Magic band plus- confirmed news from Disney.

[brightlined]

Because you can use a regular MB to get into the LL. If the issue is the sheer amount of people using their phones those who already own a MB and those who are more interested in a less fancy MB that gets them the basic stuff and would purchase one are left out at the moment. I'm not sure that's a hard thing to understand.

Since you all were talking about the switch to phones, it's worth noting:

The phone switch isn't a tech "upgrade" in terms of LL. It's a cost-savings for DLR to not have to make cards. At best, it's a lateral change.

The truth is that the cards are faster than phones at LL points, and are only marginally slower than an MB would be. If DLR cared about the bottleneck at LL points, they would just issue more cards.

I made my own Magic Key card, and it takes maybe a half-second longer for me to get through it than with an MB at a tap point at WDW.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Since you all were talking about the switch to phones, it's worth noting:

The phone switch isn't a tech "upgrade" in terms of LL. It's a cost-savings for DLR to not have to make cards. At best, it's a lateral change.

The truth is that the cards are faster than phones at LL points, and are only marginally slower than an MB would be. If DLR cared about the bottleneck at LL points, they would just issue more cards.

I made my own Magic Key card, and it takes maybe a half-second longer for me to get through it than with an MB at a tap point at WDW.

I don't think any of us were making a claim about what Disney cared about but from a person saying they don't like bottlenecks and MB+ will help with that my point was you actually want regular MBs to be accepted as well if you want the process to be smoother on average as that increases the pool of available people to use it.

Most of the time the issue with the phone was getting it up on screen and swiping to the next person. Screentshots probably help on that but you know feeling like you have to do a screenshot here for a quick process on every attraction..yeah. I don't disagree about easily using a paper but that was the complete opposite of the point of MP which was to get FP+ on your phone and be able to select it that way.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

As I said, IF Disney plans to implement the infrastructure (like- what technology different parts of the system use) DIFFERENTLY at DLR than it works at WDW, then it would make sense for only MB+ to be supported at DLR. Because they do not have a legacy RFID infrastructure to build off of, there is no reason to assume they plan to build the system the same way for DLR. Do I know they're doing it differently? No, of course not. But frankly all of this is conjecture on all of our parts. I was simply trying to suggest a possible reason other than marketing that they might not support older MBs at DLR- that the plan to implement MB+ at DLR could require the other functionality for reasons not currently a factor at WDW.

Is the RFID tech different? Because it doesn't seem like from anything Disney has put out that the basic stuff of touching your MB to the mickey head, touching your MB to the photopass person's device is any different. Pondering out loud what would be different RFID tech that changes how it works with respect to this. I agree conjecture on all our parts, I'm just trying to think what would be so different in the background of the RFID tech in the MB+ that is sold for DLR (assuming you cannot use your WDW MB+) that makes it so the RFID tech in regular MBs is incompatible basing off of what they showed in the promo video and what we know of. Features I agree will differ slightly but will the bones such that regular MBs are actually incompatible is a question I suppose.

Surely privacy concerns on a CA state level wouldn't preclude tech used outside the state? But then again who knows I guess. I know privacy was a big talking point from people on why they hadn't of yet gotten MB perhaps there's permissions there that CA just won't allow

 

[Living42Day]

This is super exciting! I'm confused on all the arguing and frustration, though. If you would rather not shell out $70 for MB+, then you certainly are not obligated. People, I'm sure, will be more than welcome to continue using their phones if that makes things easier on their end.

There are people (like myself) who are more than happy to shell out $175 for a family of 5 to be able to finally have this technology at DL. I wouldn't be surprised if regular MB don't work at DL, because really they wouldn't have to. This is new technology coming to DL and will probably come with new MBs.

I guess I just don't see a big deal in upgrading?

 

[brightlined]

I think the point being missed here about the tech aspect is MBs are utilizing less tech than MB+. They are less of a burden to the system. There is nothing to be gained on Disney's side from a tech standpoint of not allowing regular MBs. The RFID is the same stuff as the regular MB which works on MB+ without it being charged and Disney is advertising that.

