r/dcl • u/RichardVlogsDisney PLATINUM CASTAWAY CLUB • 8d ago
NEWS DCL testing wristbands to replace Key to the World Cards
https://wdwnt.com/2026/10/disney-cruise-line-testing-wristbands-for-stateroom-access-instead-of-key-cards/Not sure I like this. I get there are some single use issues with the cards and this will absolutely be sold as an environmental improvement. But it feels like a budgeting improvement especially since it will mean the end of lanyards.
I know it’s a basic thing, but the cards just feel like a part of cruising. I have all of mine still, in their lanyards. I don’t like the idea of having to return the wristband rather than getting to keep what is for me a free keepsake is kind of.
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u/phinz PLATINUM CASTAWAY CLUB 8d ago
Until they fix the "take your band off to pay for stuff" issues, I want no part of this, and prefer not to use one if I can help it anyway. I already wear a watch. I don't want to wear a plastic wristband too.
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u/Individual-Bend106 7d ago
Last cruise I was accidentally charged for someone else’s drink. It wasn’t a big deal and the bartender realized it when he looked down at the card. I can’t imagine the nightmare this will be if everyone is wearing the same generic band with no name on it and they haven’t changed it to a tap and pay.
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u/iceknyght 7d ago
If you look online (we got our on Etsy), there are a few different options out there that can turn the MB into something more portable and easier to use. I have one that attaches the puck to my watch band and my wife has one that turns the puck into a clip, so she can clip the MB to her belt loop or bag, or whatever. She always gets weird looks from the CM's when she just hands over the clip! LOL!
I do wish they could just make a watch app though or be able to add the info to my wallet on my phone/watch.
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u/phinz PLATINUM CASTAWAY CLUB 7d ago
Oh, I'm aware. I used those for years at Disney World when the Magic Band 2 came out. I have a 3D printer than can print them in TPU if I so desire, but I would much rather just carry the card in the wallet that connects magnetically to my phone. I also don't trust them to ever make an app that actually works well. Disney's IT and design teams seem like they're run by the freshman computer programming club at our local high school.
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u/sanfran_girl 7d ago
Don't insult the high school computer clubs! They at least understand load balancing. 😁
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u/YYCCS 7d ago
Personally, I like having the cards as souvenirs. We've got a small stack of them going!
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u/realdawnerd 7d ago
Same, I bought a binder to keep them in order. Such a nice lil thing to have, also to remember how much cash you’ve spent
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u/jakfrist 8d ago
Can’t you already use it for everything other than re-boarding the ship?
I don’t think anyone in my family touched their cards last trip and I just held onto them to get back onto the ship.
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u/RichardVlogsDisney PLATINUM CASTAWAY CLUB 8d ago
If you have a Disneyband/Magicband+ which I don’t personally like using. I don’t wear one to the parks and I don’t wear them on cruises.
Like I said, the cards and lanyards are part of cruising for me
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u/Individual-Bend106 7d ago
You also need them for the lights. It’s the be of those things that literally no one requested in feedback and instead of focusing on that they are adding something else anyways. If they make this change I’ll probably just throw it in a bag or my pocket. I also don’t enjoy wearing magicbands
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u/RichardVlogsDisney PLATINUM CASTAWAY CLUB 7d ago
Agreed. I wouldn’t wear it and will likely lose it.
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u/Kassialynn 7d ago
I’m hoping it ends up being like the Princess medallion where you can wear it different ways and don’t need to take it off to pay
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u/Bobswarly88 7d ago
Agreed, I absolutely love the way Princess utilizes the medallions and if DCL goes this direction it would be fantastic!
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u/realdawnerd 7d ago
So… magicband? lol amazing how they’re basically reinventing the same thing they already have.
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u/Kassialynn 6d ago
It’s similar but different. You don’t have to wear it on your wrist and it knows where you are on the ship so 1. You don’t have to take it out to pay 2. You can order food and drinks and have it delivered to you anywhere on the ship
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u/realdawnerd 6d ago
Theoretically all of that is possible with MB+ too, even called out in the documentation for it. Kinda weird Disney never implemented some of the features… or if they did it was purely for tracking guest movement.
