HELP with magic bands

[Danny Timm]

So we’re heading off to WDW in December, there’s 7 of us all going. We are just wondering the benefits of magic bands, we are not staying in a Disney resort, nor are we annual pass holders. What sort of benefits do we get? I understand it is safer than getting a card out all the time, and a cool accessory but is it worth getting or not? Any opinions or past experiences would be really appreciated. Thankyou

[Shooby doo]

The only advantage worth having is if you have memory maker with your passes? On 7DMT & ToT you get a ride video added if one of you has a MB. You still get your pics without one but not the videos as each MB has a long range chip in that it needs to pick up.
Other than that, easy of use, that's it
SD

[disney07]

We got ours a couple of years ago and will be using them this time around. We just found them better than having to keep getting park tickets out and then one person looking after them. Also you fast passes can be linked to them so again just tap them as you enter the ride. Don’t have to worry about loosing tickets or fast passes x

[WhereIBelong]

We bought them - but there were only 4 of us. Being able to just tap and go, not have to have tickets there for entry, for FP+, for memory maker photos, for ride photos etc. was well worth it to us.

[chelynnah]

As everyone else has said, convenience and the bonus photos and videos on some rides if you have Memory Maker. Personally I love them. We purchased them on our trip in 2015 where we stayed offsite. They can be a little addictive. I've got a small collection of them now (very small). I just prefer them to having to get the card out every time we enter a park or FP queue. Less juggling of stuff. Just tap my wrist to the touchpoint and off we go.

But are they necessary - no, and for 7 people it can be expensive if it's just one person footing the bill.

[PPM]

You can always put your plastic ticket on a lanyard, or a retractable keyfob. It will do the things as others mentioned above. The ticket will always be handy and everyone has their own. Theres therefore no need to gather them altogether and issue them out before each ride.
Saying all that, we are “offsiters” and still use MBs but there’s just the two of us 🙂

[Stitch73]

Would always get Magic Bands as they are easy and it's another part of the Disney Magic. When I downloaded all our photos/videos at the end of the holiday I found we'd got extras, we ended up getting extra videos, well all the individual character meet photos put together with music.

We booked a throw away night as our party was large (9) so got 9 magic bands and 2 days of parking for 2 cars all included, we paid $95 and got aprox $214 dollars of Disney goods, see the thread here https://www.thedibb.co.uk/forums/sho... php?t=1062669

[loldis]

I was going to suggest the above. With 7 of you, it may well be cheaper to book one night at an on-site hotel for the free bands than to purchase them. An alternative is to visit one of the outlets before you go to the parks, they usually have older design bands (e.g. in December, they'll probably be Halloween themed) for $3-5 each instead of $10-15.

I wouldn't say they're any safer than a ticket though, just more convenient if you don't want to wear a lanyard or get your ticket out each time you want to access a park or FP.

[Stitch73]

Originally Posted by loldis

I was going to suggest the above. With 7 of you, it may well be cheaper to book one night at an on-site hotel for the free bands than to purchase them. An alternative is to visit one of the outlets before you go to the parks, they usually have older design bands (e.g. in December, they'll probably be Halloween themed) for $3-5 each instead of $10-15.

I wouldn't say they're any safer than a ticket though, just more convenient if you don't want to wear a lanyard or get your ticket out each time you want to access a park or FP.

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Maybe not a hotel but certainly the campsite as one "pitch" can have up to 10 people "stay" on there.

I was hoping to get some at one but Vineland Outlet hardly had anything when we were there last month