Never used but 3 year old magic bands .. still good ?

[pooh2001]

We got our magic bands in August 2019 - then under the Christmas tree in 2019
We are supposed to WDW November 2020.
IF we go in November 2020 - the magic bands will be 17 months old .....
Do they work at 17 months old ?

But if we move our trip to May 2021 - the magic bands will be 22 months old - just short of 24 months
Do they work at 22 months old?

Now with them being shipped to us - the magic bands "birth date" maybe May 2019 - then the magic bands would be 2 years old.
If we move to May 2022 - after the 50th anniversary, hopefully with the world back to normal and a COVID-19 vaccine
The magic band would be 3 years old !
Do they work at 3 years old ?


So when we decide to go - should e just get new magic bands ?
Maximum cost would be $50 if we get them from the Disney Store online

 

[thanxfornoticin]

It really depends on the batteries, but we've used Magic Bands that old without issue. But won't you get new Magic Bands in Nov, 2020 for that trip? Unless you are not staying on site?

 

[Fangorn]

Magic Bands operate using RFID chips. There are two of them in each Band. One is a passive chip - it does not have it's own power supply, but instead relies on a minute amount of power that it gets whenever it touches one of the Mickey Heads. This chip should last virtually forever, provided the Band is not damaged in some way. The passive chip is used for everything that really matters: opening the door to your room, making purchases, entering a park, entering the FP line, etc. The second RFID chip is an active chip and has it's own battery. This chip has a short-range transceiver in it, and it is that which is powered by the battery. This chip is used for get some ride photos (7DMT & PotC for example), as well as the goodbye messages that appear in IASW.

Disney has said from the beginning that battery life was 2-4 years and anecdotal evidence, including my own, seems to confirm that. Most Bands will still have some battery capacity at three years, but YMMV. But again, for all the critical stuff, a Magic Band will last until the band is damaged, Disney changes the underlying technology or they do away with the entire concept completely.

Steve

 

[thanxfornoticin]

Thanks for the great explanation - funny how the ability to charge purchases on your MB almost never fails!

 

[Disneyfan754321]

Im guessing you rescheduled to November? Have you asked Disney to replace them? Its worth a try they have been so good to us in getting everything rescheduled. Then you can have piece of mind.
Try email easiest way to communicate right now

 

[pooh2001]

Thank you for the advice
Once we figure out when we will go - 2021 or 2022 - We will call WDW and see what they can do with our old bands - I am willing to send them back

If COVID-19 is under control by October 1 , 2020 - we will move our vacation to a "safer" year

 

[Fangorn]

Thank you for the advice
Once we figure out when we will go - 2021 or 2022 - We will call WDW and see what they can do with our old bands - I am willing to send them back

If COVID-19 is under control by October 1 , 2020 - we will move our vacation to a "safer" year

Honestly, there isn't any reason for you to do anything. Disney isn't going to do anything about your old bands. They do not want them back. When you make a new reservation, you'll be eligible to get new bands for that reservation. The old bands are yours to keep. You can have as many bands as you want. Any band attached to your MDE account is interchangeable with any other band on your account, provided you have not specifically deactivated any of them.

Steve

 

[pooh2001]

Thank you
I do not want to be dishonest with bands we never used and got for free
I guess they do not cost a lot of money to make

 

[dvcterry]

I have used the same magic band for each trip going back over two years. Vero Beach and Saratoga Springs, etc. Swam in the ocean, pool. I declined new ones, but received one for one trip and took it in case bc of the Magical Express being linked to that one. Once I got to the resort check-in, they made sure the old one was activated and the new one was deactivated. Just bring them in case. I believe they can be recycled, from what I understood at the desk. However, I kept both in case of any issues. Online, you can activate and deactivate the bands yourself. They will have a code on the back. Go to online check-in page or prior to that, ordering your bands, you will see where the bands are listed.

 

[Fangorn]

...
1) I declined new ones, but received one for one trip and took it in case bc of the Magical Express being linked to that one.

2) Once I got to the resort check-in, they made sure the old one was activated and the new one was deactivated.

3) I believe they can be recycled, from what I understood at the desk.

4) Online, you can activate and deactivate the bands yourself.

Just want to point out that the above statements are insufficiently correct.

1) your Magical Express reservation is not connected to a particular Magic Band. In fact, NOTHING is ever connected to a Magic Band, or "stored on" a Magic Band. Everything (tickets, FP, ADRs, reservations etc.) is stored in your MDE account. Magic Bands are merely keys to access that account.

2) I have no doubt that's what they said, but in 90% of cases, they actually did nothing as there was nothing that needed to be done. Magic bands are completely interchangeable, you can have multiple bands active at the same time, and you can use any of them for any and all trips. Occasionally, certain resorts (im looking at you BC) will limit guests to using only one band at a time at the resort, but even when they do that all other bands will work for everything except opening the door to your room.

3) again I have no doubt that the CM led you believe they could be recycled. You can give old bands to the front desk and they will say they will, and possibly make a show of, putting them into a recycle box. The CM may even believe they will be recycled. But they won't. They are not recyclable and will be tossed in the dumpster at some point.

4) yes, you can deactivate and re-activate bands yourself. Deactivating a band does not remove it from your MDE account or Disney's systems it merely sets a flag so that any transaction attempt using that band will be rejected. Unless you've lost the band, there's no reason to deactivate them.

Steve

 

[WDWTRAVELLER]

Just make sure they are active on the MY disney experince app and they should be good. I use one from 4 years ago with no issue.