Magic Bands?

[Cruise2025]

We’re going on our first Disney cruise in November. How important are Magic Bands? We have three kids (13, 11, 6). Pros and cons of getting bands vs. just using the room keys? We don’t have any Magic Bands already, so I’m trying to decide whether to buy. We’ll be on the Treasure, if that matters. Thanks!

 

[Calantha]

We’re going on our first Disney cruise in November. How important are Magic Bands? We have three kids (13, 11, 6). Pros and cons of getting bands vs. just using the room keys? We don’t have any Magic Bands already, so I’m trying to decide whether to buy. We’ll be on the Treasure, if that matters. Thanks!

My personal opinion is I'll get one when they force me to/give it to me for free. I don't go to the parks and I wear a watch...I don't want something else to worry about.

It seems like the bands open doors, should be able to be used for purchases (but I think you still have to give them to the server), and light up in fun ways during events... nothing here yells "get a magic band"...

 

[RedHead0186]

They're not that important and are totally a 'want' not a 'need.' The bands can do everything the key to the world card can do, and the bands do interact with some of the dinner shows and fireworks. With that said, the cards work just fine for everything you'd need to do.

I have one because I figured I could use it on multiple cruises. It's fun to have, and nice not to have to carry the key around on a lanyard.

 

[ladyofthetramp]

They're not that important and are totally a 'want' not a 'need.' The bands can do everything the key to the world card can do, and the bands do interact with some of the dinner shows and fireworks. With that said, the cards work just fine for everything you'd need to do.

I have one because I figured I could use it on multiple cruises. It's fun to have, and nice not to have to carry the key around on a lanyard.

Same here. Short cruises I don't even bother. You have to charge them for all the features to work. between all the other things that need charging, one less thing to remember to plug in

 

[sponica]

We have them but we go to the parks too. They do come in handy for the kids club, but I wouldn't buy them for just that reason.

 

[Mommb]

I agree with previous posters that Magic Bands are not necessary on a cruise. My family has not used Magic Bands on our 3 cruises since they became available, and didn't miss them. We just use lanyards or pockets to keep our room keys.

I suppose the benefit, especially for kids, is that it might be easier to keep track of/less easy to misplace a Magic Band than a key card.

I was put off by the idea of having to charge the Magic Bands each night to keep it working fully. It's already a challenge to share charging locations for our phones and other devices.

 

[Erica1016]

Agree with all of the above. We got them as gifts from my MIL, but would not have purchased them ourselves. We also knew at the time that we had several cruises upcoming, so we'd use them.

We do like that we just have them on all the time and aren't having to remember grabbing our cards on the way out of the room. It's also nice for DH when he goes to run in the morning. I like having it so I'm not leaving my card around while in the pool/hot tub. But none of these are make or break or a reason I would spend extra money to have them. The "extra" stuff like lighting up, etc., is not a big deal to me.

I'm not 100% sure, but I don't think it needs to be recharged to work for the doors and charging, I think that's just if you want the lights and vibrations along with shows. I'm sure someone can verify this, if it's true.

 

[RedHead0186]

I'm not 100% sure, but I don't think it needs to be recharged to work for the doors and charging, I think that's just if you want the lights and vibrations along with shows. I'm sure someone can verify this, if it's true.

This is correct. The 'basic' functions of the band (opening stateroom doors, charging to the room, etc.) will work even if the band is not charged. The band needs to be charged in order to light up/vibrate with the dinner shows and fireworks.

 

[disney2you]

Magic Band on a cruise is a must for me because it prevents sea sickness for me! I even sleep with it on now when I go.

 

[RedHead0186]

Magic Band on a cruise is a must for me because it prevents sea sickness for me! I even sleep with it on now when I go.

Wow, really? I guess it's like an acupressure point for you? That's a nice side benefit.

 

[DonaldEsquire]

I have one for parks trips. I like it on the cruise, primarily for swimming without keeping up with a room key. I would not buy it just for the cruise.

 

[OKW Lover]

Definitely no need for a MB on board. Your room key card is all you need for the trip.

 

[kiford]

If I already had one that I used in the parks (I still use the previous version in the parks) I'd wear it. But I wouldn't purchase one. I use the lanyard for my room card so my hands are free (never enough pockets!) so a band doesn't provide any benefit IMO. You also still need a card for the lights although we usually bring an old card for that.

 

[Makdex71]

In support of the magic band I loved it on the Fantasy. I could care less about the light up feature, but just slapping it on my wrist I did not need to worry about the key card. most of the time i just left it in the switch to power the room or the counter in the room. I would hop in the pool or hot tub with my wristband on and not have to worry about losing the card out of my pocket falling out somewhere or forgetting the key card in the room. yes i took the key card with my id off the ship but that is normal. I am not one to wear a lanyard as they get caught on things and just are in the way. after the first day i threw the lanyard aside when the novelty wore off. As for the bartenders they just would put the pad on the bar and i would just tap it and be done with the same way in the shops. If i ordered a drink with a waiter i just popped it off and slapped it back on. beats digging it out of my pocket or out of the lanyard. also i did a pre and post stay at disney world and had it attached to that account for purchases and opening the hotel room door as well and park entrance so most of the time I had it on me anyway. If you live on the west coast like I do I just attached it to my Disneyland account and used it there as well.

 

[clh2]

I believe kids who go to the Kids Clubs need Magic Band+, but DCL will let you borrow one for the duration of the cruise. It will not give them charging privileges, and it will not open room doors.

 

[Liastaob]

There's one slightly annoying thing about magic bands: if you order a special drink at dinner or a bar, they have to take your Magic Band to run it through the register. They don't have the little mobile readers they have in the parks.

Otherwise I'd rather have one than not, but we already had them from WDW.