"A Magic what?" Since the Magic Bands were announced and implemented, confusion has followed them! Now that they are in full use and paper fast-passes are no more, key cards are gone, understanding what they are and how they work is crucial. So let's take a look at the top things you should know before you even order your magic band!
1. You need to customize your Magic Band
After you make your reservation, your Vacation Planner will direct you to the Disney website, where you will create an account for My Disney Experience (or your Planner will do so for you). Once you log into MDE, you'll see a link for "Magic Bands and Cards", where you will find information on ordering your Bands. You will be asked what color you would like, and what name should be imprinted inside. You can pick any name you want, feel free to have some fun and give everyone Dwarf names! You will be given a date that you need to complete this process before they ship. Magic Bands are a free perk of any guest staying at a Disney World Resort, if you are staying outside of the park you can purchase them. If you are an Annual Passholder, you will receive a Band - after you take your first trip and activate your AP.
2. What color should I pick?
You can pick any of the above colors, and everyone in your family can have the same color if you want. Your names are imprinted inside, so it's easy to know which one belongs to each of you! However, if you choose to purchase them, try to pick different colors - it would get confusing to have 4 Blue bands with no names inside!
3. The Band is all you need
Theme Park tickets? Check. Fast Pass? Check. Room key? Check. Dining plan? Check. Charging privileges? Check. Memory Maker? Check. All that, and you haven't put a single thing in your pocket! For an afternoon at the pool or a day at the water park, knowing your valuables are secured around your wrist and your wallet is safely locked in the safe in your room can help you relax and enjoy!
4. The Band has the Force
Not really, but wouldn't that be great?! The Band isn't a GPS locator, so they can't track your exact movements throughout the day. However, it has RFID capabilities, allowing it to communicate with the turnstiles in the park, the scanners at the cash register, and on your room door. It also has some long-range capabilities that are beyond my understanding, but they allow Disney to recognize you on some rides and save your pictures or video to your Memory Maker account.
5. Wear your Magic Band on the plane
For those of you flying, the Magic Band will not cause any problems at TSA. If you wear the band, it saves you a lot of digging when you reach the Magical Express entrance - they can scan your Band and off you go!
6. Will it help my lost child?
Hopefully this won't happen, but it's every parents nightmare - you get separated from your child in the parks and can't find them. Now with the Magic Bands, a Cast Member can scan their Band and get their name. It will not Explain to your kids who they should talk to in the event they get lost - any cast member with a name tag, (I specifically point out the Janitorial staff in their all white who are easy for a child to find, or to go into a store and talk to the person behind the counter) and you can be reunited in minutes.
7. You can restrict charging
My husband is a spender - and my kids take after him! So I can set the pin or not on each of their bands, keeping charging limited to whoever should be able to charge back to the room. If you have older kids who would be on their own and want to use it for a snack, you wouldn't be able to do this, since you have to enter the pin for each use of a Dining Plan credit.
8. Your pictures will automatically be connected
If you purchase the Memory Maker, or just want to look back at your memories, this is a great feature. Every ride that takes a picture will automatically download your photo into your account! That RFID chip that I mentioned earlier can "see" you on the ride and save the picture for you. No more stopping at the desk on your way out with your memorized number to get your picture.
You should be forewarned, though - the Magic Band will cause a tan line, so put your sunscreen and your Band on and enjoy your day!
1. You need to customize your Magic Band
After you make your reservation, your Vacation Planner will direct you to the Disney website, where you will create an account for My Disney Experience (or your Planner will do so for you). Once you log into MDE, you'll see a link for "Magic Bands and Cards", where you will find information on ordering your Bands. You will be asked what color you would like, and what name should be imprinted inside. You can pick any name you want, feel free to have some fun and give everyone Dwarf names! You will be given a date that you need to complete this process before they ship. Magic Bands are a free perk of any guest staying at a Disney World Resort, if you are staying outside of the park you can purchase them. If you are an Annual Passholder, you will receive a Band - after you take your first trip and activate your AP.
2. What color should I pick?
You can pick any of the above colors, and everyone in your family can have the same color if you want. Your names are imprinted inside, so it's easy to know which one belongs to each of you! However, if you choose to purchase them, try to pick different colors - it would get confusing to have 4 Blue bands with no names inside!
3. The Band is all you need
Theme Park tickets? Check. Fast Pass? Check. Room key? Check. Dining plan? Check. Charging privileges? Check. Memory Maker? Check. All that, and you haven't put a single thing in your pocket! For an afternoon at the pool or a day at the water park, knowing your valuables are secured around your wrist and your wallet is safely locked in the safe in your room can help you relax and enjoy!
4. The Band has the Force
Not really, but wouldn't that be great?! The Band isn't a GPS locator, so they can't track your exact movements throughout the day. However, it has RFID capabilities, allowing it to communicate with the turnstiles in the park, the scanners at the cash register, and on your room door. It also has some long-range capabilities that are beyond my understanding, but they allow Disney to recognize you on some rides and save your pictures or video to your Memory Maker account.
5. Wear your Magic Band on the plane
For those of you flying, the Magic Band will not cause any problems at TSA. If you wear the band, it saves you a lot of digging when you reach the Magical Express entrance - they can scan your Band and off you go!
6. Will it help my lost child?
Hopefully this won't happen, but it's every parents nightmare - you get separated from your child in the parks and can't find them. Now with the Magic Bands, a Cast Member can scan their Band and get their name. It will not Explain to your kids who they should talk to in the event they get lost - any cast member with a name tag, (I specifically point out the Janitorial staff in their all white who are easy for a child to find, or to go into a store and talk to the person behind the counter) and you can be reunited in minutes.
7. You can restrict charging
My husband is a spender - and my kids take after him! So I can set the pin or not on each of their bands, keeping charging limited to whoever should be able to charge back to the room. If you have older kids who would be on their own and want to use it for a snack, you wouldn't be able to do this, since you have to enter the pin for each use of a Dining Plan credit.
8. Your pictures will automatically be connected
If you purchase the Memory Maker, or just want to look back at your memories, this is a great feature. Every ride that takes a picture will automatically download your photo into your account! That RFID chip that I mentioned earlier can "see" you on the ride and save the picture for you. No more stopping at the desk on your way out with your memorized number to get your picture.
You should be forewarned, though - the Magic Band will cause a tan line, so put your sunscreen and your Band on and enjoy your day!
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