My MB Saga

[com_op_2000]

I will be sending this to MS as soon as the DVC system comes back up:
MBs arrived about 15 days before the trip; we chose red for the holiday season, and to match our choice of clothing.
Went to SSR for my DWs annual birthday getaway. Upon check-in the room was ready in our requested area (CP) and requested 3rd floor, great start!
We drove over to the room to drop our “stuff”, then off to AK for lunch and FPs. Neither MB will open the room. Left DW at the room with one of the MBs. I drove back to the front desk, waited in line even after talking with one of the people with a tablet, for 20 minutes, the front desk person took my MB to the back room for another 10 minutes to try and determine the issue. They found no issue and said the MB should be working. Called DW and she stated the room will still not open with the MB that she has. Lost 30+ minutes
I drove back to the room and the MB will still not open the room. I drove back to the front desk with both MBs. Asked to speak with a supervisor, she took both MBs to the back room, after about 15 minutes she came out and asked if we needed someone to go meet us at the room, I said yes as DW is at the room with our “stuff” and needs to be let in. She sent someone to the room and continued working on the MBs. About 10 minutes later she came out and tested both MBs on the desk machine and they appear to be working. The supervisor added 6 unlimited FPs to our reservations to use over the next two days for my lost time – great service. I drove back to the room and the person sent to let my DW in was just getting out of the elevator when I arrived. She went back up to the room to ensure the MB was working, I tried one and it let me in. Lost 30+ minutes
By this time it was too late to eat and get to first FP, so we ate something in the room before leaving. We drove to AK, go to the front gate, and my MB would not let me in. The person with the tablet checked and could not identify me as having a pass. I got back in the tram to the car, walked to the car (wouldn’t you know it I am parked at the 3rd parking space furthest away from the tram), got my annual pass, walked back to the tram, waited on and got back on the tram, and then the annual pass let me in. The person with the tablet at the gate checked my MB again and it showed on his system that it was working. Went to Guest Services, they could not identify a reason for my MB not to be working and they stated I should talk with the resort since that is the place I has my first issue. Lost 40+ minutes
At least all the FPs is working off the MBs. We only did those as I was frustrated and we talked about our issues throughout the day. We stated we will go back to the room, eat, watch a movie, and start fresh tomorrow. After getting DW back to the room, her MB worked mine did not, I drove over to the front desk, the same supervisor was on-duty, and she was unable to figure out why the MB is not working. According to the system the MB is assigned to me, the annual pass is linked to the MB, and it is working for FPs so it should be working for everything else. Lost another 30 minutes
We originally were going to go to MK the next day, but over the evening we changed our minds, we decided to go to EPCOT, I got online, and changed our FPs.
We went out to breakfast, off to EPCOT, this time I had my annual pass in my back pocket, good thing I did the MB will not let me in again. The person with the tablet could not explain why my MB was not working. His system is showing the MB is assigned to me and the annual pass is linked. Went to GS, waited in line, and they basically said the same as AK GS. Lost 20+ minutes
All FPs worked and had a great afternoon at EPCOT.

 

[thebigman65]

Wow we are going in April and it will be our first time using MB......I certainly hope this does not happen to us or I will lose my mind......you seem to be a patient person......me not so much......hope the rest of your trip goes better!

 

[disneynutz]

Not that it matters but understanding how thing are suppose to work may help.

First, the MB don't have anything on them but a key code. Everything is in computers somewhere.

The room door lock is sent a Wi-Fi signal to accept the key code that your band transmits. Room access is separate from park access.

There is a park access program on a computer somewhere that looks at your MDE account and it uses the key code on your MB. When you enter a park the scanner receives the code from your band, checks your admission ticket in your MDE account and allows access if it finds a valid ticket or pass.

There are other things that are also going on like matching your MB key code to your ADR's, tracking your location, matching you to photos taken on the rides, etc.

If your band is transmitting your key code correctly, the problem isn't your MB.

