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To band or not to band

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Mon, 03/31/2014 - 11:50
Blackeyed's picture
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To band or not to band

OK - So this will be my first trip to The World since the Magic+ came along..

As we're not staying on site this time we won't get wristbands. I know that we can buy them in the parks once we're there though... so....

Is it worth the upgrade from a card? -

They look pretty darn cool and the kids I think will love them - It'll save me carrying their cards in my wallet too!

What's people's opinion on these?

confused

P.S.

Sorry if this has all been asked before - I couldn't see it in a thread. (though I admit I didn't look very hard!)

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Mon, 03/31/2014 - 11:56
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I would say go for it, we did the testing in September gone and we got the bands but I would pay for them! they are so easy to use and like you say if you have kids saves you having to get all the cards out, and with FP+ you will need the cards more than ever!

I love mine I would like one for day to day life!!!!

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Mon, 03/31/2014 - 13:13
King Fergus

I agree with Amy...Your kids will see other kids with them on and ask why haven't we got them..Apart from the obvious benefits of not carting any cash in your pockets,they make cool souvenirs ... clapping

Mon, 03/31/2014 - 13:19
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No cash in pocket !!!!!! My I suggest, if you have a notepad on your phone, to keep a running list of what you charged to your room? That can be a bit shocking if not prepared. We plan to do this since we will be at F&W (and Beer) for two days.

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Mon, 03/31/2014 - 13:30
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I'm a fan of the band, but depending how many people I was traveling with and how much each band costs and how long I was staying, I might think twice about purchasing them if they were not included in my package. I definitely wouldn't do it if I was only visiting for a day or two, but for a week or more, I definitely would!

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December 2013: 10th Anniversary, 1st DVC Stay | April 2014: Birthday on the Boardwalk | May 2014: Star Wars Weekend, Navigating WDW with a wheelchair | August 2014: Villains Unleashed | September/October 2014: MNSSHP, F&W, Tower of Terror 10-miler | March/April 2015: Disneyland and California Coastal Cruise | November 2015: Wine & Dine Half, Food & Wine, 1st Disney Cruise | February 2016: Presidential Classic Gymnastics Meet | March 2016: "Work" Trip, Tours, F&G Festival | April 2016: Conference at Disneyland | Fall 2016: Festive Fall Fun | January 2017: Festival of the Arts | May 2017: AbD Backstage Magic | July 2017: AbD San Francisco | Sorry I had to give up doing trip reports. Too many time commitments right now.

Mon, 03/31/2014 - 13:31
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oldtink wrote:
No cash in pocket !!!!!! My I suggest, if you have a notepad on your phone, to keep a running list of what you charged to your room? That can be a bit shocking if not prepared. We plan to do this since we will be at F&W (and Beer) for two days.

can you charge to the bands if your staying off site???? also for people staying on site what we used to do was go to the front desk and they give you an itemised print out of your spends whenever you want we did that once or twice our past trip????

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Mon, 03/31/2014 - 14:51
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amy1989 wrote:
oldtink wrote:
also for people staying on site what we used to do was go to the front desk and they give you an itemised print out of your spends whenever you want we did that once or twice our past trip????

That is exactly what I was going to suggest doing, that way you can track your expenses very closely.

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Mon, 03/31/2014 - 16:16
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We just received Magic Bands for our Annual passes. I had the option to attach a credit card & PIN for charging to the bands. We don't have kids, so I've found that bands or cards are about the same for FP+ (you don't even have to take your card out of your wallet to scan - just hold the wallet to the scanner). If you have kids, then Magic Bands might be easier and quicker to scan through the FP+ lanes - each one has to be scanned individually either way.

Or if the kids are old enough to go on their own, being able to charge to their MB might have some benefit. Then again... maybe not.

Mon, 03/31/2014 - 23:54
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I say go for it!

Tue, 04/01/2014 - 00:26
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amy1989 wrote:
oldtink wrote:
No cash in pocket !!!!!! My I suggest, if you have a notepad on your phone, to keep a running list of what you charged to your room? That can be a bit shocking if not prepared. We plan to do this since we will be at F&W (and Beer) for two days.

can you charge to the bands if your staying off site???? also for people staying on site what we used to do was go to the front desk and they give you an itemised print out of your spends whenever you want we did that once or twice our past trip????

No, people staying off site can not use the Magicband for charging privileges.

Tue, 04/01/2014 - 00:41
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The bands are $12.95 each and only work for fastpasses along with park admission. You can't touch to pay with them unless you are staying at a Disney Resort. I think you may able to use memory maker with them as well.

Tue, 04/01/2014 - 09:09
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Hmm...
I think they are really cool - But now I know the cost...

That's another 50 bucks on top of the monumental price I've already paid for Disney tickets.

I'm thinking the bands will have to wait until our next on-site stay. Sad

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Tue, 04/01/2014 - 11:00
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Personally I think they are pointless for the price....however I would buy them, although I would want my name on it and choice of colour.

Its like lanyards, I never had one... until we stayed on site and then it was the best thing ever!!!!!

Tue, 04/01/2014 - 12:19
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oh wow. $12.95?? Yeah I wouldn't buy them.

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Be good at something. It makes you valuable. Have something to bring to the table because that will make you more welcome. --Randy Pausch

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Trip Reports:
December 2013: 10th Anniversary, 1st DVC Stay | April 2014: Birthday on the Boardwalk | May 2014: Star Wars Weekend, Navigating WDW with a wheelchair | August 2014: Villains Unleashed | September/October 2014: MNSSHP, F&W, Tower of Terror 10-miler | March/April 2015: Disneyland and California Coastal Cruise | November 2015: Wine & Dine Half, Food & Wine, 1st Disney Cruise | February 2016: Presidential Classic Gymnastics Meet | March 2016: "Work" Trip, Tours, F&G Festival | April 2016: Conference at Disneyland | Fall 2016: Festive Fall Fun | January 2017: Festival of the Arts | May 2017: AbD Backstage Magic | July 2017: AbD San Francisco | Sorry I had to give up doing trip reports. Too many time commitments right now.

Tue, 04/01/2014 - 12:28
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amy1989 wrote:
oldtink wrote:
No cash in pocket !!!!!! My I suggest, if you have a notepad on your phone, to keep a running list of what you charged to your room? That can be a bit shocking if not prepared. We plan to do this since we will be at F&W (and Beer) for two days.

can you charge to the bands if your staying off site???? also for people staying on site what we used to do was go to the front desk and they give you an itemised print out of your spends whenever you want we did that once or twice our past trip????

No, I do not believe you can. Yes, I know you can ask for a print out at the desk, BUT if more than one person is "swiping the band" it adds up quickly. This way I just know.

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"At some point in life you have to decide if you're the Tigger or the Eeyore."...Randy Pausch

"George Banks and all he stands for will be saved. Maybe not in life, but in imagination. Because that's what we storytellers do. We restore order with imagination. We instill hope again and again and again." Walt Disney

Tue, 04/01/2014 - 13:32
ZapperZ
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The band is worth having for the conveniences: the convenience of getting into the parks without having to fumble for the cards, the convenience of going though fastpass lines.

However, these conveniences are not worth $12.95. So unless you get it for free, I wouldn't buy it and will gladly tolerate the inconveniences of fishing for my card to get in.

Zz.

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Wed, 04/02/2014 - 23:48
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Philhowelldesign wrote:
Personally I think they are pointless for the price....however I would buy them, although I would want my name on it and choice of colour.

Its like lanyards, I never had one... until we stayed on site and then it was the best thing ever!!!!!

They do have different colors available but don't think you can get your name on it if you buy it at a store.

 
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