First look at Disney's new MagicBand+ as online and in-store sales begin at Walt Disney World

Jul 27, 2022 in "MyMagic+"

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Hands on with MagicBand+

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Posted: Wednesday July 27, 2022 9:21am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Disney's next generation of wearable, MagicBand+, is now available to all guests at Walt Disney World, with online and in-store sales underway.

MagicBand+ retail packaging

Guests arriving at the parks today found limited availability in stores. Although there are currently almost 35 designs available, stores are carrying only a limited selection and in limited quantities. See all MagicBand+ designs.

MagicBand+ is available in stores at Walt Disney World in limited quantities

MagicBand+ display at Celebrity 5 and 10

At Disney's Hollywood Studios, a short line gathered outside Celebrity 5 & 10, where a limited number of MagicBand+'s were on sale. The cheapest MagicBand+ is $34.99, with a $7 discount for passholders, which drops that starting price to $27.99. See a list of all in-park stores carrying MagicBand+.

Guests queuing to purchase MagicBand+ at Disney's Hollywood Studios

At the park's other MagicBand+ location, Tatooine Traders, only two styles were available, the Darth Vader and Grogu band.

MagicBand+ is available at Tatooine Traders in limited quanities

MagicBand+ display at Tattoine Traders

The new version will be immediately familiar for those who use the original MagicBand. It carries a very similar form factor, the same fit, and the option to reduce the band size for kids.

MagicBand+ and charging cable

Where the MagicBand+ will feel a little different is the setup process. Getting started with MagicBand+ is like pairing a device to your phone and relying on My Disney Experience to link the MagicBand+ to a user account, pair it to Bluetooth, and then perform a software update. If everything goes to plan, it is as simple as opening My Disney Experience and holding the button on the back of the MagicBand+ for 3 seconds. Our experience on iOS was very straightforward.

Installing a software update to MagicBand+

The MagicBand+ comes pre-charged, but not to 100%. It is enough to pair and update the software and begin using it.

The back of MagicBand+ with charging connector

Charging the MagicBand+ requires you to supply your own USB type A charger and use the provided 6-inch cable with cradle. Approximate battery life can be seen in My Disney Experience and is expected to last 1 - 3 days, depending on use. Disney recommends daily overnight charging.

You can learn more about the MagicBand+ in our FAQ, and stay tuned for more coverage of Disney's new wearable.

MagicBand+

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AylaOct 22, 2024

If you can, Disney has yet to tell people about it. All they mention with Apple devices is getting into the park and using it for LL.

jpedenOct 22, 2024

For some reason I can't get it to work - it always wants to charge to my credit card and not my room. I would think since they have the key service in the app making it work with the watch wouldn't be too big of a stretch.

JaxFLBearOct 22, 2024

You can room charge using your Apple Watch. That's one of the features of the Disney MagicMobile service. Room entry would require WDW to add support for Apple's Hotel Key functionality. https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/magic-mobile/

jpedenOct 22, 2024

I mean I always loved MagicBands and thought they were cool and part of the "Disney" experience at WDW, but now that they're $40 and I can get basically the same functionality from my Apple Watch, I just use that. My wife wears hers and does our back-to-room charging if we need it. If I see one that I absolutely love I'll buy it but at this point I'm content with my current collection of MB2's until they die and will use my Apple Watch as my primary entry mechanism. I'd love if I could charge back to my room with my Apple Watch and unlock my door with it (although it isn't a huge hassle to pull out the iPhone to unlock the door) but it would be nice. However, I know that would cut into MB sales so I doubt they ever actually go with a full integration like that.

JD80Oct 22, 2024

I bought them for our family, we've now used them for 2 years and I will be using them again in 10 days. Kids will use them again next year. Except my youngest who lost hers last year. I think you just need to learn to see things through other people's eyes and not just your own. These things are relatively cheap and kids love them. Those silly golden statues always have kids waving at them. My kids love how they buzz or glow in random places. The first time they felt a heartbeat in Mansion? My kids gasped. My 6 year old would scream at me, "DAD! LOOK! ITS GLOWING!" and she would them look around and try to figure out why. It's hilarious and awesome.

Indy_UKOct 22, 2024

Im sorry but what is the point?

UNCgolfOct 22, 2024

Sure -- I probably wouldn't buy one even if I did go regularly because they don't really offer any special functionality I care about (and I don't like wearing stuff on my wrist either), but as someone who just visits WDW once every few years and doesn't do Disney cruises or anything like that, even if I did like it it feels like a hard sell.

Vegas Disney FanOct 22, 2024

I despise that they aren’t included still but at least they work across all the parks, we’ve been using our old WDW ones (from 2 years ago) at DL this whole year, we bought new ones for DCL but I think we could have just used our old WDW ones there also.

Vegas Disney FanOct 22, 2024

DL has Magic Bands now too, they can’t be used as keys or payment (yet?) but it’s so nice being able to scan into the parks and DAS/LL with them. Not quite as useful as at WDW but getting there. Magic Bands are one of the things I love about WDW, I’m excited to try them on our upcoming cruise for the first time also, will be cool to be able to use them as keys on DCL also.

UNCgolfOct 22, 2024

Except they cost $36. I can see getting it as an AP/DVC, but if you're not visting Disney regularly it doesn't really seem worth it. You're going to have your phone with you anyways.

TouchdownOct 22, 2024

There the most efficient way to get in, they are easily accessible and the little lights make me smile. Infinitely better then using your phone for everything like DLR.