If you are vising Walt Disney World for the first time, you will see "Magic Bands" and may wonder what they are and if it's really a "necessity" for your Disney vacation. While purchasing a Magic Band is not required to visit Disney World, the majority of Disney goers view Magic Bands as synonymous with being in Disney World. It is your key to activities, your form of payment, and another method Disney uses to fully immerse guests in Disney World. It brings all of your pre-trip planning to life and makes everything accessible off of the website/app and simply at a touch of your wrist.
I will quickly note that Magic Bands are not actually necessary, and if you are truly opposed to getting one, there are a couple of other options that you could choose. First, you can use Disney MagicMobile Service, which allows you to tap your phone rather than the Magic Band. Alternatively, you can ask for a free card either at your resort or at a Guest Services location, which can also be tapped instead of the Magic Band. I personally like the no hands method of the Magic Band and that its always at the ready on your wrist. You don't have to worry about constantly digging through your bag for your phone or the card.
To prove this point- when we took an off day from Disney World to visit Universal, I had to remember to pack my wallet in my park bag. What a pain to have to dig through the bag every time I needed to pay for something. Also, I can't tell you how many times I tried to tap my wrist and realized we weren't in Disney World. Not only does this show Magic Bands are super convenient, but also that Disney is superior to Universal (controversial I know).
1) What is a Magic Band and where can you purchase them?
Magic Bands are electronic wristbands that you wear while on Disney property. They come in a variety of different colors and designs, so you can choose one that is best suited for you. It is made out of a durable plastic material, very much like the band of a Fitbit or other active smartwatch. However, the microchip in the center holds a lot of Magic and does so much to make your Disney trip smoother.
Magic Bands used to be complementary, and if you were staying at a Disney Resort, you automatically received them in the mail prior to your visit. However, now Disney is charging for this once free amenity. If you are staying at a Disney resort, you have the option of purchasing your Magic Band prior to your visit right on the website. If you do this, you are given a discounted pre-arrival price. The most basic bands are only $9.99 on the website. If you are more inclined to a band with a design, that will cost you $24.99. A Magic Band Plus, which is more advanced and offers more features, costs $34.99.
Taking advantage of the special pre-arrival price is a good way to save some money, since you know you are visiting Disney well in advance of the trip and should have plenty of time to purchase the Magic Band ahead of time. If you choose this option, Disney will mail the Magic Band to your house so that you have them at the very start of the trip. However, if you buy the Magic Band within 11 days prior to the start of your trip, you will have to pick up the Magic Band at the front desk of your resort upon check-in, so as to prevent any mailing delays causing you to not receive the Magic Band in time.
If you choose not to purchase the Magic Band pre-arrival, there are plenty of spots to purchase Magic Bands in Disney World. They are sold in Resort gift shops, Disney Springs, and in the parks. There is typically a bigger variety to choose from if you wait to purchase in Disney World, rather than the slim pickings on the website. This option is better for people who already have a Magic Band, so that they can use the one they already have while looking around Disney World for a new one.
2) What does a Magic Band do?
As soon as I am in the Uber driving from the airport to my Disney resort, you better believe I am sporting my Magic Band. Once it's on your wrist, you feel like you're in the "club." Only Disney guests wear Magic Bands and if you use them properly while within the Disney property, you will be fully immersed and not even think about the outside world until your departure. Magic Bands make your trip simple and makes all of your planning on the app real in the parks.
The first thing that Magic Bands do, is grant access. The Magic Band links to your My Disney Experience app and acts as your key while in Disney World. A simple tap of you Magic Band on the door to your resort room will open it up for you. Also, your park tickets are loaded on your Magic Band, so you simply tap your Magic Band at the front entrance to the park to get in. Additionally, a tap of your Magic Band will allow you access into Lightening Lanes (if you are using Genie Plus) or any virtual queues that you have booked on the app. It is so convenient to be able to just tap your wrist and be granted access to all of these things.
