disney cruise magic band cost

Guide to DisneyBand+ (Magicband+ on the Disney Cruise Line)

Posted on Published: 01/23/2024

If you’ve been to the Disney parks in the United States, you may already be familiar with the concept of the MagicBand. Now, the convenience of the MagicBand has come to the Disney Cruise Line. With the optional DisneyBand+, you can access your room, make purchases, and get magical surprises on this hands-free, wearable device.

Continue reading to learn more about the DisneyBand+, and determine whether you need a new DisneyBand.

While MagicBands have been around for a while, the DisneyBand+ (the Disney Cruise Line version of the Magicband) is relatively new. It’s currently available on sailings on the Disney Magic, the Disney Wish, the Disney Dream, and the Disney Fantasy.

If you aren’t familiar, the DisneyBand+ is a waterproof wristband that is adjustable to fit almost all guests. It can be easily removed, but you can also swim and shower with it if you’d like.

Do you need a DisneyBand+?

You may be wondering if you need a DisneyBand+. For some cruise lines, like Virgin Voyages, a wearable device is needed and is provided at no cost. The DisneyBand, however, is different. It’s offered at an additional cost and is not needed. You can still use your Key to the World card to make purchases and access your room.

If you’ve been on a Disney Cruise before with kids, you are probably familiar with the Disney Oceaneer bands that are provided to kids entering the kids’ clubs. These bands are similar to the MagicBand+ but don’t have all of the features. The Disney Oceaneer band is given to guests at no cost but must be returned at the end of your sailing or you’ll be charged a fee for them.

Is a DisneyBand+ Worth it?

The number one question is whether or not a DisneyBand+ is worth it. We’ll explain more of the features below, but in our experience, it really wasn’t worth it. The functionality is a little limited, and the Key to the World card serves the same purpose. The magical touches – when the band lights up during parts of your voyage – were fun to experience in the beginning but were eventually not as exciting.

What does a DisneyBand+ do?

So, what exactly does a DisneyBand+ do? Here are some of the features:

• You can use it to board the ship upon arrival on embarkation day
• The DisneyBand+ will act as your room key and give you stateroom access in an easy, hands-free manner
• The DisneyBand+ can be used to make purchases to your Disney Cruise Line account. In some cases, we were asked to remove the band to make the purchase. You need to have a credit card or other payment method set up on your account.
• The DisneyBand+ can be used in place of the Oceaneer band at Disney’s Oceaneer Club and Labs, so your child won’t need to wear two bands
• The DisneyBand+ lights up during certain times on the ship, including in restaurants, during the fireworks, etc.
• Your band will be scanned by the onboard photographers when taking photos and will connect to your account.

Even if you have a DisneyBand+, you will still receive a Key to the World card. It will be located outside of your stateroom door when you first arrive. If you are a Castaway Club member , you’ll also get a complimentary lanyard so you can wear your key card around your neck.

What does a Disneyband + not do?

Wondering if there’s anything the Disneyband+ doesn’t do? While it does offer almost all of the features of the original Key to the World card, it cannot be used to leave or return to the ship at foreign cruise ports of call. You will still need to scan your Key to the World card when leaving and returning to the ship.

On some of the ships, you’ll also need your Key to the World card inserted in the slot to operate the lights in your stateroom.

How to get a DisneyBand+

Are you ready to get a DisneyBand+? You can purchase them 45 days in advance of your sailing if your sailing is eligible. They will be shipped directly to your home and should be connected to your account. You can get the Disney Cruise Line limited bands by purchasing this way.

These DisneyBands will also be personalized with your first name on the inside of the band, on the back of the face. Note that you will need to purchase bands for your whole party when buying them online in advance.

A limited selection of DisneyBand+ is available for purchase onboard the Disney Cruise Line ships. During my sailing, there were only a couple of styles, and the ones we had ordered in advance were not available. So, if you have a specific style you want, you should order them in advance.

Already have MagicBand+ bands from a theme park vacation? These can be used on the Disney Cruise Line. Make sure they are connected to your account if you want to use them right away.

How to set up and use the DisneyBand+?

If you order the DisneyBand+ from Disney Cruise Line, the only thing you should need to do in advance is to charge them. They should be connected to your account.

On our sailing, the cast member who checked us in got an error message when trying to activate our bands. Therefore, we had to go to guest services once onboard to fix the issue. It only took a few minutes but it was annoying to have to go through this extra step after purchasing the bands.

Using Your Band Past Your Disney Cruise

Once your cruise is over, you can still use your DisneyBand+ on visits to the theme parks. At Walt Disney World, you can use it at the theme parks and the Disney resort hotels. In addition, MagicBands are also being used at Disneyland Resort in California.

Battery on the DisneyBand+

Unlike the original MagicBand that launched at the Walt Disney World Resort, the DisneyBand+ (like the MagicBand+) has a rechargeable battery. The bands do come with a USB charger, but you’ll want to make sure you pack them if you’ve purchased them in advance.

We charged our bands each night of our Disney cruise vacation. While some of the functionality will work when the battery is depleted, the band won’t light up or interact with the ship. You can connect the band to your Disney Cruise Line Navigator app through Bluetooth, and it will show you the battery level.

So, why do we feel the band isn’t necessarily worth it as a separate purchase?

• We were sometimes asked to take the band off for purchases, making it easier to use the card
• Our bands weren’t able to connect right away
• You can’t use the bands for exiting or entering the ship at foreign ports
• The bands are expensive and aren’t entirely necessary

But, if there’s a style you love, or will use the bands for an upcoming Disneyland or Walt Disney World vacation, then you may find the DisneyBand+ to be a worthwhile purchase for your upcoming sailing.

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An unofficial disney cruise line news, information, weather, and photo blog..

DisneyBand+, A MagicBand+ Wearable Experience Setting Sail Soon with Disney Cruise Line

The MagicBand+ technology used at Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort will start to make its way to Disney Cruise Line, beginning with a preview opportunity on select Disney Wish sailings before it officially debuts. Onboard the wearable technology will be called DisneyBand+ and will be an optional add-on and is not included in your cruise fare. Solid DisneyBand+ cost $34.99, and themed designs cost $44.99, plus tax.

With DisneyBand+, guests will unlock the hands-free conveniences of wearable technology on the high seas for the first time on a Disney cruise. Three Disney Cruise Line-exclusive designs to choose from, DisneyBand+ will be the perfect accessory for a Disney cruise vacation.

According to Disney, smart features of DisneyBand+ will enhance the cruise experience while providing magical surprises along the way!

With DisneyBand+, guests can unlock their stateroom door or charge a sweet treat or a souvenir to the payment card on their stateroom folio. Whether cooling off at the pool, snorkeling at Disney Castaway Cay or taking a thrilling plunge on AquaMouse, guests can be assured that their DisneyBand+ is adventure proof.

Even the littlest explorers can experience the magic of DisneyBand+. Children ages 3 and up can also use their bands in lieu of the Oceaneer Club Band to access kids’ clubs including Disney’s Oceaneer Club while onboard and Scuttle’s Cove at Castaway Cay.

Whether guests are meeting their favorite Disney character or striking a pose in front of the iconic Disney Cruise Line red funnel, onboard photographers around the ship are ready to capture vacation memories. And with one simple tap, guests can easily link their photos to their stateroom making it easy to view and purchase photos during their cruise.

The fun doesn’t stop there! Wearing a DisneyBand+ will allow guest to discover enchanting surprises throughout their cruise, so guests should keep their eyes peeled for extra moments of magic. Plus, it is rechargeable — making it the perfect accessory for a future Disney vacation experiences, including Disney cruises and visits to Disney Parks and Disney Resort hotels.

How can I purchase a DisneyBand+?

While DisneyBand+ is not yet available for purchase, DisneyBand+ will roll out on the Disney Wish (available on select select ships and itineraries) and can be purchased in advance of your sailing or on board the ship. While rollout dates have not yet been announced, we invite you to check back for  more details coming soon.  International Guests may purchase at a merchandise shop on board.  Once DisneyBand+ has debuted on the Disney Wish, you can order a DisneyBand+ by visiting My Reservations between 11 and 45 days of your sail date, if your reservation is paid in full (while supplies last). If you would like to customize your DisneyBand+ with your name and an available color before your sailing, you must do so at least 11 days before your voyage, after reserving your stateroom. When you customize your DisneyBand+, the printed name will appear on the inside of the band.  Order before you embark to save $10 off the onboard price of each band—and harness the power of wearable technology as you make your way aboard the ship. (Pre-arrival orders currently available to US residents with a valid US address traveling on the Disney Wish, subject to availability. Orders must be placed at least 11 days prior to sail date. See offer details below.) You can also purchase on board during your sailing or use your MagicBand+ from Walt Disney World Resort or the Disneyland Resort to unlock the power of DisneyBand+.  *Pre-arrival offer is currently available to US residents with a fully paid reservation on the Disney Wish. Order must be placed between 45 and 11 days of the sailing. Credit card will be charged when the order is shipped. DisneyBand+ orders cannot be cancelled, returned, refunded or exchanged—even if the Disney cruise reservation is cancelled. Shipping is available to valid US addresses (including US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico) only; shipping is not available to PO Boxes, APO, FPO, DPO, United States ports, or international addresses. Pricing may vary. Designs subject to availability. Cannot be combined with other offers or discounts. Offer is subject to restrictions and change without notice.

DisneyBand+ & More – Frequently Asked Questions

When should I expect to receive my DisneyBand+ order in the mail?

The expected wait time for your DisneyBand+ is approximately 10 business days from the date of your order, unless otherwise noted. Please note: shipping of DisneyBand+ is only available to US residents with a valid US address.

How long does the battery on a DisneyBand+ last?

Depending on an individual’s use of the band, the battery can last an estimated 1 to 3 days when fully charged. For optimal usage, it is recommended you charge your DisneyBand+ overnight.

How do I charge my DisneyBand+?

DisneyBand+ has a rechargeable battery and a 6-inch USB charging cable that comes with the purchase of the product. A charging cable can also be purchased separately online or at select onboard retail locations. Lightning® connectors are also available for purchase on board. We recommend charging your DisneyBand+ to High Battery levels (green flashing) once before—and nightly—during your voyage. Also, make sure you have installed the latest version of the software for optimal usage. Battery Status While on board, you can check your DisneyBand+ battery status via the Dis ney Cruise Line Navigator app if you have paired the band to your mobile device. In addition, pressing the button on the back of the band will cause it to light up in specific colors to indicate the current battery status. Flashing Red  indicates “No Battery.”  You should charge your band as soon as possible with the included charging cable. Flashing Yellow  indicates “Low Battery.” Continue charging your band until the light turns green for the most optimal usage throughout your day. Flashing Green  indicates “High Battery.” You are good to go! Note:  If your DisneyBand+ battery is depleted, you will still have access to certain features such as: Stateroom entry Charging purchases to the payment card in your stateroom folio Linking photos to your shipboard account (photos must be separately purchased) Some DisneyBand+ functionality and features—such as software updates and customization settings—may be affected if the battery is not adequately charged.

What is the difference between a Disney Oceaneer Band and a DisneyBand+?

A Disney Oceaneer Band is a bracelet provided for use on board the ship to children ages 12 and under, allowing them access in and out of Disney’s Oceaneer Club and Disney’s Oceaneer Lab. An Oceaneer Band does not offer features such as stateroom access, photo linking or magical moments and must be returned at the end of your sailing. Children who are 12 and under and registered for youth club activities can use their DisneyBand+ to access Disney’s Oceaneer Club and Disney’s Oceaneer Lab. It’s a good idea to charge the band beforehand, but we can also issue a Disney Oceaneer Band if the DisneyBand+ battery runs out of power during the fun. Please note: you must return your Disney Oceaneer Band at the end of your cruise to avoid being charged a fee.

What phones are compatible with DisneyBand+?

DisneyBand+  can pair with most smart devices, including Android and Apple devices.Message, data and roaming rates may apply. Availability subject to handset limitations and features may vary by handset or service provider. Coverage and app stores not available everywhere. If you’re under 18, get your parents’ permission first. Apple is a trademark of Apple Inc. in the US and other countries. Android is a trademark of Google Inc.

How much does a DisneyBand+ cost?

Solid bands cost $34.99, and themed designs cost $44.99, plus tax.

Where can I read the DisneyBand+ Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and safety disclosures?

Read the DisneyBand+  User Manual  to review the DisneyBand+ FCC and safety disclosures.

What is Radio Frequency (RF) technology and how is it used on a Disney Cruise Line ship?

Radio Frequency technology—also known as RF—is commonly used technology found throughout the world in everyday items like credit cards, video game controllers, fitness wristbands and much more. We use RF technology to enhance your experience during your Disney Cruise Line vacation. RF Technology on Your Disney Cruise Line Vacation DisneyBand+  and Key to the World cards use RF technology to allow you to enter your stateroom with a simple touch and make contactless purchases at select onboard locations. We continue to use this common technology for new and amazing experiences and enhanced Guest service. Regulation of RF Technology Disney Cruise Line ships have systems and devices with RF technology that are designed, tested and manufactured to comply with Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations. The levels of RF energy they generate are similar to those found in many consumer devices. Implanted Pacemakers or Cardioverter-Defibrillators and RF Technology If you have questions about your medical device and RF technology, we encourage you to seek the guidance of your device’s manufacturer and your physician. Manufacturers of implantable pacemakers and cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) typically recommend that you keep your medical device 9 inches (23 cm) away from RF transmitters similar to the one found inside DisneyBand+ and at touch points throughout Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland Resort and the Disney Cruise Line fleet of ships. If you suspect RF technology interference with your medical device, move away from the RF device so it is at least 9 inches (23 cm) away from your pacemaker or ICD. Insulin Pumps, Neuro-Stimulators, Hearing Aids and RF Technology Every device differs so we encourage you to check directly with your device manufacturer and physician before use of DisneyBand+ if you are unsure of any associated risks from RF technology.

Can you track my location using DisneyBand+?

DisneyBand+ devices are not GPS-based and do not enable collection of continuous location signals. However, we may be able to determine your location through the DisneyBand+ while you are at select Disney parks, Disney Resort hotels and Disney vacation experiences.

Is DisneyBand+ rechargeable?

Yes. DisneyBand+ has a rechargeable battery. Don’t forget to pack the charger that comes with it!

Is there a shipping charge if I choose to order DisneyBand+ before I arrive?

No, shipping is included. Please note: shipping of DisneyBand+ is only available to US residents with a valid US address.

Can I use my DisneyBand+ at Disney theme parks around the world?

Your DisneyBand+ for Disney cruises can be used at Walt Disney World Resort and the Disneyland Resort.

Can I still use my Key to the World card instead of a DisneyBand+?

Key to the World cards will continue to be issued and can be used as they are today, including to access your stateroom and charging food and merchandise purchases to the payment card on your stateroom folio. Your Key to the World and photo ID (for Guests 18 and older), will still be required to debark and embark at Ports of Call.

What is DisneyBand+?

DisneyBand+ is a waterproof wristband designed to make certain parts of your vacation easier. From boarding the ship on embarkation day to accessing your stateroom, paying for onboard items with a valid payment card and more, DisneyBand+ brings convenience—and a bit of magic—to your cruise.

Can I use my MagicBand+ on board Disney Cruise Line ships?

Yes, your Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort MagicBand+ can be used as a DisneyBand+ during select Disney Cruise Line sailings. Following the preview that is taking place on the Disney Wish, DisneyBand+ will begin to make its way to select sailings aboard other Disney Cruise Line ships. Stay tuned as more information is announced.

Can I reuse my DisneyBand+ the next time I sail with Disney Cruise Line?

Yes, but it is currently only available on board the Disney Wish. If you have a DisneyBand+ that you like and it is in working condition, you can continue to use it when you sail with us again on select ships and itineraries.  DisneyBand+ will roll out across the Disney Cruise Line fleet beginning with the Disney Wish. While rollout dates have not yet been announced, we invite you to check back for more details soon. Charge Your Band to Reuse It Depending on how much time has passed, battery health on a used DisneyBand+ may limit your ability to receive photos. However, the band’s rechargeable battery should allow you uninterrupted access to this entitlement. DisneyBand+ should be plugged in and charged nightly during your voyage—and at least once every 6 months between sailings—to ensure healthy battery condition.

To learn more you can visit the DisneyBand+ pages on Disney Cruise Line’s website and take a deeper dive with a recently published FAQ which may be updated since the FAQ included above was first published.

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17 Replies to “DisneyBand+, A MagicBand+ Wearable Experience Setting Sail Soon with Disney Cruise Line”

Can the RFID key be loaded on WearOS and Apple watches or phones? It’s kind of pointless to make a special token/bracelet.

It will be just like Genie+. Optional but necessary

seems unnecessary on the ship, identical to the card. just something else to spend money on.

