Should we purchase magic bands if staying off grounds??
The only thing that doesn't work without a Magic Band is MemoryMaker for some of the on-ride photos/videos. Those are keyed off of the Magic Band radios that do not exist in the plastic admission card media. This doesn't count for the ones where you tap your card/band on the image but the ones like Mine Train, Splash or Pirates that just show up in your MDE account. All of those do require the BlueTooth LE transmitter in the band that is not in the card. But you only need one member of the party to have that if you're all riding together.You don’t need to. You can use your plastic ticket card for FPs and photopass in the parks.
But if you like the idea of them, you can buy them ahead of time on Shop Disney, link them to MDE and your tickets (and FPs) will be easily accessible. That saves having to go and collect your tickets.
Or buy them in the first park and link them then, again everything will be accessible on them.
Add Slinky Dog Dash, Frozen Ever After and Haunted Mansion to that list.ones like Mine Train, Splash or Pirates that just show up in your MDE account. All of those do require the BlueTooth LE transmitter in the band that is not in the card. But you only need one member of the party to have that if you're all riding together.
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