You may have heard of the famous Disney MagicBand, but don't really know what it is.
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You may be hearing the term MagicBand for the first time.
Maybe you know a lot about the MagicBand, but maybe you don't know some relevant information.
In any of these three cases, this article was written for you, whether you are a connoisseur, expert or first-time tourist on the subject.
We made this post to explain in detail about the functions, news and how to use the MagicBand to take advantage of all the resources it offers.
But what is the MagicBand?
For those who don't know it yet, the MagicBand is a waterproof wristband that serves as a gateway to My Disney Experience. My Disney Experience is the digital platform of the Disney complex, which aims, among other things, to make life easier for its users during their stay in Disney World
The MagicBand's design resembles a wristwatch or bracelet. In the traditional models, the colors green, blue, purple, pink, yellow, orange, gray and red are available.
In activity since 2014, the MagicBand is reformulated every year, bringing innovations including in design, with some themed models ranging from ?Frozen? the "Star Wars".
The bracelet has a radio frequency chip known as RFID. It is this chip that enables personalized experiences within the Disney complex. These experiences range from functional and useful, such as debiting meal bills without needing cash or a card, or entertainment, with personalized interactivity during park visits.
How to use MagicBand at Disney?
As its name suggests, the MagicBand connects you to a magical experience. Incidentally, this has always been Disney's great purpose.
With the MagicBand, the entertainment giant's marriage of technology and purpose intensifies.
On the bracelet that has the symbol of Mickey, Disney's most beloved icon, there is personal information about the user, such as name and country of origin, even allowing personalized surprises at the end of some attractions in the park.
With it, the ease of your purchases becomes a reality. You can include your credit card in the bracelet, making purchases and having meals, without having to carry your card, also guaranteeing greater security.
In the Disney complex that includes the resorts, parks, restaurants, there are several posts with sensors. When the user touches the friendly mouse symbol to these sensors, it activates the MagicBand's functionalities.
Check out the services that can be used through the MagicBand wristband in the Disney complex.
Services offered
There are many services offered by Disney that use the MagicBand and, with each passing year, new experiences and functionalities are added.
Among the interactive experiences, the MagicBand allows the park's characters to call you by name, as it is possible to know it in advance because of the bracelet.
If it's a birthday, the characters will offer their congratulations.
In contact with the park's photographers, just show your wristband to have access to photos of you and your family.
These are some of the possible interactive differentials due to the MagicBand wristband.
But, the Magic Band also has its practical functionality, always aiming at ease and security, allied to this magical perspective.
Check out some useful functions that make it easier at Disney thanks to the MagicBand
For access to Disney Park
Right at the turnstile at the entrance to the Disney complex parks, you can now touch your wristband. A green light will turn on allowing access.
Without the wristband, the other option is a magnetic card, as paper tickets have long since been phased out at Disney.
The main difference between the bracelet and the card is precisely the fact that the bracelet is on your arm, providing greater agility and security. In the case of the card, there is always the risk of losing it or not finding it quickly, as we often leave it somewhere forgotten in the bag.
For Fastpass +
Fastpass+, known as "skipping the queue" is a service Disney offers for access to select attractions and faster queues.
When acquiring the service, information regarding its acquisition may be stored in the MagicBand.
At all entrances to the park's attractions, there is a post easily identified by the drawing of Mickey. Just trigger it by touching your bracelet.
If the Fastpass+ service has been purchased, the station symbol will light up allowing you to access this more exclusive queue.
For this, be sure to schedule the times for the attractions of this service on the Disney website.
To do this, you will have to create your My Disney Experience account, complete your registration and add the service to your account and the Magic Band.
Memory maker: Photos from your Disney trip on the MagicBand – Disney's PhotoPass service is free to record photos and videos.
Many Disney photographers are around the park recording moments, from photos on toys, to restaurants, as well as posing with characters that circulate through the park. Then just access the photos through the app or on the Disney website.
Memory Maker is another PhotoPass-linked service that allows you to purchase videos and photos for download.
You can make your package selection by purchasing online.
Accessing your My Disney Experience account, you can request that the photos in your package be transferred directly to your wristband, facilitating the delivery of the purchased product and optimizing access to your photographic records in the park.
Access to the Hotel Room
For those who want to stay at a Disney hotel, the purchase of the wristband does not need to be made.
When you stay at a Disney hotel, you will receive a MagicBand, as will all family members.
The bracelet can be used to enter the room.
The proposal is for people to always keep the wristband on their wrist, ensuring easier entry or exit, without having to waste time looking for a card, and without the risk of losing it and having to change it repeatedly.
Dining and Shopping with the MagicBand – By linking your credit card to your MagicBand, you can make payments at restaurants and stores.
If you prefer, payment can be made at the end of the trip. This service prevents you from having to carry your credit card with you while shopping, which also helps in cases of avoiding loss and theft.
For those traveling as a family, you can also set a spending limit for each of your members.
For these payments, there is a password that is defined at the time of check-in, and it is necessary to confirm it at the machine to make purchases and guarantee security.
Where to buy MagicBand?
Unfortunately from 2021 everyone will need to buy the MagicBand. Before that, you could get this beauty for free by staying at a Disney hotel.
However, especially if you stay there, we highly recommend purchasing it, as it is an important component of the hotel's services and concentrates a series of features.
Disney annual ticket holders also received the wristband for free.
But to buy one, you can buy it by paying US$14.99 + taxes, which comes out to almost US$16.00 for the smooth version.
Bracelets with a design like the one in the photo below are found for around $30 dollars!
There are several MagicBand outlets in Orlando, including the airport, and even in the parks themselves. You can also buy online through the ShopDisney app.
