Since my last trip to Disney World two years ago, the resort has introduced magic bands. Mailed to your home prior to your trip so you have them on arrival, each Disney World ‘Magic Band‘ is engraved with the names of the respective members in your party. The bands come in 8 solid colours—pink, green, red, purple, orange, yellow, blue, and grey. Basically, the My Disney Experience website emails to let you know when your bands are being sent to your home (Don’t worry, if you make a last minute reservation you can pick them up at the resort when you arrive.) They’re sleek and pretty cool actually, but if you want something a bit fancier (think: Star Wars or Frozen) you can grab those online at the Disney Store.
So, when you’re here, the Magic Bands act as your room key, park pass, charge card, fast passes and photo pass. When you check in you can decide which party members will have charging options attached to their Magic Bands (and set a pin number for charging capability.) The My Disney Experience App allows you to select park pass options, 3 fast passes, and make dining reservations (as well as telling you about ride wait times). Because there is complimentary wifi in the parks, the app won’t drain your data either.
When you enter a park or make a purchase, you just touch the Mickey on your Magic Band to the Mickey on their pay or entry system. When both turn green, you’re good to go! For payments you will also enter your PIN to complete the transaction. The Disney World Magic Bands simplify your trip even more by acting as your room key, payment source, and photo collection device all-in-one, leaving you free to spend more time focused on having fun.
Our favourite part: When you go on certain rides (we noticed it on the Rockin’ Rollercoaster at Hollywood Studios) or when you stop near the ‘poster’ boards at certain hotels, the RFID chip on your band might be triggered and your name will pop up on the poster!
For tiny wrists, the bands can be adjusted to two different sizes and at the end of your Disney Vacay, they make an amazing souvenir.
I am so thrilled that they came out with purple, that I won’t let my son have it! We don’t buy the additional Magic Band decorations (save my money for pin trading) but they are very cute. Also, you can have your name personalized. As for me, it will be Khaleesi on my next Magic Band.