When do you think Disneyland is going to update the Magic Band+ system to include merchandise discounts?

[Foxhound3857]

What I mean is, for Key holders, when do you think Disneyland will update the Magic Band+ system so you can use it to apply your Key discount at any park store instead of having to take your phone out and scan the barcode?

As I understand it, Magic Bands can do that at WDW, but not DL/DCA.

 

[AprilsZoo]

Let’s see— it took more than a decade (& 3 iterations) to bring MBs to the Land, so… I wouldn’t recommend holding your breath, unless you like naps

 

[Foxhound3857]

Let’s see— it took more than a decade (& 3 iterations) to bring MBs to the Land, so… I wouldn’t recommend holding your breath, unless you like naps

I do indeed like naps. I actually use Silent Hill music as my ambience when I do. That is not a joke.

 

[BuzzlightHead]

It seems silly that it's not already a thing since they are linked to you account. It's likely a scanner issue in the shops, (i.e. they may need to replace them to support the functionality).

Not that this response helps answer your question at all... As an engineer, I'm just guessing what the holdup is.

 

[starkweatherink]

Are you able to make purchases using a card in your MDE app with the magicband yet?

 

[brightlined]

What I mean is, for Key holders, when do you think Disneyland will update the Magic Band+ system so you can use it to apply your Key discount at any park store instead of having to take your phone out and scan the barcode?

As I understand it, Magic Bands can do that at WDW, but not DL/DCA.

That's never been a feature of MagicBands.

WDW handles it the same way that DLR does, save that APs at WDW still have the option of using an AP card.

Passholders must present their valid Annual Pass ID in the “Tickets and Passes” section of their My Disney Experience app (or their valid Annual Pass card with the Pass expiration date) and a valid government-issued photo ID at the time of purchase to receive the discount.

 

[Foxhound3857]

That's never been a feature of MagicBands.

WDW handles it the same way that DLR does, save that APs at WDW still have the option of using an AP card.

Passholders must present their valid Annual Pass ID in the “Tickets and Passes” section of their My Disney Experience app (or their valid Annual Pass card with the Pass expiration date) and a valid government-issued photo ID at the time of purchase to receive the discount.

I did not know that, I thought WDW had more advanced Magic Band technology than DL/DCA. Could've sworn it was mentioned in a post somewhere on these forums.

But that being the case, when do you think the Magic Band technology will be adapted to include the ability to apply MK discounts with it instead of having to take your phone out and scan the barcode (I.E just scan your MB instead at checkout)?

Or even use it to pay, with your preferred payment method and information synced to your MB?

 

[KPeterso]

That's never been a feature of MagicBands.

WDW handles it the same way that DLR does, save that APs at WDW still have the option of using an AP card.

Passholders must present their valid Annual Pass ID in the “Tickets and Passes” section of their My Disney Experience app (or their valid Annual Pass card with the Pass expiration date) and a valid government-issued photo ID at the time of purchase to receive the discount.

Yup - definitely not a feature at WDW. Actually got asked for my ID to use my discounts a number of times at WDW too. I remember when DL did that but not since Covid. If I am fishing out my credit card and phone, why not my ID too?!?!

 

[kristensideaoffun]

Not in my lifetime. I’m in my late 30s so that should give you some idea of when to expect it.

 

[starlite_]

But that being the case, when do you think the Magic Band technology will be adapted to include the ability to apply MK discounts with it instead of having to take your phone out and scan the barcode (I.E just scan your MB instead at checkout)?

Never, and this is why.

They don't want passholders sharing their MB with others and others getting discounts and there would be no way to confirm ID if ppl simply had to scan the MB.

 

[Foxhound3857]

Never, and this is why.

They don't want passholders sharing their MB with others and others getting discounts and there would be no way to confirm ID if ppl simply had to scan the MB.

But when I was at Disneyland in June, whenever I purchased something they asked me if I had a discount, and my sister applied her MK discount to my purchase, and they had no problem with it at all.

 

[brightlined]

I did not know that, I thought WDW had more advanced Magic Band technology than DL/DCA. Could've sworn it was mentioned in a post somewhere on these forums.

They definitely do, but that's not one of the features.

I had a WDW AP until last year - and that feature just wasn't something they needed. Stores wouldn't even scan the AP card - I'd show it to them, they'd often ask for photo ID to check the name, but that was it, and it was quick.

