Disney

#WDW Wednesday: MagicBand Magic & FastPass+ Love

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The Magic of MagicBands and FastPass+ Love #Disney

Have you ever had to wait in a long line at the club? Wait scratch that…  most of you reading this post are Mamas, so let’s talk in terms of our NEW club… Starbucks 🙂

Yes… there's a Starbucks at WDW! #Disney #Starbucks
Yes, there’s a Starbucks on WDW!! 2! You cannot FastPass+ though 🙁

Okay, have you ever showed up to Starbucks and wished you could cut in front of the long ___ line?  If you said no, well then good for you, you’re better than me. Living here in SC there isn’t as many Starbucks 🙁 the line can get insane! I wish I could Fast Pass+.

What is FASTPASS+  you ask? Well..  it is SO many things GOOD!!

Disney has mastered the “Be Our Guest” mantra, when you walk into their parks you instantly feel like a welcomed guest, you’re greeted with smiles & hellos–happiness. Disney has upped the ante with their FASTPASS+/MagicBand service; this service makes you feel like a VIP.

When setting up our stay at Disney we knew we wanted to add the newer feature to our trip, I’m SO glad we did.  FP+ allows you to schedule your times for rides, omit the crazy insane lines, pay for items at shops, and unlock your Disney Resort room.  Don’t get me wrong if you do have to wait, Disney has done a wonderful job at setting up fun throughout your wait.

Check out the Dumbo Ride Big Top fully equipped with pagers and interactive games.

Here’s how it works:

You’ll need to set up a My Disney Experience account, I recommend installing the app to everyone’s smartphones, once you have your account setup start planning! We started planning our FP’s before we even received our MagicBands.

Magic Bands

The MagicBand is a radio-frequency-enabled bracelet that is securely linked to your Walt Disney World Reservations. The bands can be personalized, with names and colors. Your MagicBands make it easy since your reservations, room key and credit card info are right on wrist.  The MagicBand it waterproof too!

Here's how FASTPASS+ work

Mad Tea Party (aka The Teacups) is one of the most popular rides at WDW, when we went the line was INSANE!  Thankfully, we had already arranged our time weeks ahead.

I kind of felt bad cutting ahead, the first couple of times.

There’s a separate line for FastPass+ users at FP+ attractions, you use your MagicBands to enter the rides. It’s awesome!

MagicBand in Action

Where will you dine? You can find dinning in your area (in this case both restaurants are in Magic Kingdom), and plan ahead to save a table using your app.  Once you get to the restaurant swipe in using your MagicBand.  (Check your Disney Dinning plans)

Using FastPass+ for Dinning Reservations

While we were at WDW Epcot, we had scheduled a dinner later in the day, but we were all hungry earlier on in the day; we decided to change our dinner plans.  Using the app we were able to change our reservation and eat an earlier German dinner.

Disney Magic Bands + Disney Experience app

It was nice to have the availitbiaty to change things up if we needed to.  You can even change your FP+ ride times. Our next visit we plan to use FastPass+ and MagicBands, it’s sooooooooooo worth it!!!

Recap:

  • FastPass+ set up times using your MyDisneyExperience app or account for FP+ rides, meet & greets, and shows.
  • MyDisneyExerience set up FastPass+ rides, shows, attractions, reservations for dinning.  Check your plans, check wait times, and research things to do. Bonus: there is a map of restrooms on the parks– this comes in handy when you have kids and have had kids 😉
  • MagicBand is your ticket to your FP+ rides, hands free credit card & room key.  You will need your MagicBand for your FP+ dinning as well.  Pretty much guard your MagicBand with your life!  Just an FYI Disney has everything mastered… we spent money to bedazzle our MagicBands.  We have sparkly Mickey heads, the Muppets, and Star Wars accessories added to our MagicBands.

I hope this was helpful.

XOXO

MrsAOK-Watermark-Dark

 

18 thoughts on “#WDW Wednesday: MagicBand Magic & FastPass+ Love

  1. Shelly

    July 16, 2014 at 3:50 pm

    I LOVE this series! Since I haven’t been to Disney since they started using the bands, I was really excited to read this post! I wish we lived in the same town so we could go to Starbucks and talk Disney! I have tons of questions about your trip and a few more about scheduling with the bands! By the time we get to go again, I’m sure the bands will be mandatory! ps. I love your Starbucks picture! Is that outside the bakery on MS? Did you love the Beirgarten?! That’s my fav. EPCOT restaurant!

    1. MrsA0K2001

      July 16, 2014 at 8:44 pm

      Thank you, Shelly… that honestly means a lot coming from you 🙂 I would love to go talk Disney @SBUX!!! Maybe on my next visit to IL… to think we were sort of close. Ask away.
      And yes, that is MS Bakery, now Starbucks minus the black & green uniforms. We did enjoy Beirgarten! It was nice to chat with the waitresses about Germany, I use to live there (Germany) and my husband’s mom Is from Germany. I absolutely LOVED France!

