Magic Bands

(Updated 9/1/2022)

MagicBands and MagicBand+ are:

wearable park tickets, room keys, Photopass and charge cards. The new MagicBand+ also has some interactive features with evening firework shows, the 50th anniversary statues and a bounty hunter game inside Hollywood Studio’s Galaxy’s Edge. MagicBand+ is a rechargeable device but the MagicBand is not.

How do I use a MagicBand?

The little Mickey Mouse icon in the center of the band is the key. Simply tap that icon on your resort room door to unlock it. Tap it at park entrance touch points to enter. Use it at certain attractions to access attractions that require a virtual queue boarding pass or to enter a Lightning Lane. Cast Members will ask you to tap it to hand held devices or cash registers to save PhotoPass pictures or pay for merchandise. It can also be used to enter the park for special ticketed events. Magic Bands must be linked to your Disney/My Disney Experience account. Once Magic Bands are linked, all of your tickets, reservations, boarding passes and photos will be recognized through the band.

How Do I get a Magic Band?

Resort guests can purchase a MagicBand or MagicBand+ up to 10 days before arrival via their My Disney Experience account (under “Resort Hotel” you will see a “Choose Magic Bands” link). However, Disney is suggesting that you place your order at least 15 days prior to arrival to ensure that they are mailed to your home before you leave. Read: make your selection as soon as you can to avoid the hassle of the mail being slow to arrive.

NOTE: When you are ready to select and purchase your Magic Bands, everyone in your planning party (listed as “family & friends on My Disney Experience) has to make their Magic Band selection or opt out before a purchase can be made.

If you book your resort stay too late to receive your band in the mail, you can still purchase one on My Disney Experience and pick it up at your resort.

MagicBand and MagicBand+ can also be purchased at shopdisney.com or at shops in the parks and at Disney Springs. A wide variety of solid colors are available at a cheaper price point as well as “premium” bands with designs are a bit more expensive. Disney World Resort hotel guests are generally offered a discount on the bands when they are ordered through My Disney Experience pre-arrival.

What if I don’t stay at a Disney World Resort hotel?

Anyone can purchase a MagicBand or MagicBand+ at Disney World, shopdisney.com or Disney Springs. Once they are linked to a My Disney Experience account, they can be used as park tickets and to link Photopass photos. However, if you don’t have a resort reservation, it isn’t necessary to have a Magic Band. You can pick up your tickets at any of the park’s Will Call windows. Once you have the tickets, they can be linked to your My Disney Experience account and the My Disney Experience app can be used for park entry and Photopass photos.

Linking Magic Bands to My Disney Experience

If you purchase a Magic Band as part of a Disney World Resort hotel reservation (pre-arrival), it will be automatically linked to your My Disney Experience account.

If you purchase a Magic Band in the parks, shopdisney.com or Disney Springs, you will need to link it to your My Disney Experience profile.  There is a code on the inside of the band that you will need to enter. You can use any  Magic Bands that you link to your profile.  If you have several that you like, be a Disney Fashionista on your trip and  coordinate with your outfits! Here are directions on how to link your Magic Bands to your My Disney Experience account.

Do I have to get a MagicBand or MagicBand+?

Nope. While we love these fun little functional accessories, they are not required. Good old fashioned valid park tickets and resort room key cards do the same job. There is also a new option for iPhones, Apple Watch or Android phones: MagicMobile. It does most of the same things as the MagicBand but on your mobile phone. We haven’t tried out MagicBand+ yet so stay tuned.

Here are different ways you can access some of the same features as a MagicBand:

Key to the World/Entry Card (physical card obtained at resort guest services)

  • Room key
  • Park ticket
  • Make charges to your Disney World resort room
  • Link PhotoPass photos to your My Disney Experience account

My Disney Experience App (on mobile phone)

  • Room key
  • Park ticket
  • Make charges to your Disney World resort room
  • Link PhotoPass photos to your My Disney Experience account (To capture in ride photos/videos, be sure to keep your bluetooth enabled.

MagicMobile (on mobile phone or Apple watch)

  • Room key
  • Park Ticket
  • Make charges to your Disney World resort room
  • Link PhotoPass photos to your My Disney Experience account (To capture in ride photos/videos, be sure to keep your bluetooth enabled.

With your MagicBand and MagicBand+ you can:

  • Open your resort room door
  • Enter the parks
  • Enter virtual queues (with a secured boarding pass) and the new Lightning Lanes (opening soon)
  • Charge purchases to your Disney World Resort hotel room
  • Save PhotoPass pictures to your account or add them to a Memory Maker package
  • Capture and save ride videos and in ride pictures for certain attractions

With MagicBand+ you can:

  • Interact with the 50th Anniversary statues around the parks
  • Watch your band light up during night time spectaculars at the park
  • Play an exclusive bounty hunter game at Hollywood Studio’s Galaxy’s Edge