Sell me on magic bands

[AngiTN]

I loved my magic band, except I kept mistaking it for a watch and trying to check the time. Now if they'd just come out with magic band watches, I'd be all set!

Like this?
https://www.disneystore.com/magicband-minnie-mouse-watch-magicsliders/mp/1401112/1024701/

 

[SaraVee]

I've personally used them, but we always stay onsite and we've always gotten the free ones. One year we did buy the Haunted Mansion one for our daughter as an end-of-the-school-year gift, as we were about to head out on a trip and she loves anything Haunted Mansion.

I wasn't sure how I'd feel about them, but I very much enjoy using the bands. Convenience is the biggest factor, I never have to pull a card out to use fast passes, gain park entry, make purchases, etc. Also, I feel it makes it easier when traveling with kids. Our kids do not mind wearing them, so I'm not trying to keep track of cards for them also.

Finally, most, if not all, of the pools at the Disney hotels are gated and require a room key to enter the pool area. It's so much easier to just have a magic band on to enter the pool area than have to bring a room card to the pool and then try to keep track of it while swimming.

 

[IrishNYC]

Like this?
https://www.disneystore.com/magicband-minnie-mouse-watch-magicsliders/mp/1401112/1024701/

When I was "forced" to get a watch the first time I wore a MB in 2015, I said to the CM "they should make something to go on the band!" They listened to me.

 

[AngiTN]

When I was "forced" to get a watch the first time I wore a MB in 2015, I said to the CM "they should make something to go on the band!" They listened to me.

They've actually had it for a while. I got it in 2015. I remember because I bought it the year we stayed at Poly, I got it in their gift shop

 

[Westcoastwild]

The interactive thing is pretty cool. Close to Magic as it gets for kids.

I personally like them because they don't involve a lanyard or pocket. I lose stuff I stick in pockets and lanyards can trigger my migraines. So if I didn't stay on site, I'd probably still buy them as a fun first day in the parks thing. Like the equivalent of ears in CA. It's not "expensive" when you consider how much you spent on tickets and will spend on food.

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

If you buy one with a design on it its a fashion statement.
I myself purchased a Figment one even though I have multiple "free" ones from staying onsite.
It's not just about not losing a card but also about the convenience of not having to pull out said card at the tapstiles, FP+ attractions, ride photo touch points, character meet n greets and other photo spots, restaurants... etc.
When I went a few weeks ago my sister and I had magic bands and my parents did not and my dad was like ugh I have to get my card out again and he'd have to remind my mom or she would just walk up to something not prepared.
If they go for their usual November Florida trip they'll be either staying onsite this time or purchasing magic bands.

 

[bumbershoot]

Ever stand behind a group in the fastpass line that is searching through the cards and trying to figure out which card belongs to which member?

I have literally never seen this scenario. Nor would I care if I did.

I bought one because I had Memory Maker and wanted the videos you can get on 7DMT and TOT. There is no way to get those videos without a band since there is no place to tap your card. We have a daytime and a nighttime 7DMT and actually watch them every now and then!

IMO that is the one bonafide use of them. Doesn't matter to me since I have less than zero interest in watching us ride a ride (even ride photos are boring and none of us look at them), but I know others like it.

We have a ton from previous trips and will get more for a trip in August.

Just in case you don't know, you can opt out of them.

Also using it for purchases....I love not having to carry a wallet or card around that I have to worry about losing.

First time their system goes down and you can't make a purchase, you'll wish you had your wallet or lanyard pouch with you.

 

[Elle23]

Like this?
https://www.disneystore.com/magicband-minnie-mouse-watch-magicsliders/mp/1401112/1024701/

Awesome!

 

[ChadInOKC]

We have a few that are Limited Edition ones. They have special graphics and characters on them and are made in limited numbers IE; 700,1500,2500, etc.

Sometimes, depending on what band you have and what entry it is, the band will active the scanner to do different activities or play different music. For instance, I have the Krennec band from Rogue One, when I go through the MK entry scanners, it plays a Deathstar Alarm sound and flashes a red pattern on the mickey scanner. My wife has a flower and garden limited band from last year. WHen she scanned it in epcot on rides during flower and garden, it made a neat multi-color pattern and played sounds of bugs chirping or something. The one from the Hallween party makes a neat pattern and sounds like candy dropping in a bucket. You get the idea, those are the only ones I might purchase.

 

[hmcater]

First time their system goes down and you can't make a purchase, you'll wish you had your wallet or lanyard pouch with you.

Thankfully, this has not been an issue for us. And even if it was, I have my phone ready to go with Apple Pay.

 

[erincon23]

MY DH, whose nearest relative is Grumpy, used the MagicBands for the first time two weeks ago on our trip (I did too). I'd had a hard time getting him around to the idea of staying on property, but he really liked the whole MagicBand thing, and I think that actually pushed him over the edge of saying he'd rather stay on property next time. And the idea of the LE Magic Bands triggering tunes, etc., is REALLY cool! Wish I knew about that ahead of time!

 

[Micca]

Because opening the door to your resort room with a band that has Mickey on it is cool as hell.

 

[GrumpyDudeByChoice]

Linking FPs to your MB using MDE is very convienient.

 

[Bullseye]

Ummm....... they protect your wrist from the damaging effects of ultraviolet rays

and all the other things everyone else said

 

[LoopyDoopy]

I haven't tried Magic Bands yet, but under the OLD FastPass system, the Magic Bands would be a hindrance. It was easy to grab the other members of my party's cards and zip to the desired FastPass kiosk to get tickets for everyone. Now with FastPass+ and linking them to your account, it makes no difference EXCEPT when you want to swap bands. For example, I travel with people who don't do thrill rides. I booked FP+ for Tower of Terror on their bands. At some point, we'll have to swap bands rather than cards. I admit that it's easier to keep track of the bands vs. the cards since they'll be color coded.

 

[DisneyDad2015]

I love the convenience of the magicband. I especially like the design of Magic Band 2. I never thought I'd buy one since we always get them for free, but on this last trip I bought a customized one I made at the Magic Kingdom. It's a nice little souvanier and something I'll use on future trips.

 

[AngiTN]

Linking FPs to your MB using MDE is very convienient.

Lest someone get confused you don't actually do this. It's the other way around, if anything. You link a MB to your MDE account (or it's linked when it's issued to you by Disney) and the MB then reads what is stored in your MDE account, which includes FP, tickets, dining, credit card for room charges and room number for opening the door