You can’t put it in the wall slot to keep the power going on in your room though.

Too bad you can’t use your existing MagicBands. (And I get the point about wanting to add the token to your existing smartwatch, but the reality is that most people DON’T have these devices, especially kids. So having a relatively inexpensive (by Disney standards) device for kids to use that’s more difficult for them to lose is a win.)

If you would have followed the link above to the WDW website ( https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/why-cruise-disney/disney-band-plus/ ) you would have found out that the MagicBand+ used at the parks will also work on the ship.

They need to improve the locking mechanism. My MagicBand+ fell off three times at WDW last year!

Come on DCL this is now totally out dated. Everyone else is moving to cell phone apps to do the same things a magic band. Remember the group that developed all of this was fired by Iger and they went to Carnival Corp sold the idea to them. They in turn put it all on the Princess Ships. I have used the medallion system three times. Its is not getting Princess any addition money and is not saving them any cost. This a gaunt waste of $ for DCL.

Wonder if this is a pilot test or if they intend to roll out fleet wide? Maybe they are exploring other options like self check in? Just some thoughts

ll I know is I’m not spending the money ($40 rumored) for the magic band for the ships to get into my stateroom as long as the KTTW card remains FREE and available. It’d be a waste of money.

If I can get one and use it for all my cruises, that might be worthwhile. It would be even cheaper to dig out my old Magic Band, yet I doubt that’s an option.

How would the cast members know if you are gold, platinum, or now pearl with these?

So since there are no more printed navigators I have to carry my iphone around the entire cruise and now I need to wear a band on my wrist all the time rather than just carry a flat card in my pocket? Great idea. duh. It will leave a nice tan line I guess.

Mike, the DisneyBand+ is optional. Additionally, while not the same, Personal Navigators (lite) – simple schedule printouts are available at Guest Services.

The biggest question is if you can use your regular MagicBand from Disney World. The info specifically says you can use the Disney World MagicBand+ but doesn’t say anything about the *not plus*. Considering the technology at the parks is interchangeable and the not plus bands simply mean no extra goodies, I would expect the same to be true on the cruise ships. In other words, the not plus bands should be able to unlock doors and charge things to your room but won’t light up and won’t be able to be used to activate some special goodies. As for the question of why it’s better than a key-card, the answer is because it doesn’t have to be dug out of a pocket or hung around your neck – both to me more likely to get lost than a band around your wrist. And why is it better than a cell phone using RFID? Because pulling out your phone, switching to the cruise app, tapping through menus to get to the place to activate the Disney RFID is much less convenient than holding up your wrist to something. Also, it’s nice that you can leave your phone in your room and go on the AquaDuck, etc., without needing to worry about how to get back into your room (and that way you don’t need a bathing suit with zippered pockets to have a safe place to keep a key card).

So we went from having a “key to the world” to paying extra for a tacky band to get into our room. Disney just keeps coming up with these out of date ideas.

I haven’t shelled out for a Magic Band+ because the extra goodies you get just don’t seem worth the price and hassle of recharging yet another device. I want to watch the fireworks, not the glowing thing on my wrist. (Remember Made with Magic items?) And we have a giant collection of Magic Bands that are still usable. This may have tipped the balance in the other direction. I don’t wear my platinum lanyard anyway, and I love the idea of having a waterproof wristband for the Aquaduck. I especially love that the same band can be used in the parks and on the boat. My husband pointed out that we will still need that KTTW card to keep the lights on, at least on the older ships.

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Hands-free fun: Disney Cruise Line introducing wearable DisneyBand+ this summer

It's been 10 years since Disney changed the game in its theme parks by introducing MagicBands, which are roughly the size of an Apple Watch and allow you to tap into the park using your ticket, access a Lightning Lane, open your Disney resort room door and even charge a Mickey ice cream bar instead of digging out your credit card.

And just last year, the MagicBand got some new tricks with the introduction of a more interactive MagicBand+ . However, while MagicBands have been at Disney World for a decade, they haven't been used on board the Disney Cruise Line ships.

On Disney's ships, the way to pay for purchases and open your cabin door has been with a "Key to the World" card that many keep worn around their necks in a not-so-attractive plastic lanyard.

But things are about to get more magical at sea.

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Wearable technology coming to Disney Cruise Line

Disney has shared that for the first time, DisneyBand+ is coming to Disney Cruise Line, as first announced on the Disney Parks Blog .

From what we can tell, these are MagicBands by another name and will debut first as a preview on Disney Wish this summer and later make their way on additional ships and sailings. This wearable DisneyBand+ can be used when getting on the ship, unlocking your cabin door, charging purchases, tapping to get your photos synced to your account by the ship photographers and more.

These DisneyBands+ will also work for the kiddos while they are in the kids clubs, which had previously utilized a special band that looked like a MagicBand but only tracked the location of the kids while they were within the Oceaneer Club and Lab and served as a way for them to scan in and out.

Related: 26 tips for sailing with Disney Cruise Line

How much will DisneyBands+ cost?

Once they go on sale, DisneyBands+ will be available for $34.99 for solid-color designs and $44.99 for themed designs, with a $10 discount if you order at least 11 days before embarkation if you are a U.S. resident. There will be exclusive designs available only to Disney Cruise Line guests.

Can you use a MagicBand+ on a Disney cruise instead of a DisneyBand+?

What we are potentially most excited about with this announcement is that you don't have to spend more to buy a cruise-specific DisneyBand+.

The MagicBand+ you already use at Disney World or Disneyland will work on the ship, too. And conversely, if you want some of the cruise-specific looks, then your DisneyBand+ will work in the parks. This is great news, given that the cost of the bands does add up when you start buying for the whole family.

Related: How to save money on a Disney Cruise

Bottom line

There's no question that MagicBand+ (and now, DisneyBand+) makes vacation easier, with virtually everything you need available with the tap of a wrist. Having them make their debut this summer on select Disney ships is welcome news -- and we certainly won't miss the omnipresent plastic lanyards that have appeared in countless family cruise photos.

This is just one small piece of the announcements from Disney Cruise Line this year, including:

• New highest Castaway Club tier for those with 25 sailings to celebrate its 25th year
• New island destination, Lighthouse Point, opening in the summer of 2024
• Disney Treasure reaches major construction milestone

• CruiseMapper
• Cruise news
• Cruise Industry

DCL's DisneyBand+ available on Disney Magic cruise ship

DCL-Disney Cruise Line has introduced DisneyBand+ for guests sailing on Disney Magic , enhancing their vacation experience with convenience and added functionality.

DisneBand+ is a wristband similar to the MagicBand+ found at Walt Disney World. It offers various features that simplify and enhance the experience.

Before the voyage, guests can utilize the DisneyBand+ for a smoother embarkation process. Upon arrival at the port, guests can use the band for a hands-free check-in. A cast member will scan the band, allowing swift access to the ship.

Once on board, the DisneyBand+ serves as a key to access the guest's stateroom, eliminating the need to carry around a key card.

For added convenience, guests can charge food and merchandise to their stateroom folio using the DisneyBand+. This eliminates the need to carry a credit card while exploring the ship. The band can be scanned at select dining locations and shops to make purchases that will be charged back to the stateroom.

On Disney's private island, the DisneyBand+ can also be used for shopping or purchasing specialty drinks. This eliminates the need to carry a credit card, as the band can be worn in the water without concern.

DisneyBand+ was initially introduced on the Disney Wish and later expanded to Disney Fantasy . DCL has announced that guests sailing on the Disney Magic can purchase DisneyBand+ for voyages starting October 22, 2023.

DisneyBand+ offers a range of designs, with over 50 options to suit various styles and preferences. Prices start at $34.99 for solid colors, while themed bands are priced at approximately $44.99 plus tax. Guests are encouraged to purchase their bands in advance, at least 45 days before their sail date, to ensure timely delivery.

Guests who already possess a MagicBand+ from their visit to Walt Disney World can use it as their DisneyBand+ on their Disney cruise, offering a cost-effective way to enjoy the convenience of the bands during their cruise experience.

2024 Complete Guide to MagicBand+ (Walt Disney World, Disneyland, and Disney Cruise Line)

By: Author Felicia Goodwin

Posted on Published: April 6, 2023  - Last updated: February 8, 2024

If you’re a big fan of the original MagicBand, then you’re probably going to love MagicBand+ .

Disney never stops at just one idea or a single version of a product, do they?

The company is always looking to improve, redesign, and, of course, sell something to its audience that guests in turn will hopefully love (and keep buying).

Enter MagicBand+, the upgrade to the MagicBand. This is basically a fancy new MagicBand that costs more and comes with updated features.

Below we discuss everything there is to know about MagicBand+ , including how much it costs, its features, available styles, and how it differs from MagicBands.

Let’s get to it!

In this article

What is MagicBand+?

In September 2021, Disney announced MagicBand+, an upgrade to the original MagicBand as part of Walt Disney World’s 50th anniversary celebration .

MagicBand+ is described as “the next-generation wearable technology.”

This new version includes all of the same features as a regular MagicBand with some interactive additions.

Where can I use MagicBand+?

Unlike the old “regular” MagicBands, the new MagicBand+ can be used across multiple Disney properties, including:

Walt Disney World

• Unlock the door of your Walt Disney World Resort hotel room
• Enter any of the Disney World theme parks and water parks
• Redeem  Genie+  and  Individual Lightning Lane  selections
• Charge items, including food/beverages and merchandise, to your resort room (only if staying onsite
• Link PhotoPass images to your account
• Interact with nighttime shows, statues, and games

Disneyland Resort

• Enter both of the Disneyland Resort theme parks

Disney Cruise Line (Called “DisneyBand+ on DCL ships)

Note: The rollout of DisneyBand+ starts summer 2022 on select cruisings of the Disney Wish

• Unlock your stateroom door
• Charge food and drinks not included with your cruise
• Use in lieu of the Oceaneer Club Band
• To link photographs taken by onboard photographers
• Interact in other ways (likely similar to what we see at WDW and DLR with statues, games, etc.)

Is it worth getting a MagicBand+?

The short answer: maybe.

The longer answer: MagicBand+ is a fun concept that allows for a bit more interaction within the parks. But, only a small amount, not a lot.

They function the same as an original MagicBand, with a few tiny upgrades.

However, if you visit both Disney World and Disneyland often, MagicBand+ will come in handy since you can use your band on both coasts.

And now that it also looks as if you’ll be able to use it on Disney Cruise Line, it definitely might make sense for guests who like to explore both the parks and the seas.

How does MagicBand+ work?

You wear MagicBand+ on your wrist just like you do a normal MagicBand. But, it’s more decked out.

MagicBand+ also allows you to engage with different Disney moments after you enter a theme park.

Now, here’s the cool part:

The band reacts to park interactions with color-changing light effects, haptic vibrations, and gesture recognition.

• The color-changing lights are customizable
• The haptic vibrations let you feel the magic with light vibrations that bring experiences to life
• Gesture recognition simply means your movement enables magical surprises
• Interactive smart speaker experiences

Plus, this:

• A rechargeable battery and 6-inch USB charging cable to keep the band going (included in purchase; a charging cable can also be purchased separately online or at Disney Parks & Resorts retail locations)
• Smartphone/Bluetooth connectivity allowing you to customize and manage your band

What else can your MagicBand+ do?

Disney loves to add little surprises that will cause your MagicBand+ to interact and light up or buzz.

Here are just a few of what they can do:

Take on the role of a bounty hunter

MagicBand+ lets you become a bounty hunter in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in Hollywood Studios and Disneyland Park and find virtual bounties throughout Black Spire Outpost.

You can use your MagicBand+ to find numerous virtual bounties hidden throughout Black Spire Outpost.

MagicBand+ will be your guide, vibrating, and lighting up to show if you’re on the right path. Once a mission is complete, the local guild master will reward you with galactic credits.

As you search for virtual bounties, your band will light up green when you’re on the right track and red when you’re not.

While playing “Star Wars: Batuu Bounty Hunters,” you can use the Play Disney Parks Mobile app to help reveal your virtual bounty using the built-in augmented reality thermal viewer.

Interact with the Disney Fab 50 Character Collection

Called “Disney Fab 50 Quest,” you can embark on a scavenger hunt throughout the 4 Disney World theme parks using MagicBand+ to help spread pixie dust and interact with the special gold anniversary statues .

The Play Disney Parks mobile app allows you to also keep track of the sculptures you find and unlock digital achievements.

As soon as you get close to a Fab 50 statue, your MagicBand+ will start to buzz and light up.

Then, you simply give a big wave to help “spread your pixie dust.” Your band will also light up with 50th anniversary colors and then you’ll hear a sound or message from that particular character.

Watch nighttime spectaculars in a new way

During nighttime shows, like Happily Ever After at Magic Kingdom, World of Color at Disney California Adventure, and Fantasmic at Disneyland Park, your MagicBand+ lights up and complements the magic in the skies.

Use it with Alexa

While we still don’t know many details about this, MagicBand+ will work with the new “Hey Disney!” voice assistant that has been slowly making its way into the resorts at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland.

The two new forms of technology will be paired with supported Amazon Echo devices to enhance some “Hey Disney!” experiences.

In general, guests will be able to ask “Hey Disney!” questions about park hours, dining information, and even make specific guest service requests, like extra towels or room service.

VIDEO: Everything You Need to Know about MagicBand+

What are the differences between a regular MagicBand and MagicBand+?

MagicBand+ has the same functions as Disney World’s MagicBands, including:

• Redeem Disney Dining Plan credits (only if staying onsite) —  this service is temporarily suspended but Disney has confirmed the Disney Dining Plan will return in the future

The biggest differences between MagicBand+ and a regular MagicBand are:

• MagicBand+ features park interactions
• You have to charge the battery for MagicBand+ unlike a regular MagicBand
• Read more about how MagicBands work at Walt Disney World

MagicBand+ Frequently Asked Questions

How much does magicband+ cost.

All guests can buy MagicBand+ at select stores across Walt Disney World and Disneyland and online at shopDisney, starting at $34.99 .

There is also a discounted, pre-arrival price for Disney Resort hotel guests and also renewing  Disney World Annual Passholders .

The pre-arrival discount is $10 for both resort guests and Annual Passholders.

• Solid color : $34.99 ($24.99 with pre-arrival discount for Disney resort hotel guests)
• Design : $44.99 ($34.99 with pre-arrival discount for Disney resort hotel guests)

Important: If you purchase directly through shopDisney, Passholders will not receive their discount (this is how it always is when using shopDisney) nor is there a pre-arrival discount (you must do this directly through My Disney Experience – more on this below).

How do I get a MagicBand+?

• ShopDisney (no pre-arrival discount applied if purchased through ShopDisney)
• If you have a vacation booked, purchase through your Disney Account (to get the pre-arrival discount
• At many stores across the WDW property (just keep in mind that if you buy when you are there, you’ll need to charge your band before you can use the “plus” features)
• At many stores across the DLR property (just keep in mind that if you buy when you are there, you’ll need to charge your band before you can use the “plus” features)

Disney Cruise Line

Note: DisneyBand+ (the name of MagicBand+ on Disney Cruise Line) is only currently available on select sailings of the Wish.

• From the My Reservations section of the Disney Cruise Line website and app between 11-45 days of your sail date (the reservation must be paid in full)

You can also buy them in person at select stores in the parks and hotels. There are more than 30 designs available.

FYI: You can make these smaller, just like original MagicBands, for kids or if you have a smaller wrist.

• Learn more about the regular (original version) MagicBand ordering process

How do I buy a discounted MagicBand+?

Walt disney world resort hotel guests.

Go to the Walt Disney World website, hover over “My Disney Experience” and then select “My MagicBands and Cards”

Sign into your Disney account

You’ll be redirected to the “MagicBands and Cards” page

If you have an upcoming Disney Resort hotel stay, find the reservation you want to order MagicBand+ for

Click “Edit Order”

“Select” each guest name to pick a MagicBand+. FYI: If you or another guest on your reservation don’t want a new band, after you click” select” you can “decline” one.

There are plenty of styles to choose from! The solid colors are $10 cheaper compared to the designs.

You can also customize your name, which will be printed on the backside of the band.

Once you’re done with the order, you’ll be prompted to “Proceed to Checkout”.

Here you can review your order, select your payment, check your address, and then hit “Purchase”.

And you’re done! Congratulations!

How do I get a discounted MagicBand+ as an Annual Passholder?

While Annual Passholders can purchase MagicBand+ in person (and receive a discount) or through shopDisney (discount not applied here), they can also take advantage of the pre-arrival discount just like resort guests — even if they don’t have an upcoming resort stay.

Passholders follow the same process as we’ve detailed above, but you’ll want to make sure you scroll down until you see this section:

Then, you’ll click “Get Started” or “Edit Order” and follow the same steps as above to purchase MagicBand+ with a pre-arrival discount.

