Stupid Magic Band Question

[bama_ed]

I had an email to customize my MagicBands for my upcoming visit. Other than putting a color with a name for everyone in my group, can I do anything else? I've heard people get them a couple weeks before they arrive. It's acting like I have to link my tickets to the bands before I can schedule FP+ rides or get the bands.

This is getting so stupid. I normally buy tickets after I get to the Fort. And we got our Fastpasses once we were in the park for the day. All this weeks-out scheduling is taking the fun and spontaneity out of my vacation.

Bama ED

 

[AndrewJackson]

Yes, you have to buy and link tickets if you want to make FP+ reservations. However, you can order your Magic Bands before you link and buy tickets.

If you want, you can wait to buy your tickets and make FP+ reservations until you arrive.

I bought my tickets online, and was able to use the confirmation number to link mt tickets.

 

[ChrisinNJ]

You can customize your bands now, get and link your tickets at the Fort, then book your FP+ on MDE the night before you leave for a park, or even in the morning before leaving the campsite, or on your phone while in route.

It doesn't have to be that much different for you than it ever was (except for the tiers and the 3FP+ per day ).

Just out of curiosity, have you priced your tickets through Undercover tourist? I have bought from them with the mousesaver discount. You don't save a ton, but every little bit helps.

 

[nabi]

I've read through threads on the TPA&S board...I'm not sure people realize that FP+ selections can be made day of or even an hour before the ride. We were able to get FPs for the most sought rides, on the fly, day of use. We made selections in advance (part of testing phase) but found we couldn't keep schedule, so tried to change them and succeeded.

You don't have to begin planning use on day one (or two, or five) of your arrival...whenever you want, and fear not that you'll be stuck with your choices. I'd just suggest a smart phone or iPad or other hand held means of accessing My Disney Experience, to avoid the kiosk lines in the parks. Have fun planning (yeah right....I know, it can really be a burden).

ETA- maybe hour prior selections for rides was due to being one of the first groups testing....it may not be true now.

 

[JETS70]

We had the MB for our trip to the fort this past Thanksgiving. They have changed somewhat since then in that the FP's are in tiers. The thing I would be concerned about is the times that might be available if you wait until day of or even a week out. We have pretty much finished our planning for our trip in April. Even though we have had to choose between some of the most popular attractions, we were able to manage times to work with the few eating reservations that we had. If you wait to long, it may limit the times that the FP's you want are available. We have been doing this for 13 years and I have to say that this is one thing Disney has done that I don't care for. We have always purchased park hopper passes and loved going from park to park as we saw fit. We would go in and we had a game plan for each park. My kids loved it because if we went to Animal Kingdom, as soon as we crossed the first bridge, we gave our passes to my DS and off he would go to get our passes for Kilimanjaro Safaris as we started over to Everest. My DD was the runner for MK. It was fun. We always seemed to get the passes we wanted and always managed more than 3 a day. If the park was more crowded than we expected....... off we would go to another park, all trying to figure out the most efficient way to get there.
Now...... you are encouraged to plan well in advance of your visit. It's the ultimate "conspiracy theory". Disney knows what you are doing, when you are going to be doing it, and then confirm that you have done. Let's face it, you are walking around with what amounts to ankle bracelet around your wrist.

 

[retired and happy]

I have to agree with Bama Ed and Jets70. Spontaneous time is vacation time, or vice versa.

 

[North of Mouse]

I had an email to customize my MagicBands for my upcoming visit. Other than putting a color with a name for everyone in my group, can I do anything else? I've heard people get them a couple weeks before they arrive. It's acting like I have to link my tickets to the bands before I can schedule FP+ rides or get the bands.

This is getting so stupid. I normally buy tickets after I get to the Fort. And we got our Fastpasses once we were in the park for the day. All this weeks-out scheduling is taking the fun and spontaneity out of my vacation.

Bama ED

Oh no! This is starting to make me nervous - we, too, vacation spontaneously and have not been to Disney since last April.

We don't plan to go back until some of the 'magic band', 'FP+' dust settles and hope they work all the kinks out.

I will be watching for your experience closely and hope you can figure it all out for us!!

 

[jbrostek]

Ed - The magic bands just let you pick a color and they put your name on it. If you bought tickets as part of you package its automatically linked. If you buy them separately (I did) you can link them yourself once you get the will call email. I have not bought them outside Disney, but I been reading that linking tickets that way is just as easy. But I have not purchased in person, just online and it was no issue even buying them the week I left for Disney.