So if you're confident that the issue is using an unproven tech system at DLR that would not be the case to start with a more cumbersome, system-heavy device that is open to more issues going wrong with it (like not charging, features not working, pairing issues and more). That's the cart before the horse here. If they were wanting to get the system to a point of proven reliability it would be to use more simple tech especially one already shown to work with much more consistency.

There are a lot more burdens involved than just tech. That it's a "lighter" tech isn't really relevant. The burden of simply attaching thousands of existing MB2s to DLR accounts/tickets is sizeable in and of itself. The support burden of any failures is also sizeable.

If you have a WDW MB2 on your account right now, the DLR system has no knowledge of its existence. At whatever point DLR decides to accept them, they'll have to implement a system by which you'll be able to attach them to your ticket. They also won't work the same way on that end - WDW attaches MBs to users, DLR will attach them to tickets. So they can't just borrow WDW's tech.

MB2 is essentially a glorified WDW RFID ticket card. There's no equivalent of that at DLR. Everything about it would be new at DLR.

MB+ doesn't work that way, and doesn't attach to accounts the same way.

I can't even really react to the second paragraph - it just doesn't make any sense. Overall reliability isn't the issue - they want to sell MB+s, so they want the system to work the best it can with MB+s. Bringing in MB2s doesn't help with that.

If they believed that second paragraph - they would just sell MB2 and not bother with MB+.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

There are a lot more burdens involved than just tech. That it's a "lighter" tech isn't really relevant. The burden of simply attaching thousands of existing MB2s to DLR accounts/tickets is sizeable in and of itself. The support burden of any failures is also sizeable.

If you have a WDW MB2 on your account right now, the DLR system has no knowledge of its existence. At whatever point DLR decides to accept them, they'll have to implement a system by which you'll be able to attach them to your ticket. They also won't work the same way on that end - WDW attaches MBs to users, DLR will attach them to tickets. So they can't just borrow WDW's tech.

MB2 is essentially a glorified WDW RFID ticket card. There's no equivalent of that at DLR. Everything about it would be new at DLR.

MB+ doesn't work that way, and doesn't attach to accounts the same way.

I can't even really react to the second paragraph - it just doesn't make any sense. Overall reliability isn't the issue - they want to sell MB+s, so they want the system to work the best it can with MB+s. Bringing in MB2s doesn't help with that.

If they believed that second paragraph - they would just sell MB2 and not bother with MB+.

Millions of guests attach their tickets to their accounts which show up on their MBs or MB+. My MDE account on DL is the same stuff as MDE for WDW. Tickets attach the same way. They are already planning on attaching millions of guests for MB+, they don't think just a few thousand will buy MB+.

As far as attaching to a ticket when you purchase DLR tickets and put them on the app you assign them to a person the same as you do at WDW. When you get a MB you have to pair it to a person. I'm looking at these steps for MB+ (albeit for WDW because DLR isn't out yet) and they do not appear to be any different than MBs in pairing to a person. In order to pair to a person through the app you have to have a profile for them (even if you're all under one person who is managing their account). I agree it would be an added thing to one's profile but no more than what exists already with WDW MDE. What I guess I'm trying to convey here is we're not talking some earth shattering thing. The apps already function very similarly, the MDE profiles as well. I mean they make you have the same login info across all platforms lol.

With the unproven tech part of my comment...hey I was just responding to your comments about it being "when you're launching something new, you try to limit your exposure as much as possible. There's no sense in opening yourself up to more potential harm. Accepting MB2 on day one would be significantly opening up their exposure with very few upsides to DLR." And "guests using as-yet unproven (at DLR) tech during what would arguably be a testing period." From a standpoint of testing tech going the harder, labor-intensive track with a park that hasn't even used the more basic tech would seem like putting the cart before the horse. I didn't say what Disney believed just was responding to what you wrote.