Bill

 

[com_op_2000]

I should of possible prefaced my PP, with:
1. I know how MBs are suppose to work. I know that nothing is store on the MB except for the number.
2. I have had multiple previous stays with MBs not working properly.
3. The one thing that did work FPs, I was prepared for, I had a printout of FPs due to previous issues with FPs.
4. I expected more from Disney and have complained multiple times about MBs.
5. Having spent my career in data processing since 77; I know about DBs, wifi, hardware, software, and any other parts of the systems.
6. Every since they started the MBs 9 trips total, I have encountered some type of issue with them.
7. After every issue I have sent an e-mail to member satisfaction and all I every get back is a general letter.

 

[luckyman_apd]

I should of possible prefaced my PP, with:
1. I know how MBs are suppose to work. I know that nothing is store on the MB except for the number.
2. I have had multiple previous stays with MBs not working properly.
3. The one thing that did work FPs, I was prepared for, I had a printout of FPs due to previous issues with FPs.
4. I expected more from Disney and have complained multiple times about MBs.
5. Having spent my career in data processing since 77; I know about DBs, wifi, hardware, software, and any other parts of the systems.
6. Every since they started the MBs 9 trips total, I have encountered some type of issue with them.
7. After every issue I have sent an e-mail to member satisfaction and all I every get back is a general letter.

I've NEVER had an issue with the MB on multiple trips. Sorry to hear this. The only thing that makes sense reading your post is that somehow, you band is getting deactivated. Since every reservation they send you a new band, we have a bunch, plus the band they sent us for being AP holders last year. I have since deactived ALL our bands. ONCE with my son he gave one of his bands to my nephew....and I deactivated the wrong one. Everything in their system showed his band should work and it was all tied in, but it wasn't until I checked my MDE account and looked up the band numbers to compare did I realize the blue one my nephew had was active, and the blue one my son was wearing was deactivated. I just clicked to reactivate it and no more problems. I'm not saying you are deactivating them, but that's the only thing that makes sense to be happening here.

 

[wdrl]

We just returned from spending 15 days at BLT. My wife and I had three sets of MagicBands each, one set was a new MB issued for this trip and two other older ones from previous trips. Except for a single isolated incident at Hollywood Studios when my wife's MB had problems being read at the entrance gate, all of our MBs worked fine during the entire length of our stay. Entry to our villa, accessing areas around BLT (like the laundry room), getting into the Parks, FastPasses, and point-of-sales all worked fine except for the one incident at DHS.

 

[disneynutz]

I should of possible prefaced my PP, with:
1. I know how MBs are suppose to work. I know that nothing is store on the MB except for the number.
2. I have had multiple previous stays with MBs not working properly.
3. The one thing that did work FPs, I was prepared for, I had a printout of FPs due to previous issues with FPs.
4. I expected more from Disney and have complained multiple times about MBs.
5. Having spent my career in data processing since 77; I know about DBs, wifi, hardware, software, and any other parts of the systems.
6. Every since they started the MBs 9 trips total, I have encountered some type of issue with them.
7. After every issue I have sent an e-mail to member satisfaction and all I every get back is a general letter.

Often when the front desk goes into the back room, they are calling someone for help.

Since DVC really has nothing to do with MB and MDE, I suggest that you copy your dissatisfaction email to Disney. The possibility exists that DVC doesn't even pass your report on to the people who can make a change.
wdw.guest.communications@disneyworld.com

Here is the number for MDE tech support (407) 939-7849, maybe they can help.

Bill

 

[Missyrose]

I have since deactived ALL our bands.

Why did you deactivate all of them? You can continue to use them interchangeably.

 

[luckyman_apd]

Why did you deactivate all of them? You can continue to use them interchangeably.

Some of them have gone missing around the house....or outside. My son gave his cousin 2. I've heard that Disney will only let you keep 8 active at one time...not sure how true that is, but after sunscreen, pool, sweat....some of them have some discoloration. Right now if Disney is going to keep sending them....I'm going to just keep using the new ones. We have a 2 night stay coming up (just the wife and I) and it's a split stay....so we're getting 2 more each to add to the lot. My wife wants to take the kids for a 3-4 day trip in June (when we can borrow again) for Star Wars weekend. We'll get another set then too if we go.

You can always reactivate them if you want to use them again...but since I can't keep track of all of them...I might as well shut them off just in case.

 

[bumbershoot]

Sometimes glitches happen. And continue to happen. And happen again in different glitchy ways.

