Off-site/magic band ?

[2009CAN]

If you're staying off-site, and traveling in less than three weeks, do you receive a magic band at the gate/guest services? Will it still be mailed to your house?
Thank you for the help!

 

[Alesia]

Disney only gives magic bands to onsite guests.

 

[Mofang]

If you stay offsite, you don't receive complimentary magic bands - you'll instead get a Ticket To The World (basically just a plastic card) to use for FastPasses and admission.

You can absolutely buy Magic Bands at the park, through the Shop Parks app, or through the Disney Store web site. If you buy a band in advance (solid color ones are slightly cheaper in the Shop Parks app than via Disney Store, IIRC) - you can link it through My Disney Experience. This will let you skip Guest Services entirely on arrival and sail right into the parks as if you were staying on property.

Note that offsite guests can't charge purchases to their Magic Band, even if a credit card is linked on the MDE web site.

I recommend buying a Magic Band regardless of where you're staying - it's nice to not worry about losing your ticket or finding a card for fastpasses!

 

[2009CAN]

Ah, thank you both. I didn't realize that off-site didn't get a band. I thought they just got the gray ones
So ... upon arrival, an off-site guest would go to guest services and then pick up their card, is that correct? OR they could buy bands and activate them before they get there.

 

[snayak]

Ah, thank you both. I didn't realize that off-site didn't get a band. I thought they just got the gray ones
So ... upon arrival, an off-site guest would go to guest services and then pick up their card, is that correct? OR they could buy bands and activate them before they get there.

Correct - I was a MB doubter but we picked some up after landing at MCO and activated them while waiting for our ride on the street using MDE app, I loved them! If only I could have charged purchases with it, that would have been perfect (we were staying at the Swan, so not quite on-site or off-site)

 

[mesaboy2]

Your questions are addressed here.