Clearly Disney has their reasons.. I've got to go work out now and think we've exhausted this topic already enough today Please take no offense should I not answer, the immediate topic has probably been engaged enough and I've got to move onto other responsibilities at home instead of playing around the DIS

 

[Shivanair]

There are a lot more burdens involved than just tech.

I'm suprised that they're still selling the older stuff. Must not be cost effective to have multiple production lines running. Probably a hassle trying to predict how much of the older stuff versus the new. Wonder if its just old inventory that they're trying to sell.

 

[brightlined]

Millions of guests attach their tickets to their accounts which show up on their MBs or MB+. My MDE account on DL is the same stuff as MDE for WDW. Tickets attach the same way. They are already planning on attaching millions of guests for MB+, they don't think just a few thousand will buy MB+.

As far as attaching to a ticket when you purchase DLR tickets and put them on the app you assign them to a person the same as you do at WDW. When you get a MB you have to pair it to a person. I'm looking at these steps for MB+ (albeit for WDW because DLR isn't out yet) and they do not appear to be any different than MBs in pairing to a person. In order to pair to a person through the app you have to have a profile for them (even if you're all under one person who is managing their account). I agree it would be an added thing to one's profile but no more than what exists already with WDW MDE. What I guess I'm trying to convey here is we're not talking some earth shattering thing. The apps already function very similarly, the MDE profiles as well. I mean they make you have the same login info across all platforms lol.

I'll only address this because this is the crux of your confusion: the WDW and DLR systems are significantly different and do not work the same way, even if they behave similarly in the apps.


WDW's system focuses on the user. You buy a ticket, you attach it to a user. You buy an MB, you attach it to a user. At a WDW entrance gate, when you tap an MB, it looks up the user and checks to see if that user has valid admission.

Critical difference: DLR's system focuses* on the ticket, not the user.

At DLR, you buy a ticket, you assign a name/user to it. When you buy a DLR MB+, you attach it to a ticket, not a specific user. (That's spelled out in the announcement today.)

At a DLR entrance gate, tapping an MB will simply pull up the ticket attached to it and show the CM the photo attached to that ticket.

Even if the apps sorta resemble each other, that's a huge difference in functionality and operations. And that's a substantial reason that bringing in MB2 will be more complicated than it seems.


Btw - the difference opens the door to some odd scenarios that DLR hasn't addressed yet. For example, what happens to an MB+ after a ticket expires or is fully used - can it be attached to another ticket? Can an MB+ be moved from one ticket to another?

WDW permanently locks MBs to a specific user, but there is no such thing as a "specific user" at DLR - just whoever's name (and photograph) is on the ticket or pass.


* There are parts of DLR's system that are tied to user accounts, such as dining.

 

[brightlined]

I'm suprised that they're still selling the older stuff. Must not be cost effective to have multiple production lines running. Probably a hassle trying to predict how much of the older stuff versus the new. Wonder if its just old inventory that they're trying to sell.

It's hard to say. There have definitely been moments in the last few years - especially when WDW started using MagicMobile - that it felt like they were trying to kill MagicBands altogether. After that, for me, the original MB+ announcement was a bit of a surprise.

But I'm still gently skeptical that MB+ can completely replace MB2 - at least until they can fully square away things like the battery issues. (I assume that's something they'll be able to fix via a firmware update on the device.)

I'd fully believe that the MB2 is a more immediately profitable item, too, if only because of the lower individual production cost. I mean, that MSEP MB2 I posted was $60.

(They just released a Willow MB2, so I'm assuming they're still actively designing and manufacturing them.)

 

[pharmama]

Wasn't the unfavorable mix the locals at DLR? If you are wanting to encourage less locals and a guest is looking to reduce the bottleneck you want as many people as you can with a faster way of doing it which at the moment is the sheer amount of people with MBs. As is if I go to DLR I'm becoming part of the problem because I wouldn't be purchasing a MB+, I'd like to be part of the solution

DLR knows full well that most of the "unfavorables" (which was largely interpreted to mean passholders/MK, not necessarily locals in general) will purchase MB+ and I'm sure MK special edition bands are already in the works to ensure they get maximum $$ out of that group. I really don't think they have the concerns you seem about uptake of MB+, even if the uptake is somewhat slow to start (as previously mentioned, that may even be desirable from a rollout standpoint. Especially where Disney IT is concerned).

