MyMagic+ and MagicBand Roll-Out Dates for Walt Disney World Resorts
Beginning today MyMagic+ is officially rolling out in waves across Walt Disney World Resorts. All guests checking in to resorts on or after the dates listed below will receive MagicBands and have access to the FastPass+ system. Every Monday for the next 4 weeks new resorts will be added. Then when Grand Floridian Villas open on October 23, 2013, all resorts will be fully online with the program. The program will still be considered “testing” for now; think of it as a sort of “soft opening.” The official start date for MyMagic+ is December 1, 2013.
For arrivals on or after:
September 30, 2013: Bay Lake Tower, Animal Kingdom Lodge Kidani Village, Port Orleans French Quarter, Grand Floridian, and All-Star Movies.
October 7, 2013: All-Star Sports, BoardWalk Inn, BoardWalk Villas, and Caribbean Beach Resort.
October 14, 2013: All-Star Music, Coronado Springs, Old Key West, Wilderness Lodge, and Villas at Wilderness Lodge.
October 21, 2013: Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground and Saratoga Springs.
October 23, 2013: Grand Floridian Villas.
Note: Resorts not on the above schedule are already live.
For more information on MyMagic+. Erin Foster has posts with initial observations and her personal experiences. Brian McNichols also wrote about his experience.
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We will be staying at an off-site resort part of the time. Does the fastpass+ and mymagic+ privilege only apply as long as you are staying at a Disney Resort, or as long as your tickets are valid? In our case 6 night stay at Port Orleans, 10 day park hoppers.
From what I understand..fastpass plus only works if you stay on site the entire duration of your stay. we have friends with bands and season tickets that cannot fast pass ahead of time since they are staying off site. You can still link dinner reservations and credit card access though.
pjohnson, this changes for all parks by Thursday. At that point, each park will allow day guests to make FastPass+ selections at a FastPass+ kiosk upon arrival at the parks.
Chad, you will be eligible to use FastPass+ and will be able to book your selections prior to your arrival for the six days you are staying at Port Orleans. For the remaining days, you will be able to use FastPass+, but will book your selections at a FP+ kiosk when you arrive at the parks each day.
I was able to keep using the mydisneyexpiriance app after my stay on site and was staying off site.
I stayed on site for one of my weeks and off site for my second, on my second week off site I was able to keep using the fastpass plus, for the duration of my park tickets, and use the magic bands for park entrance. You just won’t be able to charge things to you room.
We are staying @ All Star Sports. One of our people in our group has purchased three rooms at the resort for us and we will be staying @ the end of Jan 2014. I understand that the magic bands will be in affect. The only issue that I am seeing is that I cannot link his reservations to our My Magic experience, and therefore cannot customize color and such ahead of time. Is there any option to not get the gray band? Are the bands given @ check in to the resort? If there is no option to change the color at any point? It is not really that BIG of a deal but just wondering if anyone has this information?
Hi Phjohnson, I’m also going at the end of January and in order to link reservations with my friends, every one needed to have a profile on My Magic experience. Once this is done, we could all link our dinning reservations, customize magic bands and Fastpasses!
Phjohnson, your trip organizer will need to send you an invite as a friend/family member, which once you have accepted will allow you to see and modify plans. In some cases, depending on the reservation structure, the person who booked will need to order MagicBands for everyone, but in most cases you will be allowed to order yours if you have a My Disney Experience account separate from theirs. Once you are linked, you may also have to manually link the reservation using the confirmation number, as the system may not recognize you right away. You must have an on-site reservation AND ticket media linked to your account in order to customize MagicBands.
Once I have used all of my 3 fastpasses+ in a day, will I be able to reserve some more? I mean, with the legacy fastpass sistem, you had chance per day to use more than just 3 rides…
We saw people using both the last week of October.
Baylor, as of Thursday, paper FastPasses will be fully removed from the parks and you will be allotted 3 FastPass+ selections for one park per day.
Its 10/18 today – it says OKW rolled out on the 14th. How do I choose Magic bands? what do I do?
Hey guys. I check into BLT on 12-16 and MBs and FP+ showed up last night. I had to modify check in to get the bands to pop up. Only thing is that after the 8th FP selection is limited but I am guessing they will load them slowly.
Hey Jessica,
Just wondering when you say that you had to modify your check-in to get the bands to pop up. Had you already done online check-in previously and didn’t have the bands customize option showing until you modified your check in and if so what did you modify to get the bands customize to show?
Jessica – Thanks for sharing. I am curious about Greg’s question too, but also, what do you mean when you say that “after the 8th FP selection is limited”?
Also, does it say anything about “testing” for you or does it appear that you just get to use it? And lastly, is it allowing you to customize your bands?
