Blog Post

Walt Disney World MagicBands

Ashley Lusk • Sep 18, 2019

Walt Disney World MagicBands: A Guide to Best Plan Your Next Disney Vacation

Walt Disney World is home to some of the most magical moments! From their resort stays, theme parks, attractions, and photo oppertunities to their website, industry leading customer service, and specialty merchandise Disney always aims for the best! Disney's MagicBand is

the perfect tool to connect it all! The MagicBand is perfect for all ages, all activities,

and helps to keep Disney Travels connected to their many adventures!

What are MagicBands?

As described by the Disney Parks Mom's Panel, MagicBands are a "non-latex, hypoallergenic, thermoplastic polyurethane, wristband". What does that mean? Well... they are a waterproof, reusable wristband that anyone can wear!They are soft to the touch, flexible, and can be sized to fit any wrist large or small! The most recent design now features an oval puck in the center that hosts the RFID technology; which enables the wearer to connect their experiences in the parks. This puck is known as the "icon" of the MagicBand and can be removed from the center allowing it to convert into a keychain (with the proper holster). The MagicBand design allows the wearer to comfortably engage in any park activity with ease. Planning to ride the rollercoasters? SURE! They stay on! Want to head to the water park? GREAT! They are waterproof! Feel free to swim! MagicBands are your perfect park companions!

How can you use your MagicBand?

MagicBands connect to your My Disney Experience (MDE) Account. All your vacation plans are shared with your MagicBand! Everything from resort stays and dining reservations to FastPass+ selections and Disney Photopass images are connected in one place! Disney Travelers will be able to check in to their reservations with just the tap of the wrist!

MagicBands also feature an electronic payment system similar to Apple Pay and Google Pay! Disney Travelers can attach their credit or debit cards to their MDE account and approve access to their MagicBands. Similarly, those who stay on Walt Disney World property can setup a payment plan towards their hotel stay! Parents also have the ability to setup allowances on their children's MagicBands for souvenir shopping! You're in complete control of this feature and can elect to disconnect this feature at any time with a Disney Cast Member or on your MDE account. MagicBand payments are accepted at all Walt Disney World shopping and dining experiences!

Where can you use your MagicBand?

If you are beginning your magical vacation at the Orlando International airport, you will be able to use your MagicBands to check in at the Disney Magical Express when heading to your Walt Disney World Resort! Be sure to pack your MagicBands in your carry on luggage when traveling for easy access! When using the Magical Express your checked bags will be picked up by the Disney Team and placed in your Walt Disney World hotel room later in the day. It would be a shame to have to put the magic on hold when waiting for your bags to arrive! (Update: As of January 2022, Walt Disney World will no longer provide Magical Express Services. Please be sure to make travel arrangements with your Travel Professional.)

Once you arrive at your Walt Disney World Resort the Guest Service Cast Member will ask you to tap your MagicBand to check in to your reservations. Once your room is ready the MagicBands will act as your room key!

Ready to head out to the parks? Hope you have your MagicBands ready! They are now your theme park tickets! Be sure to tap the Mickey on the center of your MagicBand to the Mickey on the gate post to enter the parks! Heading to your first FastPass+ or Virtual Cue Line reservations? You Guessed it! Head to the FastPass+ line and tap your MagicBand to the post to check in!

Ready for dinner at Be Our Guest? Have your MagicBand ready! When you reach the Disney Cast Member at the host stand you'll be instructed to use your MagicBand to check in. Ready for the bill after enjoying the Grey Stuff? Your Disney Server will come by with a MagicBand payment service.

Getting a special family photo at Cinderella's Castle during the "Kiss Good Night"? The Disney Photopass Photographer will transfer the images to your MagicBand! It may take a little extra time, but you will be able to share the magic on your preferred social media platform after downloading your favorite images from your My Disney Experience account!

Heading out to the World of Disney store at Disney's Springs? That's right! You can use your MagicBand to check out with your new souvenirs! Pro Tip: When staying at a Walt Disney World resort, you can have your purchases sent directly to your hotel! Stay hands free while enjoying the theme parks and Disney Springs, and pick up your packages from your hotels designated counter when you arrive back! (Update: As of July 2020 package delivery services have been suspended at the Walt Disney World properties. Please plan your shopping experiences accordingly.)

