Tag: MagicBands

MagicBands to be Used in Place of Parking Permit for Resort Guests

Magic-Kingdom Parking Plaza

The traditional parking permits that have been issued for Walt Disney World Resort hotel guests for years are being discontinued.

Disney is beginning the roll-out today with guests staying at Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resort.  The parking permits will no longer be handed out at check-in, with guests now being asked to use their MagicBand for parking access.

At the theme parks, guests will present their MagicBand at the auto plaza booth to validate free parking permission. When returning to the resort hotel, guests can enter the dedicated guest lane and use the MagicBand for access through the barrier.

Those guests that do not have a MagicBand can use their RFID Key to the World cards instead.

The change to a paperless parking system is especially important following the recent introduction of the direct to room capability that allows guests to bypass traditional check in.

Following the initial introduction of the new system at Yacht and Beach Club, expect the roll out to continue to the other resorts over the next few months.

Disney Introducing Photo ID for Guests with Frequent Biometric Authentication Failures at Turnstiles

magicbands

There have been a number of reports from recent guests at the parks that Disney is in the process of introducing photo identification onto tickets that are frequently failing the biometric fingerprint authentication at the turnstiles.

Currently its being tested at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The process involves those guests that are not able to successfully authenticate with the biometric fingerprint reader will have to go to guest relations to setup a photo ID. At guest relations, their identity is verified, and a photograph taken, which is then electronically associated with the My Disney Experience profile for that guest.

Once setup, the additional enrollment allows the Cast Member at the turnstiles to see a digital photograph of the guest, and to then manually verify the identity of the guest based on that photograph without requiring a successful fingerprint read.

If the testing process successful, the new system should make for a more convenient entry process for those guests that frequently encounter problems with the fingerprint reader, and preventing the need to show ID.

Direct-to-Room Check-In Coming to Walt Disney World

WDW Resort Front Desk

From LaughingPlace.com –

Beginning February 10th, guests that have MagicBands shipped to their home, and have completed online check-in will be able to receive an email or text message with their room number so they can bypass the front desk.

Guests will still have the option of visiting the front desk of their resort if they choose.

Last week, Disney sent a memo to travel agents announcing a new resort policy scheduled to begin on February 10 that allows qualified visitors to bypass the front desk check-in process. Guests must:

  • Have Magic Bands mailed to their home.
  • Complete the full check-in process in advance, including paying in full for their reservation or setting up a credit card and PIN.
  • Provide a method of communication (an email address or phone number where the can reached via text).

Those who meets these requirements receive an email before their arrival with their room number and the ability to go directly to their room after being met by a cast member curbside.

The roll-out schedule is as follows.

  • February 10 – Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, Disney’s Pop Century Resort, and Disney’s Port Orleans Resort
  • February 25 – Disney’s Boardwalk Inn, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, and Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts
  • March 10 – Disney’s All Star Resort, Disney’s Caribbean Resort, Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, Disney’s Old Key West Resort, and Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa

MagicBands Bring More Pixie Dust to Disney Infinity

IASW - Disney Infinity

Disney Interactive’s gaming platform Disney Infinity joined with Disney Parks to offer Walt Disney World Resort guests with a MagicBand a special surprise. In the recently released edition of the game, Disney Infinity (2.0 Edition), only guests with a MagicBand can unlock the enchanting charm of the “it’s a small world” attraction into their very own Toy Box creation.

Guests unlock the download of “it’s a small world” for their Toy Box by placing a MagicBand over the Disney Infinity Base. The Base will detect the presence of a MagicBand, and then will instantly unlock the “it’s a small world” download with no online connectivity required. Additionally, you’ll be able to enchant other players with the iconic music from the “it’s a small world” attraction in the background. Once you’ve created a saved game, you will always have access to the new content.

WDW to Start Allowing Purchasing of MagicBands Without Linking to a Ticket

MagicBands

Walt Disney World will be allowing the purchase of MagicBands without being linked to an existing ticket starting tomorrow.