ETA: My internet went down this afternoon so I see this posted now when I typed it several hours ago. So a bit late to the party now

 

[afan]

I'll only address this because this is the crux of your confusion: the WDW and DLR systems are significantly different and do not work the same way, even if they behave similarly in the apps.


WDW's system focuses on the user. You buy a ticket, you attach it to a user. You buy an MB, you attach it to a user. At a WDW entrance gate, when you tap an MB, it looks up the user and checks to see if that user has valid admission.

Critical difference: DLR's system focuses* on the ticket, not the user.

At DLR, you buy a ticket, you assign a name/user to it. When you buy a DLR MB+, you attach it to a ticket, not a specific user. (That's spelled out in the announcement today.)

At a DLR entrance gate, tapping an MB will simply pull up the ticket attached to it and show the CM the photo attached to that ticket.

Even if the apps sorta resemble each other, that's a huge difference in functionality and operations. And that's a substantial reason that bringing in MB2 will be more complicated than it seems.


Btw - the difference opens the door to some odd scenarios that DLR hasn't addressed yet. For example, what happens to an MB+ after a ticket expires or is fully used - can it be attached to another ticket? Can an MB+ be moved from one ticket to another?

WDW permanently locks MBs to a specific user, but there is no such thing as a "specific user" at DLR - just whoever's name (and photograph) is on the ticket or pass.


* There are parts of DLR's system that are tied to user accounts, such as dining.

The differeneces are also evident in that with wdw mde I've got friends and can plan with them, attach them to my adrs etc. With DLR I will need to scan my bffs ticket or vice versa on our way from the airport to the hotel so that our genie + and photopass will be linked. She's not attached to our woc dessert party other than my entering her name. I don't even know if she could use thr confirmation # to add it to hers. Doesn't need to, but at wdw this would have been done when I booked the party.

If I can use the same band at both parks I will but I don't know that I'd buy one to use at each, though mb is so much easier than my phone.

 

[DLRExpert]

So $40 to $50 for a convenience product that you do not need at the Disneyland Resort.
It will be interesting to see MKer adoption.

 

[foolish_mortals]

I am also curious about adoption. The last time we went to WDW we got the MB2 because with all the preloaded fast pass selections it was easier.

If I still have to pull out my phone regularly to make G+ selections which most do immediately after scanning in why bother with the band?

As a MK who occasionally buys G+ most days I only pull up the barcode for park entry. Which is not that much of a hassle to warrant wearing what amounts to an additional watch. Still have to wear the regular watch cause it doesn’t display the time.

I’m sure it will save time and be convenient for some, but with so many things requiring you pull out your phone anyway like for mobile order, wait time checking, typing in a ride photo code, making new G+ selections.

Now if it had a holographic HUD that displayed wait times then I could be convinced. I’ll even settle for a cheap digital watch face

 

[DLRExpert]

If I still have to pull out my phone regularly to make G+ selections which most do immediately after scanning in why bother with the band?
I’m sure it will save time and be convenient for some, but with so many things requiring you pull out your phone anyway like for mobile order, wait time checking, typing in a ride photo code, making new G+ selections.

EXACTLY

 

[starlite_]

Because you can use a regular MB to get into the LL. If the issue is the sheer amount of people using their phones those who already own a MB and those who are more interested in a less fancy MB that gets them the basic stuff and would purchase one are left out at the moment. I'm not sure that's a hard thing to understand.

But again, why would they want to bring over regular MB, when they can just sell MB+ to what is potentially a whole new group of ppl? Why would they want to give folks a cheaper option to do the exact same thing? The "basic" version of a MB in DLR will be using your phone or paper ticket, same as always. Regardless, they've already decided not to support regular MB (be it because of tech issues or because offering a cheap option to a shiny new upsell is kinda dumb imo). Plus they aren't loosing money if ppl who wanted to reuse their old MB weren't gonna buy a new one anyway.