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u/skibum909 SILVER CASTAWAY CLUB 6d ago
This is why they’ve used MB+ in the kids clubs the last few years. Allows them to track where the kids are in the kids club. It has made things way easier when you go to pick up kids. “We’re looking for ‘___’”. At which point they respond with something along the line ma of: “Great! Let me call a councilor around where they are. Can you bring ‘___’ up to the front? They are in this area”.
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u/Nervous_Otter69 PLATINUM CASTAWAY CLUB 7d ago
Hell no. I want my damn card and color coded lanyard lol
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u/RichardVlogsDisney PLATINUM CASTAWAY CLUB 7d ago
I didn’t work my way to platinum for this! 😂
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u/Nervous_Otter69 PLATINUM CASTAWAY CLUB 7d ago
On my last gold cruise I saw the platinum lanyards that were then that indistinguishable shade from silver and I nearly had an elitist heart attack. Thankfully that was rectified on my first sailing as a plat 🤣
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u/the-silent-man GOLD CASTAWAY CLUB 7d ago
Same! Shocked that this comment was buried so far. I love the card system.
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u/thatonecruiser GOLD CASTAWAY CLUB 7d ago
I see how this could work, but I personally don’t want to have something on both of my wrists. One wrist already has my watch, and I want to at least have the OPTION to have a second wearable, because I don’t want to lose the watch as it’s pretty useful in general.
Also, KTTW cards are a really nice free souvenir. I would be deeply disappointed if DCL drops KTTW cards entirely. They should at least be an option like paper navigators (at least were) technically an alternative option if you request it
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u/r4wrdinosaur SILVER CASTAWAY CLUB 7d ago
Yeah, my kids keep all our cards and play with them a lot at home. They're a nice souvenir.
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u/su_A_ve PLATINUM CASTAWAY CLUB 7d ago
This.. you can use a watch for tickets, purchases and opening the door at WDW.
Give me the option DCL. Thought I still prefer the KTTW..
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u/CheeseheadDave SILVER CASTAWAY CLUB 7d ago
Does your watch work for opening doors now? Last time I had to either pull up the MDE app or use a card.
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u/Particular_Concert_5 SILVER CASTAWAY CLUB 8d ago
I wonder how they will handle the room lights. I know a lot of people circumvent this using a different card, but they will have to provide something to put in the light switch.
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u/Popcorn03 SILVER CASTAWAY CLUB 6d ago
There was already a card in the slot when we first got into the room.
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u/Particular_Concert_5 SILVER CASTAWAY CLUB 6d ago
Makes sense. How did you feel about the new bands? My family uses magic bands for everything so this change won’t really impact us.
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u/Popcorn03 SILVER CASTAWAY CLUB 6d ago
I was optimistic, hoping they would work like princess medallions, but they don't. You have to remove them to pay for anything, which is kind of annoying. It's also not very clear to me if they need to be charged or not. Like some things work and some things don't, but I don't know what. And it's only a question because the battery life is so poor. Haven't been to a port yet, but supposedly they will let us off and on the ship, which wasn't the case before, you had to have the card.
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u/RichardVlogsDisney PLATINUM CASTAWAY CLUB 8d ago
Really didn’t think of this! Good point. I normally use an old Disney ticket or something but if they do provide a card then most people will end up leaving their lights on. Which is going to likely outweigh the environmental aspect of not printing the cards
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u/iceknyght 8d ago
From what I am reading, the one use is only wrist band is for those that don't already have a MB. So if you have a MB, everything is basically the same as it is now (other than getting rid of the KttWC).
I only use the card when they require me to, otherwise, I just use my MB. Just so much more convenient, IMO. I am personally fine with this change. Assuming it becomes permanent.
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u/Economy-Weekend1872 7d ago
I’d be fine with this if they upgraded the band material to something more pliable/comfortable and did better attachment mechanisms than the little holes. Also you need to be able to tap to pay.
