MagicBand sales to begin at off-property retail locations

[disney4life2008]

Then don't buy one, nothing forces you to use one, even resort guests can get a KTTW card instead if they truly don't want a magic band

Trust me - I will NEVER buy one. I have plenty in my apartment now, lol.

 

[disney4life2008]

It's probably a matter of time before Disney stores nationwide carry "limited edition" magic bands that can be saved, activated and RE-activated when you go to the parks. Shortly followed by less attractive but nonetheless "exclusive" bands only available at WalMart or Target. Collect 'em all!

How long before we see them at dollar tree, lol

 

[WDWFanDave]

Does anyone know the answer to this...are they re-usable yet? With the exception of APs...there are plenty of folks that travel once a year, sometimes more, to WDW, and if staying on property and buying a package...do they get new MagicBands every time they go? And, the second part of the question...if someone stays off property, buys tickets from AAA and wants to use MagicBands, then they purchase these at retail...again, can they be used on a subsequent trip, or will they just have to buy new ones next time?

 

[llrain]

Soon you will not have this option of a kttw card, so don't count on it staying around forever if you are implying that.

Then don't buy one, nothing forces you to use one, even resort guests can get a KTTW card instead if they truly don't want a magic band

 

[WDWFanDave]

Soon you will not have this option of a kttw card, so don't count on it staying around forever if you are implying that.

Wow...not that I'm surprised, but since such a great deal was made when these first debuted that guests would be able to 'opt out', I guess if you really want to opt out-it'll just mean an off property stay.

 

[CDavid]

Soon you will not have this option of a kttw card, so don't count on it staying around forever if you are implying that.

Can I ask what your source for that information is? Not saying you are right or wrong, but we have previously been assured that KTTW cards would indeed remain available.

 

[llrain]

If it has any backbone, the front desk cast from my last 2 trips (last month and last October) where I had to
basically beg them to give me a kttw card, each trip was a split stay and pretty much all of the front desk sang the same tune.

Can I ask what your source for that information is? Not saying you are right or wrong, but we have previously been assured that KTTW cards would indeed remain available.

 

[CDavid]

If it has any backbone, the front desk cast from my last 2 trips (last month and last October) where I had to
basically beg them to give me a kttw card, each trip was a split stay and pretty much all of the front desk sang the same tune.

Thanks for answering. I'm hoping this is a case where front line CM's are just (erroneously) assuming that since Magic Bands are now fully rolled-out (more or less) that the cards days are numbered.

If enough people object to wearing a silly colored bracelet I can't see Disney doing away with RFID cards. However, I would expect many guests will just take what they are given and probably don't even realize they can request a band, so the numbers may be small.

 

[dstrawn9889]

Does anyone know the answer to this...are they re-usable yet? With the exception of APs...there are plenty of folks that travel once a year, sometimes more, to WDW, and if staying on property and buying a package...do they get new MagicBands every time they go? And, the second part of the question...if someone stays off property, buys tickets from AAA and wants to use MagicBands, then they purchase these at retail...again, can they be used on a subsequent trip, or will they just have to buy new ones next time?

yes, you link the bands before the ship date, and they simply do not mail the new ones.

 

[omurice]

I have NOT found the bands to be re-usable. They ship new bands for every resort stay, no matter what I do. Going to have to start a land fill just for my bands alone... #pleasemakeitstop #firstworldproblems #pacificgarbagegyre

 

[Tigger1988]

The bands are reuseable regardless if they send new ones or not. You control which ones are in use via MDE.

 

[Admiral01]

So, will there be some guarantee that these MBs will work? I went through 2 separate sets in October, and none of the 4 MBs ever worked properly. Waste of my time and my money. If MBs are the way of the WDW future, and it seems they are, WDW needs to make some guarantee that they work. Mine didn't...so now I go to Disneyland.

 

[arko]

You can refuse a band at check in but they don't make it easy.. We had a split stay and on check in #1 flustered the cm so bad she sent us 'off' before a room #,pin and all the paperwork.. Ended up back at the desk 3x in 2 days for issues.. Check in #2 was given the 'riot act' for declining them, had the cm struggle to activate the cards and still had to return 2x more for issues.. As for using the cards in the parks became comical as cms didn't trust they were room cards

Soon you will not have this option of a kttw card, so don't count on it staying around forever if you are implying that.

