitely easier. But the only difference between the two is that instead of having my "all in one" device on my wrist, I have my "all in one" device in my pocket. When my arms are hanging down by my side, my wrist is directly in line with my pockets. So the only thing that has changed is that my "all in one" device has shifted about 3 inches to the right. Forgive me if I don't think that this is a dynamic shift. As for children, trusting them to take a card with them is no different than trusting them to take a wrist band. Or cell phone. You either do or you don't. Again, I am not bashing MBs. I just don't see the huge upgrade over the old system. As one who does not wear jewelry, bracelets, etc., I prefer an invisible card in my pocket to a plastic band on my wrist.

My thoughts, exactly. Except for the being a man part. I am a woman who believes in the storage capacity of the cargo pant.

 

[over50visits]

Meh.
Opens the door of my room---my KTTK card did that.
Allows me to pay for purchases---my KTTK card did that.
Works to get me into the parks---my KTTK card did that.
Has Dining Plan information coded onto it---KTTK cards did that.

Which is not to say anything negative about MBs. But the "benefit" of them is often overstated.

There seems to be no new capabilities related to the MBs whatsoever, that were not provided by the KTTK cards. Rooms, purchases, admission, whatever.

So why did Disney spend such a huge amount on the MBs and the new readers? There must be a good business reason.

The answer: the MBs contain a tracking capability the cards did not have. We are now voluntarily wearing tracking devices, so Disney can now manage us.

One of the few public examples: when you dine a BOG you can don't need the rose anymore for them to find your table, they can locate where you are by your MB.

Disney has been quiet about this; but it stands to reason that replacing the cards with a hugely expensive device/system that didn't add any capability would be a dumb move. They're not dumb.

 

[DisneyFive]

There's no need to wear or even carry a MB with you to use as a "ticket" or for FP+
or for opening your WDW resort room door or for charging your various purchases.

Just request a standard plastic RFID ticket, which will work in place of the MB for all of the above.

this. I personally don't care for the tracking when using the bands, so I just got the card. Some CMs were confused that I didn't have a band, but I just didn't want it and truthfully, I never missed it.

Thanks. This is probably what I'll do next time. I'd rather have a card in my wallet. I'll have to check with the kids though. They seemed to like wearing them (I think)... but I didn't like having them in our photos. Something we'll have to figure out before our next trip!

Dan

 

[JimmyV]

My thoughts, exactly. I am a woman who believes in the storage capacity of the cargo pant.

I actually have a waterproof pair of "cargo shorts" that I call my "theme park pants".

Disney has been quiet about this; but it stands to reason that replacing the cards with a hugely expensive device/system that didn't add any capability would be a dumb move. They're not dumb.

While I am not a conspiracy theorist about this, and I don't have a tin foil hat, I do firmly believe that the marginal difference in the capacity between MBs and KTTK cards establishes that MBs were introduced for Disney's benefit, not the guests'. But of course, they have to roll out an advertising campaign to convince us otherwise. And I don't begrudge Disney for spending money on an initiative that benefits it. But that doesn't mean that I have to buy into their marketing campaign.

 

[DisneyFive]

I actually have a waterproof pair of "cargo shorts" that I call my "theme park pants".

This!

Cargo shorts are an absolute must for me every day of our WDW stays. I use almost every pocket.

Back Right Pocket: Wallet
Front Right pocket: Small Canon Digital Elph camera
Front Left Pocket: Misc.
Front right lower cargo pocket: Sunglasses if not wearing them
Front left lower cargo pocket: HD camcorder

Believe it or not, it isn't crazy bulky or anything, and I don't have my hands full all the time!

Dan

 

[disnut8]

Regardless of how they work, (FP+ is getting better by the day) I don't like the MB's for a few reasons:

1) I feel like a Disney "lemming" wearing one. I don't know, kind of a weird thing, but I feel like Disney has me shackled.

2) They are in all of our photos from Disney. Kind of weird having us all wearing these colored bracelets in ALL of our photos

3) I tried not wearing mine during our Sept '13 stay, but it got so annoying digging it out of my pocket each time I needed to use it that I reluctantly gave in an wore it all the time. Plus it doesn't feel good in your pocket either. I didn't like wearing it though, for the reasons above.

Dan

My husband didn't really like thinking about wearing a band for his time over our trip a few weeks ago. I told him to put it in his pocket but he didn't like that idea either. So he wore it. And ended up liking it much better than he thought he would. Is he a big fan? No, but he actually begged me to add the charging stuff to it so he doesn't have to reach for his wallet while there. He said it was nice just touching and going (no wise jokes there).