Thanks!!!! And glad you were able to get them for your trip!!
I had already checked in earlier in the day and around 11 last night I noticed I could make FP+ selections but no Magicbands. So I went I to the selection that said Modify check in and just clicked through, I didn’t change anything, and it changed from modify to customize bands.
I am not sure if I am in a test or part of the roll out. I was going to call at some point today and see if i am testing or in roll out. I am curious to whether not I get to use legacy FP.
And what I mean about about it being limited is that from 12-8 on there are very few selections loaded into the system as of now but I have herd of that being the case when a month first goes online but as the trip gets closer more options pop up and you can change selections.
Great tip Jessica! Once I clicked Modify Check-in and clicked next all the way through then *Poof* Personalize Magic Bands display!
I’m beyond upset about this right now. We have to stay offsite this time and apparently things are getting steadily worse for offsite visitors when it comes to regular fast passes. There is still no sign that offsite people will get any type of access to FP+, paid or otherwise, and I don’t get it. I do wish that they would just go ahead and state what their plans are. I would love any news about this aspect of the system.
The thing that lights me up is standing in line at the old fast pass booth as a long time AP holder no less and the person in front of me is talking about their fast pass + selections then is still able to get a legacy fastpass for a different time. The ride was soarin and I was livid. They get to schedule those passes way before those of us who live too close to the park to stay at the hotels, then can get additional passes….seems a bit unfair to me.
Has there been any word when magic band personalization and fastpass+ bookings will be available for December on-site reservations?
I’m wondering the same thing, staying at POFQ mid December nothing in MDE yet.
I do not know where you got your information but it is quite incorrect. I am staying at CBR December 2-15 and have not received anything regarding Magic Bands and FP+. I call Disney and they tell me that CBR is not using Magic Bands and the entire thing is still in test phase. Please issue a retraction of this blog post.
I know it was a pretty long blog post to read but you might want to look at the last two sentances refering to:
still be considered “testing” for now
and
The official start date for MyMagic+ is December 1, 2013
Before calling for retractions.
Will be staying at POFQ beginning Dec 6. Am I correct in saying we will receive Magic Bands and be able to make fastpasses ahead of time? About when could I expect to see the option pop up on My Disney Experience? I’ve been checking everyday! Thanks!
I was able to make fastpass+ reservations tonight for our December trip!
**Nightmare** I just returned from Disney and got to experience the new “magic” bands. I visit Disney World twice a year and this was by far the most frustrating, stressful trip because of these bands. The problems started at check in and lasted the entire trip. No charging priveledges (even though the credit card on file had a $8000 limit), problems with park entrance, was not able to schedule ANY FP times, the backup cards we were given (just in case the bands didn’t work) also didn’t work.
I received error messages 90% of the time when I tried to use My Disney Experience, the few times I did not receive error messages I got kicked out of my account. Spent to much time on my phone trying to plan my day only to have to deal with poor service, slowness and a dead battery.
I spent a total of 3 hours with magic band ‘experts’ at my resort only to be told that my credit card, pin #, band and Disney Experience account were all working properly??? I enjoy new technology and I do like the idea behind the bands but this experience was beyond frustrating and the ‘help’ I received was null and void. I couldn’t find one person in the park who felt differently. So my question would be “Why on earth would they role the bands out to more people before these problems are corrected?” **Miserable experience**
Nine of us will be staying at POFQ in mid-November. Part of our group does not want to use MagicBands, etc. So what do we do? Will they force us to take them when we check in? Can we just ignore it? Can we opt out? If we “have” to take them, should I go ahead now and do FP+ for everyone even though we may not use it? If I customize everything, does this mean we will not get KTTW cards at all? Ahhhhh! Help!
For anyone that had Magic Bands available to order on My Disney Experience about how far out from your arrival date did that option show up on your site? We are arriving December 1st and would like to know when this might show up for us. Also anyone know if these will ship to Canada? There have been some online posts saying no shipping to Canada, others say they have had the option to ship to Canada.
I am traveling on November 30th and was able to pick my fastpass+ and magic banks October 1st.
Obviously I meant to say magic bands. I sure wish there was a magic bank though!!
We are going in late December with on site hotel reservations, and we have old Magic Your Way tickets with no expiration days left. Will we be able to link those to our bands before we go to WDW so we can make FP+ reservations? The remaining days are still on our KTTW cards from our last trip.
I’ll be stein at the Saratoga in jan, I booked through RCI a few weeks ago, will they still be testing the it then and how would I be apart of it, do I just call RCI back and ask to be apart go it or what?
