Annual Passholders and MagicBands

[JS514]

So this may be a really stupid question.

We are now AP's, and have our first trip planned in November. I know we have to go to Guest Services to get our official passes, but I was curious how it worked with Magic Bands. Can we use our current Magic Bands for entry? Or do we have to use the AP card? I wasn't sure if they were going to send us new magic bands..or...? Do we still get magic bands for our trip even though it's a room only reservation?

I sound like an idiot, I'm sure, but I can't find an answer anywhere.

 

[correcaminos]

You can use any magic bands that are associated with your account to use your AP (once activated). You can use the AP card as well but I just keep it mostly for discounts.

Room only get you magic bands, so you can use that.

To get new magic bands for your AP you actually have to order them through MDE after activation. We find we don't order as many with the AP since it becomes a bit too many on our account to keep them.

 

[Nottamus]

As stated above, the annual pass, or DVC or any other affiliation is automatically linked to your MagicBand - and the Ap card is mainly used for discounts.

The AP Magic Bands will be shipped to you AFTER activating at WDW. Unless you decline.

The Guest services at AK are much much quicker than the other parks in our experiences.

 

[Simba's Mom]

We have APs, but I don't think we even have cards, just noted on our MBs and listed on MDE account.

 

[HwdStudio]

You AP being linked to your MDE account should prompt a magicband order for you to choose name and color. You will still be able to use any band still active in your account. Beware that the battery used for long range such as in ride photos will eventually lose power. After my last renewal, all though my AP was linked to MDE, I did have to go to Guest Services in order to activate and gain admission. What I’m saying is that even though I had my AP linked and my AP magic and I got the blue light at the entry points and had to visit guest services. No idea if this is standard practice, I thought I would just be able to go right in.

 

[nickys]

You AP being linked to your MDE account should prompt a magicband order for you to choose name and color. You will still be able to use any band still active in your account. Beware that the battery used for long range such as in ride photos will eventually lose power. After my last renewal, all though my AP was linked to MDE, I did have to go to Guest Services in order to activate and gain admission. What I’m saying is that even though I had my AP linked and my AP magic and I got the blue light at the entry points and had to visit guest services. No idea if this is standard practice, I thought I would just be able to go right in.

If you have any kind of restricted AP, like a DVC special rate one or a Florida residents one, you have to go to Guest Services or a ticket window to activate them (with proof of eligibility).

Otherwise for a renewal, I thought you would be able to just go in. Maybe there was some kind of glitch!

 

[correcaminos]

If you have any kind of restricted AP, like a DVC special rate one or a Florida residents one, you have to go to Guest Services or a ticket window to activate them (with proof of eligibility).

Otherwise for a renewal, I thought you would be able to just go in. Maybe there was some kind of glitch!

General rule of thumb is if you call to renew (by choice or by necessity) you have to activate it in person. FL residents now can renew online so if they do it that way they don't have to activate. Not sure why it is that way, but it seems to be that way for now (so I've been told - so I could be wrong).