Please help with Magic Band Confusion

[emme24]

Hi,

I need some help figuring out Magic Band logistics... I don't know why this is so difficult for me. Anyhow...

We purchased Annual Passes in April. Because our trip was so close to travel (and we stayed offsite), we did not get Magic Bands ahead of time. We did opt to purchase them in the park. So, we have that set.

I also have a set that I am able to order that came with the Annual Passes. So, that would be set number 2 (haven't ordered them yet, but I see in MDE where I can customize them).

I just booked a trip for this summer, we are staying onsite. I see that there are bands to be customized for that trip as well. I guess that they come with the resort stay? So, that would be set number 3.

OK. Here are my questions:

• The set we used for our April trip are "active" I assume.
• If I get new bands, does that inactivate the previous bands? For instance, if I order a blue band for my daughter, will the Frozen band we bought her in April become inactive?
• Is there a benefit to ordering all of the bands we are eligible for? I guess the kids could have different colors?
• If I link a band to a trip (for FastPass, etc.) will any of the bands work that day? So, my daughter could wear either her blue band or her Frozen band and either would work for planned Fast Passes?

Thank you so much for your help. Again, I don't know why this is so difficult for me. I do need to customize our bands in the next two days... (if I'm going to do that).

 

[goofy4tink]

Your MB is merely a 'port' to your MDE account. So, there isn't anything actually on it. It links to whatever you have on your account. So, all bands are linked. I have 12 of the stupid things...they all work. I like to bring 3 or 4 with me on each trip..that way I can change them out based on my outfits.
So, you will get a new MB each time you book a resort stay! And, they will all work, at least until the battery runs down...but who knows how long that will take.

 

[drea21]

I'm glad you asked this. I just went on to customize ours for the first week of August and realized that we had AP magic bands to customize in addition to the ones linked to our resort stay. We had upgraded to AP in the parks on our last trip. I knew the regular ones stay active, but I didn't know if I needed the AP bands for anything special.

 

[CAS239]

-April set are able to be used along with all other MB's connected to an account
-No. You can have a bunch of bands and use a different one each day of a trip if you want
-Only benefit is just having more bands and colors
-All bands, as long as their active (you have to go in and deactivate any yourself. They aren't automatically deactivated) are able to be used.

Nothing is stored on the band. It's linked to a MDE account and any active band within an account can be used. You can have 10 bands if you want a use a different one each day.

There's no difference band wise between an AP band, on site band, or MB you buy in a park store. The only special thing about the AP bands is the discount card and AP slider that come in the box

 

[Eeyore's My Favorite]

Be sure to go ahead and order the bands linked to your APs as you will receive your discount card with them along with special AP sliders. I think I have close to 30 bands now & just decorate them so that DH & I match, but only take 3 or 4 sets with us on our trip.

 

[cigar95]

If you're staying on site, one area where your bands are not all equivalent is in opening the security gate at the resort entrance. So far I haven't figured out just what causes some to work and others not. The one thing that appears to be consistent is that the band associated with the resort stay will work to open the gate.

Otherwise, there's almost no discernible functional difference.

 

[emme24]

Thank you EVERYONE for the quick replies! I get such a headache, sometimes, figuring out all things Disney!!

 

[HopperFan]

If you're staying on site, one area where your bands are not all equivalent is in opening the security gate at the resort entrance. So far I haven't figured out just what causes some to work and others not. The one thing that appears to be consistent is that the band associated with the resort stay will work to open the gate.

Otherwise, there's almost no discernible functional difference.

In March I went direct to my room with my year old HM MB and it opened room and gate. I had no issues and loved not going to front desk. It def does not seem consistent.

 

[HopperFan]

Thank you EVERYONE for the quick replies! I get such a headache, sometimes, figuring out all things Disney!!

- I have about 15+ from resorts, APs and bought.
- All interchange. So you can do some stylin'.
- You def want AP for the discount cards and AP slider!
- Always travel with two in case one is lost or stops functioning.

 

[cigar95]

In March I went direct to my room with my year old HM MB and it opened room and gate. I had no issues and loved not going to front desk. It def does not seem consistent.

I've not yet noticed any differences in which bands will open my hotel room door. Only in which bands will open the security gate. (And as I said before, I can't discern a pattern as to what causes a particular band to work or not work. Someone previously suggested that using a band to open a hotel room door will then cause it to open the security gate at that resort, but I can't verify that.)

 

[supersnoop]

I've not yet noticed any differences in which bands will open my hotel room door. Only in which bands will open the security gate. (And as I said before, I can't discern a pattern as to what causes a particular band to work or not work. Someone previously suggested that using a band to open a hotel room door will then cause it to open the security gate at that resort, but I can't verify that.)

I was told that you have to use a band to open your room's door before the band will work at the security gate. Since then, I've "activated" each band by unlocking the room and never had a problem. We're up to six bands and they all have worked.

 

[AngiTN]

On our trip in May (3 way split stay) we had issues with bands and room doors. Like PP with the gates I couldn't figure out when they were going to work and when they wouldn't. But all it took was a trip to the front desk, where they scanned the bands (each of them in our group) with an iPhone type device and they then opened the door to the room. So something had to be synced somewhere

 

[bumbershoot]

If you're staying on site, one area where your bands are not all equivalent is in opening the security gate at the resort entrance.

I have 9, DS has 7, DH has 3, and all will open doors and gates.

Even when we got a text that our bands weren't going to work and we had to come back and redo them (and we had 8 people to redo), we got that text AFTER getting in the gate of our resort LOL. So much for not working.

 

[cigar95]

I was told that you have to use a band to open your room's door before the band will work at the security gate. Since then, I've "activated" each band by unlocking the room and never had a problem. We're up to six bands and they all have worked.

You might have been the one to tell me about that last February. I'll test out the theory come September.

I have 9, DS has 7, DH has 3, and all will open doors and gates.

Definitely an inconsistency in the system. Or it continues to evolve.

 

[ScrampShopper]

I bought APs online and have not activated them. When I go to will call or guest relations to activate them, will I receive the discount card from them. From what I have read earlier, I won't get my AP magic bands until after the APs are activated and if the discount card is in there, then I can't use it for shopping during that trip.

 

[AngiTN]

I bought APs online and have not activated them. When I go to will call or guest relations to activate them, will I receive the discount card from them. From what I have read earlier, I won't get my AP magic bands until after the APs are activated and if the discount card is in there, then I can't use it for shopping during that trip.

I did this. I didn't need the card to get the discount. The AP itself was all that was needed.

 

[ScrampShopper]

Thanks

 

[mickeyluv'r]

One trip, we neglected to order bands for a one night stay. Upon arrival , check-in desk at our hotel basically FORCED us to accept a set of grey bands, even though we've got plenty of bands. I clearly said we didn't need them or want them, and I was WEARING a band on my wrist.

We also have far more bands than we need.