Disney not being very helpful

[Goofyernmost]

Why couldn't they put the MBs at the Disney Springs GS desk and let him pick them up will-call?

I wondered that myself, but, I don't know how the system works for out of country travelers. Good point though, why couldn't they?

 

[TP2000]

I now it's a tad petty on my part for something that costs my wife and I an extra $25 (?) each you may say, but it's the principle of the thing that annoys me really when we're dropping around $1.700 for AP's.

Thoughts?

My thoughts? You are being petty over 25 bucks. If that bugs you enough, don't go. Take a trip to Scandinavia or South Africa or Scotland if the 25 dollar charge to follow the rules bugs you so much.

 

[Gabe1]

I have no advice but I have empathy for a fellow AP holder, we are to be given a magic band when purchasing or renewing whether a local or a resort guest. Magic Bands have been out for a long time now and there really should have been a solution in place for international pass holders by now. Me my solution for Disney for internationals off property (like many are even who are US citizens) would be either a pick up point at TTC or Guest Relations at the MK. It isn't an obstacle that Disney can't accommodate for the international visitors they court.

 

[Master Yoda]

Why couldn't they put the MBs at the Disney Springs GS desk and let him pick them up will-call?

No clue, but for whatever reason they don't. They will however ship it to any US address you give them which IMHO should be sufficient.

 

[DuckTalesWooHoo1987]

They actually keep some random, generic, MB's lying around at resorts so I don't see why they couldn't just issue you one at will call since you're an AP holder. We're always on site but I've never realized you had to be staying at a Disney resort to use one. I guess I just never thought about it. I guess that must be why I still see some people using their passes to scan for fastpasses and things like that.

 

[wannabeBelle]

I would have them shipped to your hotel and make the bands inactive on your account until you pick them up, just for security. That or a package drop off location in the area, that you can use their address and pick the bands up from there. that you are comfortable with. I hope this helps!! Marie

 

[larryz]

Tell ya what, Merg -- if I lived in the Orlando area, I'd tell you to ship to me and I'd meet you at the park to give them to you. If you're traveling through SW Ohio, the offer still stands.

Feel the shame, Disney.

 

[Crazydisneygirl]

I am Canadian and I send them to a US address ( like a post office) for me to drive down and pick up. I could have them shipped to the hotel we are staying at but prefer to have the bands on hand to 'start' the vacation once we get on an airplane. My suggestion is use the ones you currently have.

You are 99% correct. RFID is a PASSSIVE device that only activates when near enough to the RFID transmitters, i.e. the tapstiles you hold the MB up to when you enter the park, payment points, fast pass tapstiles, etc. However, there are low power transmitters (1.175 milliwatts if I remember correctly) in the MBs that are used for triggering ride photos, crowd tracking, etc. in the bands too. Since they are certified only in the U.S. they can't legally ship them to other countries where they have not been certified by that country's equivalent of our Federal Communications Commission.[/QUOT

 

[WDWFan2018]

We're in Canada and had the same issue. They can't send them through customs here either. I just ordered them online and had them shipped to our resort. I received them at the front desk when I checked in. Just make sure you check with your hotel to find out what their policy is on holding packages for you. Some will only hold them for a certain amount of time. You want to make sure you'll pick up your package before that deadline. I agree, that you not trusting your hotel is not Disney's problem, neither is the law that prohibits the shipment across the border.

 

[mergatroid]

Spoke to Disney today. The lady nicely explained that they wouldn't credit me as it wasn't their policy. Interestingly Disney are currently offering to UK residents only, a 14 day ticket for the price of a 7 day ticket which includes a magic band. I queried how that magic band was received in that offer as it couldn't be sent to the UK and the deal said nothing about having to stay in a Disney resort or providing a U.S address. After a long pause I was told "In that instance you're sent a voucher that you exchange at the parks for a magic band"

Super that was

 

[GlassHalfFull]

Here's another issue. You don't get your AP MB when you order the AP. They send it to you AFTER you activate it. So we went in Feb and activated our AP. Didn't get the bands until we got home. So you'd have to wait until your next visit anyway. You'd need to use your old bands or purchase new ones for your first visit.

