The goal of this blog series is to factually prove or disprove rumors and myths in the Disney-verse. A few months ago we touched on two MagicBand myths “Credit Card Theft From Your MagicBand” and “MagicBands Need Activated.” Tonight on TMSM Mythbusters we are tackling a few more of the “unique” myths and misconceptions (mythconception) we see frequently in Disney based forums regarding MagicBands.
Before we go into tonight’s mythconceptions, let’s take a quick moment to explain RFID, mainly because many people just have no clue what I mean when I say RFID signal. “Radio-frequency identification (RFID) is the wireless use of electromagnetic fields to transfer data, for the purposes of automatically identifying and tracking tags attached to objects.The tags contain electronically stored information. Some tags are powered by electromagnetic induction from magnetic fields produced near the reader. Some types collect energy from the interrogating radio waves and act as a passive transponder. Other types have a local power source such as a battery and may operate at hundreds of meters from the reader. Unlike a barcode, the tag does not necessarily need to be within line of sight of the reader and may be embedded in the tracked object. RFID is one method for Automatic Identification and Data Capture (AIDC).” In layman’s terms RFID is what stores use for their alarm systems, those little stickers that set off proximity alarms. Toll sensors, race timing chips, even cell phones use RFID.
The first two MagicBand mythconceptions we are going to look into go hand in hand with each other. Many guests seem to think that you can only get a MagicBand if you are staying on Disney Property and you have to have a MagicBand to enter a Disney park. These mythconceptions probably stem from the fact that only guests staying at a Disney owned resort receive a MagicBand in the mail or at check in and guests staying at non Disney resorts receive an RFID enabled plastic card. The thing is, you don’t have to have a MagicBand to get into the park. That card will do the many of the same things a MagicBand will, within reason. The card is RFID enabled and can be about 2-4cm away from a reader, just like MagicBand. The only thing the card can’t do is the long range ride photos that require the MagicBands internal long range antenna. The long range antenna (used mostly for Memory Maker) has a signal range of up to about 50 ft line of site. Guests that want to have a MagicBand can, Disney doesn’t confirm that you are a resort guest when you buy a band in the parks, the MCO Disney Store, or on the Disney Store online. There is no requirement that you must be resort guests to have a MagicBand, just that you be a Disney resort guest to get one for free.
So the mythconceptions that you only get a MagicBand as a Disney resort guest, but must have one to get into the parks is busted.
Our next mythconception is that you can swap MagicBands between guests enabling you to share entitlements. I will be honest, this mythconception bothers me as it was created by people trying to get around the system. The fact is, Walt Disney World very clearly addresses this topic on their official website.
“Can other people use my MagicBand or card?
In addition to touching your MagicBand or card to a touch point, you will be required to scan a finger to enter the parks or enter a PIN code to uniquely identify yourself when making purchases. This process helps to ensure that you, and only you, have access to the entitlements linked to your MagicBand or card.”
That being said, the mythconception that you can swap MagicBands is in fact busted.
The next mythconception is that your photos for Memory Maker are stored on your MagicBand or My Disney Experience account. We have actually tackled this topic a few times. Every MagicBand has an ID number printed inside it. This is the number you enter into My Disney Experience when you buy a SE/LE Band to connect the band to your account. The number identifies the MagicBand. The MagicBand itself is a RFID tag, all this means in layman’s terms is that inside your MagicBand is a chip that has no personal data stored, all it does is send and receive RFID signals using short and long range antennas that say this band is number 3401-3312-90XX, aka this is Aut. When that signal is received by a FP+ or park entry turnstile, taps a charge sensor, or even gets scanner by a MemoryMaker CM the systems scanning say HEY look it’s Aut! Aut is allowed to charge to her room, she is on this dining plan, she has this many credits, this ticket type, a FP+ at this time etc.
The thing is that is ALL a MagicBand does, alert sensors to the fact you are who you are. All the information about your trip is stored in My Disney Experience’s computers, the separate secure credit card system, or Photopass‘ system. That being said, all your photos are stored on the Photopass website, so you have to log into it to view your Memory Maker photos, making the mythconception your photos are on your Magicband, busted.
Our final mythconception about Magic Bands is one that truly baffles me. People constantly ask us if painting or decorating their MagicBand will effect it’s ability to work. As I mentioned earlier MagicBands have two antennas. The Near field communication (NFC) antenna is a type of antenna that is the set of protocols that enables smartphones, MagicBands and other devices to establish radio communication with each other by touching the devices together or bringing them into proximity to a distance of typically 10 cm (3.9 in) or less.
The MagicBands NFC range has about a 1-2 cm range.This is the antenna you use when you are making direct contact. So things like resort room key, ticket, room charge, FastPass+, and Photopass Photographer band scans use the NFC option. The long range antenna has up to about 50 ft line of site and is used for things like ride photos.
That being said, things like Cover Bands, duct tape, nail polish, acrylic paint, spray paint, event “bedazzles” won’t effect a MagicBands antenna. The thickest of these items is the “bedazzles” and those tend to be about .25 cm thick and don’t block or modify the NFC signal like many fear will occur. In TMSM Fan Nation we have seen (and personally used) pretty much every type of MagicBand adornment you can think of, and none of it has effected the band’s signal.
So based on the FCC filings about the MagicBand’s range, our own personal testing of the band itself, and Main Streeters testing of pretty much every decorative items known to man having been slapped on a MagicBand, we can say without a doubt, the mythconception that paint or decoration will effect a MagicBand signal is in fact busted.
Michele also contributes theme park news for Fox 35 Orlando 11pm news and on the radio on WDBO.
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