Why No Annual Pass, DVC, TiW Discounts on Magic Bands

[DVC_Dad_Canada]

WDW tracks every minute detail of you on your magic bands. They know your room number, address, fastpass selections, heck they even have your fingerprints.

Why on earth can they not make it more convenient for guests and add DVC, annual pass, Tables in Wonderland information directly into the system and give you the proper discounts automagically when you scan and pay with your band? Why do I need to carry physical cards for annual passes, tables in Wonderland and DVC?

I'm in IT security, so I'm well aware of the technical limitations, but this seems like an easy no brainer.

 

[WilsonFlyer]

What do all three of those things that you carry provide you primarily?

Yes. It's a loaded question. Answer it and then think about your question again.

Sometimes it's not a technical limitation that prevents things from "progressing."

(The AP is linked to the MB, BTW, for purpose of admission ONLY.)

 

[mom2rtk]

In addition to Disney not wanting to make it easier for you to get a discount, they also don't want to make it possible to just loan your band to someone else to get your discount.

 

[danielocha30]

they do offer a discount but they really don't want to make it easy for you to use it, it's like the coupons they make you work for it, many people just forget to even ask for discount, they do have the technology to do it it's just not convenient for them, is up to you to make sure you get the discount.

 

[HopperFan]

As others state, it's not an IT issue.

 

[hakepb]

The whole point of offering discounts or rewards points is customers typically buy more.

At Disneyland, there is an AP (and DVC) discount at 98% of restaurants, food stands... and at every attraction, the CM asks, "are you an AP holder?" I was not, but it gave me an easy , "no, but I am DVC". Ultimately, I felt like a valued customer and was happier spending money in Disneyland.

They could add a picture in the AP profile to validate discounts. And when the Magic Band is used, CM's could say, "Thank you for being an Annual Passholder" and there may be a good chance that such niceties would result in more spending by those guests.

 

[DVC_Dad_Canada]

In addition to Disney not wanting to make it easier for you to get a discount, they also don't want to make it possible to just loan your band to someone else to get your discount.

You still have to show photo ID to charge on your magicband. I know I would buy more if it wasn't such a pain to do. I only have the annual pass card for the discounts.

I know WHY they do it, because people don't claim all the discounts they are entitled to. But it would be a lot more convenient, and I for one would spend more because of it.

 

[mom2rtk]

You still have to show photo ID to charge on your magicband. I know I would buy more if it wasn't such a pain to do. I only have the annual pass card for the discounts.

I guess I just don't think it's that much harder to show 2 cards than it is to show 1.

 

[IrishNYC]

You still have to show photo ID to charge on your magicband. I know I would buy more if it wasn't such a pain to do. I only have the annual pass card for the discounts.

I have never been asked to show photo ID to make a purchase with my magic band.

 

[DVC_Dad_Canada]

I guess I just don't think it's that much harder to show 2 cards than it is to show 1.

But I wouldn't need a TiW or Annual pass card at all if I didn't need them for the discounts. Plus it would be nice for their system to determine which discounts apply and what would be the best one to use for each transaction.

 

[goofy4tink]

I own DVC, have an AP and TiW. I carry all those cards, in addition to my license for ID. It's a pain. Disney can add any possible discount programs to the MB, easily. They choose not to. I have actually walked away from a sale because they wouldn't give me the AP discount because I didn't have the card with me. Why didn't I have the card? Because the CM at the gate decided I didn't need one when I activated my new AP!! So, I walked away from a sale of close to $200!!! Yeah, it was all about the principle!!
I always carry my license and have no issue showing it to prove I'm who I say I am in order to get that discount! Put the darn discount programs on the MB and let me be able to go without a number of cards.

 

[mom2rtk]

But I wouldn't need a TiW or Annual pass card at all if I didn't need them for the discounts. Plus it would be nice for their system to determine which discounts apply and what would be the best one to use for each transaction.

Don't hold your breath on this one.

 

[HopperFan]

You still have to show photo ID to charge on your magicband. I know I would buy more if it wasn't such a pain to do. I only have the annual pass card for the discounts.

I know WHY they do it, because people don't claim all the discounts they are entitled to. But it would be a lot more convenient, and I for one would spend more because of it.

I have never been asked for an ID to charge to my MB. You do have to input your PIN number which I assume is the security.

I have had to show my ID to obtain AP Discounts and use TiW card at times but not everyone has asked. I suppose they could put in the MB and still ask for ID, but again there is not consistency among CMs on asking - so this leads to abuse.

It's just not a big deal to me. I carry my ID, my APs, my TiW .... so no big I have to show them. And I don't think it's up to Disney to keep asking ME if I have a discount "card." Just like any other shopping, I take my coupons, store cash, gift card and offer it to them. I am just in the habit to ask everywhere "do you have AP or TiW discounts?"

 

[DVC_Dad_Canada]

Don't hold your breath on this one.

Oh I'm not kidding myself, but it would be nice.

 

[bumbershoot]

I feel like we're all still pretending that the initial 5 minutes of marketing for the bands is real. They were never going to be all you had to carry to the parks. That was an advertising person's feverish delerious dream.

Even when I wear a mb and have room charging set up, if I enter the parks I'm carrying ID and my insurance card (if the day ends up in the ER I want those things to get staff off my back), some cash and a CC (haven't we all heard of times that their system goes down for payment?), and any discount card I have. The MB is an *extra* thing to bring. It's not a replacement.

I have conversations IRL with a couple dance parents who are still going y what our arts director said 3 years ago that wasn't true then and isn't true now. They just can't let it go. It would have been fun if it had been true, but it's not the reality.

Carrying some cards isn't a pain. Most of us who went before MBs wore fun lanyards to carry cards in, and I still do. Ravenclaw lanyard (soft fabric) with my hard waterproof plastic witz brand "see it safe" case and I'm covered!

 

[ArielSRL]

You still have to show photo ID to charge on your magicband.

I have never been asked to show photo ID to make a purchase with my magic band.

I have never been asked for an ID to charge to my MB.

I have never been asked for my ID, either.

 

[ArielSRL]

Also, if you have a Disney VISA and want the discounts for that, you have to actually present and pay with that card, as well. Even though that is the card I have set up on my MDE.

 

[DebbieB]

I think it's because it would be too easy to hand your band to someone else and IT costs. They would need to put some kind of system in where your name comes up when you use it and then you would have to show ID to match. They could also do the picture, Disneyland does not use the finger scan for tickets because your picture comes up at the gate (but you still need the card and ID for discounts). That would involve a lot of cost to setup at each restaurant and store. Basically, if you want the discount you have to work for it by showing the proper cards.

 

[Miss Frankie J]

I've been asked to show my ID when using my AP discount, however not all the time did they ask to see my passholder card. Sometimes they just looked at the little band on my MB and that was enough. I feel like it depends on the CM. But I put my passholder card behind my ID so its right there when I make a purchase.