Where can you get a MagicBand?

When staying at a Walt Disney World Resort, you will receive one FREE solid MagicBand for each guest on the reservation! Disney Travelers will be able to select the color of their choice and customize it with their name on the back by visiting their MDE account! Disney launched a NEW upgrade MagicBand option for resort guest in July 2019! For an additional fee resort guests can now select a printed MagicBand! Printed MagicBands feature different popular scenes and beloved Disney Characters, and can be customized with your name on the back! Disney resort guest MagicBands will be sent to their homes 11 days prior the first day of their resort reservation. You can feel free to customize your MagicBands the same day you make your resort reservations and have them sent to you sooner than the 11 day mark. MagicBands are delivered by the United States Postal Service. (Update: As of January 2021, Walt Disney World Resorts will no longer provide MagicBands for guests. MagicBands can still be purchased through the Shop Disney website and sent to your home prior to your trip; However, customized icons are not available.)

If you are not staying on Walt Disney World property, or are a MagicBand collector (like your's truly) you can find MagicBands at most Disney shops! One of the largest selections of MagicBands can be found at EPCOT's Mouse Gears shop. There you will find limited edition solid colors, princess, villain, Pixar, Mickey and friends, and park themed MagicBands! For our MagicBand collectors out there be sure to visit the attraction shops for specialty themed and limited edition MagicBands! One of my new favorite MagicBands was found at the Animal Kingdom's Windtraders' in the NEW Pandora World of Avatar! Limited edition Pandora MagicBands have a unique feature which can be experienced at FastPass+ check in posts!

Can you customize your MagicBand?

Yes! For all Walt Disney World resort guests your selected MagicBand will feature your name on the back of your band! This is an exclusive service offered to resort guests only! You can now select Disney designed MagicBands as an upgraded option. Keep in mind that not all themed MagicBands will be offered for upgrades; different character and park themes are subject to change daily due to popularity! If you see one you like it's best to order it right away before it's gone!

Looking to give your MagicBand a special twist? Check out D-Tech in Magic Kingdom's Tomorrowland, or at the Marketplace Co-Op in Disney Springs! There you will be able to design and print your own custom MagicBand! Select your MagicBand's base color, pick a theme, favorite Disney Charcater, or add your name to the side of your band! There is an ever expanding list of design to choose from to create your dream band!

Additionally, there are some wonderful Disney Fans out there who have special applique options for sale! These appliques are usually specially designed stickers that you can apply to your MagicBand with a little heat. Designs vary by artist. My current shop suggestion is Magic Your Band which features over 600 designs and is open for custom orders!

Not a fan of stickers? Some Disney Fan artist will paint your MagicBand with your unique requests! My personal favorite of these artists is The Enchanted Brush! As seen below, I have an AMAZING custom MagicBand painted by this extraordinary artist! The MagicBand seen below is a generation 2 MagicBand, and was painted in 2017; Four years later and this MagicBand still works at all the Disney accommodations, and looks like new! I should mention that this MagicBand and the coordinating pendant are my favorite thingamabobs, and are often worn within and outside of

Walt Disney World! I could not give a better reconmendation! Be sure to check out The Enchanted Brush's shop for their next opening! Be quick! They are extremely popular and often sell out in a fraction of a minute!!

How Much Do MagicBands Cost?

When staying at a Walt Disney World Resort a solid color MagicBand is FREE! You will receive one for each guest on your reservation. Current update MagicBands rates, as seen in August 2019, average $10 per upgraded MagicBand. Some designs may cost more as they are limited edition, or feature designs from a limited time or seasonal event happening in the parks. Prices are subject to change. (Update: As of January 2021, Walt Disney World Resorts will no longer provide MagicBands for guests. Guests will now receive a key card which will allow them to enter their room, access their theme park tickets, and receive Memory Maker photography services.)

When purchasing a MagicBand in stores or online solid color MagicBands average $15, character bands average $25, and limited edition and designer bands average between $30-$50. D-Tech MagicBands vary by design; it is best to check in at one of their locations for the most current rates. Prices shown are with the latest information as of August 2019, and does not reflect any additional tax or shipping costs. All prices mentioned are subject to change.