Neither one of us wears anything on the wrists during a normal day and my band remained in my small bag I carry. I just took it out when I needed it.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

I have read very little negative about MagicBands.

As such, MB are not what many guests find problematic with the overall MyMagic+ system.

Agreed.

 

[ifjf414]

That's exactly what we did. Chose to go to Disneyland last year and heading back this year.

That's more like going to a different branch not a different bank.

 

[Angel Ariel]

Yes they did, but you had to wear a lanyard or have pockets to carry the card around. And if you wanted your kids to be able to get in and out of the room you had to trust them to take their card with them.

I still have to be able to carry a card around. The MB doesn't hold my Driver's License. I can't speak for anyone else, but I don't go on vacation without keeping some form of I.D. on me. And if I'm driving at Disney (which we have been known to do), then I *really* need the license...so that means still having a way to hold cards.

Adding a KTTW card or RFID card ticket to where I keep my license just isn't that big a deal to me.

 

[ConnieB]

Regardless of how they work, (FP+ is getting better by the day) I don't like the MB's for a few reasons:

1) I feel like a Disney "lemming" wearing one. I don't know, kind of a weird thing, but I feel like Disney has me shackled.

2) They are in all of our photos from Disney. Kind of weird having us all wearing these colored bracelets in ALL of our photos

3) I tried not wearing mine during our Sept '13 stay, but it got so annoying digging it out of my pocket each time I needed to use it that I reluctantly gave in an wore it all the time. Plus it doesn't feel good in your pocket either. I didn't like wearing it though, for the reasons above.

Dan

I connected mine to my lanyard (which had my AP and credit cards, trading pins, etc) so I didn't have to wear it. I don't wear a watch, or rings, or bracelets.....I just hate things binding my wrist so I won't wear a MB either.

 

[dissupermom]

the govt tracks you all the time. when you go to the market and use the store issued " savers" card, they are tracking your purchases. your gps system is tracking your whereabouts. your phone is tracking your conversations and texts. you can't get away from this! don't single out WDW.
now if the discussion is wearing the band or not wearing the band, that's a personal decision each has to make.

 

[flicx]

Lets not kid anybody Disney made this system for Disney not its customers. If they truly wanted to help their customers, 1.5 billion on attractions would have been a much better way!

 

[Salden]

I am going in November and staying offsite. I am buying my tickets through a third party and they will be RFID. Is there any advantage at all to going to DTD and picking up the bands? Do they do anything the RFID cards don't? I feel like if I get the bands, my kids will lose them or leave them somewhere and would rather keep the RFID cards in my wallet.

 

[JimmyV]

I am going in November and staying offsite. I am buying my tickets through a third party and they will be RFID. Is there any advantage at all to going to DTD and picking up the bands? Do they do anything the RFID cards don't?

No advantage whatsoever. Your FP selections will be stored on your RFID plastic card as long as you register it on My Disney Experience. The card will get you in to the parks as well. If you are staying off site, the functionality of opening your hotel room door is useless to you as is the ability to charge things to your room. There is no "disadvantage" to getting the bands, unless, as you point out, you think that they are not a good fit for your kids. But when one is staying off site, the RFID cards and the MBs are interchangeably convenient.

 

[Robo]

No advantage whatsoever. Your FP selections will be stored on your RFID plastic card as long as you register it on My Disney Experience. The card will get you in to the parks as well. If you are staying off site, the functionality of opening your hotel room door is useless to you as is the ability to charge things to your room. There is no "disadvantage" to getting the bands, unless, as you point out, you think that they are not a good fit for your kids. But when one is staying off site, the RFID cards and the MBs are interchangeably convenient.

Agreed.

 

[ConnieB]

I am going in November and staying offsite. I am buying my tickets through a third party and they will be RFID. Is there any advantage at all to going to DTD and picking up the bands? Do they do anything the RFID cards don't? I feel like if I get the bands, my kids will lose them or leave them somewhere and would rather keep the RFID cards in my wallet.

I detest wearing things on my wrists...I have never worn watches, bracelets, etc.....the hospital band when my girls were born was a source of constant annoyance and only the nurse telling me she won't be able to let me hold my babies got me to wear it, lol.

So...I carry my AP. I did find that it was more convenient though to attach the MB to my lanyard.....then I didn't have to dig out the AP when we went through FP lines.

So do it as works for you. I saw quite a few moms wearing multiple bands up their arms.....very colorful.....but for me I'd probably have to claw my arm off, lol.