Travelling to Port Orleans French Quarter at the start of November. When in the other day and was able to customise my magicband, have gone on today and completed my online check in and set the pins for each band and now the customise band has changed to manage magicband and when you click on it, my order is not in there but all my fast passes are still showing any ideas why this is as still had 8 days left to customised!! I’m confused
I am just a little confused. I am 60 days out from trip but cannot make fastpass+ reservations. do i wait to make them until after the go live date? Dana
Any rumors whatsoever as to when legacy fastpasses will be going away? We’ll be offsite this time and all of this waiting and wondering is getting very stressful.
Nothing official but rumors seem to indicate the Legacy system will be around at least until we know what is going on with off-site and day guests. We will keep everyone posted as we know more.
Are the magic bands letting you set up as many fastpasses as you’d like – at least for now? I have 4 day tickets and set up fastpasses for my October trip. I am going again in late November and do NOT have a hotel reservation for that trip. While My Disney Experience app said I had exceeded my fastpass limit, it still let me make those fastpasses for our Thanksgiving trip (we plan on upgrading the tickets to annual passes). It just seems the system is real forgiving – for now. Any thoughts or other similar experiences?
I know a lot of Annual Passholders have been able to make FP+ reservations beyond their length of stay, but never for outside when their tickets are valid and no more than 4 per day. Maybe others have different experiences?
I’m using Military park hopper passes. Am I correct in saying I can not link these to my account until they are activated in Disney World? I am going in December and I would rather NOT use the band if it means I can’t use traditional fast passes. Do you think they’ll still be available the first week in December?
I believe you are correct and they can’t be linked until they are activated. We aren’t sure yet what the Legacy FASTPASS situation will be yet in December. I would guess they would still be there since we don’t know yet what is happening with off-site guests, but can’t be 100% sure. I would plan for them to not be there just in case…but if you want to take the chance just prepare yourself for what you will do if those old FP machines are gone.
When will Disney notify you, we will be there Nov 1st at fort wilderness and i haven’t heard anything yet
Just keep checking your my disney experience. I received no emails or letters, went on MDE one day and clicked on FASTPASS+ and was able to make selections. That was last week and I am travelling nov 13th and staying at Coronado Springs. Then a few days later the icon for magicbands changed to customize your magicbands so I did.
Monica is correct. I know some people have gotten emails or something in the mail, but for many it just showed up in their MDE account.
Seems kind of odd that Disney’s flagship hotel is the last one on the schedule. Maybe they want to make triple sure they’ve got everything working right before handing the technology to the VIP’s at the Grand Floridian?
GF gets it today. GF Villas (the new DVC GF) gets it when it opens on Oct 23.
Thank you for clarifying. 🙂
Charles is correct, Grand Floridian already has it. The only reason the Villas are last is because they aren’t open until then.
Will Fastpass+ be rolled out to Kissimmee area hotels by Feb 2014? If not, will Legacy system still work?
We don’t know for sure. I would assume that one of those options will be in place then. We haven’t heard much about off-site guests at this point but will keep you posted as we learn more.
Going to be staying at All Star Movies Dec 5-10 anyone know if the bands will be used for guests if that hotel?
They will be.
I’m confused. This list does not include all the hotels, but the last line says after Grand Floridian everyone will be on-line. ?
Thanks for all you do — you’re my lifeline is all this MyMagic mess.
As others have said, many resorts are already testing. This is a comprehensive list of the REMAINING resorts.
Thank you for clarifying. 🙂
Sorry for the confusion, Megan is correct. The resorts not listed are already participating in a full test.
We have a trip planned for 12-15 thru 12-22. Any word if FP legacy will still be available for us at that time too?
We don’t know for sure, but I would guess it will be. As I’ve said in response to other comments, I would prepare for them to not be there and consider it a bonus if they are.
Thank you. I guess it’s still a wait a see. But at least we know we will get MBs. Lol.
At this point, due to the crazy different tickets everyone in my party has for our December trip, and the fact that we don’t know which parks we’ll be in which days, I would rather just use “legacy” fast pass. Do you think this will still be possible the first weekend in December??
I don’t know for sure, but I would guess Legacy FP will still be around in December. However, I would plan for it to not be there just to be safe and then consider it a bonus if it is. We will keep everyone posted as we learn more.
Thanks! I guess I will start the long process of getting Disney to help link my Undercover Tourist tickets to my account…when I did this for my father in law during a “test,” it took almost a month. Hopefully Disney fixes whatever is causing that problem!
I was able to link my tickets from Undercover Tourist to my account easly in MDE – I did it about 1-2 months ago. They quickly/immediately showed up. I have already been able to pick fastpass+ and order the magic bands. I arrive on 11/30. Hope it works as well for you.
Any word for passholders start date?
Not yet. I know that passholders who have participated in testing and received the bands have been able to continue using them to book FASTPASS+, but nothing official has been announced.
