News Disney will be ending complimentary MagicBand distribution to Disney Resort hotel guests and moving to smart devices

[wdwmagic]

Disney will be ending complimentary MagicBand distribution to Disney Resort hotel guests as it moves to smart devices

Disney is moving to using guest's own smart devices in 2021.

www.wdwmagic.com

 

[G00fyDad]

I'd rather not keep hitting my phone against the Mickey every time I want to use a FP. And I know Apple watch or iPhone users don't want to tap that glass against anything. LOL Will this be like that? Holding your smart device to the Mickey ball?

 

[Networth]

Well I guess that’s one way to make/save some money.

 

[MrMichaelJames]

I'd rather not keep hitting my phone against the Mickey every time I want to use a FP. And I know Apple watch or iPhone users don't want to tap that glass against anything. LOL Will this be like that? Holding your smart device to the Mickey ball?

Think bigger. NFC or bluetooth. Just walk up to the reader and if you have your phone on you it detects how many are allowed automatically and the CM lets you in. I would prefer to not have to have magic bands on the whole family. On our most recent trip in Feb/March it is just one more thing to remember to put on the kids on the way out of the room for the day. Also checking their bands throughout the day to make sure they were still there. We found many bands on the ground that fell off of people.

 

[awhit066]

I wonder if they will go back to providing the key to the world cards to all guests, or if you will need to request them?

 

[Rider]

My Apple watch as my Magic Band? YES PLEASE. I've wanted that ability for years.

 

[peter11435]

This was planned and set in motion long before Covid

 

[WishStar]

We like the ability to wear our magic bands when we go swimming in the evenings. Very convenient to not have to take a card or phone to the pool. I guess we will have to buy them now. Probably not the end of the world.

 

[wdwmagic]

My Apple watch as my Magic Band? YES PLEASE. I've wanted that ability for years.

Agreed! Definitely the way to go and glad to see it happening.

 

[G00fyDad]

Coming January 2021 to Disney park guests everywhere ....

 

[412]

That is disappointing. MagicBands > cell phones at WDW for several reasons:

• Children without cell phones can use MagicBands.
• MagicBands don't need to be charged.
• MagicBands are all waterproof.
• MagicBands are a tangible reminder of the Disney difference. They remind you that WDW isn't a normal place where you pay with your cell phone or a credit card; rather, there is something fun and "magical" about using a MagicBand to enter rides, pay for meals, or open your room. It might sound silly, but this is part of the reason why people are so sad to take them off at the end of their trip.
• They reduce the need for cell phones. The best times at WDW are when you're free of distraction from the outside world and you can be wholly immersed in the environment. Cell phones—with social media, work emails, etc.—work against that immersion. I think any new plan that encourages guests to use their phones more is a step in the wrong direction.

 

[wdwmagic]

I wonder if they will go back to providing the key to the world cards to all guests, or if you will need to request them?

The focus will be on guests using their own devices - watch or phone.

 

[G00fyDad]

That is disappointing. MagicBands > cell phones at WDW for several reasons:

• Children without cell phones can use MagicBands.
• MagicBands don't need to be charged.
• MagicBands are all waterproof.
• MagicBands are a tangible reminder of the Disney difference. They remind you that WDW isn't a normal place where you pay with your cell phone or a credit card; rather, there is something fun and "magical" about using a MagicBand to enter rides, pay for meals, or open your room. It might sound silly, but this is part of the reason why people are so sad to take them off at the end of their trip.
• They reduce the need for cell phones. The best times at WDW are when you're free of distraction from the outside world and you can be wholly immersed in the environment. Cell phones—with social media, work emails, etc.—work against that immersion. I think any new plan that encourages guests to use their phones more is a step in the wrong direction.

You can still use the MagicBand. You just have to pay for one now. I will.

 

[peter11435]

Coming January 2021 to Disney park guests everywhere ....

View attachment 477655

You don’t have to smash the watch again the touchpoints to get it to work. In fact even with the current card/magicbands you don’t have to physically make contact with the touch point for it to read.

 

[Pirate Magic]

I am not going to feel comfortable doing that, not with my iPhone. I don’t tap my phone for anything, there is a lot of personal information on my phone and I don’t want to risk my information. Now I could be wrong about it but to me it is not worth the risk.

 

[G00fyDad]

Think bigger. NFC or bluetooth. Just walk up to the reader and if you have your phone on you it detects how many are allowed automatically and the CM lets you in. I would prefer to not have to have magic bands on the whole family. On our most recent trip in Feb/March it is just one more thing to remember to put on the kids on the way out of the room for the day. Also checking their bands throughout the day to make sure they were still there. We found many bands on the ground that fell off of people.

Good points but I'll still buy the bands. A) It is still a nice thing to have from our trips and B) I don't have to worry about getting my MB wet in the pools. I can see the appeal though.

 

[aaronml]

This is super frustrating, albeit not surprising. I had a feeling this would happen at some point after they introduced the mobile key feature.

Problems I can see with this approach:
- People’s phones dying and not being able to enter the park / use an FP+
- People missing out on PhotoPass ride photos that use the long range RFID chip
- People taking longer to enter/scan in the FP+ line due to having to get their KTTW card out of their wallet, etc. (think about how a cashless line at a grocery store usually moves fastest)

 

[G00fyDad]

You don’t have to smash the watch again the touchpoints to get it to work. In fact even with the current card/magicbands you don’t have to physically make contact with the touch point for it to read.

We always had issues with the MB being read unless it was touching.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Is Disney scooping Apple’s keynote next week? Will iOS finally allow greater NFC functionality?

 

[dmw]

Not a fan of this change - one less benefit for on property guests. Plus, Disney apps are already notorious battery drains. Having to keep the app running for photopass on rides to work is not going to be good for the battery. Nope, not happy about this.