      1. Shelly

        July 16, 2014 at 8:49 pm

        We might just have to have a phone chat! I’m guessing when you visit CHI you’re pretty busy, as are we! Although, my parents would beg me to go out so they could watch Soph. 😉

        1. MrsA0K2001

          July 18, 2014 at 12:21 pm

          I’m down for that too 🙂
          XO

  2. Chastity

    July 16, 2014 at 4:00 pm

    I love the new bands. We went in the Springtime and the bands were still in the beta stage. Our bands didn’t work to open our hotel room, so we had to constantly go back to the front desk for new ones. No big deal. We only stayed overnight (Tampa is only 45 minutes away) and only went to the water parks so we couldn’t try the fastpass plus.

    It looks like you’re having a great time! xo

    1. MrsA0K2001

      July 16, 2014 at 8:53 pm

      We had a great time. I’ve heard through all the big Disney blogging sites that the MBs have improved from testing. I went in March, thankfully, we didn’t have any issues. Sadly, we did not get to visit the watermarks 🙁 You’re only 45 minutes away from WDW!!! Lucky 😉
      XO

  3. Tamara

    July 17, 2014 at 1:24 am

    We didn’t use these when we went in January because we were not staying within the resorts, and it was only January so the lines weren’t crazy at all.
    However, I think it would be VERY useful if we went during a crowded time. For sure. I love what technology can do for people.

    1. MrsA0K2001

      July 18, 2014 at 12:35 pm

      January seems like a good time go, how is the weather there in January? We were at WDW the second week of March, apparently some schools were already out for Spring Break 🙂 However, it wasn’t too bad, if we would’ve went a week later, per Disney enthusiasts websites, it would’ve been even more busy. The MagicBand & FastPass+ experience is awesome, I honestly enjoyed it.
      xo

  4. Stephanie

    July 17, 2014 at 3:58 pm

    We LOVED the FastPass+ and MagicBands too! Being able to get into our room and pay with our bands was totally convenient! Awesome post girl – I loved reading this and remembering the great memories from our trip! AHH I can’t wait to go back! 😀

    1. MrsA0K2001

      July 18, 2014 at 12:13 pm

      Sooooooo convenient! When we came back home I missed using my MagicBand.
      I stand 100% behind my FP+ line at Starbucks idea, I think it could work 😉
      I’m so glad I could bring fun memories to you, that makes me happy.
      I cannot wait to go back either girlie!
      XO

  5. Amanda @ Growing Up Madison

    July 19, 2014 at 6:15 pm

    It was extremely helpful. We were supposed to go this year but had to cancel our plans. It seems like next year will be it for us. We usually stay at Disney when we visit and get fast tracked anyway for having a special needs kid.

    1. MrsA0K2001

      July 19, 2014 at 6:48 pm

      Thanks, Amanda. I’m glad I could help 🙂 You are going to love the FastPass+/MagicBand experience.
      XOXO

  6. Angela

    July 21, 2014 at 1:38 am

    We did fast pass when we went in April and it is amazing. Highly recommend as well.
    Angela @ Time with A & N

    1. MrsA0K2001

      July 21, 2014 at 8:14 pm

      I don’t think I would EVER visit Disney without FastPass+, considering I’ve already experienced it.
      Thanks for stopping in.
      XOXO

  7. Galaxia

    July 21, 2014 at 2:12 am

    I wanna go to WDW SO BAD!!! lol I am just dying to 🙂 And I especially wanna go to Epcot…I read a post a few weeks ago about how genius Disney is with getting folks to spend a ton of money in their parks. I’m such a nerd because I LOVE reading about business strategies and stuff…Well, these passes are definitely genius, sounds so convenient and definitely VIP status!! ♥ And now I reallllly want an iced coffee…..♥

    1. MrsA0K2001

      July 21, 2014 at 8:21 pm

      I don’t think you’re a nerd at all! I think it is great to understand the business side of things.. good for you. I find myself reading business strategy articles often, too.
      Disney is quite smart when it comes to business/customer service.
      While we were there using the MagicBands, it was easy to spend, however we stayed quite mindful of what were spending extra.
      Iced coffee sounds good! Let’s go.
      XOXO

  8. Bev

    July 22, 2014 at 7:59 pm

    Things have changed since the last time I was at Disney (in 2002!). They had FastPass, but only at certain rides and you had to print out tickets at the park. Granted it was still nice not to have to wait in super long lines for every ride, but this sounds great! One day I will make it back down there, probably when Eve is old enough to appreciate it, though 😉

    1. MrsA0K2001

      July 24, 2014 at 3:17 am

      This was my first time, we waited until all the babies were able to enjoy the experience. I think when you spend that much money, you want your child to remember the experience as well as enjoy it.
      We absolutely enjoyed the FP+ experience, I imagine things have changed quite a bit from 2002 🙂 We actually printed out our hotel reservations and gave them to our daughter for her golden birthday, she was born in 2002… Good year 😉
      XO

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