Can I link a credit card to my MagicBand+?

At Disney World, you’re able to use your MagicBand+ to charge items, including food/beverages and merchandise, to your resort room (only if you’re staying onsite).

Just like with MagicBands, whatever credit card you have linked to your Disney account will automatically be connected to your MagicBand+ when paying for these select items.

At this time, Disneyland does not allow on-site guests to use their MagicBand+ for room charges.

How do I charge MagicBand+?

A rechargeable battery and 6-inch USB charging cable are included in the package. A charging cable can also be purchased separately online or at Disney Parks & Resorts retail locations.

All you have to do is snap the round piece on the back of the MagicBand+.

Then, you plug the other end into your power source.

How long does the MagicBand+ battery last?

According to Disney, “Depending on an individual’s use of the band, the battery can last an estimated 1 to 3 days.”

If you’re constantly using it and don’t turn it off at then of the day, the battery will run out fast.

We noticed turning off your MagicBand+ before bed each night helps extend battery life. You can do this by holding down the small button on the back of the band for about 6 seconds. The band will buzz three times before you see a red light and it powers off.

To turn it on, hold down the same button for about 1 second. The band will vibrate and a solid green light should appear.

What happens if my MagicBand+ batter dies?

You will have to recharge it at some point. But, even if your MagicBand+ battery is depleted, you can still use it for select functions:  

• Park entry 
• Lightning Lane entry 
• Disney Resort room entry (only at Disney World)
• Disney Resort folio charging (only at Disney World)
• Disney PhotoPass photographer interactions and certain photo touch points

Disney recommends charging your MagicBand+ once before your visit and nightly during your stay. Also, make sure you have installed the latest version of the software for optimal usage.

You can check your battery status in the My Disney Experience and Disneyland apps if you have paired the MagicBand+ to your mobile device.

You’ll see it either say: “Not Connected,” “Low,” “Partial,” or “Full.”

You can also press the button once on the back of the band that will show a color to report the current battery status.

• Flashing Red : No Battery (you should charge your band as soon as possible)

• Flashing Yellow : Low Battery (continue charging your band until green for the most optimal use)

Stay tuned for image!

• Flashing Green : High Battery (you’re good to go!)

Is MagicBand+ waterproof?

Yes, just like MagicBands, MagicBand+ is also waterproof.

Can you still use a regular MagicBand?

Current MagicBands are still available at Disney World and will continue to be alongside the launch of MagicBand+. The same can also be said for MagicMobile at Disney World.

How do I add a MagicBand+ to my account?

If you purchase magicband+, there is a way to set it up and link it to your disney account in the my disney experience app.

STEP 1: Open up the My Disney Experience app (make sure you’re logged in), tap the 3 lines in the bottom corner and scroll until you see “MagicBands and More.”

STEP 2: Click on “Link your MagicBand or Card.”

STEP 3: Make sure “Tap” is highlighted and then click “Open Scanner” at the bottom.

Don’t forget to assign the MagicBand+ to the correct guest.

STEP 4: Then, you can scan your MagicBand+.

But, you need to also make sure your band is turned on by pressing the button on the back once (hold down for 3 seconds) — and then you can tap it your phone.

STEP 5: Your MagicBand+ isn’t fully linked until you see “Pairing Complete.”

STEP 6: You can then add another MagicBand+ or update your band, if needed.

If there’s an update, you’ll see a message as follows, which reads: “MagicBand+ requires 60% or more battery power to complete a software update. Please charge your band prior to completing this update.”

You can also manage multiple MagicBands (both regular and +) from one Disney account in the My Disney Experience app

STEP 1: Navigate to “MagicBands and More.” Here you can view your managed guests.

STEP 3: If a Guest’s MagicBand+ is not set up yet, you can do so here by tapping on the 3 dots and clicking “Manage”.

STEP 4: You can adjust your managed guests’ MagicBand+ settings, check battery status, and more! If you want to link to another person’s MagicBand+, just pair it like normal.

Important: Once a MagicBand+, MagicBand or card is linked to your Disney account, it cannot be transferred to another person for use at the Walt Disney World Resort.

You can even customize your MagicBand+ by choosing a custom light up theme and more

STEP 1: Navigate to “MagicBands and More.” Swipe to the band you want to customize. You’ll want to confirm that your MagicBand+ is charged and up to date. Then, click “Change Color.”

STEP 2: Here, you can choose a custom light up theme. The front of the band lights up as you select each color scheme so you can preview the theme before officially deciding.

Here is Blue:

Here is Orange:

Here is Fireworks:

STEP 3: You can also adjust the vibration and motion recognition settings. Click “Change” next to “Settings”.

Then, you can alter the settings however you wish.

If you purchase MagicBand+, there is a way to set it up and link it to your Disney account in the Disneyland app

Stay tuned for step-by-step details.

You can also manage multiple MagicBand+ from one Disney account in the Disneyland app

VIDEO: How to Set Up MagicBand+

*****************

Do you have MagicBand+? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

Tuesday 26th of July 2022

Are they going to change MagicMobile to be just like MagicBand+?

Shannon Albert

Friday 29th of July 2022

No, they aren't planning to do that.

Tuesday 12th of April 2022

There is no way an electronic Magicband+ will cost the same as today's passive RFID Magicbands. My guess is $50-$80. I hope I'm wrong.

Should I get Magic+ Bands for a Disney Cruise?

By: Author Morgan

Posted on Published: August 31, 2023  - Last updated: October 9, 2023

Looking for Disney Cruise tips ? Wondering if you should get Magic+ Bands for a Disney Cruise ? Here is our complete experience using the bands on the Disney Fantasy!

Magic bands have been a fixture in Disney World for a while now, and in 2023 they have made them available for Disney cruises, too.

If you already go to Disney World a lot, you might already have the band. Note that it has to be the PLUS band for it to work on the ship.

We went on the second cruise on the Disney Fantasy to ever use Magic+ bands, and so I am excited to report back how we felt about them, as non-Disney people!

Magic bands are a “nice to have,” but not “need to have” item for Disney cruise. If you have the budget, I say definitely order them. If you are having to question the cost, do not let this be a financial stress, just skip them.

Should I buy a Magic+ band for my kid for a cruise?

This is actually a more important question than if you should get them for the adults, in my opinion.

The kids club will actually give every kid their own magic band so they can be tracked inside the kids club. These are not the same as the other magic bands and only work for counting in and out of the club, but it will make small kids feel included.

If your child is old enough that you want them to able to get in and out of your room alone unassisted, and you are OK with them having charge privileges on the ship, then I would get them their own magic band.

The bands are adjustable and actually the end can be torn off to make it smaller and fit a small child’s wrist.

But, if you have young kids, that will not be alone on the ship, you do not need to get them a magic band. They will be fine with the kids club band.

What can a Magic+ band do on a Disney Cruise?

We went on a weeklong cruise on the Fantasy and our Magic bands:

• open the room door
• can be used to pay – though you had to take it off and hand it to people to scan
• could be scanned at cameras to hook photos up to your room
• light up and buzz during fireworks and shows

Please note that you still need a Key to the World Card (and photo ID for adults) for each passenger to get on and off the ship at ports.

Is a Magic+ band worth it?

Whether a magic band is worth it for you will just depend on your budget and the number of people in your group.

For me, ordering magic bands with a pre-cruise discount, they were only $25 each. In the grand scheme of how much we spent on this cruise, that’s essentially nothing.

I found it very convenient and I think it was worth the $50 total, especially if we go on another cruise.

However, if you will miss that $25, it would probably be better to spend it on two drinks on the cruise then on a nice-to-have arm band.

What if I lose my Magic+ band on a Disney cruise?

Sean lost his magic band at a show one night (we think) – they honestly fell off slightly easy. He went to guest services desk that night and they had a whole pile of them. He just had to identify it and provide his room number and they gave it right back.

This is why it was nice to have it engraved – it made it super easy to identify!

Any more questions about the Magic Band?

Thanks for reading!

Hey there, I’m Morgan, the creative mind behind CelebratingWithKids.com! As a parent of two lively little ones, I’ve made it my mission to turn ordinary days into extraordinary adventures, sharing playful activities, thoughtful toy reviews, and delightful printables to help families celebrate every moment together. 🎉👨‍👩‍👧‍👦🎈

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DisneyBands+ Now Available to Purchase

Are you sailing this summer on the Disney Wish ? Good news DisneyBand+ is now available for Disney Cruise Line guests to purchase online before their upcoming Disney Wish sailings beginning June 12. Update they are available on the Disney Fantasy for cruises departing July 29 and later.

What is DisneyBand+?

DisneyBand+ is a waterproof wristband designed to enhance your Disney cruise experience.

From boarding the ship on embarkation day and accessing your stateroom to charging specialty food and merchandise to the payment card on your stateroom folio and beyond, DisneyBand+ adds convenience, fun and more magic to your cruise!

Boarding Made Easier

Enjoy the benefits of DisneyBand+ from the moment you arrive! Wear your DisneyBand+ during your port arrival experience (available at US ports only) and enjoy hands-free convenience as you enter the ship.

Exclusive Designs

Don’t miss your chance to add these delightful nautical bands to your Disney collection because these exclusive designs can only be purchased by Guests setting sail on a Disney cruise!

Already have a Walt Disney World Resort or Disneyland Resort MagicBand+? You can use it as a DisneyBand+ during your Disney cruise, starting with the Disney Wish preview.

Who Can Order a DisneyBand+?

Guests sailing on the Disney Wish beginning June 12 and beyond, who are within 11 to 45 days of their sail date, can now purchase a DisneyBand+ online as part of a preview.

Order a DisneyBand+ by visiting  My Reservations between 11 and 45 days of your sail date if your reservation is paid in full (while supplies last). Shipping is available to US addresses only (excluding PO Boxes, APO, FPO, DPO, or any cruise ports).

Solid bands cost $34.99, and themed designs cost $44.99, plus tax. Shipping is included, and DisneyBand+ is expected to arrive approximately ten business days after ordering. A limited selection of bands will also be available on board (while supplies last). You will not be able to return or exchange your band.

Save $10 on each DisneyBand+ when you purchase before your sailing!  Offer valid for US residents only travelling on the Disney Wish starting June 12, 2023. Order must be placed at least 11 days before sailing. Reservation must be paid in full.  Get offer details

Other ships

The DisneyBand+ is currently only available on Disney Wish. There has been no word from DCL if the other four ships will use DisneyBand+ in the future.

Check out the latest Disney Cruise News, including price increases for the beverage tastings , information about which cruises will enjoy the Silver Anniversary Fireworks and the menus from the recent Transatlantic Cruise.

This post may contain affiliate links. Meaning, that if you make a purchase through my links, I will earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support of this site.

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Interactive DisneyBand+: MagicBand Tech Coming to Disney Cruise Line

If you’ve ever wished that opening your stateroom door on a Disney Cruise could be as easy as tapping your MagicBand during a stay at the Disney World resort, your wish is about to come true. Disney has announced that “DisneyBand+” will be making its way onto all of the fleet’s ships beginning this summer and fall. I’m sure you have questions! We have answers below …

What Can You Do With DisneyBand+?

You’ll be able to:

• Unlock your stateroom door
• Charge purchases made onboard and on Castaway Cay (and presumably on Lighthouse Point when it opens next year)
• Have PhotoPass photographers scan your band to automatically link photos to your account
• (For kids) use the DisneyBand+ as an Oceaneer Band to access the kids clubs
• Discover enchanting surprises and extra moments of magic throughout your cruise

Curious about that last one? Yeah, we are too … and we’ll update here as we have details. The bands are rechargeable (and will need a daily or every other day charge for full functionality). But based on what we know about MagicBands, we expect it’s likely that many of the non-interactive functions such as opening doors and charging purchases will work if the battery is dead.

The bands are also waterproof, and Disney advises that they are “adventure proof”.

What kind of MagicBand is DisneyBand+?

At Disney World, there is MagicBand and MagicBand+. MagicBands can do anything that your admission ticket can do, but MagicBand+ can do more. MagicBand+ has two-way interactivity with elements of the park and can be used to play games within the park.

It’s clear that DisneyBand+ is the same technology as MagicBand+, and the reason this matters is because although they are calling it DisneyBand+ on the ships, the bands themselves are MagicBand+. That means that you will be able to use your DisneyBand+ in Disneyland or Disney World , and MagicBand+ that you may have already purchased will work as a DisneyBand+ .

DisneyBand+ will still have a touch of DCL-only to it though. I’m sure you won’t be shocked when I tell you that there will be designs available exclusively to those with a Disney Cruise reservation.

How Much Will DisneyBand+ Cost? When Can I Get One?

Solid bands cost $34.99, and themed designs cost $44.99, plus tax. So it’s good news that if you already have a MagicBand+, you can use it on board should you choose to.

You can’t currently order a band in advance of your sailing, although that will change as rollout dates are announced for each of the ships. The first ship to use DisneyBand+ will be the Wish, where the band will be available this summer.

When bands are available for advance order, you’ll be able to take a $10 discount by purchasing in advance instead of buying them onboard. And of course, if you already have a MagicBand+, then you’ve got a DisneyBand+ … and your question is just whether the tech will be available on your cruise.

Are Key to the World Cards Going Away?

No, Key to the World Cards are not going away on Disney Cruises. A DisneyBand+ is an extra-cost, optional add-on. A Key to the World Card is free and will be issued when you get on board.

What do you think about DisneyBand+? Will you buy it? Let us know in the comments!

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Jennifer Heymont

Jennifer has a background in math and biology, so she ended up in Data Science where she gets to do both. She lives just north of Boston with her husband, kids, and assorted animal members of the family. Although it took three visits for the Disney bug to "take", she now really wishes she lived a lot closer to the Parks.

8 thoughts on “ Interactive DisneyBand+: MagicBand Tech Coming to Disney Cruise Line ”

Did I read the fine print correctly, only for ships leaving from US ports, and you have to pay for them? (any idea why the limitation? We’re doing a Rome/Greece cruise this summer)

End of the day, as a California resident, we loved the convenience of the free ‘bands we received for our DW trip in ’18 but even with DL slowly rolling them out, don’t see where we’d get 3×35$ of value out of this.

Hi R, I’m going to disclaim that my close reading interpretations are not supported by specific answers from the Walt Disney Company. That out of the way …

– Yes, you did see that it’s U.S. Ports only but my interpretation of that passage is that only U.S. ports will be equipped with tech where you can use it during the check-in process at the port. I don’t think the bands will be limited only to sailings that depart from U.S. ports. Think of it kind of like … when Magical Express was still a thing, you could tap in to your ME reservation with you MagicBand, but if you were renting a car you had to wait until you actually got to WDW property for the bands to have any functional use. (I hope that makes sense.)

– Yes, you have to pay for them. That’s one of the reasons I put so much emphasis on “it’s really a MagicBand+” in the article. Maybe it’s just my thrifty soul, but I imagine other people will find this a much more appealing thing if it’s able to be used more places. That said, I know other people in my family who will be like “Oh, they’re so convenient, I can’t imagine going to WDW without one anymore, it’s a $5K cruise what’s another $35?”, and I’m sure they’re not alone. One thing I think we’ll have to wait and see about is what the interactive elements are. If they’re really good? Then there’s a market (which could include even me) that will look at it as buying a game, that incidentally opens your door.

Not having to pull out my KTTW card for every photo is a huge plus for me. No more fumbling for my card to get into my room when my hands are full. I likely wouldn’t buy one just for DCL, but if it’s the same band for DCL and the parks I’m in.

Can you use the regular Magicband to open your door?

Hi Goofy, you can use a regular MagicBand to open your door at Disney World. You probably will not be able to use it on the ship. “Regular” MagicBands are a Disney World only thing; that’s the only place they do anything. So a regular MagicBand will almost certainly do absolutely nothing on a DCL ship. Only MagicBand+ can be used outside of Disney World.

I wonder about this. The reason that you can’t use regular magicbands at Disneyland is because their readers are barcode/QR code and wallet/bluetooth based. Magicband+ use bluetooth, but the old ones don’t. I haven’t seen the Wish, so I don’t know if the cabin key readers are different than the other ships. The other ships use RFID, which all magicbands use and the ticket scanners/LL points at Walt Disney World use. If the Wish cabins use RFID, then it may be possible to use regular magicbands, unless they do something in the linking or reading software to prevent it. I know it says that they are not usable, but I guess we will see.

Hi Sonia, I agree it’s a question, and importantly I think it’s central to whether or not the DisneyBand+ will work to open your door if the battery is dead. (If not, can you just imagine them installing tiny charging docks next to the door so you can get enough juice into your band to unlock your room and get in? Crazy idea, I know, but kind of amusing to think about.)

