We always have our Disney World MagicBands ready to go on trips. What’s not to love? These adjustable, versatile, waterproof bracelets that act as your ticket. You can enter the theme parks and water parks, link photos, access your Lightning Lane selections and more with just a tap of your band. And if staying at a Walt Disney World hotel, it can even act as your room key and allow you to pay for food and merchandise. All that in one easy-to-wear wristband!
MagicBands have evolved a lot over the years with tons of designs and customization options. Sometimes there's even limited edition bands for special occasions! While MagicBands aren't required, they certainly enhance a Disney trip.
Coming soon in 2022 is MagicBand+. The newest iteration will include all of the current features plus some exciting interactive additions! Bring the Fab 50 golden character statues to life, embark on an exciting bounty hunter experience at Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge and see your band light up alongside nighttime spectaculars.
Read on for more details about MagicBand and the upcoming MagicBand+!
Overview of MagicBands
Back in the day (you know … ALL THE WAY back in 2013), MagicBands were issued to Disney World resort guests and, eventually, annual pass holders. They were only offered in gray. They served as wearable room keys and park tickets, and hotel guests can link a credit card to them to pay for meals, snacks and merchandise at the parks and resorts.
Over the years, there have been hundreds of designs released, either just a solid color or a character design. Anyone can now purchase a MagicBand. Hotel guests used to receive free basic MagicBands, but now can purchase basic and premium bands at a discounted price.
What Can You Do with a MagicBand?
Now, with an active MagicBand linked to a valid park ticket or annual pass in My Disney Experience, you can use it to:
- Enter the theme parks and water parks
- Check in to the Lightning Lane during your reservation time
- Take advantage of cool surprise extras, such as seeing your name “magically” pop up with a personal “good-bye” on the wall of farewells at “It’s a Small World”
- Save your images with the photographer at every Disney PhotoPass/MemoryMaker location in the parks
- Access your post-ride photos on most of the iconic thrill rides and other locations within the parks
If you're staying at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel, you get additional MagicBand benefits. You can use your MagicBand to:
- Unlock your room
- Pay for meals and merchandise in the parks and resorts (you must enable this feature and set up a pin)
- Gain entry at the parking lots at Epcot, Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios
To link a MagicBand to your account, open up the My Disney Experience app and click the three-bar menu on the bottom right. Scroll down to My Profile and select "MagicBands & Cards". Here you can link a band by putting in the code located on the back of the band. Once inputted, you'll select who you want to link it to (you will be selected by default). If linking bands for the whole family, be sure you select the right person, as once a band is linked, it cannot be unlinked. Note that you can have multiple bands attached to your account and use them interchangeably.
Disney MagicBand Customization Options
Today, there are hundreds of customization options for MagicBands. If you have a Disney favorite — a character, a movie, a ride, an iconic park feature, almost anything you can think of — you can express your love with a personalized MagicBand. And they come out with new options all the time.
There are several levels of MagicBand customization. It starts with the different colors — pink, red, purple, orange, yellow, green, blue and gray. Colorful bands are typically $19.99 while premium bands with designs on them are $29.99. Limited release MagicBands may be $34.99. There are often exclusive MagicBands for Annual Passholders.
If staying on-site, you can order either the colorful or premium bands at a discounted price. The MagicBands will be mailed to you if ordered at least 11 days before arrival, or you can pick them up at the resort when you check in (if ordered at least six days before arrival).
You can buy MagicBands at many merchandise locations within the parks and at Disney Springs. Some of our favorite MagicBand locations are the Emporium on Main Street USA at Magic Kingdom or World of Disney and Disney Pin Traders at Disney Springs. The Shop Disney website also has a great selection you can order online. You can also create your own customized MagicBand with D-tech on Demand, located at the Marketplace Co-op at Disney Springs.
MagicBand+
Coming in summer 2022 is the next generation fo MagicBands — Magicband+. The new iteration will include all of the current features plus some exciting extras:
- Embark on the Disney Fab 50 Quest and bring the golden character statues to life. Along with the Play Disney Parks app, unlock digital achievements and an augmented reality feature.
- At Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge in Disney's Hollywood Studios, experience "Star Wars: Batuu Bounty Hunters". Use your band to locate virtual bounties hidden throughout Batuu. Using the Play Disney Parks app, you can use augmented reality to see what's behind locked doors. Once your mission is complete, the local guild master will reward you with galactic credits. Sounds like quite the galactic adventure!
- Experience nighttime spectaculars like never before as your bands light up and complement the magic of Disney Enchantment at Magic Kingdom and Harmonius at EPCOT.
Resort guests and Annual Passholders will be able to purchase at a discounted, pre-arrival price. The original MagicBands will still be available for purchase. Guests can use either a MagicBand, MagicBand+ or Disney MagicMobile to enter the park and use basic features. MagicBand+ is expected to be available at Disneyland Resort later this year.
What's your favorite MagicBand design? Are you excited for MagicBand+? Let us know in the comments below!
Hoppy planning!
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