6 Things you Need to Know About MagicBands at Disney World

MagicBands are used at the Walt Disney World Resort for park entry, Memory Maker, collecting your Photopass pictures, and resort guests can use for room entry and charging back to the resort. Guests looking to purchase MagicBands have the option to purchase MagicBands at retail locations with unique designs. Any MagicBand linked to your profile on My Disney Experience account can be used interchangeably; think of them like having a copy of a key. So many guests have several different MagicBands they will use during their trip. Read on to find out six things you need to know about purchasing or customizing your MagicBands, and learn about the new MagicBand+ now available at Walt Disney World.

1 – MagicBand+ is Here!

The next-generation MagicBand+ is available at Walt Disney World. The bands retain the popular features of the original MagicBand and add new functionality to unlock experiential moments of magic throughout the Walt Disney World theme parks and resorts.

After a guest enters a theme park, MagicBand+ comes alive at various times with color-changing lights, haptic vibrations, and gesture recognition, enhancing the environment’s immersive storytelling. The wearable allows guests to engage with favorite Disney moments in new ways and discover new interactive experiences, including:

• Play like a bounty hunter in a galaxy far, far away and find virtual bounties throughout Black Spire Outpost in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
• Interact with the “Disney Fab 50 Character Collection,” the golden sculptures spread throughout the Walt Disney World theme parks.
• Experience nighttime spectaculars in a new way as they see their bands light up and complement the magic in the skies.

MagicBand+ is available for purchase around the resort. It starts at $35 for basic bands and goes up to $45 for more elaborate designs. The bands are also available at a discounted, pre-arrival price for Disney Resort hotel guests and new and renewing Walt Disney World Annual Passholders. Current MagicBands continue to be available, along with the complimentary Disney MagicMobile service that extends MagicBand features, such as park entry, to smart devices.

2 – MagicBands are No Longer Complimentary with a Resort Stay but are Still Available for Advanced Purchase

MagicBands have been around for many years, and guests have come to love how they have simplified a Walt Disney World vacation. However, MagicBands are no longer complimentary for resort stays. Guests can still pre-purchase and customize bands before their arrival, but the bands are no longer free. If you want or need a MagicBand or MagicBand+, you’ll be able to choose a color band or select from a variety of specialty bands that are offered at a discounted price. You are not required to purchase new bands for each stay. If you have older MagicBands, Disney encourages you to bring those with you. Alternatively, if you don’t have a MagicBand and don’t want to purchase one, you may get a Key to the World card at your resort and use that to unlock your door and enter your room. If you have a smartphone, you can also use the My Disney Experience app to unlock your door, so you don’t need a card or band to enter your room.

3 – How to Customize Your MagicBand

To choose and customize your MagicBand, you can log into your My Disney Experience account. You will need to have your resort reservation linked if you booked online; it is likely already connected to your account. If you click on the main menu and choose the “Reservations and Tickets” option, you should see your resort reservation listed. If you do not see it, click on “Link a Resort Reservation.” You will need the reservation number and the last name on the reservation. Once your reservation is linked, you are ready to go! Next to the menu, click on “MagicBands and Cards,” you should now see your resort reservation with a button to customize your MagicBands. You can select a specific color for each person and choose what you want to be printed inside. Once you have made your selections, you can confirm and ship your MagicBands to your home address. Please note if you are outside the USA, you cannot ship the MagicBands to your home, but you can still customize the bands and pick them up at the resort. If you already have MagicBands or do not want additional sets, you can also decline MagicBands.

4 – Purchasing a MagicBand at Walt Disney World

Guests can also purchase MagicBands at select retail locations at Walt Disney World. Any guest can purchase and use a MagicBand, they do not need to be staying at a resort to do so. (Please note that using your MagicBand to charge is only for resort guests, as you are charging back to the room and not directly to your credit card.) There are solid-color MagicBands available for purchase, as well as graphic MagicBands. The graphics of MagicBands will feature characters such as Ana and Elsa, Princesses, Star Wars, Tinkerbell, Mickey and friends, and many other characters and designs. These bands range in price from $20 to $40, depending on the band. There are also special limited edition MagicBands that appear for specific events such as Flower and Garden Festival, Food and Wine Festival, Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. Some limited edition MagicBands will make sounds or different colored lights at the touchpoints for park entry.

5 – Purchasing a Customized MagicBand

At Tomorrowland Power & Light near Space Mountain in the Magic Kingdom and D-Tech on Demand at the Marketplace Co-Op at Disney Springs, guests can customize MagicBands beyond the standard graphic designs available. Guests can choose their MagicBand color, a specific image they would like on the MagicBand from a catalog of designs, and even have their name printed on the outside of the band. 

6 – Linking your MagicBand to My Disney Experience
If you have a resort reservation, your MagicBands are automatically linked to your My Disney Experience account. If you have purchased a MagicBand at a retail location, there are two ways to link your new MagicBand to your account. At the merchandise location, you can choose to have your new MagicBand linked to your account immediately or choose to link it at another time. If you have another band or ticket that is linked to your account, you can have it linked right at the store. You would choose not to have it linked if you did not have an account set up yet or if you were purchasing the band as a gift for someone else. (who would need to link it to their own account) If you need to link a new MagicBand to your account after purchase, you will log into your My Disney Experience account and choose “MagicBands and Cards” from the menu, then click on “Need to link a purchased MagicBand?” You will then enter the ID number inside MagicBand and select who will be using this MagicBand on your account. Now, your MagicBand is ready for use!

The different customization options are available for guests looking for more personalized MagicBands. The special events MagicBands, such as those Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, are different each year, making it an option for those looking for dated merchandise to purchase each year. Many guests will purchase MagicBand in addition to the complimentary one they receive at their resort. Do you own more than one MagicBand? Are you looking forward to getting a special event, MagicBand, or customizing your own design?