Staying offsite...any real reason to upgrade to Magic Bands?

[TheSpooph]

Try the Shop Disney Parks app for a bigger selection of bands. They had a bunch the last time I checked - much more than the Disney Store site.

 

[siskaren]

I liked having my credit card linked to it so when we'd go to the parks in the evening, we didn't bring anything.

That's not an option for the OP though since she's not staying on property.

 

[melliemelo]

We're in the same boat! Off site and on the fence about buying bands. I am getting Memory Maker, so that is my main reason for considering the bands.

 

[ReluctantDisaholic]

We much prefer the bands to the cards - we found it a lot more convenient.

 

[kohlby]

We did a split stay on our last trip - half at the Dolphin and half off-site. That meant no magic bands included. We did not buy them - and we did not find we needed them. We were in the parks for 8 days. We didn't even use a lanyard and it wasn't a big deal. I can see how some people think it's easier but it saved our family about $50 for a couple extra seconds here and there so not a big deal.

 

[JRatManda]

I think we're going to get the bands since we will definitely be using Memory Maker and I have a bad tendency to misplace things . I could see myself losing the card. I understand the lanyards, but for some reason they bother me (just a personal quirk).

I am assuming that I can buy the bands whenever (traveling early March) and link them to our park tickets via MDE? I plan on buying our groups tickets in the next few days, so I might just go ahead and get the bands from Disney.com
I don't have to actually deal with configuring them at the Park, do I??

 

[goofyernmost]

I found no advantage to the bands. They actually take up more space then the ticket/card which easily slips into your pocket. Easily accessed and no additional charge which does apply if you stay offsite. Just not worth the extra cost, in my mind. I didn't like them anyway, my ticket/card worked well and had no glitches at all. Many others I spoke to did have problems with the bands. It seems that they either work fine or are a constant problem.

Just my opinion here, it depends on how bent one is on wearing the band.

 

[GotLabradors]

Part of our traveling party stayed offsite. They opted for bands for the convenience. We didn't all have the same FP+ and it was a pain making sure everyone had the card linked to their FP+. It also made it easier with the younger kids.

 

[kathy884]

I've done two offsite trips without the magic bands, and we were fine without them. For the next trip, though (offsite), I'm going to splurge and get them, as DS I know really likes the everything on your wrist thing and would get a kick out of those/enjoy trying the magic bands out. He even when they first came out bought himself that Apple watch, has tickets for airlines and events on that -- uses that to get into concerts/shows/through security at the airport, pays for things using apple pay with his watch, etc..

If it weren't for DS, though, I wouldn't pay the money for that. Oh and DS by the way is 20 and so much fun to go to Orlando with. And I am a bit of a sucker for enthusiasm. It's fun to delight your children with little things, even when they are 20 lol.

Oh and I'm going to get them ahead of time (online). There is an app where you can get the basic ones. Just using the web without the app, I saw that all you could buy were upgraded fancy magic bands and I will just be getting the basic ones. We're doing it for the technology and DS enjoying seeing how they work, not the looks.

 

[mds88]

I think we're going to get the bands since we will definitely be using Memory Maker and I have a bad tendency to misplace things . I could see myself losing the card. I understand the lanyards, but for some reason they bother me (just a personal quirk).

I am assuming that I can buy the bands whenever (traveling early March) and link them to our park tickets via MDE? I plan on buying our groups tickets in the next few days, so I might just go ahead and get the bands from Disney.com
I don't have to actually deal with configuring them at the Park, do I??

Yes, this is what we did. We bought the bands from the disney website and linked them to MDE. Then we bought are tickets online and linked them to MDE, therefore linking the tickets to the bands. Just make sure to link everything to the correct person because once it is done you cannot change it.

 

[Brian Noble]

If your staying off site, there is only 2 things you cannot do without a magic band.

1: Any photos while riding 7DMT (there is no screens at the end to find your photo and link it to your hard ticket/photopass account)
2: Any videos while riding the few rides that support it.

This is all I can think of as well. If you are not also getting the Photopass, there's really no reason to get them. And, if you are, and are a relatively small party (i.e. you all fit in one frame on 7DMT), you only need one person wearing a band.