Once you customize your magic band and its been shipped, you can manage each band through the website to make sure tickets, reservations etc. are all properly linked to each band.

 

[Mmketeer]

If you don't care what color you get you don't have to pick one. You will just get a grey one at check in- no pre-planning required. You can also purchase your tickets at the front desk and they will link them to the band for you.

You should though at least go online to the My Disney Experience Website and register as it will ask for your reservation to link your names and anything else you want to do. Having at least your names printed on the inside of the band is helpful especially if they are all the same color.

Disney unfortunately is set up for planners. But, as long as your flexible and it's not a holiday or peak period time that you are coming you should be fine not having to pre-plan every little detail 180-60 days in advance (unless you have small kids that want to dine with the characters- those popular ones go fast).

I was just at Hollywood Studios at the end of Jan. Went into the park at 1pm and walked right up to the CM at the front gate and got all the Fastpass times I wanted. Though I would not recommend doing this during peak periods or holidays. Pick your FP online if you can for these time periods.

 

[Ddude]

We just returned from 12 days at the Fort and only 1 day at MK. We customized our FP bands just because I didn't want Grey. Got a 1 day ticked on Tuesday after we arrived the previous Sunday. Ticket was auto attached to ban. I think if they are bought from another source you have to attach. Set up FP's for Friday when we had planned to go. Turned out to be horribly rainy day so postponed to Saturday. No problem changing FP's Friday night and even again on Saturday morning to adjust how we thought our day would be. Horrible crowds on Saturday Feb. 1st. Thank goodness we did have our FP's since the Kiosks had extremely long lines if you needed to book one or change (I don't have an Iphone or android so can't say how that worked).

All our passes were for evening so we left and came back later since the crowds were beyond anything we'd ever experienced. First FP was for TMR, the FP line was down the walkway past splash mountain entrance and store! This was not people waiting for a new time, this was the line! It did move OK but this was the norm, keeping the lines outside the attraction - seems illogical to me. Same thing on Space Mtn. FP line way out almost to the people mover. The lines move but just daunting to see a line that long at all.

So, FP+ and magic bands...didn't do much for us, couldn't use to enter FW or rest rooms/laundry. Kinda liked setting up FP's night before but would never do it much earlier than that so not a whole lot of benefit over old system. the readers are SLOW at entry and at FP checking stations (twice each ride). The magic bands are a big MEH to me. I'm sure they'll glean valuable customer info over time but the whole thing is useless to frustrating for visitors.

 

[Nan P]

We had no problem using our MB in December for 10 days. We chose colors online and they arrived 3 weeks before our check in date. I did use MDE and put up our dinner reservations and added our annual weekday passes before we left home. Of course they didn't work at FW gate and the rest rooms, but as far as FP+ and dinner reservations it worked out great. We chose the park we were going to visit and did our FP+ the for the following day. DH said it was better than regular FP because we didn't have to go to the ride, get the FP and then go somewhere else until that time came up. NOW, we plan the day before, or while riding to the MK on the boat, or on the monorail to EPCOT by using my phone. It was a busy time at the parks when we were there, but we always were able to get the "big" rides we wanted at a time that fit well for us. We can be spontaneous with other rides beside the 3 we choose on our MB. It didn't take away from the planning and the spirit of it all. We enjoyed the experience.

 

[bama_ed]

I appreciate the replies thus far.

My angst is that since I will be there during the busy spring break time, late March, I'll be at a disadvantage for FP+ choices if I wait too long or until the last minute. I'm worried if I can choose anything it will be 1030pm at night or, worse, all out (they used to run out of paper FP for every ride nearly every day, right? Sometimes by 11am Soaring was all taken?).

I'd love to be able to wait till I got to the Fort, buy the tickets at the Pioneer Hall window, let the CM link them right there, and pick the FP+ choices the night before the park entry. As it is I've already linked my Fort ressie to the things (thank heavens for small favors).

I customized the FP names and colors and clicked "Done" but I expected a message (my Pavlovian training courtesy of Amazon.com) that said something like, "Okay Ed, you customized your Magic Bands and we will have them to your house in 3-5 business days and here's the tracking number". As it is, it still says "customize before Feb 19". If I'm done customizing why won't it just send them on to the house?

I went ahead and bought my tickets so that I could link the MB to them and go ahead with the FP+ ressies. But I chose the "deliver to my house" option so I have to wait until they physically arrive to load the umpteen digit serial number off each ticket so we can schedule FP+. Chances are highly likely we will change our minds about what day/what park a couple times so I'm supposed to go on to MDE each time to constantly change FP+ ressies and keep them current to the latest best guess?

