What is a Magic Band, you might be asking? Well, think of it like a fancy bracelet that you can use around Disney World, or a watch that doesn’t show the hours, but does something more cool than that. Something magical. It’s in the name after all, right?
Magic Bands are completely optional and exist to make your day at a theme park easier to just move around. They are a physical bracelet with a digital sensor which can replace your park ticket. You can use them to enter theme parks, access Lighting Lane queues and even pay for Disney merchandise and restaurants if you are staying in a Disney World hotel.
Yeah, no need to carry your ticket all the time and grab it from your wallet every five minutes. Magic Bands are really useful if you use Disney Genie+ a lot, since you can just touch the digital sensors located next to the express queues and that’s it, you are good to go. You can even enter all Disney World Parks by doing that. Neat.
You need to pay for a Magic Band, and then you can keep it forever so you can take it with you to your next trips to Disney. They come in different designs and with specific artworks, from Darth Vader to Donald Duck, Lilo & Stitch, Woody & Buzz, Disney Princesses and dozens of other options. I know, it’s hard to find the right one for you with so many styles available.
There are two versions of a Magic Band:
- The original Magic Band, which costs around $15. It gives you all the basic functionalities you need, like letting you link your park ticket to it. Here is an important info: this basic version is not rechargeable, and lasts for about three years before the battery runs out.
- The Magic Band+, which costs around $35. The visual certainly looks more modern as the Magic Band+ resembles a watch instead of a simple bracelet. As expected, you will find all the basic functionalities here, plus new perks.
The Magic Band+ can synchronize with different shows and attractions all over Disney World, like Hollywood Studios' Fantasmic, glowing and blinking in different colors depending on what’s happening around you. Even more important than that? The Magic Band+ comes with a cable that lets you recharge it! You can also use the Magic Band+ to enter Disneyland in California, while the original Magic Band only allows access to Disney World in Florida.
Here’s a rundown telling you about what is a Magic Band and what it can do:
- It’s a completely optional accessory.
- Acts as a park ticket to grant you access to a theme park.
- Acts as a pass to let you enter the Lightning Lanes you paid for.
- Acts as a hotel room key to let you open the door to your room.
- Acts as a credit card to let you buy food and merchandise in Walt Disney World.
- Synchronize with different shows and activities around Disney World (Magic Band+ only).
- Rechargeable (Magic Band+ only).
- Can be used in Disneyland (Magic Band+ only).
As you can see, they can be really handy! Magic Bands are optional, sure, but they also make it easier for you to walk around each theme park. They are also a nice souvenir you can bring from your Disney trip and can be used in future trips.
You can also use your Magic Band as a credit card if you are staying in a Disney World hotel, since purchases will be charged to your hotel room. You just need to link your Magic Band to your My Disney Experience App, which will connect your account to your fancy bracelet.
This way, you only need to wave your Magic Band a little bit and done, you can pay for that filet mignon at Epcot, that pair of limited edition Mickey Ears and much more. You don’t need, however, a Magic Band to pay for Mobile Ordering.
Just make sure to keep your spending under control, since it’s easy to wave your Magic Band, pay for a bunch of stuff and feel like you are not spending a dime. Yeah, unfortunately Disney is not that magical (yet), and even Mickey Mouse needs to pay his bills.
How to link a Magic Band to the My Disney Experience companion App
- It’s easy, and similar to how you link a ticket to your app.
- Open the My Disney Experience companion App.
- Click the small “hamburger” icon on the bottom right corner.
- Click Tickets and Passes.
- Click Link Tickets & Passes on the top right.
For the original Magic Band, you can use your camera and click the “Open Camera” to link your accessory to your account. For the Magic Band+, click the “tap” option on the top. Then click the button “Open Scanner to Link” at the bottom of the screen. Power up your Magic Band+ and keep it close to your device. There, all done!
We hope you had fun learning about ways to make your trip easier to Walt Disney World. There is also another step you can take to make it even easier! Contact us, and let Famvia handle your vacation. We will set up everything, you just need to relax and browse the Magic Band design you love the most.
