Reusing MagicBands and Photopass limitations

[bks9581]

I received an email about our upcoming stay and in it, it mentioned something about limitations when reusing MagicBands from a previous visit. Clicking through to see what these limitations were I came across the below statements. My question is, if we are on a ride like Frozen or Pirates, etc. that takes your photo, but there is no wall after the ride to tap your MagicBand to, how will we get the photo (aside from going through customer service?) It doesn't really specify if the Key to the World cards or the MDE app will pick these up on the rides. Anyone been recently that knows? I don't want to have to buy a new MagicBand just to save the trouble of going to a Photopass center to get my photo added. I'm not sure if the Key to the World cards have the RF technology that MagicBands do to "sense" you on rides.

• Already have a MagicBand from a previous visit? You can reuse your MagicBand. Depending on how much time has passed since you initially used your MagicBand, your ability to receive Disney PhotoPass attraction videos and select attraction photos may be limited.
  
  If you are using a MagicBand from a previous visit, we recommend you tap it at the photo preview wall touchpoints (available at select attractions after riding) to link your attraction photos to your Disney account. For attractions that do not have a photo preview wall you may also visit the Disney PhotoPass Sales Center located in each park or contact us to report a missing photo so we can find and link your attraction photos.
• Prefer not to use a MagicBand? At your convenience, swing by the Front Desk of your Disney Resort hotel to pick up a Key to the World card, which can be used in lieu of a MagicBand.

 

[tcrandal]

Isn't one new band $5.99? The limitations they speak of are just covering themselves for battery issues in the older bands. For under $10, if your group typically rides together you could improve your odds of not having to visit the photo center and pay for one new band. I know they are testing the phone proximity for passes / photos, but not sure that is open to the general public yet.

 

[Fangorn]

Any Magic Bands that are more than 3 years old likely won't work for ride photos where there is no touch point available (7DMT, POTC, etc.). They will work just fine for everything else. The key cards do not have the active RFID in them (only the passive) which means they don't work for ride photos.

If you're staying on property, you can get a new MB for $5. Otherwise, a plain band is $14.95. You only need one band per party for the ride photos.

Steve

 

[bks9581]

Isn't one new band $5.99? The limitations they speak of are just covering themselves for battery issues in the older bands. For under $10, if your group typically rides together you could improve your odds of not having to visit the photo center and pay for one new band. I know they are testing the phone proximity for passes / photos, but not sure that is open to the general public yet.

I wasn't even sure if anyone in my party would be wearing/using a band anymore if all the functionality is in the app now. I thought about buying one band, but then there are times we split up since one kid can't ride certain things. So then I would need to buy two, which isn't going to break the bank, but it would be nice to know if either the KttW card or MDE can pick up a person on a ride or not. It seems that since they are claiming that all the functionality of the MagicBand is replaced with with this new system they would maybe let you know which things are or are not phased in yet.

Side note: anyone know how to check the battery strength in a MagicBand?

 

[Fangorn]

There is no way you can check the battery on a MB. Battery life is supposed to be about 3 years. My experience is that it varies between 2 and 4 years.

Steve

 

[Fangorn]

There is no way you can check the battery on a MB. Battery life is supposed to be about 3 years. My experience is that it varies between 2 and 4 years.

Steve

Follow-up:
While battery life is limited, the battery is only used for currently for two functions: ride photos on certain rides, and special things like your name showing up on the screens at the end of IASW.

For everything else, all active bands on your account will work indefinitely. No battery is needed for those functions.

Steve

 

[bks9581]

Follow-up:
While battery life is limited, the battery is only used for currently for two functions: ride photos on certain rides, and special things like your name showing up on the screens at the end of IASW.

For everything else, all active bands on your account will work indefinitely. No battery is needed for those functions.

Steve

Thanks, I was aware of that. Was only interested in the planned replacement for the Photo RF MagicBand functionality and if it existed now. Sounds like I better buy a couple MagicBands to be safe.

 

[mansionterror]

My daughter and I will be taking specialty bands that we had purchased for our trip in August of 2020 (that we cancelled). Since I just bought them last year, will we have any problems?

 

[Fangorn]

My daughter and I will be taking specialty bands that we had purchased for our trip in August of 2020 (that we cancelled). Since I just bought them last year, will we have any problems?

No. You won't have any problems. Assuming they are already set up on your MDE account, you're good to go.

Steve

 

[subtchr]

There is new technology being tested as a pilot program right now for Rock n Roller Coaster and Tower of Terror that will link ride photos to your account using only Bluetooth on your phone. I’m sure that will be rolled out to more attractions soon.

 

[mansionterror]

No. You won't have any problems. Assuming they are already set up on your MDE account, you're good to go.

Steve

Great! Thank you!

 

[JakAHearts]

No. You won't have any problems. Assuming they are already set up on your MDE account, you're good to go.

Steve

Where did they move the band section to on MDE? Trying to make sure old ones are attached properly. Thanks!

 

[Fangorn]

You don't really need to check. Unless you have specifically disabled a band, all bands will always be active.

But you can find them by hitting the three dashes at the far bottom right of the MDE app. That will bring up another set of options. One of those is My Profile. It's the first item in the list below the tiles on that page. Click on your profile and scroll down. You'll see the Magic Bands and Cards item. That's where you'll find them.

Steve