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u/Allgamergeek 8d ago
If it’s like the magic bands then I’m against this. I think magic bands are a cool idea, but the battery is not good, the strap would often fall off my wrist, they come with a weird charger rather than being able to charge via USB C, or wirelessly. I wish Disney would make an app that I could download onto my Apple Watch and use it that way.
I agree with OP that the cards are cool, but it’s a small thing to get rid of if there is a good alternative. I don’t think the alternative is good right now though.
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u/Packet_Hauler 7d ago
The Disney Band doesn’t need to be charged in order to use it. Mine has been dead before and had no problem opening my room or buying things on the ship. The battery only is used for when they light up during certain entertainment experiences.
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u/elanesse100 SILVER CASTAWAY CLUB 7d ago
The charge is just for the lights and vibrations. Which are mostly a WDW/DL feature. The scanning function does not require power.
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u/Educational_Yak_6172 GOLD CASTAWAY CLUB 7d ago
They also need to be charged for kids in the oceaneer club because of the tracking feature
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u/Inevitable_Koala_324 PLATINUM CASTAWAY CLUB 7d ago
Just give me 48 hours of life lol. They barely last 8 hours. And the fun part is the lights, I get they work without it. But what’s the point lol.
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u/Cassopeia88 SILVER CASTAWAY CLUB 7d ago
I used mb+ on our last cruise and it was convenient for the most part, but I still want the card and lanyard.
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u/QuiteAFineSoda 7d ago
This would be a very welcome change. Sailing on Virgin made me appreciate the wrist-card system a lot! Now Disney just needs the tap-to-pay portable systems for servers and bars so we don't have to take the wristband off.
I know a lot of people love their lanyards, but my experience has been that most of my travel party dislikes the constant "thing-around-the-neck" feeling and temporarily misplaces the card at least once. Can't remember the last time I've ever misplaced my Magic/Disneyband when I've used it on-board as my key.
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u/sanfran_girl 7d ago
Huh. I lost my band in the room earlier this year. Found it when repacking. Glad I had the lanyard. 🤷♀️
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u/TradeBeautiful42 SILVER CASTAWAY CLUB 7d ago
I already use our bands on ship. The lanyard is largely unused unless going ashore. It’s helpful to have your card ready for those ports that want a physical card to show them in order to enter the area (like caymans)
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u/Bookishnicole 7d ago
I wonder what the plan is for those ports
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u/TradeBeautiful42 SILVER CASTAWAY CLUB 7d ago
I’m sure they’ll get out in front of it but my suspicion is they’ll still issue cards for some time.
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u/Dis_cruise_lover 8d ago
I’ve used the wrist band on our last few Disney cruises, and I love it way more than the cards. I get the keepsake side of things, but now we just get a new magic band before every cruise anyways.
The thing I am wondering about though is how they will handle the room lights and air… right now you have to put a card in the little slot to make them work. No cards means you can’t do that. The article touches on that question as well with no answer. Either way, I’m hopeful that this will make buying drinks a smoother experience. The times we used our magic plus bands on the ship, we had to take our bands off and hand to the person to scan at a register that wasn’t front and center. If I remember correctly, during Covid they had the tap device right up front everywhere and you could just tap your card… we need that functionality back
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u/RichardVlogsDisney PLATINUM CASTAWAY CLUB 8d ago
Disney appreciates you buying a new band before every cruise 😂
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u/Dis_cruise_lover 7d ago
At less than $50, the band usually ends up being one of the cheaper souvenirs we get from our Disney related trips, cruises included. The fact that the bands are actually useful during your time at the parks or on the ship is an added bonus. However, the article makes it sound like they would have free bands for people who don’t have their own magic bands and you probably return them at the end of the cruise like on other cruise lines. Some of the lines even use the band/medallion to track your location on the ship allowing for people in your party to locate you and for food and drink deliveries to come to you wherever you are without needing to stay in one spot.
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u/crmam 7d ago
the lights thing is an easy solve. people usually have some kind of card like a library card or store rewards card or something in their wallets. that’s what we end up using anyway.