The big difference in MB feature set is the resort stuff. At WDW, you can use an MB as a room key. You can also tap your MB at cashiers and charge stuff to the room. (They also have rides that can scan an MB from a distance and add a PhotoPass picture automatically.)

But that being the case, when do you think the Magic Band technology will be adapted to include the ability to apply MK discounts with it instead of having to take your phone out and scan the barcode (I.E just scan your MB instead at checkout)?

I doubt that'll ever happen. On its face, it's a "nice to have", not a "need to have". It's a convenience to the guest, but not a lot of one, and it would be pretty expensive for the resort to implement for very little gain for them. (For example, I doubt guests would buy an MB just for that feature.)

The problem is implementation. Doing that would mean having to upgrade the hardware and software of all of the checkout machines across the resort. Those machines already have a barcode scanner, for example. Adding an MB tap reader would require a software change, assuming the machines are capable of having something like that added to them. They might be able to use a WDW-style POS device (ie, the credit card reader) for MB tapping, but, again, they'd have to do that resort-wide. That a major tech cost.

An alternative would be if they issued the entry gate handhelds to cashiers so that they could tap your MB to verify your eligibility. The trick with that - the cashier would basically be pulling out their phone to check your MB, and it wouldn't be any faster than you pulling out yours to pull up the barcode. (The latter might actually be faster.)

The only way I could see anything like that happening is if DLR decided to implement the resort elements - room key and room charging. For room charging, they would have to upgrade all of the checkout hardware and software, so sliding that in as an additional feature wouldn't be as difficult.

But I'm a little bit skeptical that that will ever really happen. WDW as a resort has a significantly higher percentage of hotel guests than DLR. Upgrading so much hardware and software at DLR for what's honestly a pretty small group of people seems like a little bit of a reach. (I think the room key feature is probably the most-likely thing for them to add at some point, since the costs would be low-ish by comparison, and a decent benefit for the cost of the room.)

Or even use it to pay, with your preferred payment method and information synced to your MB?

Honestly, they don't have this at WDW, and it's seemingly been a top-requested MB feature for years there, so I'm assuming there's some kind of terms-of-use problem with credit cards that's stopping it from happening.

At WDW, when you use an MB to charge a transaction, you're actually charging to your resort reservation, not to a specific credit card. It essentially makes Disney the middleman in the transaction - you pay it off with whatever at the end of your stay. It also requires a PIN that you set up when you check in and punch in at the cashier.

It's murky enough that I'm assuming there's a security concern. There's also some weirdness in how the transaction is carried out that would be gently out of the ordinary compared to, say, buying something via mobile order. (I'll spare you the technical parts of transaction processing - with mobile order, they're giving you your pre-saved options, and you're completing the transaction directly on your end - with an MB tap, they would be pulling your pre-saved option and completing the transaction on their end, which isn't as "clean".)

But, even then, you're back to the original problem - at DLR, it's more of a "nice to have" than a "need to have". It's really not faster to transact that way, especially given that most new credit cards have tap capabilities now (which wasn't the case when MB debuted at WDW). By the time you've punched in your PIN, you could've already had your card back in your pocket. And, again, they'd have to upgrade all of the checkout devices across the resort to make it happen.


(I'll add an asterisk - there are occasionally folks who claim that they've been able to charge to an MB at WDW without a resort reservation - arguably after a PIN was set up during a prior stay - but just as many insist that it doesn't work that way, and I was never able to do that.)


There will be a number of folks in this thread (and on this board) scoffing that it's just DLR being "cheap". But it's way more complicated than that.

 

[starlite_]

But when I was at Disneyland in June, whenever I purchased something they asked me if I had a discount, and my sister applied her MK discount to my purchase, and they had no problem with it at all.

That is not what I meant. I meant in occasions when the MK owner wasn't there.

 

[Foxhound3857]

That is not what I meant. I meant in occasions when the MK owner wasn't there.

Ah, so if an MK owner is present the staff have no problem with the holder using their discount for someone elses purchase?

 

[Kender]

Ah, so if an MK owner is present the staff have no problem with the holder using their discount for someone elses purchase?

No. Officially they are not supposed to let you use someone else's MK discount and let you pay for it. Even if the MK holder is present.

