reusing old magic bands

[markpenske]

We currently have 12 magic bands each listed on my Disney experience. Several are listed as "ACTIVE". If we plan on using our existing/old bands do we need to link them? or if they read "active" are we good to use them as is?
Thank you in advance.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Any bands listed on your MDE as Active are linked and will work. Any not listed as Active will not work even if they show on your account.

 

[markpenske]

Thanks for the quick response GLP

 

[lockets]

On a related note - if they are old some of them might not work automatically for the "remote" ride photos. But should work for everything else like clicking into rides.

 

[Doingitagain]

Also, I am not sure of battery strength after a couple years. Does anyone have experience using older bands?

 

[WDW Traveler]

Back in September 2021 we used bands from 2019 and 2017 and they both worked for everything: room key, charging to resort, auto ride photos.

 

[evilqueenmindy]

I have some first generation bands that still work just fine.

 

[aboveH20]

I stayed at POFQ the beginning of the month. My magic band did not work to open the door, so of course I was worried it wouldn’t work for park entry. I went to the hotel registration and the CM took my magic band and reset something so I was able to use it for the door and park admission.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Also, I am not sure of battery strength after a couple years. Does anyone have experience using older bands?

What we used to do when bands were complimentary was to get a new plain color band, then swap out the puck (the "icon," as Disney calls it) into one of our existing bands with different designs that we preferred. This way we were still using our favorite bands, but also with a fresh battery every time.

I stayed at POFQ the beginning of the month. My magic band did not work to open the door, so of course I was worried it wouldn’t work for park entry. I went to the hotel registration and the CM took my magic band and reset something so I was able to use it for the door and park admission.

This is usually (but not always) an issue with your reservation, not the band itself. It's happened to me a few times, especially on split stays, and every time they tell me it has something to do with not being "fully checked in," whatever that means.

 

[loves to dive]

I have every color of the old and the new puck style. They all still work, in theory. I do always go to the front desk to check in since I arrive early and have them check whichever ones I've brought with me. Better safe than sorry. I have, on occasion, have one or two that they have had to reset, even newish ones.

 

[lanejudy]

Also, I am not sure of battery strength after a couple years. Does anyone have experience using older bands?

The bands should work indefinitely for "tap" features like entering parks, LL access, entering your resort room, etc. The only thing the long-range battery impacts is some of the "remote" functions such as pictures on a couple of attractions and places where your name may show up.

 

[Jadyreen1282]

We missed half our ride pictures in February we believe because we used old bands from 2019. We will grab new ones for our trip this summer.

 

[ChanaC]

I just visited in December and used an old band probably from around 2015. I was surprised that it worked so well. We got most of our ride photos, but I traveled with my brother who had a new band and our MDE accounts were linked so they might have all gone on his band and then linked to me, I can't really be sure either way. I don't think we got our Splash photos, but I believe all the cameras were out when we got to the photo station (just all black screens) so everyone might have missed out. We also didn't get Buzz photos but the ride was basically half broken (my brother's laser gun didn't work, half the effects were missing, the light tunnel at the end wasn't working, etc.) so the whole system might have been off too. We really didn't care though, we never buy them anyway.

 

[JodyLynC]

If my older band stops working or glitches, can I use my online ticket on my phone as a backup?

 

[matt and beth]

We still use our first gen bands. Sporting the old school

 

[penel3]

What we used to do when bands were complimentary was to get a new plain color band, then swap out the puck (the "icon," as Disney calls it) into one of our existing bands with different designs that we preferred. This way we were still using our favorite bands, but also with a fresh battery every time.

OMG, that’s brilliant……something so basic that I never thought of

 

[CarolynFH]

If my older band stops working or glitches, can I use my online ticket on my phone as a backup?

Yes, as long as you've added it to MagicMobile on your phone, you can tap your phone to enter a park or a LL.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

If my older band stops working or glitches, can I use my online ticket on my phone as a backup?

You could use three bands, a plastic ticket, and your phone interchangeably. As long as everything is linked to your profile, they can tap in and redeem your entitlements.