If you are planning a trip to Disney World, chances are you have probably seen Magic Bands or Magic Band Plus being mentioned.
You may be wondering what they are, what they do, and do you need Magic Bands at Disney World. In this post, we’ll go over everything you need to know about Magic Bands and Magic Band plus at Disney World.
What is a Magic Band?
A magic band is a waterproof plastic wristband with a “puck” in the center that contains a scannable radio frequency chip. This chip allows you to scan into the park, unlock the door to your resort room, make payments for food and merchandise, and more.
Magic Bands are designed to make your experience at Disney parks as hands-free as possible. They also make it really easy and seamless to rack up all those purchases throughout the day.
The bands come in a variety of colors and designs and have become somewhat of a collectible for some Disney fans.
What can you do with a Magic Band?
- Unlock your resort room
- Enter the theme parks
- Check-in at Lightning Lane checkpoints
- Purchase merchandise and food
- Link to your in-ride photos and PhotoPass photos
Some things to know:
- Magic bands are not interchangeable among different members of your travel party. You do need to link each magic band to one individual person.
- There is a 2 step verification process with the bands. When scanning into the park you will also need to use the biometric fingerprint scanner. For purchases made with the band, you will also be required to enter a PIN. This is to help ensure that if you lose your band while in the parks no one else will be able to use it.
- Magic Bands are one size fits all. There is an outer portion of the band that can be torn off to fit smaller wrists. Just be sure you don’t peel that part off unless you’re sure it will fit because you won’t be able to reattach it.
Where can you purchase a Magic Band?
You can purchase Magic Bands through ShopDisney and through your My Disney Experience app.
Guests staying at a Disney resort can order Magic Bands with a discount through the My Disney Experience app prior to their trip. You’ll want to be sure you do so at least 11 days before your trip if you are having them shipped to your home.
You can also have the bands sent directly to your resort hotel. Magic Bands are also available at various merchandise locations at Disney World.
Do you need a Magic Band?
The short answer is no. There are several other ways to enter the parks. Here are some other options:
Key to the World Cards
These are plastic RFID cards that you can get at the front desk at your resort hotel. They work much the same as Magic Bands. They can be used to open your hotel room, enter the parks, and connect to PhotoPass photos.
If you have a credit card saved to your My Disney Experience App, you can also use it to charge purchases to your room. Each person needs to have their own card, and they can be harder to keep track of compared to the wearable Magic Bands.
Disney MagicMobile Service
Magic Mobile is a way to access nearly all the features that you can with a Magic Band by using your smart device. You can set up Magic Mobile through your My Disney Experience App. Instead of scanning your Magic Band, you would scan your Magic Mobile pass from your phone or your Apple Watch.
What is Magic Band +
Magic Band + is the newest version of the Magic Band introduced in 2022. The Magic Band+ can do everything that the original Magic Band can do, plus some additional features. The below chart outlines the differences.
Extra features of the Magic Band +
- A new look and new designs
- Rechargeable battery
- Lights up and vibrates along with park experiences -entering the park, lightning lane entry, unlocking your room, during nighttime spectaculars, and when interacting with your environment
- Unlocks interactive experiences throughout the parks such as:
- Fab 50 Quest– a scavenger hunt around the parks to find the gold statues of your favorite Disney characters. When you wave at the statues it activates a unique response from the characters. When you are close to a statue your band will vibrate to alert you.
- Batuu Bounty Hunters – an interactive game that involves scanning your band at various locations around Galaxy’s Edge.
Is Magic Band + Worth the Cost?
The price for Magic Band + is currently $34.99 for a basic and $44.99 for most special designs. The pre-arrival price for resort guests is $24.99 for basic and $34.99 for most special designs.
Overall, there is not a significant benefit to having the Magic Band + as compared to a regular Magic Band. In terms of features, they are comparable. The Magic Band + does have some great designs and looks more like a smartwatch than the original version.
Those who are interested in collecting the bands for their designs may find it worth the extra cost. It also may be worth it for those who are going to enjoy the interactive games and experiences. At this time there aren’t a ton of experiences available, but the selection may expand in the future.
Although there are other options, I do think having a Magic Band does add a level of convenience. For me, it’s worth it to not having to get out a card or other device to scan multiple times per day. For most though, I think a regular Magic Band is more than sufficient, and a Magic Band Plus isn’t necessary. Since prices are rising all around these days, this is one of those extras you may be able to skip.
Have you used a Magic Band Plus at Disney World? Leave us a comment and let us know what you think.
