Reviews of MagicBand
Reviewed by mcmouse Review Date: 03/29/2014
Rating: (9) Recommended
We just returned from a trip to the World and used Magic Bands for the first time. We had no issues at all with them. In fact, they allowed us to use the express entry for "guests without bags" the entire trip. We are a couple without children traveling with us so there were no backpacks, diaper bags, strollers etc. We saved a lot of time not having to wait in the bag check lines. Everything we needed was on the bands. Fast Passes worked fine. It was really nice not having to fish around for our Key to the World Cards every time we entered our resort room or a park. They truly are waterproof, as we swam with them and wore them in the hot tubs repeatedly. They were not uncomfortable at all and never came off until we took them off ourselves. We were skeptical about them at first, but had no issues and are believers now.
Pros:
easy to useCons:
—Reviewed by lw Review Date: 03/16/2014
Rating: (4) Recommended
Having just returned from a Disney vacation over Spring Break I feel this was the first real 'test run' for Fastpass+. The concept in theory is great if everything is working and that is where the problem rests. An example for our party of eleven was a visit to Typhoon Lagoon on Tuesday March 11th. As we are patrons from Canada our bands are not shipped to us prior to vacation departure but we receive them upon check-in which seems reasonable. Unfortunately, 4 members of our party 2adults and 2 children were denied access to a Typhoon Lagoon as it was not synchronized on their passes. The ipad carrying Fastpass resolvers explained they had not paid for this product and denied them access to the park. Which was highly upsetting. Our family members were then shuffled to wait in line at guest services to pay for a product which they had. At this point a very expensive telephone call was made to Canada where our travel agent scanned and emailed documentation showing payment for waterpark and more. This was a very upsetting situation. The Disney Fastpass resolvers were rude and it seemed their job is to push people through lines or ask for payment. It just was not the Disney hospitality that one expects.
I hope that once these glitches are resolved the Fastpass+ is a success.
Pros:
Simplicity. No need to carry money credit cards in park.Cons:
A few snags to be worked on by Disney.Reviewed by Scrapping in Ontario Review Date: 03/06/2014
Rating: (10) Recommended
We have used MagicBands for our last 3 trips and love, love, love them! It's so nice having everything easily accessible - room key, park pass, dining plan, charging, etc.
The one time my nice accidentally keyed in the wrong pin a couple of times it only took a quick was to Guest Services to fix the problem.
GREAT improvement Disney! Hope to see them on your ships for all to use soon!!!
Pros:
easy to wear, love not carrying a card, easily accessibleCons:
—Reviewed by BMGDISNEY Review Date: 03/05/2014
Rating: (9) Recommended
We received our bands before we had left for Disney. We made sure they were in our carry on bags so they would be able to use when we arrived at the airport. We did not realize that the bands could be used to check in and check out of the resort so keep that in mind. Never had a problem with any of the bands. They all worked for the room, the dining plan, and the fast passes. The only problem I kept running into is when I would have my daughter go in one line, such as at Cosmic Ray's, and I in another, that I would forget to tell her the PIN number so that she could get her meal. Or if she was getting a snack from one place, and myself from another, she would have to track me down to once again get the PIN number. I appreciate the security so no one can use your band in case you lose it however. I just need to remember next year to give her the PIN number each time. The last thing on a teenagers mind is remembering a PIN number to get a snack. Also, since I do not include charging privileges on any of the bands, I don't mind her having the PIN number. Also saves me from unbudgeted and frivolous purchases. All in all, fantastic system, and the bugs had been worked out.
Pros:
Ease of useCons:
Everyone that is able to use it in your party needs the PIN number to use their creditsReviewed by mmc55 Review Date: 03/04/2014
Rating: (5) Not Recommended
Great convenience to enter your Resort room. No problems when entering the parks. Somewhat cool to wear - makes WDW even more special. But - and this is a big but - it's easy to lose track of your spending. Just see something you want or eat and instantly you have it - works real good. I was at CBR and a lady in front of me in line was proud how easily she completed her Magicband transaction, she said she had lots of practice - I said that's a bad thing - she didn't laugh. I bet I beat her by the end of our visit.
Pros:
Convenient/FashionableCons:
Too ConvenientReviewed by hello12345 Review Date: 02/03/2014
Rating: (6) Recommended
Jury is still out on this one. I was able to connect my room key, annual passes, and charging on the band. In the past I would have to carry a stack of cards for passes and room key. Disney also offers accessories for the bands to make even more $$. Well played Disney, well played! We did not have any issues with the bands and they worked fine. However, I did notice multiple issues when entering the parks. One bad band or problem will hold up an entire line. One morning at Hollywood Studies the entry line was moving at a snails pace due to the entire system running slow. What happens if system crashes even for 15-20 minutes? I'm giving the bands a solid 6 because it is a good concept. I can't say the same about Fastpass+.
Pros:
Everything goes on bandCons:
Slows down park entranceReviewed by rlaneyd Review Date: 01/29/2014
Rating: (5) Not Recommended
NOT A FAN OF THE BAND!!! Sorry, but I do prefer the Key to the World card that I slip in/out with ease in my Passporter pouch holder. No matter how I adjusted it the band just wasn't fitting me to suit. Sometimes it would work in the restaurants, sometimes it wouldn't. My husband had trouble with his band entering the parks a few times. Disney needs a better option for people who do not want wear the band around their wrist and fearful of losing it if attached elsewhere, like looped thru my wristwatch band.
Pros:
Everything loaded on itCons:
Didn't function properly every time, not comfortableReviewed by BacksideOfWater1971 Review Date: 01/26/2014
Rating: (9) Recommended
I enjoyed useing the new Magic Band system. It was fun customising the band online and I love The Incredible box it came in.
To enter your room, use a dining plan credit. use photopass, and enter the parks all you do is tap the band.
I only had two issues with the band itself. One was when i first checked in they didn't have me set up a pin so when I tried to get my refillable mug there was a slight issue but it was easily fixed. Then at Test Track the first time I rode my band deleted my car after the ride not allowing me to do the fun post-show things with it. The second time i rode it saved my car so I did get to do all that.
Is the My magic + system perfect? no. That's why it is still in testing. Everyone should keep that in mind.
Pros:
don't have to keep digging the card outCons:
A few bugs still in the systemReviewed by pls Review Date: 01/23/2014
Rating: (3) Not Recommended
I was part of a family group of 10, and we spend HOURS of park time both at our resort and at Epcot trying to link up our bands (to be fair, each cast member who tried to help us gave us extra fast passes, and one gave us a $50 Epcot merchandise certificate because we had so many issues) to each other and to the memory maker. We and the cast members were never able to link my mother's band to the rest of ours. Several of our group had problems at the park entrance when the bands did not work. If we wanted to park hop, we could not split our fast pass selections between the parks (you can only select one park for the three fast passes each day). We did not have a problem with the meal plan or charging things back to the rooms. We were all upset that there were so many kinks with the band, all the expense of our time and aggrevation.
Pros:
No need to fumble for a park ticket/room keyCons:
multipleReviewed by jackiejzhou Review Date: 01/20/2014
Rating: (7) Recommended
Convenient to enter the parks, room, pay for food and merchindice. Can't choose FastPass+ in multiple parks each day. We had park hopping tickets. Could only book fastpass online for one park.