Anyway, I do really hope that they are using the RFID and not Bluetooth for door/purchasing activity on the ships, because it will definitely make a big difference in the convenience if you are still able to do the basics even if you forgot to charge last night. (I’m assuming they will, but like you I don’t know.) But I don’t think that they need to do something to actively prevent using regular MagicBands.

You have to link a MagicBand+ to MDE for it to work at Disney World. You link it to the Disneyland app to use it at Disneyland. And presumably you’ll link the DisneyBand to Disney Cruiseline Navigator in order for it to work on the ship. There’s no way to link a regular MagicBand in the Disneyland app – even if you couldn’t do anything with it once you got it hooked up, you can’t even get the connection in place. So unless Disney provides a mechanism for regular MagicBands to link to DCL Navigator (which they have no reason to do), you wouldn’t be able to use them on the ship, because those RFID readers aren’t communicating with MDE – they’re checking your ID against a different platform.

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Plan Your Dream Trip To Disney!

10 Disney Magic Band Secrets to Know Before You Go

January 20, 2023 //  by  Brandi Lyons //   1 Comment

Are you looking for the best Disney Magic Band secrets and tips? Then look no further! We’ve used MagicBands A LOT, and we know great tips to make sure you’re getting the most out of your bands as well as your trip.

We want to help you decide whether Magic Bands are right for you and your family, and we want you to be sure you know everything that they do. Keep on reading to find out all about MagicBands, the new MagicBand+, and all the perks of having one as a Disney guest.

What are Magic Bands at Disney?

The original Disney Magic Bands launched in 2013, with a second version – the 2.0 – released in 2017. In 2022, the MagicBand+ was released with even more technological updates.

Disney Magic Bands are wearable pieces of technology that you can use during your Disney trips. They are essentially Disney bracelet passes. They are made of flexible plastic and are completely waterproof.

Inside of each band is an RFID chip that allows your band to interact with Disney technology, as well as it allows for the use of location services in the park.

The MagicBand 2.0 is a non-chargeable band, and they are less expensive than the newer MagicBand+.

The MagicBand+ is the newest version, and it is more interactive than any of the versions that came before it. They come with a charger – similar to a smartwatch – and have lots of interactive features for use in the parks (more about this later!).

Just a note: the MagicBand+ is the only accepted MagicBand at Disneyland. Both versions can be used at Walt Disney World.

How to Get Disney Magic Bands?

There are several ways to get Disney Magic Bands prior to your trip to Disney World or Disneyland.

Prior to your trip, if you are staying on Disney World property, you can customize and order your bands at least 11 days prior to your trip in order to have them arrive in time at your house.

If you order and customize them 6-10 days before your trip, you will be able to pick them up at the front desk upon arrival at your resort.

While in Disney World, you can buy many different types, colors, and both versions of Disney MagicBands at several shops on property. This is a great choice if you’re looking for a better assortment, or you want MagicBands specific to certain parks, seasons, or events.

If you’ve been to Disney World before, you can also reuse any MagicBand 2.0 or MagicBand+ that you’ve used before. You can check the battery of MagicBand 2.0 on the My Disney Experience app, and you can be sure your old ones work. Reusing previous MagicBands is a great way to save money, and another way to get more value from your bands as well.

And, of course, you can always purchase them before your trip at ShopDisney.com . Or even sometimes on Amazon.com.

How Much Do Disney Magic Bands Cost?

The Disney Magic Bands that are the version 2.0 start at $19.99 and can up in price from there. Specialty ones or limited edition ones can be $59.99 or more.

The newer MagicBand+ costs $34.99 for the plain colors, and the Disney MagicBand+ cost $44.99.

Are Magic Bands Free for Resort Guests?

Disney World no longer offers free Magic Bands for resort guests, but they do offer a discount program. There is a pre-arrival discount if you stay on Disney property. You can do this on the Disney website or through the My Disney Experience app.

If you choose a MagicBand 2.0, the discount for the pre-arrival program is anywhere from $10-$15 off per band for the people in your party.

There’s a $10 discount of select MagicBand+ for the pre-arrival program.

Annual Passholders for Disney World can also take advantage of the discount program, even if they don’t have a resort stay planned. The Disney Magic Band price for the Annual Passholders is the same for the pre-arrival discount as other resort guests. A passholder can order a Disney Magic Band 6 days prior to a theme park reservation, to receive the discount, and this discount can only be used once during the year of the annual pass.

Do Not Pack Magic Bands in Checked Luggage

If you are flying into Disney World or Disneyland, don’t pack your MagicBands in your checked luggage. You want to be sure that you are able to access your Magic Bands upon arrival. This will make it easier to be able to go straight to your room and open the door, or even go straight to the parks!

This could also create a lot of problems in case your luggage gets lost or misplaced. You don’t want to have to buy all new Disney Magic Bands and have to link everything to your account again.

Are MagicBands Worth It?

If you’re staying on Disney World property, then the answer is yes! Using your Disney Magic Band allows you to get into the parks, get into your resort room, make purchases of food and merchandise without a wallet and purse, and even more!

Having a Magic Band while in Disney makes it easier for those staying several days, for Annual Passholders, or those looking to travel light while in the parks.

Magic Bands are Customizable

There are several ways to customize your Disney Magic Bands, but the easiest way is to buy a color or design that you like.

You can also customize your Magic Band with stickers, nail polish, or skins that fit over the band. Skins are easy to find on Amazon or Etsy.

With the Disney MagicBand 2.0, you can pop out the middle puck – the section with the Mickey head on it – with a small screwdriver. You can then mix and match the pucks and bands, or even put the puck onto a holder. Disney sells both MagicBandits and MagicSliders that can be attached onto clothing, bags, or smartwatches. You can also find decorative sliders on Etsy as well.

Wear a “Keeper” for Added Safety

If you’re scared that you or your child may lose your Disney MagicBand, you can buy “keepers” or “locks” that help hold them on. These locks go around the arms of the band – where the snaps are – to help them from coming undone.

These are also known as “Bitbelts,” and can be purchased from Etsy or Amazon .

Magic Bands are One Size Fits All

Both the Disney Magic Bands 2.0 and MagicBand+ have an outer band and inner band. If you push the inner band away and swiftly pull it away, you’ll be left with a smaller band.

The smaller section is great for children and those with small wrists. This will make sure they fit all wrists more securely.

Using Your Magic Bands at Disney Parks

When it comes to Disney World especially, there are so many ways to use your Magic Bands at Disney Parks, and once you see all it does, you’ll be able to better decide whether buying one is essential for you. In order to use the Magic Bands at Disney, you will tap the puck – the middle with Mickey – onto Mickey head touchpoints around the parks, or on the pin pads at shops and restaurants.

Resort guests can use them to get into their resort room, access the pool at their resort, pay for purchases for food and merchandise while in the parks or at Disney Springs . Tapping your band to pay for something will charge it back to your resort room.

You can use them as your theme park tickets for all 4 Walt Disney World parks and the two water parks, Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon. You’ll also use your Disney Magic Band to redeem Lightning Lanes and Individual Lightning Lanes while in the parks as well as to scan in for a virtual queue return time.

You will use your Magic Bands at Disney to tap in for dining reservations – especially those that are at resorts you’re not staying at.

Not only will you use your Disney Magic Bands to load photos onto your PhotoPass account after having your photo taken by a PhotoPass photographer or tapping to get a ride photo, but Disney also uses the RFID technology to get ride photos onto your account without having to tap.

The MagicBand+ uses haptics and lights in order to interact with the 50th anniversary statues at Disney World, and to interact with the nighttime shows as well.

In both Disney World and Disneyland, you can the MagicBand+ to play Star Wars: Batuu Bounty Hunters in Galaxy’s Edge. This is a fun interactive game that sends you around Batuu, playing as a Bounty Hunter and collecting characters.

Unfortunately, Disneyland only uses the MagicBand+ and many of these uses aren’t applicable to Disneyland guests. MagicBands in general might be more practical for Disney World guests at this point.

Are Magic Bands Secure?

Using Magic Bands at Disney are very secure and safe, and you really don’t have to worry about them being misused in any way.

Magic Bands cannot be transferred to anyone else, so if lost, another person really cannot use it. In order to make a purchase with a Magic Band, you have to input the pin number that was created by the creator of the account. You also can’t get into the park with a Magic Band without scanning your finger for a biometric screening.

If you do lose your Disney Magic Band, you should report it as lost at Guest Relations. They can deactivate it, and then you’ll be able to get a new MagicBand and start all over.

If there are multiple people on your My Disney Experience account and are linked to your resort room, you can put a spending limit on the account so that no one goes overboard. This is great for families who want to give their children a little bit of freedom while on vacation but want to stay on a budget.

You can also make it so that only the adults on the account can charge purchases to the resort room as well. This keeps the money under your control and keeps kids from buying unnecessary things while in the parks.

One of the best security measures with the Disney Magic Band is how easy it is to use in the horrible chance that your child gets lost at Disney. Any Cast Member can scan the child’s band, and not only will they get their name and be able to make the child feel comfortable, but they will get the access to your phone number, email, and resort so that they can contact you immediately.

You Can Use Your Phone Instead of a Magic Band

If Disney Magic Bands aren’t for you or you aren’t staying on Disney property, then don’t worry! There are so many other ways to get in the parks. Using your phone might be just as easy as having a MagicBand.

If you have an iPhone, Apple Watch, or Google Pay-enabled Android phone, you can use the Disney MagicMobile Service. With this service, you can use your phone to enter the parks, connect PhotoPass photos to your account, gain access to virtual queues, charge purchases to your Disney resort room, check in for Lightning Lanes, and be able to use one device for an entire group.

If you’re using MagicMobile with an Apple device, you can even use “Express Mode” so that you don’t have to open My Disney Experience or unlock your phone to use the service.

To use the Disney MagicMobile Service, you do have to add all your tickets to My Disney Experience prior to theme park arrival and have activated the service.

You can also use your cell phone to unlock your Disney resort room, and you don’t have to use the MagicMobile Service in order to do that.

How to Set Up Your MagicBand+

We want you to be ready to use your Disney MagicBand+ before you need to scan into the parks, so here are the steps to be sure that you are ready and your MagicBand+ is in working order:

• Power on your band by pressing the button on the back, then tap your band onto your phone.
• you’ll be directed to either open the My Disney Experience app or to download it.
• Follow instructions in the app to link the MagicBand+ to your account, assign it to a guest, and pair it to your phone. You will then use the app to make sure it is charged, and the band software is up-to-date.
• link to your park tickets and reservations.

Just a note: you may have to charge your band and do a software update before your visit. Give yourself enough time before your park visit to do this!

Favorite Magic Band Designs

We know that there are so many cute options and colors for Disney Magic Bands, and it’s hard to choose one. You really can’t go wrong with fun designs, whether it’s a MagicBand 2.0 or MagicBand+. We have chosen a few of our current favorites and linked them for you to go shop!

Walt Disney World Map MagicBand+

This Disney MagicBand+ is so cute! It has a vintage style map of the Magic Kingdom as the print and would be a great band for those who love vintage Disney! Magic Kingdom fans won’t be able to say no to this one.

Winnie the Pooh MagicBand+

This MagicBand+ couldn’t be any cuter with Winnie the Pooh carrying his “hunny pot” and surrounded by bees. Even the center design is a pot of honey, and kids and adults alike will love this whimsical band.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever MagicBand+

This limited release MagicBand+ is perfect for Black Panther fans and lovers of the Marvel Universe. The center is the Black Panther helmet, and you can’t go wrong with this powerful band.

Disneyland Marquee MagicBand+

We couldn’t leave out Disneyland when it comes to finding a cute MagicBand+! This bright blue band has the iconic Disneyland sign on the arm, and the center is Sleeping Beauty’s castle.

We hope this deep dive into Disney Magic Bands has helped you decide whether these are a must-have for you on your next trip. If you use MagicBands already, did you know these tips and secrets? And will you use any of them the next time you go?

Let us know in the comments!

Reader Interactions

May 17, 2023 at 3:31 pm

How do we get a discount for the Magic Bands? I’m staying on property, but don’t see anything on the My Disney Experience app or the shopping app that allows me a discount. Thanks!

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The Secrets of Disney's MagicBand+ That Fans Need to Know About

We're answering what it can do, whether it's worth it and how much it costs — plus tips from our behind-the-scenes preview.

We've been independently researching and testing products for over 120 years. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more about our review process.

Walt Disney World fans have eagerly awaited the release of the new MagicBand+ — a smart wristband that elevates your immersive experience throughout your stay in the resort. That wait is finally over, as Disney recently announced it'll be available on July 27th, 2022 .

In an exclusive Good Housekeeping interview with JC Diaz, Product Management Director at Disney, we got to try out the MagicBand+ at Magic Kingdom Park weeks before its release date. Here, we break down everything you need to know about Disney's newest connected product and whether it's worth buying before your next trip.

What is MagicBand+?

MagicBand+ is a new evolution of Disney's MagicBand, a hands-free device that has been around for nearly a decade and lets Walt Disney World Resort guests enter the parks (with valid admission), open their hotel rooms and more. The upgrades for MagicBand+ combine these convenient features with new immersive experiences, like LED lights, vibrations and gesture recognition that let you become a part of the magic in the parks.

It also comes with a charging cable so you won't have to worry about it running out of battery (which can potentially happen over time with the original MagicBand). And while the MagicBand face has traditionally only had the Mickey design, MagicBand+ has unique designs on the face to better complement the style of the band.

Disney Walt Disney World Four Parks MagicBand+

What can MagicBand+ do?

MagicBand+ combines the ease of having everything you need on a wristband with the enhancements that let you engage in a variety of new experiences. Once you get the MagicBand+, you can link it to your account and pair to your smartphone to customize its settings and match your preferences, like which colors you want it to glow and whether the vibration is on or off. Once it's ready to go, here's how you can use it at the parks:

Interactive Quests

One of the most exciting elements of MagicBand+ is the ability to participate in adventures by completing virtual quests. There are currently two options available:

Disney Fab 50 Quest: As part of its 50th Anniversary celebration, Walt Disney World has 50 golden character statues situated around all four theme parks — also known as the Fab 50 Character Collection . Wave your hand in front of each statue to help Tinker Bell spread pixie dust; the statues will then greet with you a reaction like a catchphrase or a short musical tune. You can keep track of which characters you collect on the Play Disney Parks app, which has an augmented reality feature that lets you place the characters on any wall — even once you return home.

We tried out this quest during our preview and loved the element of hearing each character come to life. Here are some tips that we learned during our experience:

• Keep the vibration settings on: Haptic technology lets you know when you're close to a statue — i.e., you'll feel the wristband vibrate when it's time to spread the pixie dust.
• Wave your hand quickly: The reaction is based on gesture recognition, so if your hand moves too slowly then it may not pick up on the movement.
• Know where to search: The statues are spread out between all four theme parks, but most are located within Magic Kingdom Park. Beyond that, the majority of the statues are in the main areas of the parks with high traffic. Others are located near their corresponding attractions, such as the Mad Hatter and Cheshire Cat statues near the Mad Tea Cup ride inspired by Alice in Wonderland.

Star Wars : Batuu Bounty Hunters : Your job is to locate and collect targets hidden behind doors throughout Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge at Disney's Hollywood Studios. A job board assigns you bounties, then the MagicBand+ will pulse green as you get closer to them and red if you move further away. When you've located your bounty, it'll glow purple. Once you've located the bounty, you can use the Play Disney Parks app as a thermal scanner and return to the Guild master, a physical show prop of an alien, who will give you your bounty — i.e., galactic credits.

Enhanced Theme Park Experiences

Adding another layer of magic to your visit, MagicBand+ syncs with entertainment and iconic sights to make you a part of the show.

Nighttime Spectaculars

Walt Disney World is known for its stunning fireworks and projections, and MagicBand+ now helps elevate these events. During shows like Disney Enchantment at Magic Kingdom Park and Harmonious at EPCOT, the wristband will light up in pulses and vibrate during key moments of these performances.

With shimmering decorations to celebrate the 50th Anniversary, each of the four icons (Cinderella Castle, Spaceship Earth, The Hollywood Tower Hotel and Tree of Life) have their own EARidescent glow. As you get close to them, your MagicBand+ will light up in these signature colors and use subtle vibrations to bring the experiences to life.

Access and Conveniences

MagicBand+ includes the technology from the original MagicBand, like tapping your band to enter your Walt Disney World Resort room or Theme Park, charging food or merchandise to your folio, checking in at Lightning Lane entrances and linking pictures to your PhotoPass account.

Disney MagicBand+ Capabilities

Wave your hands to spread pixie dust and bring 50 golden character statues to life.

Enhanced Spectaculars

Become a part of the show as your wristband lights up and vibrates during special moments.