Currently MagicBands have to be linked to a My Disney Experience account with valid ticket media at the time of purchase.  Starting on August 19th, MagicBands will be able to be purchased as stand-alone items at the parks, Downtown Disney, Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Disney’s Pop Century Resort and Disney’s Port Orleans Resort. It is expected that more locations will be added later.

Only regular solid color bands will be included within the new policy. The MagicBands with a printed image will continue to be required to be linked to ticket media at the time of purchase.

This change will now make it possible for guests to buy MagicBands to be given as gifts, or for future trips that have not yet been booked. Before you go out and buy huge stockpiles of MagicBands, be aware there is a purchase limit of 5 per SKU.

Tower of Terror Begins New On-Ride Video Souvenir with Memory Maker and MagicBands

Hollywood Tower Hotel

Guests that have a MagicBand linked to the Memory Maker photo package can now get a souvenir onboard video at the Tower of Terror.

The Tower of Terror attraction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is the first attraction at Walt Disney World to offer on-ride videos as part of the new MyMagic+ system. More attractions are expected to follow, with the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and Haunted Mansion strongly rumored to get the on-board photo and video experience.

After riding, those guests with a MagicBand and a linked Memory Maker photo package should expect to see their videos online at My Disney Experience within 24 hours of riding. The video is captured, edited, and uploaded to the guest’s My Disney Experience account automatically – all driven from the MagicBand and RFID readers in the attraction.

The on-ride video will not be available to any guests not wearing a MagicBand with a linked Memory Maker account.

Olaf MagicBand Now Available at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Olaf Magic Band

As the “Frozen” Summer Fun celebration continues at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, a new, limited edition retail MagicBand, featuring Olaf from Disney’s “Frozen”  is now available at Wandering Oaken’s Trading Post in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The shop is located between Toy Story Midway Mania and Studio Backlot Tour. I spoke with Kevin-Michael Lezotte, merchandiser for retail MagicBands, about this latest addition.

“We saw a great response from guests when we released two limited edition MagicBands during Star WarsWeekends earlier this year,” explained Kevin-Michael. “This new MagicBand is pre-printed with an image of Olaf ‘chillin’ in summer, and will be presented in a specially designed packaging. These pre-printed MagicBands are another great way guests can show off their Disney Side while visiting Walt Disney World Resort this summer.”

This limited edition retail MagicBand will have an edition size of 5,000, and will have a retail of $29.95 (plus tax).

This new MagicBand will join three open edition MagicBands inspired by Disney’s “Frozen,” which are currently offered in Wandering Oaken’s Trading Post.

As with all retail MagicBand purchases, guests must present one of the following for the MagicBand to be linked to at the time of purchase: valid theme park admission, Memory Maker card or another MagicBand.

These specific “Frozen” MagicBands will not be offered on the Disney Parks online store or via Merchandise Guest Services team.

Guests, however, can find other select MagicBand accessories, like MagicBandits and MagicSliders, online at DisneyParks.com/Store.

Disney to Release Frozen Themed iPhone Cases and MagicBands

Frozen Magic Bands

Disney will be releasing a new D-Tech on Demand cases for iPhone 4/4S and iPhone 5/5S on Saturday at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. This artwork will also be added to the D-Tech on Demand boutique inside the recently opened Marketplace Co-Op in Downtown Disney Marketplace. The Marketplace Co-Op location will have a few designs not found anywhere else, while the “Frozen Summer Fun” design will only be found at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Next week Disney will release three open edition, retail MagicBands at Disney’s Hollywood Studios with pre-printed images of Elsa, Anna and Olaf. As with all retail MagicBand purchases, guests must present one of the following for the MagicBand to be linked to at the time of purchase: valid theme park admission, Memory Maker card or another MagicBand. These items will not be available for purchase online or via Merchandise Guest Services.

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