Magic Band question

[luvkatiebug]

If a book a package with Disney and receive our magic bands in the mail, when I get to MK and customize one (at DTech for example) - do they transfer all of our info to the new one? Thanks.

[SurferStitch]

There's really nothing to transfer, per say. The new band is just assigned to your MDE account. I have several active bands on my account now from previous and upcoming trips. The DTech bands are no different. You will be able to use both bands interchangeably.

[Fangorn]

Just following up on SurferStich's comment.

NOTHING is actually stored on the bands. They merely contain an RFID chip that acts as a key code to access you MDE account. Tickets, reservations, FP+, ADRs, etc are attached to your MDE account and stored on Disney's servers. You can have multiple bands, all of which can access all of your information.

So, there truly isn't anything to transfer. The new band just needs to be linked to your MDE account. You can do it yourself via the MDE app, or the CM at the store will do it for you. Either way, it's pretty simple.

Steve

[Dream'nDisney]

So if we want to use a Magic Band from a previous trip, how exactly do we link it to our new reservation?

[Fangorn]

So if we want to use a Magic Band from a previous trip, how exactly do we link it to our new reservation?

You don't have to do anything. Bands are linked to your MDE account and stay linked until you specifically deactivate them. They are not linked to a specific reservation. When a new reservation is added to your MDE account, any existing bands can be used for that reservation as well as the new bands you will get.

You can deactivate specific bands if you want to. Some people have reported issues with multiple bands causing problems with their account. I have 7 active bands (as does DW) and we've not had any issues.

Remember, you MDE account is the center of the Disney universe. As long as it shows on your account, you should be good.

Steve

[Capt_redshirt]

One other word of note. Most RFID tags have a battery in them and they will last approximately 2 years. So while the tag might still be on record there will come a point where the band wont be able to retrieve it.

[sainter]

Just wondering then, if your battery dies in the middle of a trip, what do you do?

[ThanxForNoticin]

Just wondering then, if your battery dies in the middle of a trip, what do you do?

You probably head to guest relations for some assistance!

[Fangorn]

Just wondering then, if your battery dies in the middle of a trip, what do you do?

My understanding, based on the technical specs of the bands, is that there are actually two (2) RFID chips in the bands. One is powered by a battery, one is not. The battery powered chip is the one that allows the band to be tracked and used for things like ride pictures and delivering your meal at BOG. The battery allows the band to send out a very low powered radio signal. The other chip is a standard RFID chip that uses near-field induction as it's power source rather than a battery. It requires that the chip come into very close proximity to (i.e. "touching") the reader and it's the reader that actually supplies the power (generally via a magnetic field) to the chip so information can be transferred.

With the magic bands, you have to actually touch the reader (Mickey's head) for park entry, room entry, FP+ and making purchases. Those things don't use the battery powered chip. To do so would be a security risk.

So if the battery dies, not much really changes, other than Disney can't track you any longer. The band, for all practical purposes, becomes no different than the standard issue card you get if you don't have a band. Except it's wearable, of course.

Theoretically, the standard RFID functions should work indefinitely as long as the chip isn't damaged in some way. But we are talking Disney Tech here, so I wouldn't count on it.

Hope this makes sense.

Steve