Possible hiccup in my planning ....

[JillyBean1899]

Just found out yesterday that since we are traveling in a group we will *NOT* get our MB in advance, and won't be able to customize them, either. Should be interesting to figure out which gray MB belongs to which person since there will be *NO* way to tell the difference (unless the ones you get from the front desk have names on the back like the ones you get in advance).

More importantly ... we can't book FP+ in advance!!! Ugh. This was how I was planning on getting our part of the group on the "must do" attractions, since with 2 of our 4 being vision impaired, running around like maniacs won't be an option for us. Has anyone had any luck with being able to book decent FP+ the day of a trip? Or will all the "good" stuff be gone by then, since everyone else gets to book 60 days in advance?

 

[KaLyn]

Just found out yesterday that since we are traveling in a group we will *NOT* get our MB in advance, and won't be able to customize them, either. Should be interesting to figure out which gray MB belongs to which person since there will be *NO* way to tell the difference (unless the ones you get from the front desk have names on the back like the ones you get in advance). More importantly ... we can't book FP+ in advance!!! Ugh. This was how I was planning on getting our part of the group on the "must do" attractions, since with 2 of our 4 being vision impaired, running around like maniacs won't be an option for us. Has anyone had any luck with being able to book decent FP+ the day of a trip? Or will all the "good" stuff be gone by then, since everyone else gets to book 60 days in advance?

As far as telling which band is which, I'd take a silver sharpie with me and write the names on the underside of the band.

I'm sorry I don't have any FP+ thoughts/suggestions, I'm not that familiar with the system.

 

[mydisneykids]

There have been a few reports the last day or so saying that there hasn't been too much trouble getting day of FP+.

If all having the grey MB is a real issue, what about getting a pack or two of the sliders that go on the bands and letting each person have one from each pack?

 

[Suellen]

FWIW - we booked our room within a week of checking and our bands have our name inside.

 

[Suellen]

Also we have the box with all our names on it still and store them in there. Easy.

 

[Rosco1]

Is it because you went through the "group booking process" or because your reservations are linked?

 

[tdmoney7]

We decorated our magic bands with nail polish ahead of time but ended up decorating one down there. Take some nail polish and top coat and decorate while there. Didn't take long at all and had no problems using it. There's a thread with pictures including ours. Even the guys we did white polish on the Mickey head!

 

[redrosesix]

Just found out yesterday that since we are traveling in a group we will *NOT* get our MB in advance, and won't be able to customize them, either. Should be interesting to figure out which gray MB belongs to which person since there will be *NO* way to tell the difference (unless the ones you get from the front desk have names on the back like the ones you get in advance).

More importantly ... we can't book FP+ in advance!!! Ugh. This was how I was planning on getting our part of the group on the "must do" attractions, since with 2 of our 4 being vision impaired, running around like maniacs won't be an option for us. Has anyone had any luck with being able to book decent FP+ the day of a trip? Or will all the "good" stuff be gone by then, since everyone else gets to book 60 days in advance?

We're with groups too, but we booked our room separately. Still waiting on our tickets so we can add FP+ but we did get to customise MBs. There is a simple solution but it's pricey -- you can buy band covers and charms for them.

I think if you can book any FP+ in advance at all, you'll still have the benefit of staying onsite. I haven't heard anybody post that all of the FP+ for a particular ride were sold out in advance. So even being able to sign them up the morning of your first park visit should be helpful if you can do it before the gates open to everybody else.

Btw, people living outside the US can't get their MBs in advance either, but they can customize them. You might be able to as well if you have a reservation number that can be used in MDE.

 

[redrosesix]

Is it because you went through the "group booking process" or because your reservations are linked?

It's group booking at Disney -- I had to talk to them about our trip and this issue too. They were blissfully unaware that forcing people to pick up their packages when they arrive to check in was going to cause any issues with the new system. We still don't know if the tickets they distribute can go on our MBs -- we may have to keep them separate (which was always the case with tickets issued through group reservations, they couldn't go on your KTTW card). If we're stuck with cards I may opt to use the KTTW card instead since it would be silly to have a lanyard and a MB

 

[JillyBean1899]

The trip is being booked through the SGA at college. I doubt I'd be able to pull off $375 for 4 days/3 nights at Port Orleans, transportation and a 3 day park hopper ticket (although my trip will be $205 since I decided to go ahead and get an annual pass) if I booked our room separately just to get MB in advance.

Also we have the box with all our names on it still and store them in there. Easy.

Yeah, except I don't think they give you a box for the bands when you check in, and even if they do, would we get one box per room? One box with 4 bands in it and hope the same people are all in the same room?

 

[redrosesix]

The trip is being booked through the SGA at college. I doubt I'd be able to pull off $375 for 4 days/3 nights at Port Orleans, transportation and a 3 day park hopper ticket (although my trip will be $205 since I decided to go ahead and get an annual pass) if I booked our room separately just to get MB in advance.



Yeah, except I don't think they give you a box for the bands when you check in, and even if they do, would we get one box per room? One box with 4 bands in it and hope the same people are all in the same room?

The issue isn't really whether you get the MBs -- it's whether you get the tickets. You have to have a room reservation and a park ticket in order to do FP+.

You will get one MB for each person registered to the room, since they are also your room key, and probably in a box at the front desk when you check in. Technically if you stay in WDW just one night you get a MB -- which you can use on subsequent trips for up to like 2 years.

ETA: just re-read your post -- there are different rules for AP members. You really need to find some of those people to answer your questions about MBs and FP+. Your roommates may still be screwed but you'll probably get a customized MB and have your FP+ set up before your arrival.

 

[Denise W]

Even though we had already received our customized MB before our December trip, we also received gray ones when we checked in at BWV. They had our names on them, so I think you will be fine.

Denise

 

[letsgoreds]

The trip is being booked through the SGA at college. I doubt I'd be able to pull off $375 for 4 days/3 nights at Port Orleans, transportation and a 3 day park hopper ticket (although my trip will be $205 since I decided to go ahead and get an annual pass) if I booked our room separately just to get MB in advance.



Yeah, except I don't think they give you a box for the bands when you check in, and even if they do, would we get one box per room? One box with 4 bands in it and hope the same people are all in the same room?

Many package/group/discounted park tickets are not upgradeable to any other ticket option, including APs, so I would get that in writing if you have been told that you may do so with these tickets.

Telling them apart is really no big deal at all. You don't need the box, just bring a sharpie and write on the back of them, or doodle on the front if you want to : ) Once you get your MB at check-in, you should be able to book the entire FP+ for the trip, right? If you don't find exactly what you like, keep checking. Many have suggested that certain popular FP+ times are held back until the day/time the park opens, that day. Have fun!

 

[JillyBean1899]

Many package/group/discounted park tickets are not upgradeable to any other ticket option, including APs, so I would get that in writing if you have been told that you may do so with these tickets.

I've already purchased my annual pass, so the coordinator just won't buy a ticket pack for me. The coordinator (and a few other people in our travel group) have annual passes, too, so the number of people in rooms will not equal the number of tickets purchased, but we were told our AP would be able to be attached to the MB and reservation once we arrive. She's been e-mailing the group travel coordinator CM person (I have no clue what their title is lol) with all the info as things get updated, so we do have a paper trail from someone that (should) knows what they're doing