Reviews of MagicBand
Reviewed by ThermoChamuco Review Date: 10/28/2013
Rating: (8) Recommended
Currently on first WDW trip with Magic Bands. The other reviews are all fair and accurate so I won't rehash what they said. I want to point out what I find to be a somewhat frustrating side effect. Yes, Magic Bands allow you to use FastPass+ to select 3 entitlements, be it rides, characters, parades, or shows. However, all 3 currently have to be in the same park. (OK, so, maybe that is more of a FP+ complaint, but seems to be counter intuitive to expecting folks to pay more for Park Hopper.) The big shock for me was that the old school FastPass distribution machines do NOT read Magic Bands. I am not trying to sound greedy. My family typically kept a close eye on the Mobile Magic app and would use runners to acquire FastPasses. We could easily do 6-8 FastPasses a day. Apparently no more with Magic Band. You have 3 entitlements in a single location and there will be no more there or any other hopped to location. I hope this is a limitation they find out how to tweak.
Pros:
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FastPass limitationsReviewed by RichardErnst61 Review Date: 10/22/2013
Rating: (9) Recommended
We were able to use the Magicbands during a 4 day trip to WDW for theFood and Wine Festival the2nd weekend of October. The Magicbands worked flawlessly at almost all of the locations, including Magical Express check-in. They make everything easier and no need to rummage through your pockets to find a key card or credit card to pay for items or get into your room. The only downside is that the keypad used to enter your pin for purchases is very small. I had minimal problems using them but my wife had a much higher chance if mis-keying her pin becaus of her longer nails.
Pros:
Very easy to use, works well, available everywhere on WDW propertyCons:
Small keypad on PIN machinesReviewed by cs1236 Review Date: 10/06/2013
Rating: (10) Recommended
Used magic bands from 9/22-9/29 used for hotel rooms, fast pass plus, photo pass plus, park hoppers, and dining. Never had to use our regular key to the world card in fact left them in the room. Band is comfortable like a watch or bracelet my 5 year old grand daughter never to hers off she swam and showered with it. Never had any issues. Very convenient .
Pros:
EverythingCons:
NoneReviewed by Brandon Review Date: 09/26/2013
Rating: (10) Recommended
I was skeptical at first because it was my first trip to Disney and I didn't want to ruin it with a new product. I just didn't want anything to mess up my time at the most magical place on earth. Let me tell you that it performed outstandingly. The MagicBand is the only way to go for me. You can use it any where for anything as long as you have your access code. There really isn't a need for a wallet or purse when you are out and about. This made the trip for me so much easier and stress free. My wife wishes she could use this thing in our everyday lives, for my sake thank God she can't!
Pros:
Easily used, no need for wallet in the parksCons:
N/AReviewed by clayalex02 Review Date: 09/12/2013
Rating: (9) Recommended
We were selected to do the Magic+ while staying at the Yacht Club from 8/28 - 9/5. Received an email invite, but I had already filled out the request and had the fastpasses before the letter had come. We did have one glitch, my band worked for everything except for getting into my room. My DD24's band worked but mine would not. The manager at the front desk tried to fix it but no luck, so she tried to replace it. It still did not work and neither did my card. Stopped at the front desk the next morning, just to let them know it still did not work, but did not want to stand around while the tried to fix it. They said the they would work on it and leave me a message. No message, so I stopped by that night and they finally got it to work. However, my DD24's band did not work anymore. But a quick stop at the front desk fixed it and all was good from then on. Every restaurant worked fine, on the meal plan they will ask to scan it first, but they usually asked to see your card anyway so no big deal. Can't wait until these are SOP!~
Pros:
easy to useCons:
still some glitchesReviewed by sabu1953 Review Date: 09/09/2013
Rating: (8) Recommended
Tested these 8/30 thru 9/7 and found them to be great for the most part. A few glitches when entering theme parks, but they have people there ready to help with the problem. Speeds up everything !
Pros:
Don't have to carry anything !Cons:
Sometimes glitches come upReviewed by creativegenius Review Date: 02/10/2013
Rating: (0) Recommended
We were really hoping to participate in this thinking it would give us an experience similar to the Universal Express passes that worked so well over there.
As of right now, the front desk here at the Boardwalk told us they were running some tests in Dec / Jan but at the moment they are not doing anything with them here at this resort. The unit to accept them is here, but that was it. We think we saw one person in Epcot today with the band on, but that would be the only one.
So at the moment, no Fastpass+ or anything like that available. Kind of a bummer, but we knew that February was pretty early in the year for a new technology.
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Not available yet.Reviewed by cccc Review Date: 04/06/2024
Rating: (5) Not Recommended
Set up and use is not at all intuitive
Pros:
don't see any pros yet.Cons:
Instructions say to begin by pressing the button on the back to power it up. /there is no button to push. So from the beginning, the instructions and use are not intuitive nor do they match the device.Reviewed by Anonymous Review Date: 05/22/2023
Rating: (1) Not Recommended
Don’t waste your money on Disney’s new Magic Band. You are not able to run the update that is required if you have an Android Phone so you are not able to customize it as advertised. The thing about this Magic Band Plus Disney knows there is an issue but don’t let their guest know it. Even after several complaints and requests to let consumers know Disney still has not let guests know about this issue. Don’t waste your time with Disney IT helpdesk either they make you wait several days before they respond to requests for help only to tell you yeah, they know it has a glitch and there is nothing you can do.
Pros:
NONE not worth the extra money it cost, cause did doesn't work as advertised.Cons:
he thing about this Magic Band Plus Disney knows there is an issue but don’t let their guest know it. Even after several complaints and requests to let consumers know Disney still has not let guests know about this issue. Don’t waste your time with Disney IT helpdesk either they make you wait several days before they respond to requests for help only to tell you yeah, they know it has a glitch and there is nothing you can do.Reviewed by Anonymous Review Date: 02/19/2023
Rating: (3) Not Recommended
Convenient if you have a disability pass and multiple folks in your party. Don’t have to use your phone but…you could use the free card. The buzzing on your arm at Animal Kingdom could drive one to insanity. Kept buzzing for no reason. Also kept coming off with brushes against your body or someone else’s. Sometimes just fell off. I lost mine on the Dwarves Mine train. The staff is fantastic!! They found mine. We found someone else’s at the same ride and turned it in for them. It literally wasn’t there when we arrived and 15 minutes later it was lying in between us. It needs a loop to place over the cheap plastic male/female prongs…like the Tapoo at Universal Volcano Bay (heavy duty, water proof, not going anywhere, works the same way, given FREE at the gate and returned upon leaving.) After Disney…these are worthless except as a souvenir. If it had a clock function… even a cheap digital flashing Walmart type/gum ball toy watch function, it’d be worth it.