At the front desk ask them to make a card. They can. It's in the policy for the RFID stuff. A CM (young, college program, so not a manager or anyone likely to have special CM skills) at SSR checkin offered to make us cards if we didn't want to use our bands. I declined but it was cool to know that it doesn't require a special dispensation from the president to get one, LOL. Maybe the card will work better for you.

 

[sbobbio]

Has anyone been able to actually help you yet? Last year around this time my family had similar issues but it was just my band. Very frustrating

 

[NoleFan]

I had the same issue on my one and only stay at SSR. Now, no matter where I am staying I take my MB band to the desk to confirm it is active and linked to my current visit (we have many MBs). Not sure if that helps or not.

I had issues at VWL with my MB not working for key or room charges but MBs for my family members worked. I also had room key only issues at BWV & AKL-Jambo.

All were about a year ago.

 

[tjkraz]

I should of possible prefaced my PP, with:
1. I know how MBs are suppose to work. I know that nothing is store on the MB except for the number.
2. I have had multiple previous stays with MBs not working properly.
3. The one thing that did work FPs, I was prepared for, I had a printout of FPs due to previous issues with FPs.
4. I expected more from Disney and have complained multiple times about MBs.
5. Having spent my career in data processing since 77; I know about DBs, wifi, hardware, software, and any other parts of the systems.
6. Every since they started the MBs 9 trips total, I have encountered some type of issue with them.
7. After every issue I have sent an e-mail to member satisfaction and all I every get back is a general letter.

Just a blind guess but I wonder if there isn't a problem with your Disney / MDE account. I had to call MDE tech support once to clarify some issues with my online account. Turns out that the entire "go.com" family of websites wasn't always as unified as it is today. Although I've always used the same logon for sites like Disney, ABC, ESPN and so on, the tech support rep actually read off to me the various dates on which I registered at different sites--some dates were more than a decade ago.

He "cleaned up" my account and gave me specific instructions for logging onto the MDE website (said to use my username, NOT email address) and all has worked well since.

If you've had recurring issues with MagicBands not working, sounds like there may be issues with those underlying database records. Unless you have some reason to keep your current MDE account (like non-expiring tickets), I'd be tempted to just scrap the entire account and create a brand new one to use going forward.

 

[summabreeze85]

7. After every issue I have sent an e-mail to member satisfaction and all I every get back is a general letter.

What are you looking to get back?

 

[delmar411]

I will be sending this to MS as soon as the DVC system comes back up: MBs arrived about 15 days before the trip; we chose red for the holiday season, and to match our choice of clothing. Went to SSR for my DWs annual birthday getaway. Upon check-in the room was ready in our requested area (CP) and requested 3rd floor, great start! We drove over to the room to drop our “stuff”, then off to AK for lunch and FPs. Neither MB will open the room. Left DW at the room with one of the MBs. I drove back to the front desk, waited in line even after talking with one of the people with a tablet, for 20 minutes, the front desk person took my MB to the back room for another 10 minutes to try and determine the issue. They found no issue and said the MB should be working. Called DW and she stated the room will still not open with the MB that she has. Lost 30+ minutes I drove back to the room and the MB will still not open the room. I drove back to the front desk with both MBs. Asked to speak with a supervisor, she took both MBs to the back room, after about 15 minutes she came out and asked if we needed someone to go meet us at the room, I said yes as DW is at the room with our “stuff” and needs to be let in. She sent someone to the room and continued working on the MBs. About 10 minutes later she came out and tested both MBs on the desk machine and they appear to be working. The supervisor added 6 unlimited FPs to our reservations to use over the next two days for my lost time – great service. I drove back to the room and the person sent to let my DW in was just getting out of the elevator when I arrived. She went back up to the room to ensure the MB was working, I tried one and it let me in. Lost 30+ minutes By this time it was too late to eat and get to first FP, so we ate something in the room before leaving. We drove to AK, go to the front gate, and my MB would not let me in. The person with the tablet checked and could not identify me as having a pass. I got back in the tram to the car, walked to the car (wouldn’t you know it I am parked at the 3rd parking space furthest away from the tram), got my annual pass, walked back to the tram, waited on and got back on the tram, and then the annual pass let me in. The person with the tablet at the gate checked my MB again and it showed on his system that it was working. Went to Guest Services, they could not identify a reason for my MB not to be working and they stated I should talk with the resort since that is the place I has my first issue. Lost 40+ minutes At least all the FPs is working off the MBs. We only did those as I was frustrated and we talked about our issues throughout the day. We stated we will go back to the room, eat, watch a movie, and start fresh tomorrow. After getting DW back to the room, her MB worked mine did not, I drove over to the front desk, the same supervisor was on-duty, and she was unable to figure out why the MB is not working. According to the system the MB is assigned to me, the annual pass is linked to the MB, and it is working for FPs so it should be working for everything else. Lost another 30 minutes We originally were going to go to MK the next day, but over the evening we changed our minds, we decided to go to EPCOT, I got online, and changed our FPs. We went out to breakfast, off to EPCOT, this time I had my annual pass in my back pocket, good thing I did the MB will not let me in again. The person with the tablet could not explain why my MB was not working. His system is showing the MB is assigned to me and the annual pass is linked. Went to GS, waited in line, and they basically said the same as AK GS. Lost 20+ minutes All FPs worked and had a great afternoon at EPCOT.