When I was there this week I was told by another AP that they could give you your MB in the park it just wouldn't be personalized.. so carry the card and go to GS once inside the park to get a MB? Problem solved..

Just relaying the info I was told..

 

[eliza61nyc]

They actually keep some random, generic, MB's lying around at resorts so I don't see why they couldn't just issue you one at will call since you're an AP holder. We're always on site but I've never realized you had to be staying at a Disney resort to use one. I guess I just never thought about it. I guess that must be why I still see some people using their passes to scan for fastpasses and things like that.

They probably could. In may have been how the question was posed.

Op ask about that instead.

 

[The Mighty Tim]

You are 99% correct. RFID is a PASSSIVE device that only activates when near enough to the RFID transmitters, i.e. the tapstiles you hold the MB up to when you enter the park, payment points, fast pass tapstiles, etc. However, there are low power transmitters (1.175 milliwatts if I remember correctly) in the MBs that are used for triggering ride photos, crowd tracking, etc. in the bands too. Since they are certified only in the U.S. they can't legally ship them to other countries where they have not been certified by that country's equivalent of our Federal Communications Commission.

Does this mean I may have broken some rules when I took my last Magic Band with me back to the UK?

 

[Master Yoda]

Does this mean I may have broken some rules when I took my last Magic Band with me back to the UK?

Possibly. Does MI5 have black helicopters like the CIA does?

 

[Chicagoshannon2]

When I was there this week I was told by another AP that they could give you your MB in the park it just wouldn't be personalized.. so carry the card and go to GS once inside the park to get a MB? Problem solved..

Just relaying the info I was told..

Well then that should solve the OP's dilema. Why hasn't Disney told OP this? I just wanted to point out that no new AP holder receives magic bands before their first visit.

 

[WDW_Jon]

Spoke to Disney today. The lady nicely explained that they wouldn't credit me as it wasn't their policy. Interestingly Disney are currently offering to UK residents only, a 14 day ticket for the price of a 7 day ticket which includes a magic band. I queried how that magic band was received in that offer as it couldn't be sent to the UK and the deal said nothing about having to stay in a Disney resort or providing a U.S address. After a long pause I was told "In that instance you're sent a voucher that you exchange at the parks for a magic band"

Super that was

Almost true! I read about that offer last week as we are soon to be purchasing 14 days tickets in the U.K. and was informed that you get a voucher that was only redeemable at one of the stores in Disney springs...

 

[Dave B]

Or you could just use the hard ticket like I do. It works the same as the magic band, even easier in my mind. Put it in your pocket, when you need it reach into your pocket and pull it out, use it, put it back in your pocket. Worst case scenario is that you will lose weight from all that extra physical activity.

Or

You drop your ticket and lose it, reaching into your pocket, I find 3 or 4 tickets every trip laying on the ground

 

[Goofyernmost]

Or

You drop your ticket and lose it, reaching into your pocket, I find 3 or 4 tickets every trip laying on the ground

Or

As has been reported many, many more times then what you are describing. the magic band falls off and you don't even notice it. Same problem all solved by people that are aware of what they are doing. Back when I started going there travelers checks were widely used. I would take all our checks and split them up by the number of pockets that were available. That way, if what you described or someone found their way into your pocket, you still had some left over in the other pockets. You could safeguard your own investment by just being conscious of it. In all my years of travel, I have never lost a ticket doing it that way. I'm not even sure how one can.

 

[Dave B]

Touché' but I will be honest, I/we have only ever found one magic band and that was in the pool at Yacht and Beach Club, I/we have not found any in the parks, personally

 

[DisneyDoctor]

Or

As has been reported many, many more times then what you are describing. the magic band falls off and you don't even notice it. Same problem all solved by people that are aware of what they are doing. Back when I started going there travelers checks were widely used. I would take all our checks and split them up by the number of pockets that were available. That way, if what you described or someone found their way into your pocket, you still had some left over in the other pockets. You could safeguard your own investment by just being conscious of it. In all my years of travel, I have never lost a ticket doing it that way. I'm not even sure how one can.

Lol I just read your signature under your posts and it had me laughing pretty good, thanks for that!