Second, you are able to link the credit card you have on file with Disney to your Magic Band, along with a pin number that you create. By doing this, you can go cashless/cardless while in Disney World. All payments can be made with a tap of your Magic Band (and entry of your pin), including in gift shops, restaurants, and snack stands. This cuts down on things you have to carry around in the park with you. All of the purchases you make with the Magic Band are added to an invoice on your My Disney Experience App, so you can easily check what charges you've made if you're getting a little "tap happy." Afterall, if you're using your Magic Band, Mickey must be paying, right?!?
Third, photopass is connected to your Magic Band. Throughout the parks, there are Disney photopass photographers stationed to take photos of guests in popular photo ppp locations. If interested, all you have to do is tap your Magic Band on the photographer's camera, and all of the photos they take of you will automatically be loaded onto your My Disney Experience App. The photos will be available for purchase from there.
Similarly, your photo is taken on some of the rides. At the end of the ride, you can tap your Magic Band on the photo kiosk in order for your ride photo to be uploaded to your My Disney Experience App. If you have Genie Plus, all of those ride photos will be available to you to download for free. Don't forget to tap your Magic Band after getting off the ride, because that is the only way to get the photos onto your app. If not, they are lost forever.
Fourth, there is a chip in your Magic Band that monitors your location in Disney World. On some of the rides, you will see signs with your name as you pass by. Disney knows you are on the ride at that time, due to the Magic Band's gps feature. Also, when your Magic Band leaves Disney property on check out day, Disney automatically knows you have checked out. It is almost a little creepy how well it knows where you are at all times.
Finally, the Magic Band is durable. It is waterproof, so you can quite literally leave it on the entire time you are in Disney World. It can be worn in the pool, hot tub, and even while showering. Also, you don't have to worry about it being ruined in a Florida mid-afternoon rain storm. Also, the Magic Band has a battery which lasts around 10 years. Therefore, you can easily use a Magic Band for multiple Disney World trips without worrying about having to buy a new one.
3) Magic Band Plus
Everything I have written about so far, is applicable to the original Magic Band. This is the Magic Band that has been around since Disney introduced this technology. In 2022, Disney World introduced the Magic Band Plus, which incorporated all of the features of the original Magic Band, plus even more advanced technology. I actually have not gotten a Magic Band Plus yet, simply because it seems like the added features are not necessary for my and are targeted more towards children. I don't see justification for buying one when my original Magic Band still works. Also, the Magic Band Plus seems a little bit more inconvenient, as it has to be charged with a charging cable. The charge will only hold for 1-3 days.
The majority of the additions offered on the Magic Band Plus are targeted towards engagement. First, there are virtual quests set up around Disney World that you can partake in using your Magic Band Plus. There are golden statues of Disney characters scattered throughout Disney World that you can seek out and collect using your Magic Band Plus. When you collect the character, the gold statue will momentarily interact with you. Also, in Galaxy's Edge in Hollywood Studios, there is a bounty hunter quest you can partake in, using your Magic Band Plus to collect bounty. While these quests are a neat idea, to me it just seems like a waste of park time. Again, it is probably more geared towards children.
Second, the Magic Band Plus interacts with nighttime shows. Your band will light up and vibrate, in sync with the fireworks shows in Magic Kingdom and Epcot.
Third, the Magic Band Plus will light up in a glow and vibrate when you get near to any of the 4 iconic monuments- Cinderella's Castle, the Tree of Life, the Epcot ball, and the Tower of Terror.
To me, these engagement features don't make the Magic Band Plus a "gotta have" item. I'm sure eventually the original Magic Band will be phased out and Disney will only offer the Magic Band Plus. At that point, I will get one without complaint. But it is definitely not something that I think greatly enhances the Magic Band experience. You already get all of the truly useful features with the original Magic Band.
In my opinion, you can't visit Disney World without sporting a Magic Band. When you see guests using their phone or a card instead of a Magic Band, you immediately think newbie. It is painful to realize you are behind one of these people when trying to enter the park, because it is inevitable that they will hold you up in your rope drop endeavors. The Magic Band is convenient and when used properly can make your trip all the more magical and immersive. They are affordable and the fact that you can use them for years to come makes the price even more doable. I highly recommend buying one and getting the full Disney experience!
Comments