Convenient Access

The wristband can serve as your park pass and room key so you don't need to carry extra cards.

Seamless Payments

Save time by quickly paying for food and merchandise on your MagicBand+.

When Will MagicBand+ be Available?

MagicBand+ is officially available for purchase as of July 27th and will come in over 25 different designs. You can purchase it at ShopDisney.com , or guests with upcoming reservations can purchase it through their My Disney Experience account . You can also find it at one of the following stores within Walt Disney World Resort:

• Magic Kingdom Park: Emporium
• EPCOT: Pin Traders – Camera Center
• Disney’s Hollywood Studios: Celebrity 5 & 10 and Tatooine Traders
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park: Discovery Trading Company
• Disney Springs: Disney’s Pin Traders

MagicBand+ is also expected to launch later this year at Disneyland Resort.

How Much Does MagicBand+ Cost?

The MagicBand+ price starts at $34.99, with more elaborate designs retailing at $44.99. According to Disney , you may be able to receive a special discount if you already have a Walt Disney World Resort reservation or are an Annual Passholder.

Will Old MagicBands Still Work?

Yes. If you have a MagicBand from an existing trip or want to purchase one without the new connected enhancements, you can still use these to access the convenience features. When you arrive at Walt Disney World, make sure to have a cast member check whether your past MagicBand still has battery and works properly.

Is MagicBand+ Worth It?

We certainly think so! Though the price adds up if you are buying one for each member of an entire family, it's an innovative product that upgrades your experience by adding that "wow" factor. Plus, it's likely to be a favorite souvenir that you can keep after your trip.

Shop More MagicBand+ Styles

Disney MagicBand+ Navy

Disney Minnie Mouse Bow MagicBand+

Disney Disney Princess MagicBand+

Disney Grogu MagicBand+ Star Wars: The Mandalorian

Lexie Sachs (she/her) is the executive director of strategy and operations at the Good Housekeeping Institute and a lead reviewer of products in the bedding, travel, lifestyle, home furnishings and apparel spaces. She has over 15 years of experience in the consumer products industry and a degree in fiber science from Cornell University. Lexie serves as an expert source both within Good Housekeeping and other media outlets, regularly appearing on national broadcast TV segments. Prior to joining GH in 2013, Lexie worked in merchandising and product development in the fashion and home industries.

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Disney Magic Bands Ultimate Guide

Posted on Last updated: July 26, 2024

Everything you need to know about Disney Magic Bands in 2024 plus my best tips and tricks!

MagicBands might be my favorite thing about a Disney World vacation. They make everything SO MUCH EASIER and are just a lot of fun!

If you are wondering “What are Magic Bands?” or want to learn about the new Magic Band Plus, you’ve come to the right place.

What are Disney Magic Bands used for?

Magic Bands are adjustable, waterproof wristbands that have a small radio frequency (RF) chip inside.

RF is a common technology found in everything from video game controllers to keyless car entry.

They are also sometimes referred to as Disney Bands, bracelets for Disney, or Disney wristbands.

When you are at Disney World, you can use your Magic Band to:

• Unlock your resort hotel room
• Use your park tickets to enter the theme parks (as long as you’ve purchased a ticket, of course)
• Use your Lightning Lane reservations
• Charge purchases and dining back to your resort hotel
• Link Disney PhotoPass pictures to your account
• Redeem your credits on the Disney Dining Plan

You tap the Mickey symbol on your Magic Band to a receiver on your room door, at the turnstiles, at checkout registers, etc. to use your band.

While you don’t need a Magic Band at Disney World, it can help make your vacation MUCH easier. 

Read on to learn everything you need to know to decide if it’s worth it to buy one for your trip!

What is Disney Magic Band Plus?

Two years ago Disney released a new generation of Magic Bands – Disney Magic Band Plus.

In addition to all of the same basic features of the original bands, these bands feature interactive color-changing lights and haptic vibrations when you are in the theme parks!

For example, they:

• Use gesture recognition to allow you to interact with golden sculptures found in all four parks
• Light up in time with fireworks and other nighttime entertainment 
• Can be used in a virtual bounty hunting game in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in Hollywood Studios

Another major difference from the original MagicBand is that the Magic Band Plus has a rechargeable battery.

When you purchase a MagicBand Plus from Disney Store you’ll get a charger with a short USB cord. 

Click here for your FREE guide to mastering the new Lightning Lane system at Disney World!

The charge should last 1-3 days depending on use, but it’s recommended that you charge the band each night.

The bands should charge completely in about 90 minutes. 

However if your MagicBand Plus runs out of battery, fear not! It will still function as a regular Magic Band.  

It just won’t light up or interact in the parks. 

Are Magic Bands Free?

Unfortunately, Magic Bands are no longer free.

However, if you have a reservation at a Disney World Resort hotel, you will be able to order discounted Magic Bands before your trip. Details on how to do this below!

If you aren’t staying at a Disney hotel you can still buy and use a Magic Band, though what you can do with it will be limited (more on this below).

How Much Do Magic Bands Cost?

The new Magic Band Plus from the Disney Store site starts at $34.99. 

Click here to check out the MagicBand+ that are currently available.

You can buy bands at other locations such as Amazon, but for ease of use and to make sure they will work for you, I suggest buying them from The Disney Store directly . 

If you have an upcoming Disney World resort reservation, you may be able to get discounted bands! Read on to find out how. 🙂

After you purchase a Magic Band you can link it to your My Disney Experience account.

You can then use your MagicBand to enter the theme parks and check in for Lightning Lane reservations ( Get the lowdown on using the Lightning Lanes at Disney World in this post PLUS a free printable cheat sheet. )

Where To Buy Magic Bands

You can buy Disney Store Magic Bands online before your trip whether you are staying at a Disney hotel or not. 

Another option is to buy Magic bands in a gift shop at Disney World once you arrive. You may get a better selection than what is available online!

There is even a Disney gift shop at Orlando International Airport that carries MagicBands.

I recommend buying them there so you can set them up before you hit the Walt Disney World property!

Do I Need a Magic Band If I’m Staying Off Property? 

If you aren’t staying at a Disney-owned resort you can still use a Magic Band, though what you can do with it is limited. 

If you’re staying “off property” you can use a Magic Band as your park admission, to check in for Lightning Lanes, access the Disney World Virtual Queu e, and for Photo Pass.

You will NOT be able to charge purchases on your band, however. 

How do you get discount Disney Magic Bands?

If you have a reservation at a Disney World Resort hotel, you will be able to pre-order Magic Bands for your trip at a discount!

In My Disney Experience , select “My Magic Bands and Cards”. 

Depending on availability, you may be able to purchase solid-colored regular MagicBands starting at only $10 each (the regular price is $19.99).

But you have to order through the My Disney Experience app or site to get these discount Magic Bands. 

You can also order Magic Band Plus and specialty bands at a discounted price.

Are Disney Magic Bands worth it? 

If you are staying at a Disney World Resort hotel and will be able to use your Magic Band several times, then the answer to the question “Are Disney Magic Bands worth it?” is definitely YES!

You will love the convenience of being able to open your hotel room and charge purchases back to your room with your Magic Band.

They also make redeeming Lightning Lane reservations SO MUCH easier, since you just tap your wrist to the turnstile.

Use Magic Band to access the Lightning Lanes

Since Magic Bands last for years, if you can break the cost up over several trips (and get them at a discount through Disney) then they are a no-brainer. 

However, if you aren’t staying at a Disney World resort and are only visiting once, I don’t think it makes sense to invest in a Magic Band.

Another one of my secret weapons when I’m in the Disney World theme parks is having a plan for what attractions to ride first to avoid long lines.

I strongly recommend signing up for Touring Plans , which gives you customized plans that will save you up to four hours in line every day of your trip! This can make or break your vacation – click here to learn more about Touring Plans .

Read on to learn how to use your phone instead of a Magic Band and save your money for some other fun experience on your vacation. 

Do Magic Bands work at Disneyland? 

I am happy to report that Disneyland parkgoers FINALLY can use Magic Bands in the West Coast park starting October 26th, 2022. 

However, only the new MagicBand+ will work at Disneyland . Original Magic Bands (aka Magic Bands 2.0) won’t work. 

So you can use the same Magic Band Plus at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World!

Does Magic Band Plus work on Disney Cruise Line? 

I am also happy to report that MagicBand+ can be used on Disney Cruise Line !

Only the new Magic Band Plus will work on Disney Cruise Line. 

Bands on Disney Cruise Line are called “DisneyBand+” but any MagicBand+ you purchase at Disney World will work and have all of the same features. 

Vice versa, if you purchase a DisneyBand+ on a cruise you will be able to use it as a Magic Band at the theme parks. 

Can I Use My Phone instead of a MagicBand? 

Yes, in most cases you can use your phone instead of a MagicBand in the Disney World theme parks!

If you have an iPhone, Apple Watch, or Google Pay enabled Android phone, you can use your phone for theme park entry and to redeem Lightning Lane reservations. 

First, make sure your park tickets are linked to your My Disney Experience account. 

Then, click the hamburger menu in the bottom right corner of the app, and select Disney MagicMobile. 

From there you can set up a Magic Mobile pass for yourself and those linked in your Family and Friends. 

Once you set up your pass, you will be able to just hold your phone up to the turnstile (no need to unlock your phone) and scan it as you would a magic band for park entry. 

If you need to access Friends’ and Family members’ passes, just double-click the side or home button (on iPhones) to swipe through the other passes. 

Magic Mobile is a great alternative to a Magic Band if you are staying off-property or only visiting once and don’t want to spend the extra money on a Disney wristband. 

How do I set up my MagicBand Plus?

Here’s how to set up your Magic Band Plus according to Disney: 

1) Turn the band on by pressing the power button on the back once.

2) Tap the band to your phone. 

3) You’ll be directed to download or open the My Disney Experience app on your phone. 

4) Follow the directions in the app to link your band to your Disney account, assign it to someone, and pair it with your device. 

That said, this process didn’t work for me.

I bought a band from shopDisney and needed to link it to my daughter’s account. My phone didn’t do anything when I tapped it to my phone but I was able to link it to her account here . 

You’ll then be able to see if your band is charged and if you need to update the software (you usually will). 

How Do MagicBands Work with My Disney Experience?

My Disney Experience is both a mobile app and website that allows you to access your vacation plans and share plans with others.

After you create a My Disney Experience account, you’ll be able to see your resort reservations, dining plans, Lightning Lane reservations, and park tickets.

I find My Disney Experience pretty easy to use and access, particularly with the mobile app.

MagicBands are essentially a link to your My Disney Experience account.

That is why they allow you to use your Lightning Lane reservations and park tickets that are in your account.

If you have multiple MagicBands (because you are splitting your stay between two resorts, for example) they can be used interchangeably because they both link to your same My Disney Experience account.

Magic Band vs Magic Band Plus

You might be wondering what makes Magic Band Plus different from the original Magic Bands and if they are worth the additional cost. 

First, the lowest-cost Magic Band is $19.99 and the lowest-cost Magic Band Plus is $34.99. So for a family of four who all want Magic Band+, you are looking at an additional $60. 

Both versions of Magic Band allow you to redeem Lightning Lane passes, use the bands as your ticket to enter the parks, make charges back to your room, and so on. 

The main difference between the types of bands is how interactive they are. The new Magic Band Plus lights up and vibrates during firework shows, at the 50th-anniversary statues, and when you are in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. 

If you don’t really care about these interactive features, then you are fine sticking with the original Magic Band. 

How Long Do Magic Bands Last?

A question I get asked a lot in the comments is “ How long do Magic Bands last? ”

I”ve been able to reuse my Magic Bands for up to four years.

In fact, I’ve never had a battery give out, but I haven’t tried to use it for beyond four years. 

The official line from Disney is to expect the battery to last for two years. 

But in the real world, people report using them for WAY longer than that!

So even if you have a Magic Band from up to five years ago, I suggest bringing it along to test if it still works at Disney World. The worst case is you’ll have to buy a new band, but you may still have battery life left.

Are Magic Bands Reusable?

You might be wondering can you reuse magic bands… well I am happy to report that I reuse mine all of the time!

Yes, Magic Bands are reusable. They run off of a small battery inside the band. Disney says the batteries are designed to last for 2 years. I have read of batteries lasting for up to five years.

Since a Disney Magic Band is just a link to your My Disney Experience account, it can be used for many trips until the battery no longer works.

Are Disney Magic Bands Waterproof?

Many people have asked me “Are Disney Magic Bands waterproof?”

I am happy to report that yes, your Disney Bands are waterproof! You can wear them while you swim in the pool and on water attractions without damaging them in any way.

How Can I Customize Our Bands?

When you make a resort reservation directly with Disney, your reservation will automatically appear in your My Disney Experience account.

If you book with a third party ( such as using Priceline to get up to 40% off rack rates) ) or a travel agent (I recommend Siera with Destinations in Florida ) you will be able to add your reservation to your account with the confirmation number you receive at booking.

When you order your Magic Band through My Disney Experience you can customize the band with your name. 

Another very affordable way to get a custom look is to order a Magic Band decal on Etsy !

The vinyl decal is easy to apply to your band and they are only a few dollars each. We received lots of compliments on ours.

Or if you are into DIY, you can get some tattoos and nail gems for a few dollars and decorate away!

Get more detailed instructions on this Magic Band DIY approach here.

Also, you don’t have to be limited to just wearing a band on your wrist! Thanks to the removable puck in the Magic Band 2.0, you have lots of options. 

Destination Vacation Etsy Store

My favorite option is this MagicBand puck holder that slides onto your watch wristband !

You can use it with an Apple watch (or any watch) and it can help you keep track of your Lightning Lane return times while not having to have two bands on your wrist.

How Do I Get My MagicBands?

If you are staying at a Disney resort, your Magic Bands will be mailed to your home soon after you order them.

In my experience, it takes about a week or two to receive them.

If you don’t live in the US, your MagicBands will be waiting for you at your hotel when you arrive.

They will arrive in an unmarked box from the USPS.

So if you are trying to keep your trip a secret, don’t worry – the box will not give it away!

You’ll get a shipping notification in My Disney Experience along with a tracking number so you can make sure your package arrives safely. 

How Does Charging Purchases Work?

When you check-in for your stay, either online or in-person at your resort, you will be able to put a credit card on file to cover purchases charged back to your room.

Since your MagicBand acts as your room key and a link to your resort reservation, you can use it to charge purchases back to your room account.

The fact that you can use your band to buy things makes some folks worried.

First of all, you set up a four-digit PIN number when you check-in online or at your resort.

You then have to enter the PIN when you make a purchase with the band. This keeps them safe in the event you lose your band.

Your credit card on file will not be charged for all purchases made during your stay until midnight the night before you check out.

If you want to pay any of your room charges with a gift card, you must do so before then.

I’m not going to lie – it is VERY hard to keep your spending in check at Disney World in general. MagicBands make that even harder!

As long as you are prepared for that and have some kind of budget in place, I think the ease of paying for food and more with your Magic Bands makes vacation simpler and more enjoying.

Are There Child Sized Magic Bands? 

You may have noticed that Magic Bands come in one size only. There are no separate adult or child bands. 

This is because you can turn any MagicBand into a child-sized band by removing the extra piece of flexible plastic that surrounds the band.

It’s grey on original Magic Bands and the same color as the rest of the band on Magic Band Plus. 

This will effectively shorten the band so it will fit better on a child’s wrist. 

What Else Do I Need to Know About Disney Bands?

It is easy to link PhotoPass pictures taken in the parks (such as at character Meet & Greets) to your My Disney Experience account with your MagicBand.

The photographer just scans your band after taking your picture and it shows up in your account a short while later.

Ride photos will also “magically” appear in your account soon after riding.

This picture of my daughter screaming in terror on the TOTALLY MILD Frozen Ever After ride makes me laugh so hard I cry.

What is Magic Band 2?

Years ago Disney revamped the design of the MagicBand for the first time since they rolled out.

The major change was a small removable “puck” in the center of the band. You can remove the puck by unscrewing two tiny screws in the back of the band – you’ll need a mini screwdriver to do this.

I took advantage of this new feature to mix up our wristband colors for one of our trips. I think they look really fun!

If you have an Apple Watch, check out how to turn your Apple watch into a MagicBand !

Disney Magic Band Summary

Magic Bands are also sometimes referred to as:

• Disney bands
• Disney wristbands
• Magic Bands Disney
• Disney arm bands
• Bracelets for Disney

Since I travel with a little one in tow, I usually don’t have an extra hand for digging around in a purse or pocket for my room key or credit card. I LOVE having everything I need on my wrist.

Often when we leave our hotel room the only thing I have to remember is our Magic Bands. If I am just heading to the food court or to the pool for the afternoon, I don’t take anything else with me.

