Unlocking your room

[Cshel85]

Do you have to use a cell phone to unlock your door at the resort. I have not been there in 6 years and I thought we used our magic bands in the past

 

[Disneyfan628]

You can use magic band or if you want they’ll give you a little card key. You can also use your phone

 

[brockash]

Do you have to use a cell phone to unlock your door at the resort. I have not been there in 6 years and I thought we used our magic bands in the past

Magicband is more consistent. In theory you can use your phone but we have not always been able to make that work.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Magicband is more consistent. In theory you can use your phone but we have not always been able to make that work.

Yeah I’ll second this. I wouldn’t depend on my phone, I’ve had issues too. MB or swing by the desk and get a good old card key.

 

[_19disnA]

MB tend to be more reliable. Phones don't always seem to work and the older phones often aren't compatible with whatever system the doors use. Your phone might also be dead if returning from the park and using it all day.

 

[loves to dive]

I always use my MB, although once for some reason I wasn't thinking too clearly and left my room without it. I did have my phone with me and was able to use it to unlock the door. At the beginning of every trip I always stop by the front desk since I tend to arrive early and while there, I have them check all the MBs I've brought. Some have needed to be re-synched some work fine.

 

[Sacahara]

I use mbs because that's how I justify to myself purchasing new ones lol. But the phone unlock seems iffy, the people in the room next to me on my last trip kept having problems unlocking their door.

 

[elvispursley]

I agree with the MBs being the best thing for unlocking doors! I have a PopSocket wallet on the back of my phone where I keep my debit, ID, and one credit card. At pool time, I don't always like to bring my phone with me so I will sometimes just leave it in the safe in my room. The MB is awesome for charging drinks/food and then unlocking the door when we are ready to return to the room. Love the all-in-one features it has!

 

[champagne&disney]

Unlocking with your phone can be a challenge due to backend systems with Disney IT. I work in integration for a large tech company and so when I had this challenge one time with Disney IT, they indulged me and we were able to talk about the technical hiccups and what challenges people have and why. Typically if you have had several devices (ie like me who upgrades their iPhone yearly), the integration with MDE and unlocking doors hits a maximum amount of devices that MDE can be logged into on - more than that and it glitches and doesn't pass the security necessary to unlock the door.

I always ensure I have a card or a MB with me since learning this when I stay at a Disney hotel rather than the Swolphin.