We know Magicbands will be available for off-site guests starting March 31, so naturally the next question is how much? They will be $12.95 to purchase. Cheaper than we had originally thought.
Of course you still will not get all of the onsite advantages. Off-site guests can schedule their Fastpass+ reservations 30 days out, just like passholders. On site guests still get the 60 day advantage. You will also get to use the “My Disney Experience App” so you won’t just me limited to the in park kiosks.
Keep in mind that you don’t have to have a Magicband. Your RFID ticket will work just fine.
As far as how you will purchase them, that info has not been released yet. As soon as we know you will know.
Do you think the price is reasonable? Would you buy one?
Wishing you Faith, Trust, and Pixie Dust
Sunshine
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Thanks for reporting back. When I asked my husband he said they were scanning bands when we were there too, I guess I didn’t notice while I was there
We just got back from a trip. We stayed on property but had two friends join us who bought discounted Florida resident passes that had to be activated at the gate. I assume the process is similar to the military tickets, where you have to show an ID to activate them before they can be used.
They decided they wanted to buy them pretty quickly after seeing how much easier it was then pulling out their tickets each time we did FP+. Several (but not all) gift shops in each park sell them, but the locations are on the maps now. At the register they did something with the band and the ticket to link everything together. Not sure what the exact process was because I wasn’t standing with them, but it took less than 10 minutes (including debating which colors they wanted to buy and waiting in line) and they were very glad they did it.
So, we just got back last night (missed the first soft open for Seven Dwarfs Mine Train by a day! Ugh!) and as promised, I’m reporting back!
It was exactly as I expected – we only ended up doing EMH one night (MK was open until 2am!) but there was a cast member at the entrance to each ride with a small handheld scanner, about the size of an old game boy.
There was three in our group but they only scanned one of our bands at each line – sometimes they’d ask which resort we were staying at (I guess as an extra step to confirm we said what their screen displayed) but most of the cast members just scanned it an let us go. I think it just depended on how bored they were, lol.
I’m guessing when you were there was when they were still being tested, so they didn’t need to scan anything since ONLY resort guests had them at the the time.
Some friends who joined us (Florida residents) for a couple of days of the trip bought the magic bands almost immediately after seeing how much easier it was then pulling out their cards each time. Even though they were trying to stick to a tight budget, at $13 a piece they felt it was worth it. It definitely was easier with the FP+ system to just tap our wrists and walk on.
Yes please let me kmow what you observe!
I’m assuming the magic bands will be coded differently in the system for on-site / off-site guests. That would keep the off-property guests from getting in during morning magic hours and the CMs who used to stand around checking room key cards for evening magic hours may have some sort of handheld device to scan the Magic Bands instead.
We’ll be there in 45 days (just made the final payment today!) so I’ll report back to you 😉
No what I am saying is that it used to be unless I am confused, to be in the park during the magic hours and to ride the rides, you had to show proof of you staying on property and that was by pulling out your key card and showing them that you were staying on a Disney property. Now with the magic bands, everyone who has a band can get on the rides, thus making it just as crowded during the magic hours then regular hours….am I wrong? I was just there last week and during the even magic hours, I didn’t even have to use my magic band, maybe they saw it on my wrist?? So basically anyone could go on the rides during the magic hours.
The magic bands have nothing to do with the extra magic hours. They are literally just your park ticket/ key to the world card in bracelet form, and you can use FastPassPlus with the card or the magic band. On site guests get them for free because they are also the room key.
If you are staying off property and want the convenience of not having to pull out cards for getting in and using Fast Pass Plus (and think it will make you look cool) then you can buy a magic band. The Memory Maker can also be linked to them, if I’m not mistaken, as well as your credit card if you want to charge items. Super convenient if you are going to the water parks on your trip (no carrying anything else) but maybe not worth it if you are not and you are counting pennies.
But then how does that work with the magic hours? Wasn’t part of the magic hours for people who stay on site? So now there will be more people in the park during those hours?
Magic Bands for on site are supposed to be good for a year I believe..maybe longer?? Not sure how it all works to reuse but that is what we were told
Question…. We get the discount tickets thru the military and have to activate those military tickets at the gate of our first park. How could we take advantage of these?
don’t need to buy one because we always stay on site. But I have heard they are only good for one trip. Is that accurate? Wouldn’t it make sense to “tie” them to a person? Easier on the environment, too.
Not as bad as I thought. Considering it’s Disney doing the bands, I don’t find the price bad at all. I am definitely going to do them for our next trip next year! 🙂