We have only had similar issues 2x.

Once with room access and I just insisted they reset the band, I don't know what that means but I had to be insistent with the girl. That fixed the problem.

The other was with park access, my kids while linked for the reservation and for tickets, were somehow not really linked at all so they couldn't get into the parks. A manager at the Studios took all our info and called into a ticket to IT and it took them about 40mins and I got a call it was all fixed and all the kids were properly linked. He definitely pushed it up the chain of command though, to get it fixed quickly.

 

[com_op_2000]

What are you looking to get back?

Due to previous MB problems, I am looking for the answer to:
Why?

Why on this trip does my MB work with FP but not the rooms or entry into the parks?
Why on previous trips has my MB worked on the room but not on entry to parks or FP?
Why on previous trips has my MB worked on rooms and entry to the parks but not FP?
I do not have any plans to ever use them for charging to the room. I do not make ADRs so those I have never tried. I believe I have a reason to not trust the technology that much, to link a CC to the MB.

 

[bianca]

We have had all of the same issues as the original poster. The worst was in a grand villa at SSR where 7 of 10 bands did not work to full capacity. The amount of time spent at Guest Services trying to fix all these issues has left a bad taste in our mouth.

Just last month, 3 of our 4 MB's worked. Of course it was mine that was hit and miss, but after prior experiences, I just "let it go."

We no longer tie our CC to MB, as that has proved to be a disaster. Seems to me that Disney did themselves a disservice by not working out the bugs of the MB's, as we don't spend near as much in the parks now that we conscientiously have to get our CC out.

I know that some people are very enamored with this new technology and it sounds like when it works, it is indeed magical. However, when it doesn't work, it can put a serious damper on your vacation spirit.

 

[supersnoop]

The only issue I've ever had was that one band would not open the resort gate when returning in my car. They informed me that all bands needed to be used on the room door before they'd work at the gate. So, now I run through all 18 of our bands when we check in to make sure they work on the door before doing anything else.

 

[Beth]

The only issue I've ever had was that one band would not open the resort gate when returning in my car. They informed me that all bands needed to be used on the room door before they'd work at the gate. So, now I run through all 18 of our bands when we check in to make sure they work on the door before doing anything else.

This happened to us when we were at BLT in November. Our room wasn't ready, so we told them that we were going to head out to the pool bar to get a sandwich.

Our first glitch was trying to get into the gate around the pool (a CM took pity and let us in,) then - as we went to re-enter the BLT lobby - we couldn't get back in.

Not a big deal, but don't you think they should tell folks about this at check-in, when their room isn't ready??

Oh - one more thing. We found it funny that we COULD apply charges to the MB's before "activating them" on our room door. ...They were happy to take our money!

 

[Mousewerks]

I don't think people intend for this to happen but whenever you say something like "my MB did (or didn't do) this" you have to know you are speaking of something that doesn't exist.

I just wrote a blog post on this topic at my blog.

I really believe that things would go a lot smoother if we all understood how the system actually works.