MagicBands and Fastpass+ for offsite guests

Good morning!!

On Monday, March 31st, Disney continued there expansion of the MyMagic+.  Now guests staying offsite can enjoy some of the same privileges of MyMagic+ as onsite guests do.  I say some because there are some differences.

Difference number 1 - onsite guests can book their Fastpass+ reservations at 60 days out from checkin.  Offsite guests have to wait until 30 days out.  While this will not hugely impact most selections, popular attractions may be long gone by the time their window opens - think meet and greet with the Frozen characters Anna and Elsa!

Difference number 2 - onsite guests get a MagicBand for FREE with their resort reservation, whether it be a room only and they buy their tickets separately or have them from a previous trip or as part of a package.  Offsite guests have to purchase their MagicBand for $12.95 plus tax per band.  If they chose not to purchase a band their park ticket will work the same as a MagicBand would.

Difference number 3 - obviously just as before when staying offsite your MagicBand or ticket would not have any charging abilities.

Here's the media sent to travel agents from Disney:

As part of the test-and-adjust process for MyMagic+, Day Guests (those Guests who are not staying at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel) are now able to make FastPass+ selections 30 days in advance of their trip and can purchase MagicBands to link to their plans in My Disney Experience.

Day Guests may make FastPass+ selections for each day they have admission linked in My Disney Experience starting 30 days in advance of their visit.

While day Guests are not issued MagicBands, they may use their RF-enabled theme park admission to enter the theme parks and redeem FastPass+ selections, or they may purchase a MagicBand and link their theme park admission to the MagicBand.

MagicBands will be available to purchase for $12.96 plus tax at Walt Disney World Resort Park merchandise locations and atDowntown Disney®. They will be available in all seven colors – pink, blue, red, green, orange, gray and yellow.

After a MagicBand is purchased, Cast Members will link the Guest’s admission media (or other RF media such as an existingMagicBand or Memory Maker card) to the retail MagicBand. If the Guest’s ticket is already linked to his/her My Disney Experience account, all of the plans, such as tickets, dining reservations and FastPass+ selections, will be seamlessly linked to their new MagicBand.　

Touch to pay is not available for day Guests. Only Guests staying at Walt Disney World Resort hotels who establish charging privileges upon check-in are able to touch to pay using MagicBands or RF-enabled theme park tickets.

As a reminder, MagicBands are available to all Guests staying at Walt Disney World Resort hotels.

Staying Offsite

Hi there Disney friends!!!

So I am going to write to you about something that I have no experience with....staying off site!  I won't lie, I am a big fan of being on Disney property and I will write up a post about why, but I know for some that is not the best option.  So if you want to stay off property, where should you stay?

Disney partners with certain hotels and they become known as Disney Good Neighbor Hotels.  They also have Downtown Disney Resort Area Hotels and then the two on property - Walt Disney Swan and Dolphin.  There are different packages for the different options.  

We will start with the Good Neighbor Hotels.  You can book a package with a Good Neighbor Hotel. These hotels are within a short drive of of the Walt Disney World Resort.  Select Walt Disney World Good Neighbor Hotels offer accommodations with transportation to the theme parks, although some of them may charge a fee.  This is something I will investigate for you when we begin the decision process.  If you have a rental car or your own car take note that some hotels charge a parking fee and Disney charges a fee per day to park at the parks.  Currently that fee is $15/day.

What does the package include?

• Accommodations at a select Walt Disney World Good Neighbor Hotel
• Magic Your Way Base Ticket with choice of length from 2-10 days.  The base ticket gives you one park per day.  You can add on the hopper option as well as the water park option.
• One keepsake luggage tag per person.

What hotels and where are they?

• International Drive Area:
• Clarion Inn and Suites
• Embassy Suites Hotel
• Hawthorn Suites
• Courtyard Orlando International Drive/Convention Center
• Celebration/Kissimmee Area
• Clarion Suites Maingate
• Hampton Inn & Suites
• Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites
• Holiday Inn Maingate East
• Quality Suites Royale Parc Suites
• Radisson Resort
• Lake Buena Vista Area
• Clarion Inn
• Courtyard by Marriott
• Embassy Suites
• Hampton Inn and Suites
• Holiday Inn Resort
• Lake Buena Vista Resort Village & Spa
• Residence Inn by Marriott
• Sheraton Lake Buena Vista Resort
• Staybridge Suites
• WorldQuest Resort

You can visit the following website to check out these resorts more in detail.  Let me know which one you want to book or ones you are interested in and I will call in and get pricing for you!

Walt Disney World Good Neighbor Hotels

The Downtown Disney Resort Area Hotels put you pretty close to being on property!!  You are within walking distance of the Downtown Disney Area and therefore, just a bus ride away from all the theme parks!

What does your package include?

• Accommodations at a Downtown Disney Resort Area Hotel
• Magic Your Way Base Ticket from 2-10 days.  You can add the hopper or water parks on!
• Keepsake Luggage Tag

Where can you stay?

• B Resort
• Best Western Lake Buena Vista
• Buena Vista Palace Hotel & Spa
• DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Hotel Orlando-Lake Buena Vista
• Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista
• ONLY DOWNTOWN AREA HOTEL TO OFFER EXTRA MAGIC HOURS!!!!
• Holiday Inn Lake Buena Vista
• Wyndham Lake Buena Vista

Want to investigate these hotels further?  Check out the following website.  Be sure to contact me for more booking information.  I can get you the same or better deals than what they are offering on their site!  :-)

Downtown Disney Resort Area Hotels

Lastly....you can stay ON SITE and get Disney busses to drive you to all the theme parks and fun!!  But it isn't a Disney hotel!  That's right.....

The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin hotels are in the heart of Walt Disney World.  Located in the Epcot Resort area and just a short walk to Disney's Boardwalk lies the Swan and Dolphin.  They are a boat ride or walk to Hollywood Studios and Epcot!  A fantastic location for sure!!

What is included in the package?

• Accommodations at the Swan or Dolphin
• Magic Your Way Base Ticket - 2 to 10 days.  Option to add on the hopper or water park option.
• Keepsake Luggage Tag
• PLUS:
• Extra Magic Hour privileges!
• And Disney Busses!

To learn a bit more about the Swan and Dolphin check out their website!  But again, be sure to contact me!  I offer so much more than just booking your trip!  :-)

Opening later this summer is the all new Four Seasons Orlando @ the Walt Disney World Resort.  It is available for booking now and features an adult only pool!  It is within the Disney property as well, but will not receive Extra Magic Hours or bussing from Disney.  The hotel itself will offer bussing.

I will save the pros and cons for onsite vs. offsite - weighing it on both sides - in another post!

For now, take a look at all of that!!  I can help you with booking your offsite stay!  Please contact me and we can get started on some pricing!  I may be onsite biased, but there really are fantastic options for those looking for a bit more value or space!

Happy Planning!!!