Disney MagicBands are changing. Now interactive, MagicBand+ can do more than ever before. While still able to tackle tried and true needs, like opening your resort room and paying for your food, check out all the New Features and details about the New MagicBands at Walt Disney World.
What are Disney MagicBands?
These digital wearables are all part of any Disney Vacation. A Disney MagicBand allows you to scan into the park, scan into rides, open your resort room, and more. MagicBands are one of our favorite things, and we’ve written about everything MagicBands do before. But, now we’ll be looking to new technology to do those things. From scanning into the park to paying for food to interacting with the parks, here is what’s in the works at Walt Disney World.
What Does Disney MagicBand+ Do?
And now MagicBands are getting an upgrade! This new MagicBand+ features interactive elements like lights and vibrations to interact with elements throughout the parks. MagicBand+ is available to purchase and offered at a discount as part of any Disney Vacation reservations. Many of these new features require you to have a MagicBand+ wristband, and a Disney Account in the Play Disney Parks mobile app, with your band connected. So be sure to download the Play Disney app and connect your band, so you can take part in all the fun and free games at Walt Disney World.
Interact with 50th Anniversary Statues
The new Disney MagicBand+ can interact with certain elements in each park, such as the 50th Anniversary Disney Character Statues across all four parks. All part of a new game called the “Disney Fab 50 Quest.” You can even access the Play Disney Parks mobile app to keep track of the sculptures you find! All earning you points in the game, and access to even more digital features.
Star Wars: Batuu Bounty Hunters
Take your new MagicBand+ and head to Galaxy’s Edge in Hollywood Studios. You can use your MagicBand+ to find virtual bounties hidden throughout Black Spire Outpost. Just follow the MagicBand+ as it lights up and vibrates to show you the way. Then use the augmented reality thermal viewer in the Play Disney Parks app to show what’s behind locked doors throughout Galaxy’s Edge and uncover your virtual bounty and get your galactic reward. When your mission is complete, the guild master will reward you with galactic credits also through the app.
Disney MagicBand+ and Nighttime Spectaculars
Another feature of MagicBand+ is its interaction with Nighttime Spectaculars in each park. Set to light up with complementary colors as part of a synced experience, you’ll get to see it change throughout the show!
When is MagicBand+ Available?
MagicBand+ wristlets are available starting July 27, 2022.
How Much Does MagicBand+ Cost?
The price of a MagicBand+ is $34.99
Disney Resort hotel guests and Walt Disney World Annual Passholders will have the option to purchase at a discounted, pre-arrival price. You can still use existing MagicBands and Disney MagicMobile, available on eligible devices, to enjoy other features, such as park entry.
Where can you buy the MagicBand+ at Walt Disney World?
Available at select locations, you can grab MagicBand+ at any of the following retailers, and on shopDisney.com.
- 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
- Select merchandise locations at Disney Resort hotels
Hey Disney!
Disney’s new virtual assistant, Hey Disney! is a question/answer service that works with supported Echo devices and will, in the future, work with MagicBand+ too. The Hey Disney! service will be available in Disney Resort rooms to help enhance the experience.
Is MagicBand+ Rechargeable?
Yes. Unlike regular MagicBands, the new Disney MagicBand+ wristlet must be charged. It does, however, come with a usb cord and charger.
Can You Still Use a regular MagicBand at Walt Disney World?
YES! A new MagicBand+ is not needed to access all the regular features like scanning in, opening your room, and more. The basic Disney MagicBands are now $5 dollars each in the My Disney Experience app when you have an active Disney Resort Reservation. And thankfully, you can still get MagicBands to your heart’s delight, and use them in the parks. They will also still remain available for purchase in select gift shops across the parks and resorts and are available on shopDisney.com. The new Disney MagicMobile Service and MagicBand+ will simply work alongside MagicBands as an alternative.
Is MagicBand+ Available at Disneyland?
Yes! MagicBand+ will be available at Disneyland Resort later in 2022. While some of the features will vary between Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort, interactions and gameplay will be similar.
Disney MagicMobile Wallet
If you’re looking to skip the wearable, but still get some of the same features, check out the Disney MagicMobile Wallet. Disney MagicMobile includes the ability to create a Disney MagicMobile Pass that can be added to your mobile wallet. This means your wallet can allow for charges, dining plans, paying for Disney snacks, scanning in and out of the park, accessing Lightning Lane, Disney Virtual Queue lines, everything. Super easy and convenient, and all with the ease of your phone.
When Can I get the Disney MagicMobile Service on my Phone?
The Disney MagicMobile service is available now. In addition to working with MagicBands, this new system will work in tandem with everything already available in the My Disney Experience App. Plus if you have an Apple Watch you can use that too. This is simply about being able to use your phone to do more. Just check out the My Disney Experience App and read up on How to Install Disney’s MagicMobile Wallet on your phone.
Good! We are about less waste and no matter how many times we tell them not to send us bands there is a box of gray ones waiting for us at reception. Saves Disney money and saves the planet a teeny bit.
I’m not fond of this new system. We are here now and they gave us cards that we had to carry everywhere and its not working out well. The app to open the door doesn’t work on our new up to date phones. With 3 kids, the card thing is a joke. We had ordered magic bands and they shipped out too late and we didn’t get them in time. Theyre currently on their way to our home and we’re at the resort.. They gave us a credit for the bands but the credit doesn’t even cover the cost of bands within the park. We then requested them to comp us bands and they did. Also the phones batteries like you said drain fast and we have new phones with robust batteries that usually last a few days on a charge but with all these apps running and constant web use, it’s draining quickly. The magic band system is going to be missed with the hands off no fuss no worry experience
Well what else is new. Disney provides a great service and then takes it away. The Magic Bands were really great. Putting all this on a device is very inconvenient. Why fix something that is not broken. Bring back the MAGIC!! PLEASE!!
Hey Tammy, the My Disney Experience App (on iPhone or android) prompts a MagicBand purchase when you book a Disney Resort. So, if you have a Disney Resort booked you would just open the My Disney Experience App, go to My Profile, click MagicBands and Cards, then click on the box that says Your New MagicBands. That last click will only be available if you have an active Disney Resort Reservation booked. It will then prompt a pop-up that says “Customize MagicBands.” From there you will be able to purchase any of the basic magic bands, or premium magic bands at a higher cost. Of course, the app doesn’t always work as it should so you may have to try a few times. Hope that helps!
Keep Magic bands please! Saves time and worry and is so convenient- hands freeand kid / teenfriendly as a grandma I can’t hold items -food -souveniersr little hands and work a phone to get a snack or pay for a purchase or a meal please keep them!