Old Magic Bands

[mshanson3121]

Our last trip was May 2019 and we got new bands, we're going back June 2022 (booked yesterday!). Will our old bands still be any good? Or should we buy new? We may or may not have MM.

 

[dachsie]

The only thing that may not work would be ride photos

 

[Marthasor]

I would probably buy new ones. I know MBs aren't needed anymore, but I find them convenient and would want to have newer ones to cut down on any possible glitches.

 

[P'colaBeachBum]

I used a MB from 3 years ago and it still worked ( park entrance, room charging ) when I used it in Feb. 20021.

 

[OKW Lover]

We have MB's from back when they first started. They work fine for everything except on-ride photos.

 

[Fangorn]

To elaborate a bit on what's already been said...

All Magic Bands (both the older 1.0 and the current 2.0 versions) use the same technology. There are two RFID chips in each band. One needs a battery to power it (the "active" chip), the other does not (the "passive" chip).

Currently, there are only two things the active chip does; automatic ride photos, and special experiences such as having your name show up at the end of IASW. For everything else, where you tap the bands to a Mickey Head, the passive chip is used.

Unless you specifically care about the active functions, any old magic bands you have will work just fine.

Steve

 

[tjmw2727]

I splurged on a specialty MG about 5 years ago that I really like, still worked for everything (including pictures and video) in April 2021!

 

[robinb]

I’m wearing my 35th Epcot anniversary MB now it works fine for everything.

 

[LSK]

If old MBs don’t automatically work for ride photos, there’s still a way to capture the photo if you want to, right? Is there a place I can tap my MB for the photo?

 

[Robo]

If old MBs don’t automatically work for ride photos, there’s still a way to capture the photo if you want to, right? Is there a place I can tap my MB for the photo?

Some rides have those.
Some don't.

 

[scard192]

we have unused MBs that I received in February 2020 for our April 2020 trip. Now going April 2022. Is there a way to tell if the ride photo function isn't working while at WDW so I can purchase new bands?

 

[Robo]

1. we have unused MBs that I received in February 2020 for our April 2020 trip. Now going April 2022.
2. Is there a way to tell if the ride photo function isn't working while at WDW so I can purchase new bands?

1. They should still work just fine.
But...
2. Nope.

 

[luv2cheer92]

If old MBs don’t automatically work for ride photos, there’s still a way to capture the photo if you want to, right? Is there a place I can tap my MB for the photo?

Most of the newer rides, or rides where a photo has been recently added (PotC and HM) do not have a place where you can tap, it is all automatic.

 

[OKW Lover]

Is there a way to tell if the ride photo function isn't working while at WDW so I can purchase new bands?

Perhaps if you go on one of those attractions that do offer ride photos (I don't know which ones they are) you could check your MDE account to see if your pictures show up?

 

[scard192]

Perhaps if you go on one of those attractions that do offer ride photos (I don't know which ones they are) you could check your MDE account to see if your pictures show up?

do you need to buy Memory Maker to see the ride photos in MDE?

 

[CarolynFH]

do you need to buy Memory Maker to see the ride photos in MDE?

No, you can see the ride photos in MDE. They'll just have a watermark across them if you don't have MM or haven't paid for them in some way. When you pay, the watermark will disappear.

 

[evilqueenmindy]

I wore a 4 year old magic band to MK earlier this month and it worked for everything, including ride photos.
also you CAN see your ride photos pretty quickly on MDE, regardless of whether you have memory maker.

 

[sandlsmom]

So old Magic Bands have issues with pictures? We were planning on reusing our old ones from 2019 as well.

 

[luv2cheer92]

So old Magic Bands have issues with pictures? We were planning on reusing our old ones from 2019 as well.

They can have issues with the ride photos that are automatic, but not all photos. 2019 ones should be ok.

 

[isabellea]

I'm planning on getting new ones for my daughters for our Feb/March 2022 trip and the adults will wear old ones. Since both DH and I are always with one of the girls for rides, I assume we will be good for all ride photos.