The Disney Magic Bands are starting to roll out to more Walt Disney World Resorts, and that means even more guests are using them or will be soon. With that being said, not every single thing is known about them yet and they are still technically in the “testing phase.”
They are fully live at Disney’s Pop Century Resort and a few others, and will be a full-go in the coming months. Word from Disney is that they are supposed to roll out in full at all resorts by the end of the year.
A Cast Member from Disney’s Pop Century Resort had a few tips to pass along, and they are important to remember for any guests using their Magic Bands.
~ Once you enter your four-digit pin for your band, do not forget it. Your pin is needed for room charging, using the dining plan, and every other type of transaction you’ll use your Magic Band for.
~ Entering your pin number incorrectly three times will lock your Magic Band. Once locked, the band can only be unlocked by going to the front desk of your resort or guests relations in a Disney Park. You will need a photo ID to reset the pin and unlock the band.
~ The Mickey head emblem on the Magic Bands is the main sensor. You need to make sure that the Mickey head on your band touches the Mickey head on the RFID devices (touch-to-pay, touch-to-enter, etc…) to make sure things work properly.
It is recommended that you wear your Disney Magic Band with the Mickey head emblem on the inside of your wrist. This will help you from having to bend all out of shape to get the Mickey heads to touch together.
Mine worked great last week until the electrical storm. Then it was very difficult to match up and read. I went to my front desk and they said it was cause of the storm and nothing they could do.
“It is recommended that you wear your Disney Magic Band with the Mickey head emblem on the inside of your wrist. This will help you from having to bend all out of shape to get the Mickey heads to touch together.”
And encourage you to buy something to cover the ugly other side! ha-ha! (Never had an issue wearing it the other way.)
“It is recommended that you wear your Disney Magic Band with the Mickey head emblem on the inside of your wrist. This will help you from having to bend all out of shape to get the Mickey heads to touch together.”
Would that be the opposite of what they show in the photo here? Looks like the Mickey emblem is on the outside of the wrist in the photo.
It all depends on how you feel comfortable. The touch-to-enter turnstiles are easy to access while wearing the band as shown in the picture. But the touch-to-pay RFID scanners around the parks would be easier to access if wearing the band the other way. Either way…you’re going to have to twist and bend in some odd ways if you choose to wear the band instead of just having it attached to a bag or something.
I am confused by the fully live at Pop Century thing. Does this mean all Pop Century guests have the option of using them?
Not the option, but Disney will fully offer them up to guests. If you are staying there soon and have not received word about them, call Disney with your reservation number.
will they work at the Epcot food and wine kiosks this year?
Have not heard if they will, but since things can be charged to your room via the MBs, I don’t see why they wouldn’t.
Can you get them and use them even if you are not staying at a disney resort. We are going with our daughter for the first time and staying at a local timeshare. We are doing our reservations for the week for the parks, restaurants, etc online and love this idea.
As of right now, MagicBands are only available to those staying at Walt Disney World Resorts and soon to Annual Passholders. There is no word on if or when the possible time frame for other guests.
How do you upload the photos that were scanned onto your magic band?
What about kids? My 4 yo will probably not want to wear his. And my 7 yo will loose hers. Will you need it for attractions and such? or just for dinning and admission.
Your FASTPass+ reservations will be on your MagicBands. They will need to at least be with you.
I live in the Caribbean and I booked and fully paid for my stay online. I would like to know the delivery process for getting my bands because its been two weeks and no delivery of bands or package
Leeann, have you contacted Disney to make sure you are a part of the testing phases? I would contact them ASAP to be sure so that you can personalize your bands and get them delivered in time. But they can also be picked up at the front desk upon check-in.
I found out today we are getting magic bands. I called Disney to know how fast i should order my bands and if the bands are to be fully implemented by our trip in late January. I was told the faster i order them the better. I was also told we were still part of the testing, and the bands will not be fully implemented until late February.