Yes. It's not a discount card. It's actual your Annual Pass. Like if you had bought a ticket and not the ap then you would scan the ticket at the park. After you receive your magic band, you have the option to either use the magic band to get into the parks or you can use the AP card. To get the discounts on merchandise, food you will need to show the AP card and not just the magic band. You can get discounts at the parks and Disney springs with the AP card.So the only reason you would have gone to guest services was to get your AP discount card?
I think eventually that will change. The magic bands can store credit card info on them . To many people have magic bands. So why not program the magic bands somehow for the AP holders so they don't have to carry the AP card for the discounts.