However, it is good to be aware that the bracelets are not sent to other countries.
If you are not staying at a Disney hotel, you will first need to purchase your park ticket.
Once you purchase your ticket, you will receive a magnetic card to access the Disney parks.
After that, you will be able to purchase your bracelet MagicBand. The next steps are: register for My Disney Experience and add your card or Magic Band to it.
So that you don't have to exchange your tickets for the magnetic card, you can purchase the MagicBand right at Orlando airport and already link directly to My Disney Experience.
If you want to go to the hotel first to settle in, you can then go to Disney springs at the Pin Traders store.
The store is in front of the Guest Relations and with the ticket already in the account, you can buy your MagicBand and link it right there.
Still, you might prefer to do that later. If so, there are several locations within the Disney parks where you can purchase wristbands. Check out some of these places.
Where to buy MagicBand in the Magic Kingdom?
- In the parking lot Magic Kingdom (Ticket and Transportation Center)
- In the shop at the exit of Space mountain
- At Big Top Souvenirs (located in Fantasyland)
- At the Frontier Trading Post store (one in the old west style)
- At the Emporium (which is in the Main Street corner)
Where to buy MagicBand at Disney's Animal Kingdom
At the park entrance at Disney Outfitters (near the tree of life) and at the Dinoland USA store
Where to buy MagicBand at Epcot
- At the World showcase Plaza (Disney Traders shop)
- On World Traveler on International Gateway
- In the Spaceship Earth store, where the “giant ball” is located at Epcot – the SpaceShip Earth (can't go wrong)
Where to buy MagicBand at Disney's Hollywood Studios
On Stage One, at the entrance to the park in The Darkroom store and at the beginning of Sunset Boulevard in the Legends of Hollywood store.
Customizing your MagicBand
The character-themed wristbands are a little more expensive, starting at US$24.99.
However, for Disney lovers, the acquisition can really be worth it, as they have themes of characters, movies and other classics that attract many fans. In this case, the amount you pay more ends up being to acquire a collector's item.
There are even some really expensive MagicBand models, in this case for collectors who don't mind paying a good amount for a more elaborate item.
You can check out all models and accessories on the Disney shopping site, remembering that deliveries outside the US are not made. Therefore, accessing the site helps you choose the model before buying it during your trip, or in specific cases, for delivery in the US during your stay.
There are still a few ways to customize your MagicBand, but that usually also comes at a cost.
The exception is for guests staying at Disney hotels, as the network provides this service free of charge.
Extra personalization features include: name printing on the back of the wristband (free of charge by hotels for all family members), purchase of accessories for those who want to spruce up the wristband (accessories are available for purchase at park stores) and cases. .
Disney suggests that personalization be requested at least 6 days before the trip, in order to have a reasonable time to carry out this service.
I already have a MagicBand from a previous trip, can I use it again?
Maybe yes! Just check your My Disney Experience in the ?MagicBands & Cards? if it is still listed there as active.
If it is there, you can use it normally even years after your previous trip.
The only thing you'll need to do is link your new tickets to this MagicBand through My Disney Experience!
As it is an electronic bracelet, it has a battery and naturally this battery has a useful life.
There is no official information on how long this battery lasts from Disney, but from personal experience, we have already used magicBands purchased 4 years ago, so rest assured if your trip was less time.
If you are very old, we recommend testing your magicBand as soon as possible in Orlando!
Can I borrow a MagicBand from someone else?
Unfortunately not.
A MagicBand that has already been linked to a My Disney Experience account will forever be linked to its owner and cannot be exchanged.
This happens because of the fingerprint used to validate entry to the parks and all of this is linked to your Disney profile for your security!
Therefore, Disney does not allow changing the MagicBand account, and therefore no one will be able to use the bracelet other than the original owner.
Other Relevant Disney MagicBand Tips and Trivia
As we mentioned before, MagicBand can be used on other trips.
Simply link your wristband to new tickets. However, it doesn't last forever.
The MagicBand's battery life is about 3-4 years (unofficial information).
Following the logic that the MagicBand is a magical instrument, it is worth remembering that, once the MagicBand has an owner, it will always be linked only to him.
What to do in case of loss or theft?
In case of loss or theft of the MagicBand, just enter the website and block it. Disney will replace your wristband at no additional cost.
Special offers and surprises can be offered to holders of MagicBands. Stay tuned.
We hope that you have clarified your doubts about the MagicBand.
It is good to remember that it is not necessary to purchase a MagicBand, however, the functions it allows can be an attraction for those who want greater security, ease and interactivity in the parks.
If you choose to purchase the bracelet, we hope that the article has helped to clarify your doubts so that you can get the best out of your bracelet.
I hope again that this post helped you in your research for your trip to Disney or Orlando.
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About the Author Carlos Braga:
Unparalleled experience in Orlando and Disney! As a former Universal Orlando team member and a passionate devotee of the magic of Disney, I have become a true Orlando travel expert. Before becoming a renowned travel consultant dedicated to Orlando, I had already made hundreds of visits to the parks, cultivating my knowledge and passion mainly over the last 7 years as a consultant and specialist in Disney travel.
My journey into this enchanted world began in 1995, when I took my first trip to Orlando. Since then, my love for Disney and the city has only grown. In 2023, we celebrate the sixth anniversary of 'Partiu Disney Parks', consolidating our role as one of the main sources of information about Disney and Orlando Parks.
During these six years of existence, we have continued to offer quality and updated content, being the reliable source for all those looking for essential information to plan their trip to Disney and Orlando. With my vast experience and passion for this magical destination, I am here to guide you every step of the way towards the most incredible Orlando and Disney experience!
