A few weeks ago, I wrote about my experience with Digital Key, the keyless way to open your room door simply by using the My Disney Experience app on your Bluetooth-enabled mobile device.
At the time, I was staying at the Boulder Ridge Villas at Wilderness Lodge, and the feature was just beginning to be rolled out.
As of now, though, you can use Digital Key at ALL Walt Disney World Resorts! The rollout is complete.
In case you’re wondering, here’s how it works:
When you reach your room, open your My Disney Experience app on your mobile device and go to your Reservations. You should see something like this:
Hold your device close to the door lock and tap the “unlock door” button on your device’s screen.
If everything’s working the way it ought to, you’ll hear the lock on your door click and you’re in! The lock is open and you may enter your room. Just in case you don’t hear the click, your device will tell you of your success, with a magical sound and a sprinkle of pixie dust across the screen:
If you struggle with contorting your wrist to use your MagicBands, if you’re the forgetful sort who leaves your MagicBand behind somewhere, or even if you just love new tech, then this alternative is for you. I have since used Digital Key at the BoardWalk Resort, too, and find it so easy to use — not only at the room, but also at other locked areas around the resort, including pools and fitness centers.
Oh, if only everything in life worked so well! As I said in my earlier report, I am amazed at what we can do just by holding our phone or mobile devices in our hands.
Have you used the new Digital Key feature of the My Disney Experience app? What do you think? What other enhancements would you like to see in MDE? Let us know in the comments below.
The first time my wife and I went to Disney World was 1986. I lost my room key (actual brass key attached to a giant plastic room tag) on space mountain. It’s probably still there under the tracks. Good times, good times!
I was at the resort September 4-9 and this option to unlimited k the door (as well as the bus times) were only available once, while I was in my room at jambo house. Actually, we had a split stay and when we got to beach club, the magic bands wouldn’t work, so I called the front desk and was prompted to use my phone to unlock the door, that didn’t work.
Disney wasted time on this feature.
We’re going to WDW over the holidays staying at Yacht Club. Maybe it’s me, but using my Magic Band sounds a whole lot easier than digging out my cell and going to the app. New “experience” is not for me, WDW.
I’m an older Disney fan that is not up-to-date on technology. I like the magic bands and hope they keep them around. I don’t have a sophisticated phone, only a basic one. So I’m sure it wouldn’t work on mine anyway.
Completely et positively agree with Dana Privette concerning the use of the cell. phones all around Disney World.
Can people just stay away for just a day or a week from their phones ? Hey,you’re on vacation !!
People filming the “Fantasmic” show,30-40 minutes,with their phones just in front your face !! Still wandering what they do with their recording (most of the times,inaudible and with a lack of good images)after the show..
Suggestion:People without a cell at the front gate should receive a FREE fastpass !! (just joking!)
Considering how badly the My Disney Experience app seems to work on property (especially when using Disney’s wi-fi), this seems like potential frustration more than convenience. It takes forever to load and it seems like a recent update causes it to crash frequently when just trying to open it.
I guess it’s nice that they’re providing another option but just tapping a Magic Band seems so much easier. It would be nice if Disney began allowing Annual Passholders to permanently link their credit card to the Band so it could be used for purchases when visiting, not just when staying at a resort.
Does anyone use common sense anymore?
#1 who wants to take a cell to pool and chance getting wet (you’re on vacation)
#2 what’s easier: using magic band to open door or getting out your cell and going through all those steps? The benefit it going from keys to magic band was so you wouldn’t have to mess around trying to find your phone.
Disney: Use some common sense please. PLEASE don’t take MB out of the equation.
DEBK Replies: MagicBands can still be used to open door locks — the Digital Key in the My Disney Experience app is just an alternative.
I really wish Disney would stop encouraging the use of mobile phones on property. It completely goes against Walt’s dream of stepping outside the real world while on vacation. Nothing was more disheartening than sitting in Carousel of Progress and looking down my row and seeing the entire row staring down at their phones.
Can we still just use our magic bands? I prefer that to my phone.
DEBK Replies: Yes, absolutely. The Digital Lock is just an alternative, MagicBands will still work!
My wife and I love WDW and everything about it , this feature in my own personal opinion is this , as you said open app, go to reserv, then wait for click and maybe wait for pixie dust. I suffer from severe RA and a simple pass in front within 2 inches allows me to have my pockets emptied and shoes off before the family staying beside me see’s that dust, just saying tech good , but if you are contorting your wrist on a magic band then this will cause you alot more pain , oh well to each there own