Old Magicband Tips

[justadreamaway77]

On Facebook, I saw someone mention to deactivate all the Magicbands you are not using on a trip and that will help with old magicbands not working. Does anyone have experience with this? I usually pick three MBs to bring on each trip but it never fails, I go to open the door and they don't work! I have to then go to the front desk and get them to work their magic. It would be awesome if I could avoid this problem. TIA for any insight on how to make my old MBs less glitchy!

 

[ngl]

On Facebook, I saw someone mention to deactivate all the Magicbands you are not using on a trip and that will help with old magicbands not working. Does anyone have experience with this? I usually pick three MBs to bring on each trip but it never fails, I go to open the door and they don't work! I have to then go to the front desk and get them to work their magic. It would be awesome if I could avoid this problem. TIA for any insight on how to make my old MBs less glitchy!

We live 1 hr from WDW and have been DVC for 10+ years so when Magic bands first started we were in the beta group and back then you were automatically issued one for each visit. Of course, they since added the ability to reject new magic bands for each visit. Needless to say we had a LOT and like you said, creates tech issues. If you go into My Disney Experience and Click on My Magic Bands and Cards you can choose the ones you want to deactivate. Just look at the number on the back of the band and match it up from the one listed in your account. Really helped with our glitches.

 

[justadreamaway77]

We live 1 hr from WDW and have been DVC for 10+ years so when Magic bands first started we were in the beta group and back then you were automatically issued one for each visit. Of course, they since added the ability to reject new magic bands for each visit. Needless to say we had a LOT and like you said, creates tech issues. If you go into My Disney Experience and Click on My Magic Bands and Cards you can choose the ones you want to deactivate. Just look at the number on the back of the band and match it up from the one listed in your account. Really helped with our glitches.

I get that part, I was wondering if deactivating the ones that you are planning on not using for that trip really does help with the issues...

 

[justadreamaway77]

We live 1 hr from WDW and have been DVC for 10+ years so when Magic bands first started we were in the beta group and back then you were automatically issued one for each visit. Of course, they since added the ability to reject new magic bands for each visit. Needless to say we had a LOT and like you said, creates tech issues. If you go into My Disney Experience and Click on My Magic Bands and Cards you can choose the ones you want to deactivate. Just look at the number on the back of the band and match it up from the one listed in your account. Really helped with our glitches.

nevermind....I totally did NOT read your last sentence! Sorry, thank you for your insight!!!!

 

[Marionnette]

On Facebook, I saw someone mention to deactivate all the Magicbands you are not using on a trip and that will help with old magicbands not working. Does anyone have experience with this? I usually pick three MBs to bring on each trip but it never fails, I go to open the door and they don't work! I have to then go to the front desk and get them to work their magic. It would be awesome if I could avoid this problem. TIA for any insight on how to make my old MBs less glitchy!

Easiest way that I know of is to deactivate all but one band and use only that one puck. Change it out on the bands you wish to wear. It takes a small #0 Phillips head screwdriver to remove the 2 small screws that hold the pucks in place. Pop out the old puck. Pop in the new one and set the screws.

 

[Ralph&Pam]

I have routinely deactivated all old Magicbands except for one of each color. Those I take on the trip and use. I have not had any problems since going to this procedure. When I had many active bands, I always needed a trip to the front desk to access the room, so making this change was definitely worthwhile.

 

[NoTime42]

While it’s often a slow process, the MDE app has the ability to open a door via phone if a magic band isn’t working.

 

[Best Aunt]

Well, I'll play Devil's Advocate here.

I've read here on the Dis that, "You have too many Magic Bands active in your account" is just a line. Cast members say it whenever Magic Bands don't work properly. The guest hears it as a reason for the problem, and they assume it is correct.

I bet there are people with a lot of active Magic Bands who have no problems, and people with only a few Magic Bands who have a lot of problems.

 

[princesscinderella]

I find that BW is the worst for magic bands operation on opening the doors. I’ve had the most problems over the years there. I had to go the front desk 4 times to get the bands working and even then not all of them did but we just gave up because some of them were the kids ones.

 

[808blessing]

So do you go to the front desk multiple times in one trip or just once and done?

 

[DL1WDW2]

Can I go to front desk once and be done if I ask for the old fashion plastic card?

 

[NoTime42]

When we’ve had Magic band problems getting into the room, they needed all of our bands to reset/fix. So if you bring all of your party’s bands to the front desk, you only need 1 trip. (We usually bring 2 bands/person)

Once at BRV, we got to our replacement room (at the far end of the hallway) and none of our MB’s worked. So I used a house phone in the hallway and asked the front desk to send someone to let us into our room and fix our bands. They let us in, took the bands and brought them back, working.

 

[NoTime42]

Can I go to front desk once and be done if I ask for the old fashion plastic card?

They still have cards. They use the same passive RFID chip and serial number as the magic bands. (Both can show as “bands” in a MDE account).
I’m not sure if they can issue generic room-only cards after guests are on a room reservation.

 

[heresabe]

I always bring a new MB and an old when I visit. I've even brought the first MB I was issued. And it still worked.

I think the MDE app (computer or phone) allows one to deactivate specific bands. No need to manually deactivate the physical Band.

 

[cpep42]

you can activate and deactivate your magic bands on my disney experience.

 

[redrosesix]

Well, I'll play Devil's Advocate here.

I've read here on the Dis that, "You have too many Magic Bands active in your account" is just a line. Cast members say it whenever Magic Bands don't work properly. The guest hears it as a reason for the problem, and they assume it is correct.

I bet there are people with a lot of active Magic Bands who have no problems, and people with only a few Magic Bands who have a lot of problems.

This is probably true. I clicked on this thread thinking it was about something else. We have 8 or more sets of MBs and we've never had an issue with any of them, but some have always worked better than others.

 

[malialaine]

I have at least 10 MBs that I chose from when I go. It depends on what I am wearing which one I use. They are all mixed solid colors and premium bands I have bought. Each one of them works opening doors and charging. Whenever I purchase a new one I just activate it in my MDE. I put a photo of how I am recycling MBs that I have used and ones given to me by friends and family.

 

[Renaissancerocks]

Our family has so many magic bands that I had to call and they had to extend how many we could have on our account. The maximum number used to be 10 At the beginning. I do not know what the current maximum is. But one cast member told us since we were having issues we had to call and get more “spaces” added to our account for each person. Once we did that, we haven’t had an issue. Some of us even wear multiple bands a day because they do “special” things.

 

[Yinn]

I get that part, I was wondering if deactivating the ones that you are planning on not using for that trip really does help with the issues...

I have over a dozen magic bands on my profile. I always deactivate it after my trip and only activate one a time for my trips. I've never had an issue with a band not working...

Not a smoking gun, but it would support your theory.

 

[Rob Huff]

I have at least 10 MBs that I chose from when I go. It depends on what I am wearing which one I use. They are all mixed solid colors and premium bands I have bought. Each one of them works opening doors and charging. Whenever I purchase a new one I just activate it in my MDE. I put a photo of how I am recycling MBs that I have used and ones given to me by friends and family.View attachment 560661

Holy moly, this picture is awesome!