It is against the terms and conditions of having an MK and your sister could potentially get in trouble (like have her pass revoked) if she continues to do it for you and a CM decides to call it out. Not all CMs enforce it, though. But you'll never know which one will let it slide and which one will report it.

BENEFITS/DISCOUNTS: A Passholder must present their valid Pass and valid photo identification prior to purchases or offer redemption to receive any applicable benefits and discounts. Further identification may be required. Discount amounts and benefits are dependent on Pass type. Benefits and discounts are valid at select Disneyland® Resort owned and operated stores, restaurants, and locations as determined solely by Disney. Benefits and discounts are nontransferable, revocable, subject to exclusions, restrictions, and change or cancellation without notice or liability, and may not be combined with any other offer or promotion. Such benefits and discounts are for personal use only and may not be used for any commercial purpose or for the benefit of others including, without limitation, to obtain or purchase items or services with the intent to resell such items or services, or to share benefits with persons who are not the Passholder.

https://disneyland.disney.go.com/magic-key-terms-conditions/

 

[LKing]

No. Officially they are not supposed to let you use someone else's MK discount and let you pay for it. Even if the MK holder is present.

It is against the terms and conditions of having an MK and your sister could potentially get in trouble (like have her pass revoked) if she continues to do it for you and a CM decides to call it out. Not all CMs enforce it, though. But you'll never know which one will let it slide and which one will report it.

In reality, with a line of people trying to purchase food or merchandise, cast members don't have time to police this.

My spouse has a MK with a larger food & merchandise discount than mine. We did that so that one of us has free parking. I have never been stopped and told that my spouse has to be the one paying, or that they can't buy something that wasn't for their personal use. If we eat together are we supposed to ask for a split bill and each pay for our own meal with our own MK discount?

I usually screen shot my MK so that I don't have to worry about pulling it up in areas of the park with poor cell reception. Only once was I asked to show the original screen instead of a screen shot. My spouse was standing next to me, but I was paying. I am able to pull up my spouse's pass on my phone, so I was the one showing my spouse's MK. They didn't ask for ID, but only wanted to see that it was a current, valid pass.

We go to D23 events and purchase merchandise at the Burbank studios or Mickeys of Glendale. Interestingly, the merchandise at those stores is approx. 20% cheaper than the same merchandise at the parks.

 

[LKing]

The problem is implementation. Doing that would mean having to upgrade the hardware and software of all of the checkout machines across the resort. Those machines already have a barcode scanner, for example. Adding an MB tap reader would require a software change, assuming the machines are capable of having something like that added to them. They might be able to use a WDW-style POS device (ie, the credit card reader) for MB tapping, but, again, they'd have to do that resort-wide. That a major tech cost.

An alternative would be if they issued the entry gate handhelds to cashiers so that they could tap your MB to verify your eligibility. The trick with that - the cashier would basically be pulling out their phone to check your MB, and it wouldn't be any faster than you pulling out yours to pull up the barcode. (The latter might actually be faster.)

I have my wish list of things for them to add to their next software upgrade.

1. Parking - It seems inefficient for the parking attendant to walk out of the booth, scan our pass/collect payment, then go back in the booth to hit enter and print our receipt. Is the slow process a means of traffic control?

2. MK, Apple Pay and electronic gift cards at sit down restaurants. They usually take an image of the MK then go back to the register to scan it. They can't (or shouldn't) take an image of an electronic GC, so CM either take your phone, or ask the guest to walk up to the register to scan the GC. It would be more efficient to have a handheld device that can scan MK and electronic payments at the table.

 

[crystal1313]

I would like to attach my cc to the MB+ so I can charge on it. It would also be nice to scan the MB+ for ride photos like at WDW.

 

[john7994]

Never, and this is why.

They don't want passholders sharing their MB with others and others getting discounts and there would be no way to confirm ID if ppl simply had to scan the MB.

Exactly this

 

[Foxhound3857]

While we're on the subject of payment information, can you or can you not apply a Disney Gift Card to a Magic Key or a Ticket through the website, or at least add it to an online balance that can be applied to a Ticket/Key later?

I get a $25 gift card every month for donating platelets/plasma with Lifestream, usually I use it for Amazon or Gamestop, but if I can apply a Disney card instead to a future ticket or MK I'd like to do that instead.