Magic band question

[SuprDav]

Why are magic bands mailed to your home instead of given to guests when they check into their resort? Doesn't that increase the risk of people leaving them at home and causing more headaches for cast members trying to get them replaced? I really wasn't aware that they would be mailed to me until I got an email from WDW asking me to confirm my address. I'll be paranoid of forgetting ours now and go totally OCD on making sure we have them for the ride to FL.

 

[Tom]

Why are magic bands mailed to your home instead of given to guests when they check into their resort? Doesn't that increase the risk of people leaving them at home and causing more headaches for cast members trying to get them replaced? I really wasn't aware that they would be mailed to me until I got an email from WDW asking me to confirm my address. I'll be paranoid of forgetting ours now and go totally OCD on making sure we have them for the ride to FL.

Because they want to streamline the check-in process and eliminate that step. By using Online Check-In, and by having your MB's already, you will just show your ID and get a Welcome Packet. Your Credit Card will already be on the reservation too, once you use Online Check-In through your MDE account.

Also, if you're using Magical Express, you'll use your Magic Band to check-in, once you arrive at the airport.

 

[Mouse_Trap]

must be costing a fortune in shipping costs though

 

[wdwmagic]

must be costing a fortune in shipping costs though

It's rolled into your resort cost

 

[TheMouseFan]

Because they want to streamline the check-in process and eliminate that step. By using Online Check-In, and by having your MB's already, you will just show your ID and get a Welcome Packet. Your Credit Card will already be on the reservation too, once you use Online Check-In through your MDE account.

Also, if you're using Magical Express, you'll use your Magic Band to check-in, once you arrive at the airport.

We didn't even have to show an ID when we checked in for our November trip. I was really surprised, but they never asked for it once they realized we had our bands on. I don't know if someone just messed up, or if that is going to be the norm now.

 

[Tom]

We didn't even have to show an ID when we checked in for our November trip. I was really surprised, but they never asked for it once they realized we had our bands on. I don't know if someone just messed up, or if that is going to be the norm now.

Hmmm, that seems odd. I thought it was a requirement, especially if there's a CC on the room.

 

[disney4life2008]

We didn't even have to show an ID when we checked in for our November trip. I was really surprised, but they never asked for it once they realized we had our bands on. I don't know if someone just messed up, or if that is going to be the norm now.

Interesting - I had a CC on file and was wearing my band and they asked for ID. Interesting though - my wait was still long during check in at sports. There was only one person doing online check ins and the line was consideraly long - the regular line was longer though. The process did not seem to go any quicker with my MB - they still needed ID, I think I signed something; she had to locate my folder, check that my room was ready. The MB is needed for magical express though but you can still board with the paper ticket. This process was much quicker though.

 

[Monty]

They don't mail to Canada.

Nor other countries... Y'all are terribly xenophobic!

 

[Tom]

They don't mail to Canada.

Nor other countries... Y'all are terribly xenophobic!

No we're not! We just don't like foreigners!


But all seriousness aside, I think it has something to do with the active transmitters and the various governments being uneasy about them shipping. Or at least that's what the internet said.

 

[ninjaprincesst]

I also think they mail them to you because if they didn't the hotels would be overrun with bands and it would take the forever to find the correct bands. They already have enough of them to deal with since people from other countries have them sent to the hotels. Also if you use magic express you need your bands at the airport.

 

[SuprDav]

I also think they mail them to you because if they didn't the hotels would be overrun with bands and it would take the forever to find the correct bands. They already have enough of them to deal with since people from other countries have them sent to the hotels. Also if you use magic express you need your bands at the airport.

Makes sense.

 

[LucyK]

Also most countries charge fees from the final customers when receiving international merchandise, even if they were to be marked as gifts. I just paid over $100 for a $150 dress I had it shipped to me from the US (not even kidding and still cheaper than buying it here), can you imagine the trouble Disney would have to go to make sure the bands were delivered correctly?

 

[wogwog]

must be costing a fortune in shipping costs though

That is one of the reasons why you are paying too much for the resort.

 

[cooleo]

This is becoming a real mess. A coworker of mine is getting ready to make his second trip since October & he will have a total of 5 sets of Magic Bands. He took a weekend trip with his family at the end of October for MNSSHP. I was to be a 2 night trip & he is a DVC member but only had enough points left for 1 night so he was paying cash for the second night. It was booked last minute so they held the bands but when he checked in, they gave him 2 sets of bands, 1 for his night on DVC points & one for the cash night. They then met up with family & decided to extend their stay by one night by staying at a different resort & was given another set of bands.
He is now making a trip with his family at the end of this month. He made his reservation with park passes at Contemporary. After finalizing his trip, he decided to fly in the night before just to get a head start & booked a room at a different resort just for that one night. All he is doing is sleeping there for the one night & then his park passes which will be on his Magic Bands with Contemporary will start the next morning. Well anyway, they are sending his Magic Bands just for the one night at the other resort. Why? He will only be using this to open his room door.
Disney has got to get their act together on this. This program is costing ALL OF US a lot of money. You know that they are not going to absorb this costs. WE are!!!

 

[officialtom]

They don't mail to Canada.

Nor other countries... Y'all are terribly xenophobic!

I'm Canadian (PEI) and I think I actually like the thought of them waiting at our resort at check-in. One less thing to forget!

 

[Tom]

This is becoming a real mess. A coworker of mine is getting ready to make his second trip since October & he will have a total of 5 sets of Magic Bands. He took a weekend trip with his family at the end of October for MNSSHP. I was to be a 2 night trip & he is a DVC member but only had enough points left for 1 night so he was paying cash for the second night. It was booked last minute so they held the bands but when he checked in, they gave him 2 sets of bands, 1 for his night on DVC points & one for the cash night. They then met up with family & decided to extend their stay by one night by staying at a different resort & was given another set of bands.
He is now making a trip with his family at the end of this month. He made his reservation with park passes at Contemporary. After finalizing his trip, he decided to fly in the night before just to get a head start & booked a room at a different resort just for that one night. All he is doing is sleeping there for the one night & then his park passes which will be on his Magic Bands with Contemporary will start the next morning. Well anyway, they are sending his Magic Bands just for the one night at the other resort. Why? He will only be using this to open his room door.
Disney has got to get their act together on this. This program is costing ALL OF US a lot of money. You know that they are not going to absorb this costs. WE are!!!

The costs were accounted for already. Ticket, resort and package rates go up every year. There was an odd $0.20 raise in packages in spring 2013. That doesn't cover the costs, but likely goes toward it.

They will likely stop sending them to every guest for every reservation once things settle down. But for now, they're much safer assuming a guest doesn't have any, as new guests outnumber repeat guests.