Magic bands and MCO

[TeeKayDawn]

Although myself and other half still have magic bands from last time. It will be four years since last used.
We are considering going to the MCO store to get new ones. If we buy them there will they set them up for us or will we have to do it ourselves?
I will need to head to guest services anyway due to DAS requirement so wanted to know peoples opinions on what you’d do.

[gismo1554]

I'd wait and get in park. Your old bands will work fine however apart from for ride photos so if you aren't bothered by this then I would just stick to those. The MCO collection isn't extensive so if you are thinking you want to get a specific one then its worth waiting and getting in the park.

[DisneyIrishMama]

sorry to drop in but can i ask why old bands wont work for ride photos?

[lovewdw]

There is a battery in magic bands that powers the transmitter used by the Onride photos long range readers. The battery lasts about 2 years.

After the battery dies, the magic band will still work where you tap it to a reader (park entry, fastpasses etc) as this functions similar to contactless cards and doesn't need a battery.

edit: Disney says batteries are designed to last at least 2 years, but some reports say up to 4 years.

[DisneyIrishMama]

thank you so much, i never knew that !

[Tinkjon]

You can us eold bands for ride photos whree you tap (eg. Buzz LIghtyear) but you won't get the automatic ones eg. Pirates.

[sammykitten]

Originally Posted by TeeKayDawn

Although myself and other half still have magic bands from last time. It will be four years since last used.
We are considering going to the MCO store to get new ones. If we buy them there will they set them up for us or will we have to do it ourselves?
I will need to head to guest services anyway due to DAS requirement so wanted to know peoples opinions on what you’d do.

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we weren't set on one particular band, so we did buy ours at MCO when we arrived. We both got bands we liked, and the staff there did help us link them to my MDE account before we left the store. They gave us visit badges too, it was very good customer service.

[TeeKayDawn]

Originally Posted by sammykitten

we weren't set on one particular band, so we did buy ours at MCO when we arrived. We both got bands we liked, and the staff there did help us link them to my MDE account before we left the store. They gave us visit badges too, it was very good customer service.

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Thank you, we’re not too fussed about design but just wanted more than the block colours they offered at guest services. We want to make sure we capture all bits of our trip so want to make sure the battery works for video, the 7dmt and TT videos were amazing and we didn’t know that we got the footage as part of the package til we viewed it one night back at the hotel ☺️

[gismo1554]

My battery worked for around the 3-4 year mark before it stopped

Originally Posted by TeeKayDawn

Thank you, we’re not too fussed about design but just wanted more than the block colours they offered at guest services. We want to make sure we capture all bits of our trip so want to make sure the battery works for video, the 7dmt and TT videos were amazing and we didn’t know that we got the footage as part of the package til we viewed it one night back at the hotel ☺️

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I just kept a list of rides with the extra stuff and then emailed when they didn't appear on the account (which as said I think was around 3-4 years after we got the bands). Still got all the extra footage just took an email off to sort. Also as suggested you could just use your old bands the first morning and shop for them in the park that day so you get the maximum choice? They are useable instantly.

[sammykitten]

Originally Posted by TeeKayDawn

Thank you, we’re not too fussed about design but just wanted more than the block colours they offered at guest services. We want to make sure we capture all bits of our trip so want to make sure the battery works for video, the 7dmt and TT videos were amazing and we didn’t know that we got the footage as part of the package til we viewed it one night back at the hotel ☺️

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If it helps, my daughter got the millenium pink, and I dithered over about 4 different ones before choosing a Minnie-design one.