You all have said you could still get last minute FP+ even when changing at the last minute and I hope you are right. Like I said I remember "Soaring - all out of FP by lunch time".

I think next year I'm going to go to the Florida Keys again (like in 2011). On that trip I got the desire to camp overnight at Fort Jefferson/Dry Tortugas National Park which is "the end of the earth" even past Key West. It's a LONG way from civilization and for maybe two nights:

- I could watch the sun rise in the east over the ocean and set in the west
- I could snorkel and swim in the warm water right in front of my campsite (10 steps away)
- I would take a good book, a journal and pen, and read/write/relax
- I would eat one good meal a day when the ferry came with the day trippers from Key West (lunch is included - got to get my diet Coke caffeine fix)
- I would be out of cell phone, wifi, 4g coverage
- There are no FP+ ressies to swim with the sharks or the barracudas off-shore
- There's no rope drop pushing and shoving, overpriced turkey drumsticks, line cutting, and stroller takedowns
- It's $3 per person per night to camp (my tax dollars at work) instead of the fleecing I feel at the Fort

Ok I'm in my happy place now.

Thanks ya'll.

Bama Ed

PS - last time I went to Europe I started packing my suitcase an hour before leaving for the airport. You get my drift.......

 

[FLBBQMAN]

Ed I thought the same thing about the MB at first too but after using them I have to say they are not bad at all. I am a annual pass holder and my passes are linked on them.

I have gone onto my Disney experience a hour before going into park and had no problems getting fast passes and this was during xmas week. Changing times and rides is easy on the website. We also go to the parks without making plans on going and get fastpasses on the way in the car. I think you will see how good they are after you use them.

 

[WECAMP2]

Bama_ed what dates will you be at FW? We will be there during Spring Break.

 

[bama_ed]

Bama_ed what dates will you be at FW? We will be there during Spring Break.

Wecamp2,

I check in on Saturday March 23 or whatever that saturday is. My family is tied into the hoover and vestavia school calendars and thankfully they sync up for spring break.

I am planning todo a pretrip thread around the first of march to find out who else will be there. I hope your schedule overlaps - I would like to say hi to other DISsers like I did last April.

Roll Tide!

Bama Ed

 

[JETS70]

Wecamp2,

I check in on Saturday March 23 or whatever that saturday is. My family is tied into the hoover and vestavia school calendars and thankfully they sync up for spring break.

I am planning todo a pretrip thread around the first of march to find out who else will be there. I hope your schedule overlaps - I would like to say hi to other DISsers like I did last April.

Roll Tide!

Bama Ed

The DW and I will be arriving at the Fort on Saturday March 29th. We have requested the 100 loop for this trip. Anyone have experiences to share about the 100 loop? Is this a busy loop being so close to the trading post, TE, Hoop De Doo and the marina?
Thanks,
Steve

 

[RandolphNY]

Bama Ed, sorry that we will miss each other. We arrive on Monday, April 14th and Leave on Monday the 21st.

 

[North of Mouse]

The DW and I will be arriving at the Fort on Saturday March 29th. We have requested the 100 loop for this trip. Anyone have experiences to share about the 100 loop? Is this a busy loop being so close to the trading post, TE, Hoop De Doo and the marina?
Thanks,
Steve

Personally we love the 100 loop. That is our #1 request and for the most part have been fortunate to camp there.

As for it being busy, if you are in the front area between the main road and the path to the Settlement it is going to be fairly busy with people cutting through during the day. We are not usually there during the day so this does not impact us very much. Also, it depends on what you are camping in. We have a MH and don't hear much outside noise.

Everyone has their own opinions on 'how much' is 'too much' traffic past their sites, but as I said, it is the only loop we ever request and almost always have gotten with no problems.

Good luck and happy camping!

 

[tcherjen]

I appreciate the replies thus far.

My angst is that since I will be there during the busy spring break time, late March, I'll be at a disadvantage for FP+ choices if I wait too long or until the last minute. I'm worried if I can choose anything it will be 1030pm at night or, worse, all out (they used to run out of paper FP for every ride nearly every day, right? Sometimes by 11am Soaring was all taken?).

I'd love to be able to wait till I got to the Fort, buy the tickets at the Pioneer Hall window, let the CM link them right there, and pick the FP+ choices the night before the park entry. As it is I've already linked my Fort ressie to the things (thank heavens for small favors).

