More Detail on Disney World’s MagicBands
By Dave Shute
“MagicBands” are Walt Disney World wristbands that take the place of Disney World hotel rooms keys, park tickets, and–for now–Fastpass+.
MagicBands have been in a limited test for a while, and I’ll be testing mine in a couple of weeks, as part of a bigger September and October test.
(See this and its links for more on MagicBands and Fastpass+.)
In this post, I’m just detailing–memorializing for history??–the ordering and delivery process.
ORDERING AND CUSTOMIZING YOUR DISNEY WORLD MAGICBAND
To order a MagicBand, you have to be in the test. See the link above to see how you find out if you are in.
If you are in, then you can customize your MagicBand on MyDisneyExperience.com once you’ve logged in.
There’s multiple color options you can choose from among–you can pick the same color for everyone in your group, or mix and match. See the image at the top of the page for the colors available.
In addition, you can add text that will show on the inside of the Magic Band–both fun, and handy if your kids (or husband) all want the same color.
The text is limited to nine characters, so I couldn’t put on mine “Dave Shute”–just “Dave Shut.” So I opted for “Dave.” (I hear there’s a movement to convince Disney add more characters, so that my MagicBand could read “Dave, Shut Up.”)
GETTING YOUR MAGICBAND FOR WALT DISNEY WORLD
A few days later this parcel–about the size of a shoe box–came in the mail.
Inside you’ll find the MagicBand box–which, frankly, I like even more than the MagicBand…
My trip is solo this time–though I’m hoping to connect with Josh, as I owe him lunch–so my MagicBand sat in regal yet lonely splendor in the box.
Here’s how it looks right out of the box…
…and on my wrist.
I’ll be using it–and my Fastpass+–in later September: the 20th at the Magic Kingdom, 21st at Hollywood Studios, and 22nd at Epcot.
So since I’ll probably be posting and tweeting about the MagicBand and my overall experience with Fastpass+ (which I haven’t had a chance to test til now), you should probably…
….follow yourfirstvisit.net on Facebook or Twitter!
50 comments
FYI- I will be at WDW in October, so when I personalize my Magic Bands it shows that I have until 9/20 to make changes. That is exactly one month before I check-in. I am taking that to mean that the magic bands will ship one month before your trip.
Thanks, Kuleen!
Any more news as if WL will be getting these prior to Dec 2013??? Have fun on your trip – and can you do me a favor and point me in the right direction of getting the hours of Trader Jacks photo pass service at the Polynesian Resort – I need to pick up my pp + card Friday 12/6/2013 at about 7:00 p.m……I can not find hours posted anywhere – THANKS AND HAVE A GREAT TIME!!!!
Hi Rhonda still no word, just rumors. Sorry–I have no source for the photopass kiosk hours…
Can’t wait to get mine! I’ve just verified on My Disney Experience and the status shows that they might be shipped at any moment (been like that for at least a week) which makes me think that they will be delivered directly to the resort, since I’ll be there on the 21st. I will also be at Epcot on the 22nd with the family and I hope that I’ll see you so I could shake your hand!
Cool! I’ll try to remember to wear my red “yourfirstvisit.net” t-shirt!!
Do you know if, when they are rolled out fully later this year, they will be shipping the magic bands abroad too?
Dee, I don’t know–moreover, it’s still just speculation that they’ll be rolled out more fully this year…
Can’t believe that I misspelled “hand”! You can see that english is not my first language!
I edited it for you!
Hey! It looks pretty cool! I like it
Tom. it’s a lot cooler than I thought it would be!
Thanks Dave!!!!!
🙂
I have to say after using these during our trip this week it was WONDERFUL! When we were at the airport my husband tried to pay for lunch with his watch he got so used to paying with the band! I recommend putting your band on one wrist and use a finger on the other hand for the finger scan. You then can put your band on the scanner and your finger on the scanner at the same time and it makes getting into the park MUCH faster. If you scan a finger on the same hand as your band then you have to scan your band then scan your finger. Grant it it’s only a few seconds longer but in the mad rush to get into the parks it makes all the difference!
Jennifer, what a great idea! I’ll do it that way this weekend!
Used FP+ over the weekend with just our park ticket and it worked very smoothly. We had magic bands for our room only and they worked just fine. It would be great if they figured out a way to link military tickets to the magic bands!
Cool, Lisa! I know they will figure out the military stuff one of these days…
Hi Dave,
Our flight gets in at 920, then magic express to AS Sports…doing Epcot first day.
What time do you think i can realistically plan being at Epcot/what time should my first fastpass+ be?
Thanks
Hey Keith, I’d allow 3 hours for ME, 30 mins to an hour for check in (faster if you do online) and 30 mins to an hour to get into Epcot. Plus you’ll want lunch…so I’d have my first window be 2.30-3.30.
sorry, arrive on Oct 18th
Going WDW 1Nov13 not staying on property want to but military discounted park tickets(we are eligible) what method of payment will they take ie: gift card visa, mastercard etc. ?
Dolores, I don’t know, so will ask an expert to weigh in.
Hi Dolores,
Shades of Green accepts all major credit cards and cash (no disney gift cards). I think they’ll take regular gift cards as well.
If you are buying direct from Disney (plus tax) they take everything.
Have fun.
hi dave – magic bands been customized since 60 days out . 37 days out today – when do u think theyll ship? cant find a “status”.
Hi Michellle! I’ve gotten mine a slate as a few days befroe departure. If you don’t have them by two weeks before you leave, give Disney a call…
Are magic bands & luggage tags shipped about a month from arrival? We have reservations for art of animation in feb & requested bldg 7 lake view. I was told they don’t select specific rooms until a month in advance. Should I call back at the time to verify my request?
Do you recommend purchasing the “memory maker” for photos?
Thanks!
Heather, if you’ve customized your bands, they seem to ship about 3 weeks before. You can do online check in and request specific rooms (how specific varies by hotel) beginning 60 days out. Actual assignments are made the day before or day of arrival. Personally, I’m not keen on the “memory maker” as you can get most of the photos yourself
If you could explain, the photo pass download option for $14.95 versus the memory maker advance purchase option for $149 I would appreciate it.
Thanks again!
The $14.95 download gets you one photo. Advance purchase gets you them all. See this: http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g34515-i19-k7054055-PhotoPass_vs_Memory_Maker-Orlando_Florida.html
In online checkin for art of animation is selecting lake view preference sufficient for bldg 7 or is there an additional item to check? Thanks again
Heather, if you are already in Lion King, then yes, that’s all you need to do to request building 7…
Do you have info yet on what fast pass+ to reserve in advance with the new magic band system? We are going to magic kingdom in February
Thanks for your great help!
Heather see the bottom of this page: https://yourfirstvisit.net/2013/08/20/what-you-need-to-know-now-about-fastpass/
Sorry I thought of another question. Can you link a disney gift card to magic band? Also Can you use a disney gift card to pay for food? Thank you!
No worries Heather! If you have the quesiton, so do other people! And that’s what I’m here for. The answers are yes, sort of, and yes, but see this: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=50359942
We are in little mermaid room. Requested bldg 7 lake view on the phone &
lake view at online check in. There were additional online options to check. Is there something else I should do? Thanks so much for all your work!
Oops Heather my mistake, I was a little dyslexic on the map. Yes, 7 is Little Mermaid!! I’d suggest also requesting “close to transportation” in case any rooms in building 8 are classed as lake view–I don’t think they are, but they might be…
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