If I’m heading to the parks and taking a bag anyway, I will bring my ID and a backup credit card, just in case I get carded or something’s not working with my band (though this hasn’t ever happened to me).

I hope this post answered the popular “What is Disney Magic Band?” question. 

Any questions about using or buying Disney Magic Bands in 2024? Please leave a comment below or join the discussion over in my FREE private Facebook group for my Disney site, The Budget Mouse!

Check out these related posts: 

• Disney Dining Plan Cost & Ultimate Guide
• Cheapest Disney World Tickets Guide
• How to Buy Discount Disney Gift Cards

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Thursday 11th of January 2024

This is great information - I'm Disney bound in April, but don't love any of the designs right now, when will new bands come out?

Monday 15th of January 2024

New bands come out all of the time, so fingers crossed for some good ones before you leave. You could also risk it and see what they have in the many gift shops when you arrive, the choices are always different from online.

Saturday 6th of January 2024

Do you know if they are getting rid of the Magic Band 2.0 anytime soon?

Wednesday 10th of January 2024

I expect this will eventually happen. They are still available online for now. But even when they stop selling them the bands will work for as long as they have battery life, so 2-5 years in my experience.

Sunday 23rd of July 2023

If you REALLY want to save some money and are staying at a Disney resort, ask at the front desk to have all your tickets added to what is basically your room key. Instead of having to pull out your phone for everything, you just swipe your card for admission to the park, purchases and lighting lanes. Doesn't have any of the interactive features, but they are FREE, which is very rare at Disney!!

Sunday 5th of March 2023

Thank you so much for this very detailed post. Well done!

I just have one more question: We have four adults in our group. I have linked each Magic Band Plus to my My Disney Experience account. It also says to pair each band in order to access interactive features. Does each person need their own My Disney Experience account on their phone to pair their band?

Thanks so much.

Sunday 12th of March 2023

Hi Teresa! No, you can pair others' bands as long as they are linked as your Family & Friends. I was able to link my daughter's band using my MDE app, for example.

Wednesday 16th of November 2022

Hi Leah! Are the Magicband room charging rules mentioned in your article still the same? Will the room charges reconcile the night before checkout? I have seen some chatter that they reconcile charges by placing holds on your debit/credit card daily as purchases are made.

Wednesday 30th of November 2022

Hi Ray - you are correct, they have changed how they charge your card. We've been three times recently and can't make sense of when they charge and why lol. But they are no longer waiting to charge everything the night before checkout so I will update the post!

MagicBand+ Review: Good, Bad & Ugly

MagicBand+ is Walt Disney World’s new interactive wearable device with a variety of enhancements, plus two games. This ‘real world’ review covers our firsthand experiences using it for multiple full days in the parks to determine the good, bad, and ugly of the device, to help you decide whether to “plus” your WDW vacation.

For those who are unfamiliar with it, MagicBand+ (MB+) is the interactive upgrade to the iconic MagicBand, offering all of the features of the first two generations of that the Walt Disney World wearable. Like the normal MagicBand, the MB+ can scan to enter parks or Lightning Lanes. Additionally, you can connect your PhotoPass memories, unlock your Walt Disney World Resort hotel room door, charge purchases to your hotel room, and more.

Unlike those, when it’s activated, the MagicBand+ has color-changing lights, haptic vibrations, and gesture recognition. There are also MagicBand+ minigames revolving around Walt Disney World’s 50th Anniversary statues and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Suffice to say, there’s a lot you can do with MagicBand+ at WDW. For basic background encompassing everything you need to know about the interactive bands–plus answers to questions you might have–see our FAQ for MagicBand+ at Walt Disney World!

One other bit of background that’s worth mentioning is that Discount Pre-Arrival MagicBand Plus Designs are now available for on-site Walt Disney World resort hotel guests and Annual Passholders. Those cost $25 for solid colors and $35 for premium designs, both of which offer a savings of $10 off what you’d pay in stores at Walt Disney World or on shopDisney.com.

We chose this option, ordering our MagicBand+ on the device’s launch day for resort stays a couple of weeks later. That turned out to be a bit of an ordeal due to high demand and limited inventory, but Walt Disney World addressed that problem. Hopefully, it’s a non-issue for anyone else going forward.

The MagicBand+ device we tested was nearly dead upon purchase, and did not have enough battery life to complete the required day one software update. This is common, and is one big reason to do the pre-arrival purchase–so you can charge your MagicBand+ and updating its software prior to leaving home.

If you buy a band off the shelf at one of the theme park gift shops and intend upon using it that day, plan accordingly. You will likely need a battery charger (which you absolutely should have if visiting Walt Disney World) and a bit of free time.

Honestly, this is a big “bad” right off the bat. In isolation, it’s not necessarily an issue. The MB+ setup steps are simple enough and intuitive, overnight charging isn’t the worst thing in the world, and everyone reading this probably has experience with software updates.

The problem is the compounding effect. MagicBand+ does not exist in isolation. It exists at a time when Walt Disney World has Advance Dining Reservations, Genie+ and Lightning Lane, Mobile Order, virtual queues, and more. The reason you “absolutely should have” a battery charger if visiting Walt Disney World is because it’s difficult to make it through a day in the parks without draining your phone.

One thing that many fans and first-timers like about the regular ole “dumb” MagicBand is that it didn’t require screen time. Sure, it’s not as sophisticated as an Apple Watch or other wearables, but it got the job done and–critically–got out of the way so you could enjoy your vacation time with family. (Although I should note that legacy MagicBands did not  work this well at launch.)

This is something that’s easy to overlook for locals and other MagicBand+ reviewers who are intimately familiar with the planning process for Walt Disney World. To most of us, it’s second nature. I’ve mastered the ins and outs of doing Walt Disney World, which is definitely not a humblebrag–much of my mental capacity is devoted to this stuff, which has little practical value in the real world!

The point is that for WDW diehards, learning how to use MagicBand+ might seem simple enough and an insignificant addition to your planning or visiting rituals. Take a step back and imagine being a first-timer or infrequent visitor–or explaining everything they need to know. You will literally sound like a crazy person. It’s that overwhelming and unnecessarily convoluted.

MagicBand+ adds yet another layer into the existing morass of Walt Disney World vacation planning. If you’re a first-timer who is already overwhelmed, I would recommend stopping right here–don’t bother with MagicBand Plus. If you’re a Walt Disney World veteran, let’s continue on to determine whether the MB+ is worth it for you…

The main selling point MagicBand+ is the interactivity in the parks. There’s a color-changing effect when using touchpoints, and the MagicBand+ engages with the Disney Enchantment fireworks at Magic Kingdom and Harmonious nighttime spectacular at EPCOT.

I’m a sucker for stuff that lights up, and I appreciate some of these effects. With that said, Walt Disney World shouldn’t even advertise the nighttime spectacular interactivity. This is better filed under “fun surprise if you happen to notice it” than actual feature.

Had I not already heard from others that this was incredibly underwhelming, I would’ve assumed our MB+ was defective or we weren’t standing in the right spot. (It wasn’t and we were.) For the vast majority of Enchantment, the MagicBand+ doesn’t do anything at all. Harmonious is better by comparison, but not in absolute terms.

It’s fair to expect more of this because Disney has literally been down this path before. Glow with the Show debuted over a decade ago and offered better integration with nighttime spectaculars at Walt Disney World, Disneyland, and Hong Kong Disneyland. During Paint the Night parade’s show stops at HKDL, you could literally use a light-up paintbrush to change the color of performer costumes!

Not a huge deal, as the main interactivity comes via two mini-games. One in Disney’s Hollywood Studios that’s called Star Wars: Batuu Bounty Hunters. The other is throughout all four parks, and is called Disney Fab 50 Scavenger Hunt.

Disney Fab 50 Scavenger Hunt is fine. We found it cute at first, a fun way to interact with the statues scattered around Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom to celebrate the highlights of Disney+ and/or Walt Disney World’s 50th Anniversary.

Admittedly, we are not the target audience for this and that’s also worth acknowledging. After waving at a few characters and getting them to say hello, we were “good” on Disney Fab 50 Scavenger Hunt. However, we saw plenty of parents with small children who were much more enamored with this. Disney fans also tend to be collectors, so a scavenger hunt probably speaks to a lot of other older enthusiasts.

Viewed objectively, this mini-game is decent. If you want to “collect” the characters, you need to use the Play Disney Parks app. If not, you can simply walk up to them and wave. We had some issues with the statues recognizing our gestures, but this was usually resolved by ~30 seconds of flailing our arms about in front of them.

My only other complaint is that it doesn’t seem like the statues were created with this game in mind. Rather, it’s likely that the statues came first and the idea for the game came later, with the locations retrofit to add sound effects.

We mention this because Tokyo Disney Resort has been doing interactive in-park anniversary statues for a decade, and they’re better than this. Those also aren’t nearly as technically sophisticated as MagicBand Plus, and yet, they work more reliably and have much more dazzling effects.

Again, not a huge deal, as Batuu Bounty Hunters in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is the  true star of the show when it comes to MagicBand Plus. Honestly, it feels like the entire idea for MagicBand+ was birthed from this–that one of the Imagineers working on Galaxy’s Edge had the idea for this minigame, and they fleshed out the rest of the stuff from there. Totally speculative, but it wouldn’t surprise me if this is how MagicBand+ came to fruition. Just about everything else feels like an afterthought.

We both loved Batuu Bounty Hunters in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and consider it the unequivocal highlight of MagicBand Plus, but even this minigame isn’t perfect. Let’s start by dispensing with the bad…

Our day playing Batuu Bounty Hunters started with the MagicBand+ wanting to be updated again and the Play Disney Parks app also needing an update. After knocking out these updates, the Play Disney Parks app wouldn’t load Batuu Bounty Hunters–it kept getting hung up on a mostly-blank loading screen. (A friend in the park was having the exact same issue, leading us to believe that it might’ve been a matter of high demand?)

Reading this from the comfort of your air-conditioned office doesn’t set the proper “mood” for this. The feels like temperature at Disney’s Hollywood Studios was 104° and the humidity was likewise dialed up to 11. I had sweat through my shirt just walking from the front of the park to Galaxy’s Edge, and this “bad” experience was moments from devolving into “ugly.” Thankfully, it started working.

That wasn’t the only problem, though. Star Wars: Batuu Bounty Hunters uses a hot/cold system to indicate whether you’re getting closer to bounties, and it’s difficult to ascertain the color in direct sunlight. (See above.)

It’s also tough to do this game as a team since the vibrating and color-changing MB+ is on one person’s wrist. This could be a problem for parents and children…or husbands and wives.

After completing each bounty, you need to return to Black Spire Station to the Guild Master to collect your credits. Before starting each bounty, you need to go to the Bounty Board next to that.

If it’s a busy day, this means waiting in two separate lines before/after every single bounty–and there are ~20 of them. We often spent 10 minutes at the Black Spire Station between bounties. That’s too long–less time was often spent on the bounties themselves.

Hopefully, this is less of a problem in the future when the “new Star Wars smell” wears off, but we played Batuu Bounty Hunters a few weeks after launch (albeit on a weekend), and it was still busy. The interactivity of redeeming a bounty is cool, but it would be great if starting a new bounty could be initiated from the app.

Finally, Star Wars: Batuu Bounty Hunters is a huge battery drain. This goes for both your MagicBand+ and your phone. We played the game for a couple of hours, and it took both devices down to almost nothing. You definitely want to purchase a MB+  before  your DHS day so you can charge it overnight.

Even with all of those complaints, we really enjoyed Star Wars: Batuu Bounty Hunters. The gameplay is simple, but incredibly satisfying. Once you overcome the learning curve and whatever headaches you might encounter, it’s a lot of fun.

Walt Disney World fans who are averse to more screen time need not apply, but for those looking at interactivity in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge that’s actually engaging and not overly app-based (like some of the previous Play Disney Parks content), this is the sweet spot. It marries the tangible and digital worlds wonderfully, and is compelling and addicting.

Admittedly, I enjoyed Star Wars: Batuu Bounty Hunters more than Sarah did (middle aged men are the main demo, judging by the bounty board lines) but we both liked it. I’d go as far as to say it adds a new dimension to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, giving more life to the land. (It’s a small start–more like this is definitely  needed.)

Starting the game at sunset and continuing as night falls over Batuu is definitely the way to go. It makes Black Spire Outpost more dynamic and energetic, and you feel like you’re part of that. It’s even better than the Batuu excursion that’s part of Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser. (As cheesy as it sounds, this is the land delivering on its promise of letting guests “live their own Star Wars adventure.”)

In short, Star Wars: Batuu Bounty Hunters is  the  reason to purchase the MagicBand Plus. This minigame is, without question, the highlight of the new MB+ wearable. It’s not perfect, but once you overcome the issues, it’s an engaging and satisfying minigame that you could easily spend a few hours playing. Star Wars fans, kids, and those who savor simple gameplay will all get a kick out of this.

While not for everyone, Star Wars: Batuu Bounty Hunters is worth your limited Walt Disney World vacation time if you fall into the above categories. We’d recommend purchasing a MagicBand+ to share (or one for each child in your family) in order to play this–and do it when the ‘bright suns’ aren’t high overhead.

Ultimately, that ringing endorsement of Star Wars: Batuu Bounty Hunters is also an indictment of MagicBand+ as a whole. Not only is the Galaxy’s Edge minigame the main reason to “plus” your MagicBand…it’s the  only  reason. Unfortunately, nothing else really moves the needle for the new wearable. The other interactive features range from unnoticeable to okay, although perhaps we’re undervaluing the statue scavenger hunt.

No matter, as this recommendation (or lack thereof) is less about the interactivity and more about the downsides. The poor battery life, nightly charging, glitches, updates, etc. all make the MagicBand+ more of a hassle than it’s worth, from our perspective.

Walt Disney World is already increasing incorporating technology into the baseline park experience and vacation screen time is on the rise as a result. This optional product simply is not good enough to justify layering on even more of that and the potential headaches arising therefrom. Our recommendation is sticking to the cheaper and comparatively frictionless OG MagicBand for daily use. (Sure, you can use a dead MagicBand+ like a regular MagicBand, but why pay more for that?) Sometimes dumber devices are better.

Nevertheless, we remain hopeful that Walt Disney World will continue to iterate on the MagicBand Plus, improving its interactivity and eliminating issues, and adding more substantive content and minigames. I was really excited about the MagicBand+ and hoped it would be a meaningful step forward for Walt Disney World’s wearables, but so far, it does not live up to most of its potential. Like Genie+ and Lightning Lanes, the MagicBand+ feels rushed and glitchy, and probably would’ve benefited from more development time and resources before launching to the public.

Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page. For where to eat, read our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews . To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!

YOUR THOUGHTS

What do you think of the new MagicBand+ at Walt Disney World? Have you played Star Wars: Batuu Bounty Hunters or Disney Fab 50 Scavenger Hunt? What did you think of these minigames? What about the other interactive features of the MagicBand Plus? Do you think the MB+ is worth the extra money? What do you think are the biggest downsides or problems with the new wearable? Have you had any problems with MagicBand+ at WDW? If so, what were they and how did you resolve the issues? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!

Written by Tom Bricker

Tom, when and where was that second photo taken? The one with all the magic band choices. The first two shown, the blackand white mickey and the minnie bows, are the two i have been searching for all year. Both of mine from 2019 will not work anymore. I went to every store in mk, epcot, ak, and HS and noone had them. I did not check DS so i am guessing you will say DSprings. UGH

Really great info on MB+! Buttttt….can we get a link to that dres Sarah is wearing? SO cute and looks really comfy!

I charged our magic bands+, we arrive Feb 5. Will they work right away, a software update was mentioned, how would you know about that and how to do it? Also, a pin number was mentioned to make purchases in the store, and you need to stop by the hotel check in to choose and set your pin, I thought that was what the magic band did, was eliminate the need to stop by check in?

If not for the requirement to use MB+ at Disneyland, I would have kept using my older ones. Yes. it works at both resorts, just register the one band at both web sites

Tom I would love to hear your experience using magicband+ at Disneyland. I bought them for my family for our Disneyland trip in June of this year because we loved our magicband 2.0s from our WDW trip last year. I am planning to then use the magicband+ in 2024 when we go back to WDW. Is it easy to transfer? Disneyland app appears different in that everything is on my account and you don’t set up a friends and family list. My kids will not have phones so I want to make sure that their bands will work both in Disneyland and in WDW. Thoughts on the ease of going between the two?

