We walk you through how to use Disney World's Magic Bands in this Magic Band guide. We share what they can do, and how you use them. This Magic Band guide has been updated to include Magic Band 2.0.
After you have linked your holiday to your My Disney Experience account and then downloaded and logged into the My Disney Experience app you'll be able to customise your Magic Band. You can choose from a range of colours and have your name printed on the inside.
If you are not saying at a Disney World hotel or have purchased an extra Magic Band in the park, you'll need to add those manually by learning how to link your Magic Band.
Top Tip: If you do not customise your Magic Band before you depart on your holiday (or before the cut off date), you will receive the grey band. So if you'd rather have a Magic Band with some colour, make sure you choose it before the cut off day (which is usually a month before your holiday).
You will see a notice about delivery of your Magic Band, us Brits can ignore that. They only ship Magic Bands out to fellow Americans. We pick our Magic Bands up at the hotel when we check in.
When you check-in, you'll be given your sparkling new "Magic Band". You're asked to set a PIN, which is used to verify the use of your Magic Band throughout your stay. The Magic Bands give you full access to your tickets, reservations and much much more. You wear your magic band on your wrist throughout your stay, or if you have the Magic Band 2.0, you can pop out the middle piece and place it in a keyring if you don't like wearing them. I personally enjoy wearing them, it adds to the Disney experience.
Buying New Magic Bands
Disney sell many different Magic Bands in the parks, and you're more than welcome to buy these if you get bored of your plain coloured ones you get for free. All you have to do after you buy it is link it to your My Disney Experience account using the serial number and then you can use it for all your tickets etc. Keep in mind bands are not transferable, so when you link a band to your account its forever yours.
Your Magic Band is in some ways the centre hub of your Disney holiday. It links directly to your My Disney Experience account and My Disney Experience app. Here's a list of everything it can do.
Tickets & Park Entry
The most important function of the Magic Bands is that it is your entry into the parks. Head up to the turnstiles, scan your Magic Band, place your finger on the finger print scanner and have a magical day.
Dining
You can use the Magic Band to pay for your meals (see below), or they can be used to redeem your Disney Dining Plan credits.
Fastpass+
When it's time to go to your Fastpass attraction, simply enter the Fastpass+ line, scan your Magic Band, and head on in!
Extra Events
If you have paid for extra events, like one of the dessert parties. It'll be displayed on your Disney app, and you'll use it to check-in when it's time to indulge.
Pay
You can choose to add a credit/debit card to your room. Although this may not always be the best method, for a list of payment options click here. If you do wish to do this however, it is rather convenient. In any of the Disney shops, bars or restaurants, you simply scan your magic band and it charges the purchase to your room.
Room Key
Your magic band is also your room key. Just touch your band to your hotel door lock and it'll open for you.
Photopass (Memory Maker)
If you have taken advantage of the Memory Maker, all your photos are put onto your My Disney Experience app through your Magic Band. If you're coming off a ride, you touch the Magic Band pad under the screen of the photo you want to save. If you're getting your photo taken by a Disney Photographer, they'll tap your Magic Band, and that photo will save to your My Disney Experience app.
Personalised Attraction Experiences
Disney have started personalising some attractions using the technology of your Magic Band. This can appear a little creepy, but some attractions have started having digital posters, for example, which show your name when you're waiting in the queue. For example, below you'll see a digital poster when we were waiting for Rock 'n' Roller Coaster. The name on it changed frequently depending who is in that room waiting at that point in time. As I said, a little creepy, but imagine what can be done in the future to create a more personalised experience.
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