Will I get a new Magic Band?

[Jamie77]

I'm staying at the WDW Dolphin Hotel this year for the first time. I'm wondering if I'll get a Magic Band mailed to me this year or should I use the one I had from December 2015? I thought I read someone that I couldn't get one if I was staying offsite, but I thought I may have read that wrong. So what's the deal?

 

[TinkLoverSam]

No magic bands at Swan and Dolphin hotels as they are operated by Starwood Hotels and Resorts (Marriott now I guess) and not Disney

 

[TeamEvansGo]

You won't get getting a new one for the Dolphin, and the one from 2015 most likely won't work as the batteries only last about 2 years. Disney has deactivated ours from May 2015.

 

[TinkLoverSam]

You won't get getting a new one for the Dolphin, and the one from 2015 most likely won't work as the batteries only last about 2 years.

It will work for all touch points (park entry and fp tap styles) but maybe not for the long range stuff (names on HM and automatically adding your pictures)

 

[BrianL]

You won't get getting a new one for the Dolphin, and the one from 2015 most likely won't work as the batteries only last about 2 years. Disney has deactivated ours from May 2015.

The battery is only for the long-range functions like automatic ride photos. The band will still work for park entry and fast passes because that does not require a battery.

 

[Jamie77]

So I guess my first order of business will be to go to a store at WDW and buy a new MB?

 

[ShirikiUtundu]

You don't need a MB. Your old one will work just fine if you want to use it for tapstiles but you don't need it for that either.

 

[wilkeliza]

So I guess my first order of business will be to go to a store at WDW and buy a new MB?

MBs aren't necessary so you don't have to go buy one. You can just use your tickets (either have them mailed to you or pick them up at will call) to access FP+. The only thing you'd miss by not having a MB is a few automated things like ride videos at Seven Dwarfs and Tower of Terror as well as the names showing on screens at a few attractions. To get ride photos at other rides you just tap your ticket to the touch point under your photo and it gets linked to your photopass. A magicband is not a need for a trip.

 

[bumbershoot]

So I guess my first order of business will be to go to a store at WDW and buy a new MB?

What do you want it for?

If you want it for tickets and FP entry, no you don't need another. If you haven't deactivated your old MB (and if you have you can deactivate it) it'll work just fine for that.

If you want it for memory maker's ride videos that you literally cannot get without a MB with a functioning long range rfid matters, then maybe you need a good one. But that 2 years thing isn't a solid line.

I personally don't find any need for MBs and definitely would never buy one.

 

[Jamie77]

MBs aren't necessary so you don't have to go buy one. You can just use your tickets (either have them mailed to you or pick them up at will call) to access FP+. The only thing you'd miss by not having a MB is a few automated things like ride videos at Seven Dwarfs and Tower of Terror as well as the names showing on screens at a few attractions. To get ride photos at other rides you just tap your ticket to the touch point under your photo and it gets linked to your photopass. A magicband is not a need for a trip.

I know that a MB is not needed but I'd prefer to just tap it to enter/use FP instead of having to fish a ticket out of my pocket/lanyard. I'll think about it, though.

 

[wilkeliza]

I know that a MB is not needed but I'd prefer to just tap it to enter/use FP instead of having to fish a ticket out of my pocket/lanyard. I'll think about it, though.

Your old MB will work for those things still if that is all you want. It is even possible the long range RFID still works. Disney gives them a shelf live of 2 years but it is possible they last longer. Still the old ones will always work for FP and ticket admission as those use passive. You just won't get auto-load ride photos or interactive features on the old one.

 

[Jamie77]

What do you want it for?

If you want it for tickets and FP entry, no you don't need another. If you haven't deactivated your old MB (and if you have you can deactivate it) it'll work just fine for that.

If you want it for memory maker's ride videos that you literally cannot get without a MB with a functioning long range rfid matters, then maybe you need a good one. But that 2 years thing isn't a solid line.

I personally don't find any need for MBs and definitely would never buy one.

So I'll be able to pick up my tickets from the hotel front desk? Since this isn't a Disney-owned hotel, I was worried about how I'd get the tickets in the first place. I'm familiar with the room key/ticket we got at WDW hotels before FP+.

 

[Jamie77]

Your old MB will work for those things still if that is all you want. It is even possible the long range RFID still works. Disney gives them a shelf live of 2 years but it is possible they last longer. Still the old ones will always work for FP and ticket admission as those use passive. You just won't get auto-load ride photos or interactive features on the old one.

Yeah, that's all I want. I find it a lot more convenient to have my admission/FP media on my wrist.

 

[erionm]

So I'll be able to pick up my tickets from the hotel front desk? Since this isn't a Disney-owned hotel, I was worried about how I'd get the tickets in the first place. I'm familiar with the room key/ticket we got at WDW hotels before FP+.

Where did you purchase the tickets from? If they are will call and you've already linked them to your MDE account, you shouldn't need to pick them up (unless they are FL Resident tickets or some military tickets).

 

[IrishNYC]

You won't get getting a new one for the Dolphin, and the one from 2015 most likely won't work as the batteries only last about 2 years. Disney has deactivated ours from May 2015.

Are you sure Disney deactivated them? You're the first I recall anyone reporting that. We also have bands from May 2015 that are still active on our accounts, and we haven't been there since then.

 

[Jamie77]

Where did you purchase the tickets from? If they are will call and you've already linked them to your MDE account, you shouldn't need to pick them up (unless they are FL Resident tickets or some military tickets).

I'm purchasing them this month. I usually order them online or by phone and get a MB in the mail. Or get an AP voucher in the mail. I've always had something mailed to me so I'm at a loss as to what I'm supposed to expect next.

 

[AngiTN]

Are you sure Disney deactivated them? You're the first I recall anyone reporting that. We also have bands from May 2015 that are still active on our accounts, and we haven't been there since then.

Disney won't just go in and deactivate older bands. They can do it if you call and are having issues of some sort, or they can be done manually on MDE but it is not done automatically by Disney. As has been reported, all bands work indefinitely for short range purposes.

 

[erionm]

I'm purchasing them this month. I usually order them online or by phone and get a MB in the mail. Or get an AP voucher in the mail. I've always had something mailed to me so I'm at a loss as to what I'm supposed to expect next.

If you purchase either direct from Disney or from an authorized ticket reseller (like Undercover Tourist), you should have the option of will-call pick up or eTickets. With those options, you will receive a confirmation number that you can link to MDE. If you already have (or will be purchasing) a MagicBand, you don't really need to pickup the physical tickets since you've already linked them to MDE.

There are a few ticket types that do need to be activated at WDW prior to being valid for park entry. Those are Annual Passes, FL Resident tickets, and certain Military tickets.

 

[Jamie77]

If you purchase either direct from Disney or from an authorized ticket reseller (like Undercover Tourist), you should have the option of will-call pick up or eTickets. With those options, you will receive a confirmation number that you can link to MDE. If you already have (or will be purchasing) a MagicBand, you don't really need to pickup the physical tickets since you've already linked them to MDE.

There are a few ticket types that do need to be activated at WDW prior to being valid for park entry. Those are Annual Passes, FL Resident tickets, and certain Military tickets.

Thanks! So that means I can use my old MB to enter the parks and use the tapstiles because the possibly dead battery won't effect the short range use of the band. Back to square one because that's what I originally planned to do.

 

[Jamie77]

Disney won't just go in and deactivate older bands. They can do it if you call and are having issues of some sort, or they can be done manually on MDE but it is not done automatically by Disney. As has been reported, all bands work indefinitely for short range purposes.

Thank you! This information has been most helpful!