Just returned from a week in the parks, all five of us had MagicBand+ that we ordered months ago to be sure they arrived in time (they came right away!). Going to echo what most other commenters have said: not worth it for us (for sake of argument, we did not go to Hollywood Studios, so did not have an opportunity to play Batuu Bounty Hunters). We also quickly lost the novelty of the bands lighting up/vibrating near certain golden statues (but not all), and didn’t realize that you needed to be connected to the Play app in order to “collect” the statues – we refuse to give our young kids cell phones, and I sure was not about to drain my phone battery with yet another glitchy Disney app! Definitely agree with a disappointing fireworks interaction, and honestly I’d rather be watching the fireworks show than my wrist to see whatever limited thing the band would do.

Not yet mentioned is that the MagicBand+ ships with the charging cable but does not come with a charger block; you’ll need to bring your own. I don’t know about the other hotel/resort rooms, but our rooms at the Villas at Grand Floridian had exactly zero USB charging ports.

Also, mentioned once but worth repeating, is that the band faces are large with rather stiff bands. They did not fit our young children’s wrists well (ages 9, 7 and 5). They frequently asked to take them off and have one of us hold them in a pocket due to discomfort.

Oh well. The designs are fun. We’ll use the bands over and over at future stays and not change them unless a really nifty interactive game comes along. Wish we had instead gotten MagicBand 2.0 instead!

Spot on. It’s a major oversight that not all the resorts have USB ports to charge the MB+. Embarrassing from Disney’s end.

I was most disappointed in the clunkiness of it, as your kids experienced. I’m a grown woman and after never losing any of my 13 MBs over the same amount of trips, my MB+ fell off first day of use. Lost 🙁

In the small amount of time I had to ‘enjoy’ it, it left sweaty indentations on my wrist. Never had this with the older versions. Those were very comfortable. Too big and rigid to fit my wrist, the top left 1/2” gaps on either side. I am a sucker though… just bought the same MB+ for our trip this month. Not sure what to do to keep from losing it.

I wish I knew about the mini games. We knew about the statues and tried a few then gave up honestly. We were too busy trying to get to our next lightning lane pass, or to get to a show or to grab something to eat. Mostly, we were just trying to stay together and fought crowds like Ive never seen before, when much to my surprise a popular crowd calendar stated the crowds were between 4-6…HA. So no, I do not think the magic band + is worth it, at all. Maybe if I was able to visit the parks longer, like two days each or something we might. But we were there for the attractions and a bit of browsing. I really dont know what this audience is targeting, and I hope in the future they add more features. Because right now I feel like I wasted my money and should have used my old bands.

Can one person have two magic bands active for a single trip? We have gen 2 bands, but my daughter wants a plus. I was hoping she could also use the old one for the basic stuff to avoid worrying about charging constantly.

Yes for sure! We have 7-8 magic bands per person on our account. They all stay active once you register them. I always bring an extra into the park for my youngest son just in case it falls off or gets lost..

so to be clear, there are three versions of magic bands, and the first OG’s are not useable anymore right? the second gen MB’s will last forever except the photo pass thing? if so that kind of sucks you can recharge and use them forever for all “essential” services…that’s only possible with MB+?

Purchased 3 magic bands today, and I was the only one that wore it. However, the straps does not have a slot where the ending of the straps can hide and not get loose if that made any sense lol! But I caught it once when it slipped off my wrist, I made sure to make it tight the second time, but eventually it fell off and now it’s gone I’m hoping someone found it and turned it into lost and found, lowkey heart broken cause I felt so cool having it on. I want to purchase another one if no one turns it in but not sure if I want to pay another $35 or $28 if you have a pass (making it a total of $70 or $56 not including tax ):

We just returned from a 5 day trip to the World & I was quite disappointed in the MB+. It did vibrate on occasion but like others said, it wasn’t always clear WHY it was vibrating and we did our share of flailing in front of the golden statues to get it to do something…anything…?! Also the face of the band is bigger than the original dumb ones & it didn’t sit well on my wrist. I love the eco-friendly fact that it can be recharged but other than that, I will stick with the dumb bands from now on.

We prepurchased one band before our trip figuring our kids would want to try out the games and we could buy another if it was a must have. It was my primary magic band and I really didn’t care for it. It took me a while to realize that I needed to use the play app in conjunction, which I found cumbersome and annoying. The kids were excited about the scavenger hunt and we’d collected several characters before we knew we had to log in, assuming it was linked to MDE. The band vibrates and lights up whenever you pass one, so we thought we had “gotten” it only to realize we had to go back and get them all again with the other app. We also found that the app would frequently freeze up and not register the character we’d collected. My kids were incredibly disappointed to learn after leaving AK for the last time, that one of the four characters there didn’t actually register. They were eager to see what would happen when they got all of them.

As the primary wearer, I also found the lights and vibrations generally annoying. I knew it was alerting me to something, but could rarely discern what that was. Later when we logged into Play, I’d see some sort of achievement-related to a ride or show, but that usually was just an annoyance keeping me from getting back to opening the hunt game to actually log the character we were trying to get. I’ve seen videos of fun interactions with other premium magic bands at the magic band check points and was excited to have a unique music or light display with my magic band +, but I didn’t notice anything different from the rest of my family on the check point. My band did light up, but the touch point was the same as everyone else.

We tried the SW game and were underwhelmed. The kids were really excited to do it, but found it very difficult to see the lights to guide us. One time, we walked back and forth going from red to green and then back to red without any clear sense of where we could go or any door in sight. I wish I’d seen this review before our trip because it may have been more fun at night. Regardless, we enjoyed a previous app based SW interaction much more, but I was eager to get off my phone so we didn’t end up playing that one.

I think the features of the magic band + are most appealing to kids, but I find it frustrating that they need their own phone to really benefit from them. I’m glad we purchased one because we’d have been wondering about it if we hadn’t and perhaps the capabilities will be expanded in the future, but it’s definitely not a must have.

The magic bands plus started out as a nightmare. They would not open our Disney resort room doors ever. We worried they would not work as admission to the parks, but they did. They worked with the photo pass (sometimes after a few swipes). They worked when paying for food etc. lighting up in the parks happened occasionally, sometimes we wondered why. Absolutely not worth it. Get the battery one you don’t have to charge.

We ordered them for two of us out of 4 for our next trip. (Even my family did not see that much value so my teens decided to share one.) My expectations are set at what you described above. The more compelling reason for me is that the artwork on the new bands is really, really cute. I think these are so much cuter than the old remaining bands. I’m by no means an MB collector, but I am a sucker for Disney cute.

The one point you didn’t mention that baffles/annoys me: Rather than using a standard USB-C port (or one of the other 3-4 ports I regularly travel with cables for) Disney chose to use a different, unique charging connector. So its yet another dongle I need to travel with for each band. Stuff like that is so small but adds one more notch of complexity in planning a Disney trip (I travel a lot but now have more extras in a drawer just for Disney).

I do sometimes wonder if there’s a salty person behind the scenes thinking about how to make it incrementally more complicated to visit just one smidge at a time until we all give up. LOL

We just returned from 8 days in the park with MB+. Our take away by day 3 was that we could have saved some money and got the normal MB and it would not have impacted our trip at all. The novelty of the bands lighting up on occasion wore off fairly quickly, and the interactivity with the 50th statues was disappointing. We spent a considerable amount of time flailing like idiots to figure out how to trigger them. (We weren’t alone in that, if you stood and watched any statues for any amount of time you would see group after group of people doing the same). If you’re curious about the light and vibration effects, buy one MB+ for someone in your group, but stick with the regular for everyone else!

Hard “no” for MB+ for us. Our old Magic Bands will work indefinitely without charging. No interest in any bounty hunter game. Perhaps it may keep the ride line times down a little, though.

When fully charged, how long does the battery last? Does it need a re-charge every night, or can it get through a few days?

We charged every night as didn’t want more issues. 3 times at the front desk was enough to almost give up and purchase the older style.

Here now. Got the magicband+ for both kids (regular magic band for me) and cannot figure out a way to link their magic bands to the Disney play app to actually do the scavenger / bounty hunter games. Such a bummer.

Kristin –

If they are kids and you manage, link the bands to your MDE and don’t worry about the play app. We could t get it to work but my kids had fun just trying to find bounties. Hint though, because my husband missed this – you are looking for the data pad thingies on the walls to scan the MBs at to see if you have the bounty.

Is there a clock feature on the bands?

No, you can see the pictures on the faces when you purchase them, there is no screen.

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MagicBand+ lets you engage in Disney experiences like never before as it reacts to select park interactions with lighting effects and gesture recognition. This Mike Wazowski MagicBand+ features a Monsters University  themed design starring the eye-catching young college student.  

• Strap features Monsters University pennants, emblems and Archie the Scare Pig 
• Tappable icon features Mike Wazowski
• Inspired by Disney and Pixar's Monsters University (2013)

MagicBand+ lets you engage in Disney experiences like never before as it reacts to select park interactions with lighting effects and gesture recognition. This Mickey Mouse MagicBand+ design features Mickey in iconic poses that are sure to spark favorite memories while you create brand news ones at the Disney Parks. 

• Strap features Mickey Mouse as seen in The Sorcerer's Apprentice ( Fantasia , 1940), Steamboat Willie (1928), Plane Crazy (1928), The Little Whirlwind (1941), Mickey and the Beanstalk (Fun and Fancy Free , 1947), The Mickey Mouse Club and a classic comic.
• Tappable icon features the classic standing Mickey Mouse pose

MagicBand+ lets you engage with Disney moments like never before as it reacts to select park interactions with lighting effects and gesture recognition. This design features an allover Red coloring including the coordinating tappable icon with its Mickey icon.

• Includes one MagicBand+ in Red
• Tappable icon features Mickey icon

MagicBand+ lets you engage in Disney experiences like never before as it reacts to select park interactions with lighting effects and gesture recognition. With its design inspired by the Marvel super hero, this Spider-Man MagicBand+ has plenty of amazing super powers you can use as you swing through the Parks.

• Strap features Spider-Man costume graphics
• Tappable icon features Spider-Man's mask

MagicBand+ lets you engage in Disney experiences like never before as it reacts to select park interactions with lighting effects and gesture recognition. With its design inspired by the lovable droid R2-D2, this is definitely the MagicBand+ you're looking for.

• Strap features R2-D2 graphics
• Tappable icon features R2-D2's radar eye
• Inspired by the Star Wars saga 

MagicBand+ lets you engage in Disney experiences like never before as it reacts to select park interactions with lighting effects and gesture recognition. This Scarlet Witch MagicBand+ design dazzles with stylized art and the Marvel heroine's signature color.

• Strap features Scarlet Witch stylized art
• Tappable icon features Scarlet Witch

MagicBand+ lets you engage with Disney moments like never before as it reacts to select park interactions with lighting effects and gesture recognition. This design features an allover Gray coloring including the coordinating tappable icon with its Mickey icon.

• Includes one MagicBand+ in Gray

MagicBand+ lets you engage in Disney experiences like never before as it reacts to select park interactions with lighting effects and gesture recognition. This design features an allover Lilac coloring including the coordinating tappable icon with its Mickey icon.

• Lilac strap

MagicBand+ lets you engage in Disney experiences like never before as it reacts to select park interactions with lighting effects and gesture recognition. This design features an allover Cream coloring including the coordinating tappable icon with its Mickey icon.

• Cream strap

MagicBand+ lets you engage with Disney moments like never before as it reacts to select park interactions with lighting effects and gesture recognition. This design features an allover Turquoise coloring including the coordinating tappable icon with its Mickey icon.

• Includes one MagicBand+ in Turquoise

MagicBand+ lets you engage in Disney experiences like never before as it reacts to select park interactions with lighting effects and gesture recognition. This design features an allover Dark Pink coloring including the coordinating tappable icon with its Mickey icon.

• Dark Pink strap

MagicBand+ lets you engage in Disney experiences like never before as it reacts to select park interactions with lighting effects and gesture recognition. Make your trips to the Parks even more fun when you wear this MagicBand+ featuring a design that celebrates the many (very recognizable) gestures of Stitch. 

• Strap features many moods of Stitch
• Tappable icon features Stitch
• Inspired by Disney's Lilo & Stitch (2002)

MagicBand+ lets you engage in Disney experiences like never before as it reacts to select park interactions with lighting effects and gesture recognition. Make your trip to the Parks go swimmingly with this MagicBand+ featuring Ariel, Flounder and Sebastian from Disney's animated favorite The Little Mermaid .

• Strap features Ariel, Flounder, and Sebastian
• Tappable icon features shell design
• Inspired by Disney's The Little Mermaid (1989)

MagicBand+ lets you engage in Disney experiences like never before as it reacts to select park interactions with lighting effects and gesture recognition. This design features an allover Olive Green coloring including the coordinating tappable icon with its Mickey icon.

• Olive Green strap

MagicBand+ lets you engage in Disney experiences like never before as it reacts to select park interactions with lighting effects and gesture recognition. This Mickey Mouse Jack-o'-Lantern MagicBand+ design features adorable Halloween-inspired art including Mickey and his pals celebrating the season in ''Mickey's Pumpkin Patch.''  

• Strap features Halloween themed art with Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Pluto, Goofy, and Chip 'n Dale
• ''Mickey's Pumpkin Patch Est. 1928'' text
• Tappable icon features Mickey Mouse jack-o'-lantern

MagicBand+ lets you engage in Disney experiences like never before as it reacts to select park interactions with lighting effects and gesture recognition. This Nightmare Before Christmas MagicBand+ features Jack Skellington wearing a mischievous grin and ''Halloween's finest trick-or-treaters'' Lock, Shock and Barrel. 

• Strap features Lock, Shock, and Barrel
• Tappable icon features Jack Skellington
• Inspired by Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

MagicBand+ lets you engage in Disney experiences like never before as it reacts to select park interactions with lighting effects and gesture recognition. Make your trips to the Parks even more fun when you wear this MagicBand+ featuring a Mickey Mouse ''Play in the Park'' design inspired by Disneyland Resort. 

• Strap features  Disneyland Resort icons and logo and ''Play in the Park'' text
• Tappable icon features Mickey Mouse
• Part of the Play in the Park Collection

MagicBand+ lets you engage in Disney experiences like never before as it reacts to select park interactions with lighting effects and gesture recognition. This design features an allover Black coloring including the coordinating tappable icon with its Mickey icon.

• Black strap

MagicBand+ lets you engage in Disney experiences like never before as it reacts to select park interactions with lighting effects and gesture recognition. Make your trip to the Parks even sweeter when wearing this MagicBand+ featuring Winnie the Pooh in a ''hunny''-filled design.

• Strap features Winnie the Pooh
• Tappable icon features ''Hunny'' jar
• Inspired by Disney's The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1977)

MagicBand+ lets you engage in Disney experiences like never before as it reacts to select park interactions with lighting effects and gesture recognition. This MagicBand+ design is adapted from a vintage vinyl soundtrack album cover for Walt Disney's animated classic Dumbo . Also features Timothy Mouse and circus style logo.

• Strap features Dumbo, Timothy Mouse and Dumbo logo
• Tappable icon features Timothy Mouse
• Inspired by Walt Disney's Dumbo (1941)

MagicBand+ lets you engage in Disney experiences like never before as it reacts to select park interactions with lighting effects and gesture recognition. This Grogu MagicBand+ design features The Child in various signature poses including indulging in one of his favorite blue cookies. 

• Strap features Grogu poses and his name
• Tappable icon features Grogu in his hovering pram 
• Inspired by Star Wars: The Mandalorian , streaming on Disney+   

MagicBand+ lets you engage in Disney experiences like never before as it reacts to select park interactions with lighting effects and gesture recognition. This Mickey Mouse Balloon MagicBand+ design features the beloved Parks souvenir in a rainbow of colors with stars and starbursts all around.

• Strap features Mickey Mouse balloons, stars and starbursts
• Tappable icon features a Mickey Mouse balloon

MagicBand+ lets you engage in Disney experiences like never before as it reacts to select park interactions with lighting effects and gesture recognition. This Haunted Mansion  MagicBand+ design celebrates the 55th anniversary of the Disneyland attraction with artwork featuring Sally Slater, Alexander Nitrokoff and the fateful words, ''Is this room really stretching?''    

• Strap features Sally Slater (the Tightrope Girl), aligator and Alexander Nitrokoff plus ''The Haunted Mansion Disneyland'' and ''55 Years of Happy Haunts Est. 1969''  
• Tappable icon features ''Is this room really stretching?'' text
• Inspired by Disneyland's The Haunted Mansion attraction
• Part of The Haunted Mansion Classic Collection

MagicBand+ lets you engage in Disney experiences like never before as it reacts to select park interactions with lighting effects and gesture recognition. This Star Wars  MagicBand+ design features the notoriously wise Jedi Master Yoda and one of his memorable quotes!

