In 2017 Walt Disney World started phasing out the old Mickey design on the MagicBand readers for merchandise, food & beverage, and front desk areas. Basically anything that a guest would be able to touch their MagicBand to for payment was being replaced with an industry standard device. These are all now in place across property but the real question remained: When will the credit card chip readers be working?
We finally have an answer and that’s… well… now. These newer devices are accepting chip payment at resort front desk locations only. After speaking with cast members it appears that the front desk programs have been updated to accept the chip reader for payments and also to put your credit card for MagicBand charging. We have yet to see Food & Beverage or Merchandise turn on the chip reader function but we anticipate it will be within the coming months.
Oh, Ok… do I understand this well, or not ?
Is it saying, chip-card readers did not exist yet in WDW ?
(Every even smallest commercial spot in Europe does have them since… decennia ! (10, 20, 30,.. years) , so I’m totally confused here.)
It has not existed at WDW until now.
Will you still be able to pay with the Magicband by touching it to the phone payment reader?
Yes, this only applies to use of credit cards.
Don’t forget that Apple Pay, Google Pay & Samsung Pay works at any terminal with the NFC payment logo. I use Apple Pay in the parks and around Disney property. Works perfectly every time.