Now I have no idea how much the tech will be actually used by the DLR crowd considering, as many have said, besides the games and faster tap tap, a MB (of any kind) doesn't really do anything a phone cannot do. It's gonna be interesting for sure.

On another note, I wonder how many of the newer regular MB are only being sold to clear out stock that was left over from previous orders that got delayed by the pandemic. Curious to see if they still sell new versions next year or if they will be phased out.

 

[brightlined]

I am also curious about adoption.

That's the thing I'm interested in. A lot of the folks chiming in here have used MB at WDW, but I'm curious what the main DLR-only audience will think.

Honestly, I thought Disney would treat it more like a wand at Universal - play up the game(s) angle more than the "normal" MB functionality. (That's part of the reason I assumed MB+ would happen first - it seemed like they were eager to get Batuu Bounty Hunters going.)

This feels a little bit like a slow-play - start with the functions that are on the cheap side and build from there.

Right now, the only major tech change is the installation of LL tap points, assuming they aren't already there, plus the installation of Batuu Bounty Hunters. The changes for gate and PhotoPass would just be software on the "phones", assuming they haven't been updated already.

 

[thenicefamily]

I sure wish the name of this thread was different! I get sucked in EVERY time (which is every day) I log in. Magic Bands Confirmed at DL - yay!!! oh, uh, no, not so much. It's just my wishful thinking converting the topic to the big news, lol.

 

[DLgal]

So $40 to $50 for a convenience product that you do not need at the Disneyland Resort.
It will be interesting to see MKer adoption.

We are a family of MKs. I will buy them for my kids, but I don't see myself or my husband buying them.

I'm most disappointed that they can't be used to open room doors at the resorts or to pay for things. That's a MAJOR fail.

I think they will be handy for my son when scanning into the LL for his DAS, that's pretty much it. If we didn't have DAS, I honestly don't think we would buy them since we don't buy Genie+. Until you can use the for full functionality like paying for things by tapping, and opening hotel room doors, it's not worth it to me. I'll still need to use my phone for those things so I might as well save the $50.

Actually, now that I think about it, it won't really help with DAS either unless we all have them. We still would have to scan in everyone else using the phone. Hmm....not really seeing the benefit. I couldn't care less about the interactive games in the parks.

 

[katyringo]

I sure wish the name of this thread was different! I get sucked in EVERY time (which is every day) I log in. Magic Bands Confirmed at DL - yay!!! oh, uh, no, not so much. It's just my wishful thinking converting the topic to the big news, lol.

When I started this thread the purpose was for it to only be offical news from Disney.. which today they did give an offical updates of coming "this fall". The thread has kinda turned into a discussion thread tho.

 

[brightlined]

Btw - the difference opens the door to some odd scenarios that DLR hasn't addressed yet. For example, what happens to an MB+ after a ticket expires or is fully used - can it be attached to another ticket? Can an MB+ be moved from one ticket to another?

WDW permanently locks MBs to a specific user, but there is no such thing as a "specific user" at DLR - just whoever's name (and photograph) is on the ticket or pass.

Turns out there is an official answer to the above questions.

At DLR, an MB+ is not locked to a ticket - you can unassign them and reassign them. (This is different from WDW.)

Per the FAQ:
https://disneyland.disney.go.com/faq/mobile-apps/transferring-to-friend/

A MagicBand+ can be assigned to any ticket or Magic Key pass on the Disney account it is linked to. The MagicBand+ must be used by the owner of the admission that is assigned to it (tickets and Magic Key passes are nontransferable). A ticket or Magic Key pass can be unassigned and reassigned to a MagicBand+ at any time. Additionally, a MagicBand+ may be unlinked from an account and linked to a new account via the Disneyland app.

Also:
https://disneyland.disney.go.com/guest-services/magicband-support/


The set-up page itself is surprisingly well-detailed already:
https://disneyland.disney.go.com/guest-services/magicband-set-up/