No more free magic bands

[TinkB278]

I’m sure this has already been discussed on here but I can’t seem to find any posts about it...

magic bands will no longer be complimentary. I don’t know why but this really is making me upset and almost feels like a last straw for wanting to visit Disney anytime soon. I know it might seem like a small thing to many but just between everything that is happening and changing... just kind of ruins my desire to go on a vacation there, being nickel and dimed for things that were once included.

 

[Sarahslay]

I feel like spending $14 for a magic band is a small price to pay, maybe making us pay for magic bands keeps them from having to dig up money somewhere else (say, yet another big ticket hike). I, honestly, don't need another one of the free bands since I have every single color....some more than one. If this is all it's going to take to get your to throw in the towel then maybe it's time for a break, not trying to be snarky, just sometimes you have to put some distance in when stuff starts getting to you that much.

 

[piccolopat]

I wouldn't mind paying for a magic band if Disney made them with a replaceable battery. It seems such a waste to throw them away after a couple of years. I tried keeping them longer but found they weren't picking up my ride photos.

 

[HashberryOTG]

$10-$30 for a couple of years is worth it to me. Lasts longer than most things. I'm a magic band addict tho, so always going to snag a new one as long as they let me.

 

[cjlong88]

I booked a 2021 trip. When I went in to browse the magic bands they offer, it looks as if the solid colors may still be complimentary so long as you pre-order them. Can anyone confirm this?

My only guess is that 2021 guests might be able to get them free as long as they order them BEFORE January 1, 2021...

 

[Sarahslay]

I wouldn't mind paying for a magic band if Disney made them with a replaceable battery. It seems such a waste to throw them away after a couple of years. I tried keeping them longer but found they weren't picking up my ride photos.

They last longer than a couple of years, even if the long range goes out you can still use it for getting in the parks, paying, and FP (when available obviously).

 

[Disneyfan754321]

I booked a 2021 trip. When I went in to browse the magic bands they offer, it looks as if the solid colors may still be complimentary so long as you pre-order them. Can anyone confirm this?

My only guess is that 2021 guests might be able to get them free as long as they order them BEFORE January 1, 2021...

View attachment 505397

I noticed that too, we are going to upgrade and they said they are not taking that away so I wonder what the price of a solid color band is if the designs are not that expensive.

 

[Sarahslay]

I noticed that too, we are going to upgrade and they said they are not taking that away so I wonder what the price of a solid color band is if the designs are not that expensive.

If I’m remembering correctly solid color bands go for $14.99 in the parks.

 

[TinkB278]

I wouldn't mind paying for a magic band if Disney made them with a replaceable battery. It seems such a waste to throw them away after a couple of years. I tried keeping them longer but found they weren't picking up my ride photos.

This is exactly how I feel. If it was something I could buy once and keep forever it would be another story.

from what I can tell, there isn’t even a good way to know when a band is about to, or already has gone bad. I don’t want to deal with a dead band mid-trip.

 

[cjlong88]

It was my understanding that magic bands will always work for anything that requires a tap...getting into the park, using fastpasses, etc. The battery portion that dies is in charge of long range features such as on-ride photos.

 

[Disneyfan754321]

If I’m remembering correctly solid color bands go for $14.99 in the parks.

Right but with a discount im guessing they will be 5 or 6 dollars... you can buy one with a picture on it for $10 upgrade ( and up)

 

[piccolopat]

This is exactly how I feel. If it was something I could buy once and keep forever it would be another story. from what I can tell, there isn’t even a good way to know when a band is about to, or already has gone bad. I don’t want to deal with a dead band mid-trip.

That was the problem I had with mine. People were saying they can last 2-3 years or more. The bands worked to get into the park but when I check my photos, the ride photos were missing. Thankfully I checked after the first couple of days and knew to tap in for ride photos the rest of our trip.

 

[piccolopat]

They last longer than a couple of years, even if the long range goes out you can still use it for getting in the parks, paying, and FP (when available obviously).

Yes but it caused me to lose some ride photos because I didn't know my batteries were dead.

 

[Tallis]

I literally have about 30 of them or so. Most of them are the second version, with longer lasting batteries. Even so, it's likely that none of them will work by the time I decide to return to Disney. Probably a couple years before I will want to go back, depending on the pandemic situation.

Even then, I still don't care (for myself) because they are very inexpensive. I can see where if a person has to pay for them for a large family, it would add up. For me, it's not a big deal.

I do hope they start making them with replaceable batteries since they are charging for them. My newest one, a Haunted Mansion band, only got one use. It's possible that's all it will ever get.

EDIT after reading through the thread:

Seems to be some YMMV in the battery life. When we were there in December, all the bands I used during the trip still worked, including one of my Version One bands. I used a total of 5 different bands, but only one of the oldest ones, so can't say if they all still work. I match them to what I'm wearing.

 

[YeOswaldianSociety]

I honestly have no connections to the magic band concept so if they'd simply let me use my phone I'd be totally ok with this..

 

[Tallis]

I honestly have no connections to the magic band concept so if they'd simply let me use my phone I'd be totally ok with this..

Totally with you on this! I really don't like wearing them. All of mine have been free, except the last one that I paid a $10 up-charge for. I would rather use my phone.

 

[cjlong88]

I honestly have no connections to the magic band concept so if they'd simply let me use my phone I'd be totally ok with this..

It looks like that is the way they are heading...

 

[Heather07438]

I'm curious to see what happens with our order. Our onsite trip is Jan 8-16, 2021.

We placed our order last Friday (I think) right after we heard that they were soon to give free MB the ax.

The 3 of us ordered one free, one $10 & one $15 upgrade. Wonder if they'll ship or they'll refund our $.

 

[StageTek]

... just kind of ruins my desire to go on a vacation there, being nickel and dimed for things that were once included.

I went to The World for the first time in 2008 so compared to many others I'm a newbie.
I've only been on these boards since 2007.

Disney has been nickle and diming visitors for as long as I can remember. Remember when resort parking was free if you were staying at a resort? I remember when that started and the thread after thread after thread of people saying they would never stay on site again - that paying for parking was going to ruin their vacation.

I don't disagree with you - I hate being nickel and dimed.

Here's another: https://www.disboards.com/threads/magic-bands.3805508/

 

[TarotFox]

That was the problem I had with mine. People were saying they can last 2-3 years or more. The bands worked to get into the park but when I check my photos, the ride photos were missing. Thankfully I checked after the first couple of days and knew to tap in for ride photos the rest of our trip.

I was under the impression that if it's a ride that has a tap point, you need to tap in either way. The magic band will get you photos for rides like 7DMT that have no point.