Take A Backup Payment Method - Do NOT assume your Magic Band will work

[mullysisters]

Three trips now I have gone to the parks with only my MB, a couple of band-aids and lip gloss. Boy am I naive. But also lucky. Never a glitch , never a problem. This May however I think I'll pack a waist safe with some cash and my DL (Ontario) I never carry my passport except while actually crossing a border. I love Florida like it's Canada's eleventh province! But I have to go back to my day job

 

[BlackMagicWoman]

You don't really need your health insurance card but you shouldn't walk around without ID.

 

[Cormoran]

You don't really need your health insurance card but you shouldn't walk around without ID.

I work in healthcare and I would never travel anywhere without my health insurance card. It's not like another card takes up a lot of room and it can save a lot of hassles if there's some type of emergency.

 

[BlackMagicWoman]

I also worked in healthcare until recently. It's quite easy to provide information later for billing purposes. I just did it recently but I've actually done it more than once. You can pull up an insurance card info on your phone now also. It really isn't a necessity.

 

[UncleMike101]

I work in healthcare and I would never travel anywhere without my health insurance card. It's not like another card takes up a lot of room and it can save a lot of hassles if there's some type of emergency.

Yup....
I learned early on in my career that it's difficult to get accurate responses from people who are unconscious after a traumatic incident.
My medical card is right next to my Drivers License in my wallet.

 

[Cormoran]

Yup....
I learned early on in my career that it's difficult to get accurate responses from people who are unconscious after a traumatic incident.
My medical card is right next to my Drivers License in my wallet.

Yup, it's not like another card adds a lot of additional weight or bulk to what you're carrying.

 

[BlackMagicWoman]

I think with this logic, information on next of kin would be more helpful.

 

[grecorj]

Three years into the great experiment and they're still having glitches of this magnitude...

"Magnitude?"

11 people in this thread reported MB problems that directly affected them on a trip(s). 11.

And I would point out that most of those are about trips in the past -- some a year ago. Hardly a barometer of the current state of affairs.

I'm going in about 90 days. Will report back on my MB experience.

 

[Melissa Vadnais]

It's not like those things will weigh you down. I just don't get it.

 

[bumbershoot]

What did they do at table service restaurants if someone only had their Magic Band and no other form of payment and had already eaten?

From a post on the DVC Mouscellaneous board last Thursday...

Just got back, and cant believe there hasn't been any threads about this yet, Or I haven't seen them.
At HDS on Friday March 13th tried to pay with band for couple of smoothies from the new starbucks. Mickey bands down, and did not have cash with me and they were great and gave them to us no charge.
We went back for naps and I brought money this time just in case. Grabbing dinner outside Beauty and the Beast show and they are now telling everyone the bands are down on all of the World.
So many people upset, We were trying to pay with our meal plans, and could not. More people getting free food, we paid for ours and they told us to get money back at the resort, keep receipts.
Wondering how many others had food and things compt, how many lost purchases at stores, and the headache at the front desk of all the resorts.
Hope this doesn't happen too often.
We were still able to use bands for park entry and room, but not charging.
Up and running next day.

I'm not even sure there is a method to "charge to the room" by signing something anymore. It's not something I've been part of since our first trip 2010.

It sounds great on paper - "Oh boy! I can leave my wallet in the room"

But the practicality is... I'm not gonna leave my wallet in the room!

Yep.

Only park where I went with only myself and my MB was MK, rest of the time I had my pouch with me. As a international guest, I believe the only acceptable ID is a passport (and no, I'm not carrying that around with me) or a driving license (which I do not have).

There was a post about this on the Cruise boards last week, with a British resident not wanting to bring his passport onto Castaway Cay, and also not having a driving license. He ended up realizing that there is a gov't issued ID in England that he could get. All I found with google was a failed attempt at a national ID, but he lives there and found something, so I figure he knows best.

I'm 45 and STILL get carded (and they won't card DH who is younger but looks older, so I'm not sure they are doing it out of pity, or ironically). If they ask a 98 year old for ID and the 98 year old doesn't have ID with her, the 98 year old is not getting a drink.

You don't really need your health insurance card but you shouldn't walk around without ID.

You're not supposed to have to have it; you're supposed to be able to get good service without that insurance card, but my (and my extended family's) reality is that it doesn't work that way. They want that insurance info right then. If you can't provide it then they will come in in an hour. And beyond. It's really hard for me to remember DH's SSN underpressure, and that's the way to look us up if we don't have the insurance card. (actually, I think with our newer plan it can be accessed with mine as well as DH's, but I'm not sure)

So I bring the insurance card. We end up with "graduated bottom of the class" western medical care anyway (just our luck); we don't need to make it even worse...