Thank you for the information! But IMHO, the *really* important date is the date they will stop offering ‘legacy’ FP. And I’m sure that’s still TBA. After all, even after all of the onsite resorts are included, they have to include the Swan & Dolphin, the Downtown Disney hotels, annual passholders, off-site hotels and day guests. That’s still a large percentage of the people who go to the park. Legacy FP can’t go away until *everyone* is on the MyMagic+ system (or at least, I’m hoping that’s the case).
Agreed. I have yet to see anyone even speculate about this. I see no need for FP+ for my group going in late Jan. But if legacy FP will be gone by then, then yes, I need to get on the FP+-panic-bandwagon.
I would guess that Legacy FASTPASS will still be in use in January. However, I would plan for it NOT to be there and then consider it a happy bonus if it is.
I’m in the same boat. I see some advantages to fastpass+ but what I’m more concerned about is the paper fastpasses. We are going the first week of March so I’m hoping they are still around.
I agree. I’m anxious to see when legacy FASTPASS goes away. I would guess it will be around until they figure out how all the guests you listed will participate in the new program and we will keep everyone posted as we learn more.
Am I reading between the lines correctly here that there is a suggestion that the testing phase will be complete and full roll out is aimed to be December 31st?
December 1, 2013 is the planned official start date.
Does this mean you have to use one or will your KTTW still work. Hubby does not like watches and won’t want one of these.
Thanks.
I believe you still have the option to rather use a card, for those who do not like or cannot wear the bands. The cards will simply be RFID enabled to enable it to work with the new MM+ system. I don’t see them eliminating some form of card alternative at any time, due to guests who cannot or do not wish to wear the bands. It makes no sense to someone who can’t wear one (say for a skin condition by way of random example) to have to carry a bulky band when a card would fit comfortably in a lanyard holder or wallet 🙂
Yes…the bands are optional…so…you can still use your KTTW card if you choose. 🙂
Thanks for the info. I’m a little confused about the linking/interchangeability of cards and wristbands and hope you can clarify.
I have KTTW cards already linked to MyDisneyExperience, and are able to customize wristbands for my November trip, and select FP+ too. How do I connect the wristbands to my existing cards (so that I can get in the park with either, and my use FP+ with either, and then use my cards to get regular FPs? Thanks!
If MDE is offering you wristbands, it will link everything automatically.
I was in the Disney World test in late August, and the KTTW card automatically worked in the old Fastpass kiosks along with my Magic Band working for those rides I had selected via Fastpass Plus. I didn’t have to do anything special, it was automatic.
I don’t see Art of Animation listed?? Does that mean it comes after all the others?
So if this the official release, does that mean FastPass+ and the whole 9 yards too?
Thanks!!!
Resorts already testing:
http://www.doctordisney.com/2013/08/23/disney-expands-mymagic-magicbands-testing-to-different-resorts-in-next-couple-months/
Actually it means Art of Animation was before all the others and it is already fully participating in MyMagic+. It does mean that FASTPASS+ will also be fully in use, though we aren’t sure yet about legacy FASTPASS. I would guess that we will see these stick around at least until day guests/off-site guests are taken care of.
I am going to AoA in December and MDE still doesn’t show magicbands to be customized. This is because testing has only been extended through Nov 30th.
what about for people that stay offsite? Will the bands still be offered for multiple days at parks?
We don’t know much yet about how the program will work for off-site guests, but we will keep you posted as we learn more.
What about dolphin and swan?
An educated guess…they aren’t. Since they are not officially Disney hotels. They won’t see the roll out.
At least not in the same form that Disney hotels will. Eventually when it rolls out to everyone, you’ll be able to get a MagicBand. 🙂
Rikki is correct. Since they aren’t Disney hotels they will most likely be treated as off-site hotels.
I don’t see Port Orleans Riverside, will that be the same time as Port Orleans French Quarters
Riverside is already using them. And it is still just a test according to the email I got when invited to participate in Oct @POR.
Riverside is already doing the full test for all guests. While it is still considered testing it is fully operational similar to an attraction soft opening.
this post says “officially rolling out”. This is real MM+ or still a test?
My question as well. Is this for testing only?
I don’t see Art of Animation on here, but they have been testing for awhile.
Art of Animation was one of the earlier resorts to begin selective testing. They are already fully live and giving MagicBands to all guests.
We are going the first week of December and it still shows on my MDExperience that I have the old tickets, and is not giving FPP options. Any idea if this will change?
It’s still considered testing but instead of select guests at the resorts being chosen everyone will have it.
Do we know if these are the dates that the old fast pass will stop working?
No word yet on Legacy FASTPASS. My guess is that they will still be in use until MyMagic+ is live for day guests and off-site guests.