We went to WDW before the Magic Bands and after, going the same week, the week of Labor Day. For us the bands were fantastic. Did not have to carry my phone or wallet, especially at the pool and Blizzard Beach. I liked how everything worked off them, room entry, food and drinks, purchases and the parks. Like the bit of convenience for my boys for getting into the room and such.

We booked our 3 daily fast passes about 2 months out. We were able to add to them each day once the initial 3 were used.

For us the Fast Passes made the trip so much better and more carefree.

We left our cell phones in our room safe when we went to WDW last October. Mainly because we wanted to be fully engaged in the park experience. even standing in line, we were able to entertain ourselves. But also, as someone else pointed out, our service provider charges more for use out of our country.

We loved the magic bands and their convenience. I don't like that Disney is encouraging everything through the app. There is enough people staring at their phones in this world as it is, don't you want them engaged in the world of Disney around them?

I love the Magic bands at WDW
The previous Fastpasses system (and current system at DLR) totally blows. Sure, you can get a lot if rides in. But you have to constantly run around and backtrack to take full advantage.
Which is extremely "unrelaxing".

Magic Bands absolutely suck. And I am a serious planner when it comes to theme parks, and someone who loves to see everything I can when I visit.

I recently took a trip to Disneyland resort, and by 1pm on the first day, we had fast passes for The Aladdin Show, World of Color, Fantasmic, Hyperspace Mountain, Buzz Lightyear AND Radiator Springs Racers. We had already used a fast-pass for Tower of Terror. That's 7 fastpasses if you were wondering, almost all for Tier 1 level attractions, by 1pm.

While at WDW having one for WOC or Fantasmic that night would mean I couldn't get any more than 3 for the entire day at a single park, while dealing with the inflated waits minor attractions (like Haunted Mansion) now get due to Fastpass+. And I wouldn't be able to get RSR or Hyperspace mountain possibly at all due to attraction tiers.

Yes I had to be the runner for the group to go get all those fastpasses. But YES I also saved maybe 7!!! hours of waiting in line because of the system. And in the meantime we knocked out Paradise pier in the morning, Grizzly Peak, and then Adventureland at a normal pace. Legacy Fastpass forever and ever please.

I visited DisneyWorld in October. I just want to comment on a few things regarding the magic bands and the Disney app: I have an Apple Watch and I kept trying to use it as my Magic Band. It was making me crazy until I finally put both the watch and the Magic Band on the same arm. But that wasn't comfortable. If only the Magic Band software could be used on the Apple Watch and eliminate the need for the Magic Band. The other thing I noticed is that everywhere people were constantly looking at their phones. I saw people ignoring site and sounds and their kids in order to see what time their next Fast Pass started or verifying a restaurant reservation or locating a ride. And yes, I fell right into that as well. So you end up missing all the little extra special things that Disney builds into their parks to make your visit enjoyable and unique because you're too busy looking at your phone. It also became a challenge to avoid walking into a people looking at their phones while you're looking at your phone especially in crowded areas. Don't get me wrong...I love technology and anything that makes life a little easier to manage is ok in my book. And I loved the My Magic+ app because it kept me on track. But there has to be a better way...

I like magic bands. Its really neat when combimed with photopass as it recogmizes you and takes your pic to your photopass account automatically. Although fast pass plus is cool, I also like regular fast pass perhaps better. However the fast pass plus can change.

I reenter using my app as well as the magic band.. even to program new fast pass plus selections at the park. My biggest fear for the new system is ability to use the web. I note that at huge events like largr music events, cellphone signals get crowded and coverage gets sketchy, even to the point of getting texts 9 hours late. Will they have a system large enough for the massive Chinese crowds?

As someone who spent a lot of time in the parks in the last year, I think the magicbands are better for locals than for visitors. Annual passholders get a free one...its better to spend money on a design one if youre going to use it, i.e. annual passholders...they work better when people know how to use them (how many lines get held up because people can't match up the mickeys?)

Dump the whole mess even at Disney World! The whole system is a planning nightmare if you try to link too many people. It removes spontaneous choices while on vacation and totally is in conflict with Walt's original idea of the berm and leaving the real world behind! When on vacation that is the last thing I want to do is follow a schedule and constantly be checking my electronics! Some will say you have a choice and you don't have to use it. Well, yes that is true, but if you don't use it, you may or may not get to experience an attraction you really want to. The system needs to be modified at the least and only allow FassPasses to be booked once inside a park, either electronically or paper either way that would be a more fair system.

Which is all very well and good, but what about those guests visiting from overseas who cannot use their smartphones in the parks due to shockingly high charges by their phone provider for international use? How do we get on then, if everything is going to be only accessible by using your smartphone? I love Magic Bands and the convenience of them.

Magic bands are an unnecessary complication. They are a disaster in so many ways especially for Florida residents

Magic bands are an unnecessary complication. They are a disaster in so many ways especially for Florida residents

For my family the magic bands were great. My 8 and 10 year olds don't have smart phones, so that does not work as well as a replacement. I thought the magic bands greatly improved our Disney experience at WDW.

Very interesting! But does every person who visits the overseas resorts really have a smart phone?