This is the official line from their website

The MagicBand uses radio frequency (RF) technology and can be read by short and long-range readers located at the Walt Disney World Resort. If you prefer to use an RF card, which cannot be detected by long-range readers, you can request an RF card at your Disney Resort hotel, and you do not need to customize your MagicBand.

While CM's maybe pushing the bands to make their lives easier, as long there are people with concerns they will always offer the cards, which are basically the same RFID cards they offer to offsite ticket holders.

 

[arko]

So, will there be some guarantee that these MBs will work? I went through 2 separate sets in October, and none of the 4 MBs ever worked properly. Waste of my time and my money. If MBs are the way of the WDW future, and it seems they are, WDW needs to make some guarantee that they work. Mine didn't...so now I go to Disneyland.

Last October was part of the beta phase, beta entails there will be problems

 

[Bolt]

Soon you will not have this option of a kttw card, so don't count on it staying around forever if you are implying that.

Not sure this will ever be true due to certain religions not allowing people to wear jewelry and such.

 

[Rob562]

Do you still need a ticket to link to them? I would think so, right?

There's a way to link a Band on the phone app and on the website, so presumably they can get to the point where you can buy an unlinked Band and link it yourself to whichever profile you want. (It would then be locked to that profile forever, of course)

-Rob

 

[TinkerBelle8878]

I wonder how long before they have a 'FitBit' issue with rashes where the band sits. As summer is coming up and with the heat and humidity, these can't be 'hypoallergenic' for all. Those people would have to get the cards, I'd imagine.

 

[Admiral01]

Last October was part of the beta phase, beta entails there will be problems

WDW doesn't get the liberty of using me for a beta testing while I am paying full price. If they wanted to use me to do beta testing, that's fine. But, I shouldn't have had a sub-par "beta test" experience at full price.

I spent 4 days with no fast passes available at the park because FP+ "sold out" before the 1st hour of operation was done, really long lines as a result of the poorly implemented FP+, the MB not consistently unlocking my room, not working consistently for charging, and each morning in the lobby of the resort working out the issues we were having. It was a waste of time and effort. The point is that I use this band in place of credit cards, room keys, and my ticket. My MB didn't do any of those things properly. Beta test or not, the MBs failed me on my last trip to WDW, and caused issues with the overall stay.

Bottom line is this isn't a product I was asking to use. It is being forced. On top of that, it spoiled the vacation. WDW screwed me during their beta test, and therefore lost my business.

So, I ask again - will WDW guarantee that the MBs that they are now selling will work properly.

 

[Tigger1988]

I wonder how long before they have a 'FitBit' issue with rashes where the band sits. As summer is coming up and with the heat and humidity, these can't be 'hypoallergenic' for all. Those people would have to get the cards, I'd imagine.

The FitBit issue was allergic reactions to nickle and only happened on one model. All other FitBits are on sale with zero issues.

If widespread issues with MBs were to occur they would have already popped up. The heat and humidity has been in effect since they began testing these with guests last year.

 

[wogwog]

WDW doesn't get the liberty of using me for a beta testing while I am paying full price. If they wanted to use me to do beta testing, that's fine. But, I shouldn't have had a sub-par "beta test" experience at full price.

I spent 4 days with no fast passes available at the park because FP+ "sold out" before the 1st hour of operation was done, really long lines as a result of the poorly implemented FP+, the MB not consistently unlocking my room, not working consistently for charging, and each morning in the lobby of the resort working out the issues we were having. It was a waste of time and effort. The point is that I use this band in place of credit cards, room keys, and my ticket. My MB didn't do any of those things properly. Beta test or not, the MBs failed me on my last trip to WDW, and caused issues with the overall stay.

Bottom line is this isn't a product I was asking to use. It is being forced. On top of that, it spoiled the vacation. WDW screwed me during their beta test, and therefore lost my business.

So, I ask again - will WDW guarantee that the MBs that they are now selling will work properly.

NO.