So, you may have seen in earlier posts these colorful bracelets that we and other people are wearing:
Blue for Brett
Green for Todd
These are Magic Bands. They're currently being tested by Disney for some resort guests. There's an RFID chip inside that uniquely identifies each Magic Band. They are used for: hotel room keys, tickets to enter the park, fast passes, purchases (if you choose), reservations, etc. They're also used in conjunction with photos taken in the parks by Disney photographers, which are everywhere. Any time you get your picture made, say in front of the castle, at a meet and greet with a character, in front of the giant sorcerer's hat at Hollywood Studios, etc., you simply tap your Magic Band to the photographer's pad afterward. Then your done. During your trip, or when you get home after your vacation you can go online and review all the photos that were taken, and pay to download only the ones you want.
In addition, many gift shops at Walt Disney World sell optional accessories in several flavors: Magic Band covers (sleeves which envelop the entire band to give it a different appearance), "sliders" that are like big character charms that fit over the band and frame the Mickey on top, and "MagicBandits" which are small character charms that plug into the empty holes on the wristband.
I was going to make this a longer post, but just watch the video at the end - it shows all the Magic Band features.
Our invitation that arrived before the trip
The other side with directions.
Some time later, this really cool box arrived in the mail
Our Magic Bands (a little scuffed after wearing during the trip)
The top. To use, you touch the Mickey on the band to the Mickey on the kiosk/register/room pad. "Mickey to Mickey" is what we heard most repeated by Disney cast members throughout our trip - if the pad light turns blue, try again. If it turns green, you're golden.
Adjustable, durable and completely waterproof. The kids can take it with them while they swim in the hotel pool.
The underside. The bands are customized with your name if you register online in advance. If not, you get them at the resort hotel when you check in.
For children or smaller wrists, the black surround can be completely pulled off for a better fit.
An example of a park entry kiosk with the fingerprint reader. The white light slows spins when not in use. When you touch your Magic Band to the Mickey on the kiosk, it will spin faster, turn solid white, and make a tone. Then you touch your finger to the fingerprint reader, and both light up with a green light. Success! Photo from blog.wdwinfo.com.
A reader from a retail location (if you chose to allow your Magic Band to be used to make purchases). Once your food or merchandise has been rung up by the cashier, you touch your Magic Band to the Mickey on the pad. Then when it turns green you enter your 4-digit secret pin that you selected when you authorized the band for purchases. Photo from blog.undercovertourist.com
The best part about using the Magic Band for purchases was that it meant we did not have to carry our wallets or cash around; we could leave them in the hotel safe. It may seem like a little thing, but we didn't have to worry about them getting soaked on water rides, and I tend in crowds to constantly check to make sure my wallet is still in my pocket, and that the cashier handed me back my credit card at the last place I used it, etc., etc.
Now, Disney is not stupid. It is very, very, very easy to buy things with the Magic Bands - easy as in easy to decide to buy things. Not only is it novel and kind of fun, but it in no way is like the experience of spending real, physical money. We kept track of all of our purchases and receipts, and so knew how much we were spending throughout the trip. When we got the bill at the end of the week when we checked out of the hotel, we were only off from our calculations by $5, which we quickly realized was due to the one item we actually paid cash for during the trip. I imagine though that there will be plenty of people, I mean, a lotof people, who will get that bill at the end of their trip and have no idea that they spent that much. Cha-ching, Disney, cha-ching.
Here's a great 3-minute video that shows the magic bands in use:
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