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

[SmithSmith]

Plus I don't want everything altogether like that; lose one you lose it all. Knowing me, I would!

I have a hybrid wallet/phone case for my iPhone and if I lose it, I stand a pretty good chance of finding it by enabling my "Find my iPhone app". I actually feel more secure with this setup than a separate wallet and phone case.

 

[merina888]

I don't know what state you live in but in mine, doctors require you to present your insurance card if you are using it toward payment of services. There have been issues of unauthorized people using other people's insurance number without presenting the actual card. I don't know if that's NYS law or just the medical professionals in this area but you have to show it at the time of service and some require ID to show you are named on the card. Generally if we need to see a medical professional at Disney, there is a significant problem and we have better things to do than to remember to call back with our medical card info. My daughter has had significant health problems so it's always better to be safe than sorry.

 

[CampbellzSoup]

So what happens if the system goes down and you are on the meal plan? Is that on your bands? I also think we are forgetting the amount of cash that may be necessary to pay for a family of 4 or 5 at a Disney sit down restaurant. A few hundred with tip. Best have a wallet several hundred and credit cards and ID's. Just isn't what Disney advertises I guess!

Or they could probably look up your name and verify who you are if you have the dining plan or manually put in the numbers on the band - I don't think its a big issue

 

[Ress76]

This one puzzles me. At a counter service location, wouldn't the customer know that there was a problem with the payment system before the order would go through and definitely before he would have a tray of food?

My understanding, as I got in line with him during the process, was that several attempts were made to get the band to read, during which his order was fulfilled. In the end, as I was ordering, and Supervisor said that she would take care of the bill. As I was leaving a few minutes later, I heard multiple other people complaining about their MBs not working. When I was at Uptown Jewelers a little later, the CM commented that they had been having issues with the MBs "for a little while" but not that it was any sort of widespread issue.

 

[HockeyIsLife]

Yikes. I am glad I saw this, though. I would have definitely brought my ID and a credit card in, but I don't think I would have brought cash. We haven't been in two years and the KTTK cards never failed us, so I unwittingly assumed that it never went down, and that Magic Bands would follow suit.
That could be my rose colored Mickey glasses, though.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

You cannot trust any card to work 100% of the time these days, We always have a extra card, checks and some cash.....common sense really!

AKK

 

[cakebaker]

My understanding, as I got in line with him during the process, was that several attempts were made to get the band to read, during which his order was fulfilled. In the end, as I was ordering, and Supervisor said that she would take care of the bill. As I was leaving a few minutes later, I heard multiple other people complaining about their MBs not working. When I was at Uptown Jewelers a little later, the CM commented that they had been having issues with the MBs "for a little while" but not that it was any sort of widespread issue.

I find it odd the order was filled as well. Our last trip, we stopped to get ice cream- one of those kitchen sinks with the Mickey sink. I placed the order, attempted to use my Disney Visa rewards card and it didn't work. The CM tried several times as I was insistent that there was money on it, and had been using it all day. I was quite unhappy about the problem, tried to tell the CM that he must be entering the card wrong in some way and at any rate- took a very long time at the register before finally giving up. My order was not filled, and that was for ice cream- doesn't take long to make that. I always thought the order wasn't transmitted to the back until it finalized with payment.

In the end though, it only seems like common sense to me that you carry your ID, insurance information and at least 2 methods of payment with you at all times. I do this at home, I do it at WDW.

 

[larryz]

We always have a extra card, checks and some cash.....common sense really!

AKK

IMHO, common sense, like common courtesy, is becoming an uncommon virtue.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

IMHO, common sense, like common courtesy, is becoming an uncommon virtue.

Sadly Larry Z, you are right! We see it on most trips to the parks.

AKK