Author, Ashley Lusk, showing off her custom painted MagicBand and Pendent

by The Enchanted Brush together with Ariel at the Magic Kingdom!

the perfect tool to connect it all! The MagicBand is perfect for all ages, all activities, and helps to keep Disney Travels connected to their many adventures! Use your MagicBands to capture the magic of staying on property, entering theme parks, checking in to your FastPass+ selections, paying for meals and merchandise, and sharing your most enchanting memories

in video and images captured by the Disney Photopass Team!

The MagicBand is your Key to the Kingdom!

< Older Post Newer Post >

Tiny Diva Princess Party's Preferred Travel Partner:

Travel Planning with a Princess

Begin your Once Upon a Time Disney Vacation by Planning with a Princess! You'll be invited to the Royal Treatment with Personal one-on-one Princess Training, Receive Helpful Guides, Create a Magical Itinerary, and top it off with your own Rhinestone Tiara! Your next chapter begins with the Travel Princess of Storybook Trips!

Get Started TODAY

Continue the Story

Holiday Magic at Walt Disney World

By Ashley Lusk • 21 Dec, 2020

I enjoyed my first trip back to the Walt Disney World parks in September 2020 so much that I could not dream of a better way to spend my holiday season! The moment I returned home I was already deep into my new travel plans! Ten weeks later I was back on a plane and meeting up with some amazing friends! When I arrived back to the magic, for my second time since their phased reopening in July, there were some noticeable changes. In September Walt Disney World parks and resorts had been operating at a low capacity rate. As of my return, the capacity levels had increased by approximately fifteen percent. This increase of guests traveling for the holidays did lead to longer wait times for the park attractions, and caused both the theme parks and Disney Springs to reach their capacity for the day with increased regularity. If you are hoping to visit the Walt Disney World properties in the new year be prepared to experience long wait time and make your reservations well in advance!

Disney Travel Agents

By Ashley Lusk • 19 Sep, 2019

Disney has many amazing travel opportunities be it to their Stateside or Overseas Theme Parks, enjoying a stay at Aulani in Hawaii, or traveling the world with Adventures by Disney! Sometimes it may seem a bit overwhelming. Do you find yourself wanting to plan your next magical vacation, but uncertain where to start? Look no further than a Disney Travel Agent! These trained travel professionals are a treasure-trove of Disney information! They can assist you with travel bookings, keep you informed of the latest experiences and offers, and create an itinerary customized to your unique travel party!

Special Event Tickets and Tours at Walt Disney World

By Ashley Lusk • 18 Sep, 2019

If you are looking for the best way to add a little pixie dust to your next visit to Walt Disney World you should look no further than Disney's Special Events and Tours! These magical extras will be sure to take you to a whole new world with limited experiences, specialty treats, themed parties, and VIP explorations! In this installment I will give a brief overview of some of these extra magical experiences!

Disney FastPass+ Check-in Post at Kilimanjaro Safari in Animal Kingdom

Disney FastPass+ Services

By Ashley Lusk • 24 Jul, 2019

Walt Disney World's FastPAss+ selection is the best in the theme park industry! They allow Disney resort guests to plan 60 days in advance of their trip, they are accessible to reserve on your computer or mobile device when you log in to your My Disney Experience account, they are connected to your MagicBand and/or theme park ticket card, and are FREE for Everyone! Here's what you should know....

Walt Disney World Dining

By Ashley Lusk • 31 May, 2019

Learn the basics of Walt Disney World dining from quick service and mobile ordering to full service and character experiences! This fan blog will give you helpful tips about how to plan for your next Florida Disney Vacation!

Choosing a Disney Resort

By Ashley Lusk • 07 Jun, 2018

Walt Disney World has no shortage of exciting places to stay during your vacation! Whether you're traveling as a family, a surprise anniversary trip, or with friends here's what you should know about the Disney resorts! To begin you may have already taken the time off from work and booked your tickets for a quick exit from the Minnesota tundra. If not, that's just fine! You do not need to have planned any dates at all to see what works best for you! To get started sign in or create an account on Disney's " My Disney Experience " website. This will come in handy when making your official plans.