• Strap features Yoda, ''Star Wars'' and ''Do. Or do not. There is no try.''
• Tappable icon features the Jedi symbol
• Inspired by the Star Wars saga

MagicBand+ lets you engage in Disney experiences like never before as it reacts to select park interactions with lighting effects and gesture recognition.  Inspired by Disney's animated favorite, The Lion King , this MagicBand+ design features many of the colorful characters from the Pride Lands including Simba and Timon.

• Strap features Simba, Timon, Pumbaa, and Zazu
• Tappable icon features Simba
• Inspired by Disney's The Lion King (1994)

MagicBand+ lets you engage in Disney experiences like never before as it reacts to select park interactions with lighting effects and gesture recognition. Earth's Mightiest Heroes have been rendered in a charming cartoon style on this Avengers MagicBand+.

• Strap features stylized Avengers character art
• Characters include Thor, Captain America, Iron Man and Hulk
• Tappable icon features Marvel red brick logo and Avengers character art

MagicBand+ lets you engage in Disney experiences like never before as it reacts to select park interactions with lighting effects and gesture recognition. This MagicBand+ design is inspired by a popular 1969 Fantasia reissue movie poster, with a modern collage of unforgettable characters from Walt Disney's animated masterpiece.

• Includes one MagicBand+ with Fantasia design
• Strap features Sorcerer Mickey Mouse, Hyacinth Hippo, Ben Ali Gator, Pegasus, cherubs, frost fairies and more
• Tappable icon features Chernobog
• Inspired by Walt Disney's Fantasia (1940)

MagicBand+ lets you engage in Disney experiences like never before as it reacts to select park interactions with lighting effects and gesture recognition. This design features an allover Light Pink coloring including the coordinating tappable icon with its Mickey icon.

• Light Pink strap

MagicBand+ lets you engage in Disney experiences like never before as it reacts to select park interactions with lighting effects and gesture recognition. This MagicBand+ design features illustrations representing four of Walt Disney World's most iconic landmarks.

• Strap features illustrations of Cinderella Castle, Tree of Life, The Hollywood Tower Hotel and Spaceship Earth
• Tappable icon features Walt Disney World logo

MagicBand+ lets you engage in Disney experiences like never before as it reacts to select park interactions with lighting effects and gesture recognition. Inspired by a Jedi's Lightsaber, this MagicBand+ has one side of its strap designed to look like a Lightsaber hilt, while the overall color evokes the Jedi's blue blade. With additional features like the classic Star Wars phrase ''May the Force be with you'' and the Rebel Alliance Starbird symbol, this is definitely the MagicBand+ you're looking for.

• One side of the strap designed to look like Lightsaber hilt
• Other side of strap features ''May the Force be with you'' text
• Tappable icon features Rebel Alliance Starbird symbol

MagicBand+ lets you engage in Disney experiences like never before as it reacts to select park interactions with lighting effects and gesture recognition. This design features an allover Navy coloring including the coordinating tappable icon with its Mickey icon.

MagicBand+ lets you engage in Disney experiences like never before as it reacts to select park interactions with lighting effects and gesture recognition. This Groot MagicBand+ design features Groot with his bestie, the famously testy Rocket, and, as the design implies, this MagicBand+ will certainly help you ''Get your Groot on.''

• Strap features comic style art of Groot and Rocket, and ''Get your Groot on'' text
• Tappable icon features Guardians of the Galaxy insignia
• Inspired by Marvel Studios'  Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

MagicBand+ lets you engage in Disney experiences like never before as it reacts to select park interactions with lighting effects and gesture recognition. This MagicBand+ design features illustrations representing four of Disneyland's most iconic landmarks.

• Strap features illustrations of Sleeping Beauty Castle, Matterhorn Bobsleds, Pixar Pal-A-Round and Carthay Circle
• Tappable icon features Disneyland ''D''

MagicBand+ lets you engage with Disney moments like never before as it reacts to select park interactions with lighting effects and gesture recognition. Make your trips to the Parks even more fun when you wear this MagicBand+ commemorating the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival 2024 and featuring Orange Bird.

Created especially for Walt Disney World Resort

• Limited Release
• Includes one MagicBand+ commemorating the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival 2024
• Strap features Orange Bird and EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival 2024 logo
• Tappable icon features Orange Bird and ''Florida Original''
• Part of the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival 2024 Collection

MagicBand+ lets you engage with Disney moments like never before as it reacts to select park interactions with lighting effects and gesture recognition. Make your inaugural trip to The Most Magical Place on Earth even more memorable when you wear this MagicBand+ celebrating your ''First Visit Ever.''

• Includes one MagicBand+ with ''First Visit Ever'' design
• Strap features characters and Walt Disney World attractions including Cinderella Castle, Spaceship Earth, Tree of Life , Mickey Mouse, Pluto and Figment
• Tappable icon features ''First Visit Ever Walt Disney World''

MagicBand+ lets you engage with Disney moments like never before as it reacts to select park interactions with lighting effects and gesture recognition. This MagicBand+ design is inspired by the reimagined Tiana's Bayou Adventure log flume attraction at Disneyland and Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom.

• Includes one MagicBand+
• Strap features Tiana's Bayou Adventure logo and lotus flower pattern
• Tappable icon features Louis the alligator
• Inspired by Disney's The Princess and the Frog (2009)
• Inspired by Tiana's Bayou Adventure attraction at Disneyland and Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom
• Part of the Tiana's Bayou Adventure Collection

MagicBand+ lets you engage in Disney experiences like never before as it reacts to select park interactions with lighting effects and gesture recognition. This limited release Passholder design is inspired by Walt Disney World's Adventureland and includes icons of the popular attractions found in the land.

Created especially for Walt Disney World Passholders

• Includes one MagicBand+ with Walt Disney World Adventureland Passholder design
• Band features Jungle Cruise boat, birds from Walt Disney's Enhanted Tiki Room attraction, pirate flag and pineapple swirl dessert
• Tappable icon features Walt Disney World ''D'' logo
• Inspired by Walt Disney World's Adventureland 

MagicBand+ lets you engage in Disney experiences like never before as it reacts to select park interactions with lighting effects and gesture recognition. This MagicBand+ design features a silhouette pattern of familiar fairytale heroes and villains, plus Princess Jasmine and Jafar on dial.

• Limited Edition of 3,240
• Strap features heroes and villains silhouette pattern including Ariel, Aurora, Lady Tramaine, Jafar and more
• Tappable icon features Princess Jasmine and Jafar from Disney's Aladdin (1992)
• Comes boxed
• Part of the D23 Heroes and Villains Collection

MagicBand+ lets you engage with Disney moments like never before as it reacts to select park interactions with lighting effects and gesture recognition. Make your inaugural trip to The Happiest Place on Earth even more memorable when you wear this MagicBand+ celebrating your ''First Visit Ever.''

• Strap features characters and Disneyland Resort attractions including Matterhorn Bobsleds, Pixar Pal-A-Round, Sleeping Beauty Castle, Mickey Mouse, Pluto, Goofy and Chip 'n Dale
• Tappable icon features ''First Visit Ever Disneyland Resort''

Get ready for your next Disney trip with our collection of MagicBands. From neutral tones to bold colors and designs inspired by your favorite characters, pair our MagicBands with an iconic Spirit Jersey and Mouse Ears for the perfect park style. No extra room in the suitecase? Don't worry! Our enchanting selection of Disneyland souvenirs and Disney World souvenirs can be shipped directly to your home. Shop now!

Help Center

How can we help you.

I purchased a MagicBand+ online or at a retail location. How do I link it to my Disney account so that I can use it?

Can I use my MagicBand+ on board Disney Cruise Line ships? Can I use my DisneyBand+ at Walt Disney World Resort or at the Disneyland Resort?

I am an Annual Passholder with a MagicBand and I have a reservation at a Disney Resort hotel. Will I receive a complimentary MagicBand?

I am an Annual Passholder with a MagicBand or MagicBand+ and an Annual Pass card. What should I bring to the Walt Disney World theme parks?

How do I charge my MagicBand+?

Are there MagicBand+ charging stations at the theme parks?

What phones are compatible with MagicBand+?

Can I reuse my MagicBand+, MagicBand or Key to the World card the next time I visit Walt Disney World Resort?

What do I do if my MagicBand+ isn't working?

How do I use my MagicBand+?

I do not live in the United States. Will you ship my MagicBand or MagicBand+ internationally?

Can you track my location using MagicBand+?

What do the lights mean? What happens if my MagicBand+ battery is low? What happens if it dies?

I purchased an Annual Pass prior to August 16, 2021 and have an exchange certificate. Can I still receive a complimentary MagicBand?

Can I have multiple active MagicBands or cards?

I have multiple MagicBands or cards. How do I manage them?

I do not have a Disney account. Can I still use a MagicBand+?

I am an Annual Passholder and my MagicBand did not arrive as scheduled or I forgot to bring it with me. What should I do?

I am an Annual Passholder who is not currently a Guest of a Disney Resort hotel. Can I use my MagicBand to make purchases?

How do I make purchases using my MagicBand?

Is the battery in my MagicBand+ replaceable?

Can other people use my MagicBand+ or card?

How do I view or download photos that I linked to my Disney account with my MagicBand+ or MagicBand?

Help Center

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DisneyBand+ & More – Frequently Asked Questions

When should I expect to receive my DisneyBand+ order in the mail?

How long does the battery on a DisneyBand+ last?

How do I charge my DisneyBand+?

What is the difference between a Disney Oceaneer Band and a DisneyBand+?

What phones are compatible with DisneyBand+?

How much does a DisneyBand+ cost?

Where can I read the DisneyBand+ Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and safety disclosures?

What is Radio Frequency (RF) technology and how is it used on a Disney Cruise Line ship?

Can you track my location using DisneyBand+?

Is DisneyBand+ rechargeable?

Is there a shipping charge if I choose to order DisneyBand+ before I arrive?

Can I use my DisneyBand+ at Disney theme parks around the world?

Can I still use my Key to the World card instead of a DisneyBand+?

What is DisneyBand+?

How can I purchase a DisneyBand+?

Can I use my MagicBand+ on board Disney Cruise Line ships?

Can I reuse my DisneyBand+ the next time I sail with Disney Cruise Line?

What ships and/or itineraries are eligible for DisneyBand+?

What are the colorful wristbands or bracelets I see people wearing on board?

How do I use my DisneyBand+?

If I purchased a DisneyBand+ online or at a retail location, how do I link it to my Disney account so that I can use it during my Disney Cruise Line vacation?

Can other people use my DisneyBand+?

How do I view or download photos that I linked to my folio with my DisneyBand+ during my voyage?

Is the battery in my DisneyBand+ replaceable?

What do I do if my DisneyBand+ isn't working?

Does DisneyBand+ show the time?

What kind of accessibility features are available with DisneyBand+?

Does DisneyBand+ work with previously released light-up products?

If I choose to purchase my DisneyBand+ during my cruise instead of in advance, when will I be able to do so?

Can I use both my DisneyBand+ and Key to the World card to access my stateroom?

If my child is registered for Youth Club Activities and has a DisneyBand+, will they also receive an Oceaneer band?

Do I need to do anything with my DisneyBand+ when it arrives in the mail?

Can I use more than one DisneyBand+ throughout my sailing?

Will my existing MagicBand work on Disney Cruise Line ships?

Do you need a MyDisney account to purchase a DisneyBand+?

Can I return or exchange my DisneyBand+ on board if I change my mind?

What if my DisneyBand+ flashes blue?

I do not live in the United States. Will you ship my DisneyBand+ internationally?

What It’s Like Inside Disney World’s Ultra Secretive, Super Exclusive Members-Only Club

As I sat enjoying a cheese board and a well-crafted Hendricks gin martini, I couldn’t help but think of the last time I’d been inside a friend’s country club. But the view of Cinderella Castle and the Disney memorabilia adorning the walls — not to mention fellow diners wearing Mickey shirts and the faint screams coming from Space Mountain in the distance — quickly brought me back to reality. Sure, the dining room was dark and moody and filled with wood furnishings, but this was no ordinary private club. I was inside Magic Kingdom , one of the most visited theme parks in the world. 

Welcome to Club 33 , Disney’s ultra-exclusive, members-only dining club — a hidden oasis where enchantment and whimsy meets privilege. Inside, members (many of them Disney bigwigs and celebrities) trade the heat and crowds for privacy and much better food than what you’ll find in the theme park restaurants. It’s Mickey’s version of the white-glove treatment — and most parkgoers walk by unaware. 

The secretive experience dates back to the early days of Disneyland, which opened in Anaheim in 1967. The idea was born from Walt Disney himself, who wanted a secluded place in the park to entertain VIP guests and corporate sponsors over classic cocktails and multi-course meals. It also allowed him to showcase props from classic movies; Anaheim’s club is home to a table from “Mary Poppins” and the phone booth used in “The Happiest Millionaire.”  

Club 33 has since evolved to offer memberships that cost a hefty initiation fee and annual dues, and Disney parks around the world now have their own top-secret locations. Besides bragging rights, membership comes with other perks, like early access to new attractions and Lightning Lanes, which allow you to cut lines. The entertainment giant goes to great lengths to keep the details (and its impressive list of members) hush-hush. And don’t even think about taking photos inside.

Thanks to a friend, I scored an invite to visit the Club 33 locations inside Walt Disney World Resort’s four parks in Orlando. The first opened in 2018, inside Hollywood Studios, and each has a unique theme inspired by Walt and his wife Lillian’s globetrotting travels. 

If you’re wondering just how hidden Club 33s are, I’ve visited Magic Kingdom hundreds of times, and not once have I ever noticed the entrance to the club, known here as the Captain’s Quarters. Steps from Aloha Isle (the park’s most famous Dole Whip vendor), it looked like any other building in Adventureland — except for a discreet “Club 33” logo emblem on the exterior. We scanned our MagicBand+ to the logo, and voilà. We were in. (It’s the same band that non-members use as their ticket and hotel room key.)

As I made my way through the intimate, two-level club, I noticed nods to Disney history — including a tribute to the forgotten Plaza Swan Boats attractions. It was like stepping directly into scenes from your favorite movies, in the same way Disney’s signature rides do. 

A spacious patio on the upper level offered a picture-perfect view of the castle. Nearby, a private bathroom was outfitted with custom Club 33 paper napkins (yes, I took one home). For lunch, I was seated on the lower level in a room that was modeled after a captain’s private quarters on a “Pirates of the Caribbean”-style ship. (Speaking of pirates, Johnny Depp is said to be a member.) The lounge with the main bar was especially delightful: Inspired by “20,000 Leagues Under The Sea,” the design replicated the interior of a submarine, with nautical décor and vibrant lighting that made me feel like I was actually submerged under the sea. Around me, I saw everything from young families sharing a meal to business execs having power lunches.

Unlike the multi-course meals at Disneyland, Disney World’s clubs are less formal, offering à la carte menus with shareable plates (like flatbreads and charcuterie boards). Cast Members — Disney speak for employees — were attentive and their passion for the parks and its history was palpable. Our server not only guided us through the cocktail and wine list (which includes a select group of California vineyards with ties to Disney’s cinematic history, such as Skywalker Vineyard), but also shared her knowledge of the parks. Unlike other private clubs, there wasn’t a drop of pretension in the air, and geeking out was not only okay but encouraged. While the food was high quality,  the experience was less about dining and more about the lore, privacy, and history. For Disney fans, getting invited to a club is the ultimate white whale. 

From the Captain’s Quarters, I made my way to the other parks to discover the Club 33 lounges. At Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, Harambe House embraced its location in the Africa-themed section down to the inscription on the front, which read “thelathini na tatu,” meaning “33” in Swahili. Its interior was bright and modern, with sprawling windows overlooking the park. Unsurprisingly, the cocktails also leaned into the theme; I sipped on the Project Beehive, which used South African cream liqueur and topped with honey in candy form. Several cocktails on the menu, including mine, included a $1 donation to the Disney Conservation Fund. 

EPCOT’s Constellation Club was much sleeker, perched above the American Pavilion in World Showcase. A tiny elevator (something else I’d never noticed) led me to the dark, woody interior, where the walls were lined with black-and-white photos of Walt Disney. Last on the Club 33 tour was the cozy Spotlight Lounge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, which has an Art Deco vibe and pays homage to old-school Hollywood, complete with relics from Disney’s storied cinematic past.

While my chances of becoming an actual Club 33 member are zero (rumor has it there’s a lengthy waitlist, and it’s a “they’ll come to you” situation to get off of it), I was able to do the next best thing: buy some merch. At each location, a shiny glass case was filled with current offerings, including hats, jewelry, and glassware with the club’s logo. Members are particularly enamored by limited-release items, and it’s not uncommon to find these on Ebay for hundreds of dollars over retail price. 

I commemorated my whirlwind journey with a Dooney & Burke purse, coffee mug, hat, and pin — the ultimate Disney flex to wear on future visits and a reminder that, for one day only, I felt like a member of the club.

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