 

[CampbellzSoup]

I don't really think they need to tell people to not carry basic photo identification and another form of monetary access...it really is just common sense.

 

[Missyrose]

I don't really think they need to tell people to not carry basic photo identification and another form of monetary access...it really is just common sense.

And yet, there have been how many people in this thread's small sample size that say they don't carry one because Disney led them to believe the Magic Band was all they needed. It's a message Disney needs to change.

But, yes, I agree that it's crazy not to carry an ID in the park. I need one for annual pass discounts, but there have also been times when the ticket system glitched and the easiest solution was to simply show the CM my ID to show my name matched the ticket.

 

[Simba's Girl]

And if you're trying to imply I'm an idiot, well, that's just something. I'm sorry I'm not as smart and all-knowing as you at half your age!

I don't think you're an idiot Emma! If you are used to not carrying something then typically you don't realize the consequences. I felt similar embarrassment when I attended a beer festival in Boston with my husband and realized I left my ID in my car 75 miles away-ooops! Fortunately, I do look my age (41) and they let me in. You are not alone, we all make mistakes

 

[seashoreCM]

Even outside of the World technology can go haywire. Someone (even a hotel or a restaurant or a gas station) could authorize a charge (make a preliminary charge) on your credit card that is too much for the real transaction and the next time you try to use the card, it is over the credit limit.

So long ago, perhaps it was on my very first website page from 20 years ago, I suggested that people carry two credit cards.

On all my Disney trips I have used regular credit cards, have never used a room key for charging before.

"took 45 minutes and several people ... fix the meal credits ... Magical Express bus at 11"

Another reason to shoot to be back at your resort an hour before your DME bus time. Another reason to do the meal at the airport if it is your last activity of your vacation. However Disney should be prepared to fix the problem a day later while you are back at home.

"I'm not even sure there is a method to "charge to the room" by signing something anymore."

There was; there is; and there will always be. Do you have or does the nearest trash can have a used envelope the back of which has not yet been scribbled on?

 

[mom2rtk]

I don't really think they need to tell people to not carry basic photo identification and another form of monetary access...it really is just common sense.

Based on how many people post that they go to the parks with just their magicband, I'd say it probably is not common sense.

 

[rajak73]

We carry cash, ID's, and CC's just like we do at home.
I don't have blind trust in technology.
Technology is great, for those who sell technology.

Yep. Had my debit card turned down at a Home depot one time (danged Disney IT department, it was all their fault) seems as the number had tried to be used out of state and the bank put a stop on the card. I always carry cash, Disney advertised the old card system the same way, no need to carry anything, just use the entry card to charge back to your room, yep didn't use that one either but I'm sure that the old system never, ever had any problems, lol.

 

[flicx]

Yep. Had my debit card turned down at a Home depot one time (danged Disney IT department, it was all their fault) seems as the number had tried to be used out of state and the bank put a stop on the card. I always carry cash, Disney advertised the old card system the same way, no need to carry anything, just use the entry card to charge back to your room, yep didn't use that one either but I'm sure that the old system never, ever had any problems, lol.

So basically new system same old problems, billions spent, only change a band not a card!

 

[Cormoran]

Yep. Had my debit card turned down at a Home depot one time (danged Disney IT department, it was all their fault) seems as the number had tried to be used out of state and the bank put a stop on the card. I always carry cash, Disney advertised the old card system the same way, no need to carry anything, just use the entry card to charge back to your room, yep didn't use that one either but I'm sure that the old system never, ever had any problems, lol.

Malfunctions can happen anywhere including WDW or DLR. What I really don't understand is this aversion to carrying a few additional pieces of plastic and money into the parks. I find this alot less cumbersome than carrying my phone and back up batteries.

 

[mom2rtk]

Yup, it's not like another card adds a lot of additional weight or bulk to what you're carrying.

I honestly don't get it. If you're carrying a DL and CC, why not just put in the insurance card too? It's not like it weighs anything or takes up more space.

 

[rajak73]

Malfunctions can happen anywhere including WDW or DLR. What I really don't understand is this aversion to carrying a few additional pieces of plastic and money into the parks. I find this alot less cumbersome than carrying my phone and back up batteries.

We both carried our phones, (business reasons) but sure didn't need any back up batteries so that point is mute. Not sure where a phone and batteries got into the conversation?