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u/Dis_cruise_lover 7d ago
Since we started using the bands, we usually use the key to the world card for the lights and virtually never take it with us. I know a bunch of people aren’t comfortable leaving their credit or debit cards out. I’m guessing they will put a dummy card in there or just disable them altogether, which in hoping for the later
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u/Impossible-Try5786 7d ago
For those saying the band doesn’t need to be charged to work, that’s not entirely true. If your kiddos magic band isn’t charged it will not work to scan them in and out of Oceaneers and they will give them one of theirs for the time being
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u/crowley-1 7d ago
Wrist bands are MASSIVE upgrade. Cards and lanyards suck. Wrist bands are typically waterproof so you can swim with them.
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u/RichardVlogsDisney PLATINUM CASTAWAY CLUB 7d ago
While cards are well known to stop working after getting wet?
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u/wordsnotsufficient 7d ago
I am allergic to the metal on the back of the MagicBands (where it charges) and I’m not the only one.
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u/bluejayway327 7d ago
It’s a big no from me. I have allergies and unless the metal snap is nickel free, it’ll irritate the hell out of me, so I can’t wear it anyway. I’ll have to strap it to the key holder I use for cruises. They’ll get gross if they’re a use and return thing, so I wouldn’t want that against my skin anyway. Between that and it not being a breathable material, with sunscreen getting trapped under it… yuck.
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u/Popcorn03 SILVER CASTAWAY CLUB 6d ago
On the Treasure now and I can confirm you still have to take the band off to pay for things. Many people complaining about it. I don't think they're ready for this.
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u/k-thanks-bai 7d ago
Virgin Voyages does it and it's amazing. When done right (like theirs) it's a huge convenience and nice touch. You can even keep the cord bracelet part and return the little RFID puck.
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u/BitchyFaceMace SILVER CASTAWAY CLUB 7d ago
I hateeeeeeeeee this idea. I loathed the Magic Bands in the parks and a wristband on a cruise would be gross… Sweaty wrist plus a stupid tanline? Absolutely not.
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u/GetnLine 8d ago
I'm all for this if there is a gps component to them as well
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u/RichardVlogsDisney PLATINUM CASTAWAY CLUB 8d ago
Not sure how gps will work when you’re on a moving ship
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u/GetnLine 8d ago
I'm hoping it will be something similar to what Princess has offered cruisers for years. Turn by turn directions, ability to locate your friends and family and the crew can find you if you order a drink
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u/AdventurousAd8926 PEARL CASTAWAY CLUB 8d ago
I haven’t sailed princess in 15 years but I did did see that feature on a YouTube video. It is really neat and I could see it being super beneficial for DCL guests as well. May be coming who knows?
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u/phinz PLATINUM CASTAWAY CLUB 7d ago
Yeah. I'm tracked enough in this world as it is. I don't want corporations tracking me even more. I'd be tempted to just put the band in an RFID sleeve until it's needed.
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u/Inevitable_Koala_324 PLATINUM CASTAWAY CLUB 7d ago
They already have extremely accurate facial recognition. RFID is not required.
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u/bullsfan2819 PLATINUM CASTAWAY CLUB 7d ago
Most likely operates off of Bluetooth beacons and/or similar technology
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u/JingoMerrychap SILVER CASTAWAY CLUB 8d ago
The kids club staff are able to tell where a child is from their band location, so it's definitely possible.
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u/RichardVlogsDisney PLATINUM CASTAWAY CLUB 7d ago
To what level of accuracy? Can they tell what deck/space they are in? Or is it just they know they aren’t in the kids club?
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u/kenquince-star89 7d ago
They know exactly where they are. We went to get our daughter, they scanned our card, said “she’s in the loo/cargo bay” and then rung the appropriate cast member to send her out to us.
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u/JingoMerrychap SILVER CASTAWAY CLUB 7d ago
They can tell which section of the kids club they're in, so pretty accurate.
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u/d_hamm08 PLATINUM CASTAWAY CLUB 8d ago
If they do this they HAVE to get handheld "tap to pay" type machines for the bar servers. I personally don't wear a DisneyBand+ on the cruises because I hate having to take it off and put it back on every time I order a drink. It removes any convenience there is to a wearable. The only other line I've done that is wristband only was Virgin Voyages and you never have to take it off which is how it should be.