What Are Magic Bands?
Magic Bands are colorful bands that enable magic on your trip and eliminate the need to carry cards and paper at Walt Disney World. Guests wear them on the wrist. Magic Bands look like to a bracelet or a sports tracker. Everyone who is traveling can use a Magic Band! Simply log in to your My Disney Experience and customize your bands!
Essentially, Magic Bands can:
- Unlock the door of your Disney Resort room
- Enter theme and water parks (with valid admission)
- Check-in at Lightning Lane entrances
- Connect Disney Photo Pass images to your account
- Charge food and merchandise purchases to your Disney Resort hotel room (only available during your hotel stay)
Magic Bands are the link between you and your MyDisneyExperience account. However, the only information stored on the bands is that connecting the band with the account. Guests cannot “load” tickets, money, or credit cards to the bands. Rather, they connect to your MyDisneyExperience account information.
How Do I Get Magic Bands?
Magic Bands are available to purchase at a special pre-arrival price for guests staying at an on-site Walt Disney World resort up to 10 days prior to arrival.
In addition, special Magic Bands can be purchased with themes and added to your My Disney Experience account.
Magic Band+
At Walt Disney World, you can also upgrade your band to Magic Band+. Magic Band+ unlocks more magic as you experience the theme parks. To begin, Magic Bands + need to be charged. They are waterproof just like regular Magic Bands and are fully customizable in the My Disney Experience app. Likewise, Magic Band + will unlock your Disney Resort hotel room door, access Lightning Lanes, and allow you to pay for merchandise throughout Walt Disney World. Why upgrade? There are several locations around the four theme parks at Walt Disney World that will unlock more magical interactions. In addition, Magic Band+ can glow with color and pulse with select nighttime spectaculars.
Personalizing Your Magic Bands
You can further customize your Magic Bands by personalizing them with decals and accessories. You can purchase specially designed Magic Bands and accessories at DisneyStore.com.
How Do Magic Bands Work?
Magic Bands work with RF technology. A radio signal between the Magic Band and the device (door lock, Lightning Lane check-in, theme park gate check-in, point-of-sale purchase location) connects you with your My Disney Experience account.
In order for your Magic Bands to work at Walt Disney World, you need to make sure they are linked to your My Disney Experience account. A credit card needs to be linked in your My Disney Experience account as well to make purchases at Walt Disney World.
What If I’m Staying Offsite?
For guests staying off-property, Magic Bands are available at regular costs, however they are not required. Guests staying offsite will use plastic tickets for admission and Lightning Lane entrance. If you are staying offsite, you cannot use the Magic Bands for charging. The charging feature links to your hotel room folio, and only Walt Disney World resort guests use a Magic Band for charging purposes.