Room Keys Demagnetized?

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

Our last two or three trips we have had endless problems - have followed all the tips and still they quit on us.

Our last trip DH was spending EVERY evening at Guest Services and running to guest services most days at the park.

We ended up with a small credit on our bill, a hanful of fast passes, and one of our DIning Plan TS credits were not deducted for one night's dining (still not sure if this last item was a glitch or the nice CM doing what he could for us), so we ended up with an extra TS credit - but I would have much rather had the time back and no hassle - it really did get ridiculous!!!

Past trips it just involved not being able to get in the room. This last trip was the worst: we have no idea - and the CMs couldn't tell us either - why every time we got a fast pass, we lost our ability to charge stuff or use dining plan....but it happened too many times to be a coincidence.

I really wish they would do something about this.

 

[penguin087]

I never had a problem with a Disney key but a few years back I went through 3 Mac cards in a few months. No other cards just my Mac card. I finally noticed that the purse I was using had a larger than usual magnetic snap on the front. I realized that everytime the Mac card demagnitized I had just tossed it in the purse instead of putting it away in my wallet. I started making sure I put it in my wallet and haven't had a problem since.

 

[JibberJabberer]

Thanks for all the info! It sounds like it can be a bit of a hassle if it happens, but I'd rather know in advance than be taken completely by surprise. I'll take precautions and see if that helps. Maybe the problem will have been reduced by the time I'm there.

 

[bluejasmine]

Oh my goodness it happened to me a couple of times last Aug! Only I not only messed up my ticket but my sons too! I couldnt figure out what I was doing wrong the CM told me it might have been my credit cards that were in my pouch next to the cards..All I know is Im keeping them away from credit cards and my cell phone this time because it was a HUGE PAIN!

 

[jagruti6]

If I hadn't read about this on these boards, I never would have had any idea there could be a problem with this. I guess I'm pretty clueless!

Could somebody provide some more details? I'll have my work cell phone with me, but plan to keep it off except occasionally to check it for messages. I have a slew of questions:

1. Can the problem occur even if the cell phone is turned off?
2. How far away from the cell phone should the card be?
3. I think somebody in a previous message mentioned that a credit card could have the same effect on the key? And magnets too, obviously. Anything else?
4. Is it just the room keys that have this problem, or could it happen with the park pass as well?
5. If I use an old sleeve that I got with my park hoppers from my last trip 7 years ago to keep my room key in, would that prevent this problem?

I realize from reading the other posts that the key can be replaced if this happens, but I'd rather not go through the hassle if I could do something simple to avoid it.

Thanks!

We used the envelopes they give you, with the room keys in when you check in. We just tore off the tops so the envelope was the right size for the key card.

 

[LadyDulcinea1]

I was super paranoid about this happening on my last trip, and luckily it didn't (knock on wood for this trip!)

We also kept our Key to the World in that envelope thingy, and I made sure it was away from my cellphone, which was also in a pocket holder, so there were about 3 layers in between the phone and the card.

 

[dismsn]

We had the same problem happen to us several times on our last trip to WDW and my husband finally realized that putting the card in the same pocket with his magnetic sunglass clip wasn't a smart idea. So . . . if you use magnetic sunglass clips, don't get your card near the clip.

 

[fizz13]

very interesting reading here, feel a lot more prepared now
Claire xx

 

[WisMom]

My card got demagnetized last week on 6/16. I had already read here about keeping the card away from cell phones, cameras and credit cards. If I hadn't known this could happen, I'm sure I would have worried more as I am a worry wart. They gave me a ticket good for the day and said to get it fixed at our resort. The concierge said this happens all the time. It's not just magnets, it's also batteries. All I could figure was I had the card in my fanny pack, one pocket away from my sons small fan that has a battery. My son and DH carried their cards in their pockets - no cell phones, cameras, etc., and theirs were fine.

So we stopped using the fan. Everything was fine after that.
Also, watch purses. Many have magnetic snaps nowadays.

WisMom