WDW Magic Bands

[rosaciri]

Hi everyone - this question doesnt have anything to do with DCL but I know lots of fans on here visit WDW before or after doing a DCL cruise and this is what we are doing.

We are visiting WDW first before our DCL cruise and just wondering how the magicbands work. We visited DL Anaheim last year and these werent there. Just trying to do as much research as I can before cruising and does anyone know if u can use these bands at the kids clubs on The Fantasy. Last year my daughters had yellow bands on the cruise. Im from Australia and was wondering if i can get them before hand? Thanks in advance.

 

[dcassetta]

At this time the magic bands from Walt Disney World do not transfer to the ships at all. Your daughter will get a band when you check her in for the kids clubs.

 

[rosaciri]

Thanks for letting me know. The process must still be the same as per our cruise last year. I thought we would be able to use the magicbands on the ships as well. I will google to see how these bands work at WDW. I only have 5 days at WDW and want to do as much research as I can about WDW so that we utilize our time more effectively.

 

[w.e.d 5571]

If you are staying at a Disney hotel, you get free magic bands for you hotel and you can just connect your passes to the magic band.You get the magic bands when you check into the hotel. If you aren't staying at a Disney resort, then you have to pay about $30 for a magic band (which isn't worth it), and you get a plastic card for your Disney pass which works just the same as the magic band except for the fact that you can not put money on the plastic card. On the cruise, the magic bands are for the kids oceanear club and lab, and the bands are only used to check kids in and out of the club. You get that magic band when you register your kid(s) in the port or on the boat. If you child is going to the edge (the tween club) or the vibe (the teen club) you don't use a magic band, you just register your child and he/she just show up in the club.On the cruise, you recieve a plastic card that you use for EVERYTHING on the cruise. Also, if your children have phones that can download the Disney cruise app and you can message each other through that.

 

[cmhand30]

Regular Magic Bands cost $12.95 each, plus tax. Specialty limited edition bands start at $19.95 up to $29.95.
They really are convenient for use in room, ticket, shopping and it can go in the pool.

 

[squirk]

I was told this past June on the Fantasy that "the technology isn't there yet" to use a WDW Magic Band on DCL and vice versa. That sounded a bit ridiculous to me, as the bands are identical. Probably better to say it's a software/IT issue that Disney hasn't decided to tackle yet, I would think.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I was told this past June on the Fantasy that "the technology isn't there yet" to use a WDW Magic Band on DCL and vice versa. That sounded a bit ridiculous to me, as the bands are identical. Probably better to say it's a software/IT issue that Disney hasn't decided to tackle yet, I would think.

Yes, the bands look identical, but I think it's just that the Magic Bands at WDW are set up to do something different than the bands in kid's club onboard. On the ship, they are just for checking in/out of the clubs and can help locate what room in the club the child is in.

At WDW they are used for room keys, charge cards, ride tickets.

 

[squirk]

No, they are literally the same thing with the same RFID chip inside. There is nothing stored on the chip itself. It is just a unique identifier that corresponds to a record entry in Disney's databases. The DCL band could work at WDW for rooms, FPs, tix, payments, etc. if Disney could/would link the chip ID to your MDE account.

 

[rosaciri]

If you are staying at a Disney hotel, you get free magic bands for you hotel and you can just connect your passes to the magic band.You get the magic bands when you check into the hotel. If you aren't staying at a Disney resort, then you have to pay about $30 for a magic band (which isn't worth it), and you get a plastic card for your Disney pass which works just the same as the magic band except for the fact that you can not put money on the plastic card. On the cruise, the magic bands are for the kids oceanear club and lab, and the bands are only used to check kids in and out of the club. You get that magic band when you register your kid(s) in the port or on the boat. If you child is going to the edge (the tween club) or the vibe (the teen club) you don't use a magic band, you just register your child and he/she just show up in the club.On the cruise, you recieve a plastic card that you use for EVERYTHING on the cruise. Also, if your children have phones that can download the Disney cruise app and you can message each other through that.

Hi - do you get to keep the bands if the hotel gives them to you?. We will be staying onsite at WDW and would like to keep them as a keepsake for my girls. We did get to keep the yellow bands from our cruise last year.

 

[w.e.d 5571]

You can keep the hotel magic bands as far I know. I wanna say you that Disney will send you a letter in the mail or an email that lets you pick the color of your magic bands, but I'm not 100% certain. I would call Disney and ask about that. If you can't pick the color for your hotel magic bands you can always decorate it yourself, just don't decorate the mickey on the magic band (otherwise you have issues with the magic band working).

 

[mmouse37]

Visit the parks section of this website. Tons of threads all about the Magic Bands and how they work. Go to Forums and scroll through to parks section. It is broken down into many sub forums like resorts, dining, etc. You should be able to find out all you need to know about Magic Bands.

MJ

 

[erionm]

I was told this past June on the Fantasy that "the technology isn't there yet" to use a WDW Magic Band on DCL and vice versa. That sounded a bit ridiculous to me, as the bands are identical. Probably better to say it's a software/IT issue that Disney hasn't decided to tackle yet, I would think.

The primary reason MagicBands are not used by DCL is security at foreign ports. Those ports still want to see the information that's on your room key in a printed form. DCL would need to either continue to issue some form of card with your printed information or figure out how to print that same information on the MagicBand.

 

[squirk]

The primary reason MagicBands are not used by DCL is security at foreign ports. Those ports still want to see the information that's on your room key in a printed form. DCL would need to either continue to issue some form of card with your printed information or figure out how to print that same information on the MagicBand.

Thanks. That makes a lot more sense than "the technology isn't there yet".

 

[w.e.d 5571]

The primary reason MagicBands are not used by DCL is security at foreign ports. Those ports still want to see the information that's on your room key in a printed form. DCL would need to either continue to issue some form of card with your printed information or figure out how to print that same information on the MagicBand.

I heard it was also because the magic bands over at WDW are still having major issues with their software.

 

[Mickey4me!]

For the OP - If you are staying on property, you can log onto My Disney Experience (or download the app) where you can link your reservations, dining, choose FP etc. You will also be able to customize your Magic Bands - pick color and have your first name printed on the inside. You have to do this so many days prior to your arrival (forgot how many) and they will mail them to you. If you don't customize then they will give you the gray ones when you checkin. The magic bands are yours to keep and reuse if you wish on future visits. Being the masters of marketing, Disney has a large selection of "add ons" that you can purchase in the parks and resorts to customize your bands. You won't be able to use them on the ships, but they're good for the parks. Have fun!

 

[Scillycruisers]

We are non USA folk (from UK) and had the magic bands at WDW for our last visit. Login to your account in My Disney Experience using your reservation number and it will allow you to customise your magic bands - colour and name. You then pick them up when you check in, they don't mail them outside of US. You can then book dining and fast passes etc after the relevant dates. We did this and it worked really well. You keep the bands when you check out. There is no extra charge for these.
You will get a new band on the ship for the kids clubs - there is a charge put on your account for this, this is then refunded if you return it at the end of the cruise as we did. This band is only used for the kids clubs.