Your Key to MagicBand+

Photo:Leah Ferguson, Key to the World Travel

MagicBand+ is the latest, most versatile version of Disney’s wearable technology. These handy wristbands help to make navigating all the details of your Disney vacation plans a breeze. Best of all, MagicBand Plus now works at more destinations than ever before! Let’s take a look at the basic functions of the MagicBand+, and how to use them to stay-and-play like a pro at Walt Disney World, Disneyland, and even Disney Cruise Line.

What does MagicBand+ do to make your vacation easier?

MagicBand is Disney’s one stop solution to put all the little details that make your vacation work in one convenient package- on your wrist. With the newest version, it even manages some extra magic to enhance your experience in the theme parks and create extra fun you can’t find anywhere else. With MB+, guests no longer have to juggle room keys, theme park tickets, credit cards, PhotoPass cards, etc.

Your MagicBand can:

• Unlock your hotel room door
• Store your theme park ticket so you can get into the parks with just a tap
• Pay for snacks, souvenirs and more by charging to you without pulling out your wallet
• Tap to link PhotoPass and attraction photos to your My Disney Experience account
• Access virtual attraction queues and check in for Lightning Lane reservations
• Play games, interact with attractions and nighttime spectaculars, and trigger magical surprises (more on that later!)

Where to get your MagicBand+

Guests that have a Disney hotel reservation or an Annual Pass may be able to purchase MagicBands at a discounted rate through My Disney Experience. Disney hotel guests are eligible to order the discounted bands as long as it is 6 days or more before your arrival date. Annual Passholders can order 1 specially priced band per annual pass. To take advantage of these special prices, simply:

1. Login to My Disney Experience, either through the website or in the Walt Disney World/Disneyland app
2. Link your hotel reservation or Annual Pass
3. Select “My MagicBands and Cards” and complete your order

Keep in mind, the designs of the MagicBands available through this offer are limited. You can also find a wider selection of designs available at full price on shopdisney.com or in many stores around the theme parks, resort hotels, Disney Springs or Downtown Disney.

Getting everything set up

Your new MagicBand+ will come with a charging cable, and instructions for setup. Getting everything ready to go is simple, and only takes a few minutes. Here’s the basic process:

1. Make sure you have the appropriate app for the Disney Destination you’re visiting installed on your phone.
2. Power on your band by pressing the button on the back once. Once it lights up to indicate power on, tap it to the back of your smartphone.
3. You’ll be instructed to open the Disney destination app (or install it if you skipped step 1!)
4. Follow the instructions in the app to link the band to your account, assign it to a guest profile, and pair it with your device. You can use the app to update the band’s software to the newest version, check the battery level, and even customize the default lighting color scheme.
5. Don’t forget to link all your tickets and reservations to your Disney account, and make sure your MagicBand+ is charged before heading to the parks each day.

Magical fun and games with MagicBand+

Disney Fab 50 Quest

Walt Disney World’s 50th anniversary celebration may be over, but the 50 character statues are still hidden around all four parks with a sparkling new paint job to celebrate 100 years of the Disney company. When you find one of these character statues, wave your MagicBand+ in front of it as you’re Tinkerbell sprinkling pixie dust. The statues will come alive with lights and sound. Make sure you have the Play Disney app downloaded and linked to your Disney account. This will allow you to track which character statues you’ve found, and interact with the characters via augmented reality features in the app.

Star Wars:Batuu Bounty Hunters

This is another game you play with your MagicBand Plus and the Play Disney app. In Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge at both Walt Disney World’s Hollywood Studios and Disneyland, guests can join the ranks of the galaxy’s most (in)famous bounty hunters. Look for the bounty hunter recruiting station, get set to find your first mark, and the lights and vibrations of your MagicBand+ will guide you around Black Spire Outpost on the planet of Batuu until you locate your target. Don’t forget to return to the guild master’s door to collect your credits after a successful mission. PRO TIP: this fun game really helps bring the world of Galaxy’s Edge to life, but it can be a major drain on the MagicBand’s battery. Don’t forget your charging cord and a battery pack in case you need a quick top off after playing.

Magical lights and vibration

Your MagicBand+ will sync with the action during fireworks shows and other nighttime spectaculars at the parks, with lights and vibrations matching what’s happening in the skies or on the water. The lights will also frequently change to the color theme of certain attractions. For example, it will pulse red and vibrate to simulate a heartbeat when boarding the Haunted Mansion, or react to certain entertainment and attractions around Avengers Campus in Disney California Adventure. New special lighting, vibration, and sound effects are being discovered all the time as Walt Disney Imagineering adds them to more attractions. Remember to pay attention if your band randomly vibrates while touring the parks- that means something nearby will interact with your MagicBand.

MagicBands at sea?

New in 2023, Disney Cruise Line is rolling out MagicBand+ for select guests on some of their ships ahead of a wide release. Although they call them DisneyBand+ onboard the ships, the bands work the same way- and you can use the same MagicBand+ that you use in the theme parks! Of course, there are also special designs exclusive to Disney Cruise Line that you can purchase in advance or on board the ship if you want your band to match the occasion. Just like on land, the DisneyBand+ will unlock your stateroom door, charge purchase to your room, interact with shows, and more!

What about the “old style” MagicBands?

If you still have older MagicBands from previous trips, they’ll still work in the parks exactly as they used to, as long as they haven’t been deactivated. You can still use “legacy” MagicBands to unlock hotel rooms, tap into parks and lightning lanes, charge purchases to your room and link PhotoPass photos. The only thing to beware of is the age of the band. They have a limited lifespan as the battery that powers the magic will eventually run out. As long as it’s less than 2-3 years old, it should work just fine.

Ready to take your MagicBand+ for a tour of the Disney Parks or Cruise line?

Photo:Katie Garmon, Key to the World Travel

Contact your Key to the World Travel® advisor today, or send us a quote request to get planning your next magical Disney vacation!