I customized the FP names and colors and clicked "Done" but I expected a message (my Pavlovian training courtesy of Amazon.com) that said something like, "Okay Ed, you customized your Magic Bands and we will have them to your house in 3-5 business days and here's the tracking number". As it is, it still says "customize before Feb 19". If I'm done customizing why won't it just send them on to the house?

I went ahead and bought my tickets so that I could link the MB to them and go ahead with the FP+ ressies. But I chose the "deliver to my house" option so I have to wait until they physically arrive to load the umpteen digit serial number off each ticket so we can schedule FP+. Chances are highly likely we will change our minds about what day/what park a couple times so I'm supposed to go on to MDE each time to constantly change FP+ ressies and keep them current to the latest best guess?

You all have said you could still get last minute FP+ even when changing at the last minute and I hope you are right. Like I said I remember "Soaring - all out of FP by lunch time".

I think next year I'm going to go to the Florida Keys again (like in 2011). On that trip I got the desire to camp overnight at Fort Jefferson/Dry Tortugas National Park which is "the end of the earth" even past Key West. It's a LONG way from civilization and for maybe two nights:

- I could watch the sun rise in the east over the ocean and set in the west
- I could snorkel and swim in the warm water right in front of my campsite (10 steps away)
- I would take a good book, a journal and pen, and read/write/relax
- I would eat one good meal a day when the ferry came with the day trippers from Key West (lunch is included - got to get my diet Coke caffeine fix)
- I would be out of cell phone, wifi, 4g coverage
- There are no FP+ ressies to swim with the sharks or the barracudas off-shore
- There's no rope drop pushing and shoving, overpriced turkey drumsticks, line cutting, and stroller takedowns
- It's $3 per person per night to camp (my tax dollars at work) instead of the fleecing I feel at the Fort

Ok I'm in my happy place now.

Thanks ya'll.

Bama Ed

PS - last time I went to Europe I started packing my suitcase an hour before leaving for the airport. You get my drift.......

I don't know too much about the MB's, haven't used them yet. I did buy us the Florida Resident Weekday Season Pass. I was able to scan and load my voucher and my annual pass shows up for FP+ selections. I messed up loading my dh's pass, so I won't be able to load his or the kid's till tonight. The CM on the phone was most helpful. I talked to someone earlier in the week that said I could not link my voucher to the MB. That person was wrong. Anyways, I will post what FP+ looks like for me tomorrow. We are going the 23rd-28th of March.

 

[bama_ed]

The DW and I will be arriving at the Fort on Saturday March 29th. We have requested the 100 loop for this trip. Anyone have experiences to share about the 100 loop? Is this a busy loop being so close to the trading post, TE, Hoop De Doo and the marina?
Thanks,
Steve

JETS70/Steve,

I was in 100 on my last trip back in April 2013. Usually I've stayed either in 1500 (tent) or 900/1000 (premium) sites in order to be near the Meadow TP area (pool, movie, etc). I don't want 1400 or 600 in those regards.

I like 100 very much and have requested it again this coming trip. We were in site 127 which was the first site on the left (outside the circle) as you turned into the loop. There was some foot traffic coming and going to the boat docks in the morning and evenings but it wasn't much. The busses and golf carts take people around the loop and not through it so I didn't feel like folks were constantly walking through my living room. The wagon and carriage rides came into the loops each night with customers riding and we would exchange waves.

Being in a popup and backed up against the main road, I was afraid I would hear the bus noise especially late and night or early in the morning but it wasn't really that bad. Because it was such a short walk to the bus drop, Trails End, the Settlement TP, or the marina it does feel like you are "in the middle of the action" but it was still pretty relaxing. Some of the interior sites (on the inside of the circle) looked a little small/tight/close to each other, honestly, but I would still take them if they were assigned to me.

My "ears" liked staying in 100 also. I could hear every toot of the boat whistles as they arrived and departed. The recurring rumble of the busses were actually soothing. You can hear the fireworks over the MK (but not the music) and the EWP music (loud) every night. If the wind blows right you can hear the steam train whistle from the MK. In fact I'd like to get an outside site down by the Settlement TP next time.

But I am still ready for a change and looking forward to staying in 100 again hopefully.

Bama Ed

Bama Ed, sorry that we will miss each other. We arrive on Monday, April 14th and Leave on Monday the 21st.

Darn! We need to coordinate better next time

We are going the 23rd-28th of March.

Oooh, put out a green DIS site marker (see my sticky above) so I can find you (that is, if you want to be found). I'm sure all my MB issues will work themselves out....