Discounted MagicBand designs can be found for pre-arrival Walt Disney World resort friends and Annual Passholders. This shopping for information covers the improve buy course of, stock shortages, Magic Band+ types, and new choices. (Updated December 13, 2022.)
To improve your Magic Band, use the My Disney Experience app or DisneyWorld.com, which lets you select from a wide range of colours and designs impressed by characters, resorts, sights, nighttime spectaculars, and extra. The types rotate with regularity, and there are dozens of MagicBand selections at discounted costs.
Walt Disney World sometimes affords dozens of MagicBand improve choices, with new appears to be like added as others promote out. As mentioned beneath, the “new looks added” a part of that has not been occurring as a lot these days. Pricing varies, with choices beginning at $10 and costing as a lot as $30. We’ve now up to date this submit a number of occasions with screenshots of the brand new MagicBands, plus information, and troubleshooting suggestions for what has confirmed to be a irritating course of.
Let’s begin with all the updates, as a lot has modified since this program launched. Last 12 months, Walt Disney World eradicated the complimentary solid-color MagicBands that had been despatched to friends pre-arrival. Disney additionally stopped providing free MagicBands to Annual Passholders.
This signifies that all MagicBands now value cash–you don’t get free ones with resort reservations or for being an Annual Passholder. Upgrading to those designs, shopping for MagicBands within the parks, or by way of storeDisney.com is your solely choice.
As at all times, MagicBands are not required at Walt Disney World. For room entry, park admission, Lightning Lanes, and charging privileges to the resort room, Walt Disney World affords plastic Key To The World playing cards. This may be supplied on the resort entrance desk, and is how issues labored previous to the debut of MagicBands a number of years in the past. Alternatively, friends can obtain customary ticket media and use that for park entry or utilizing Lightning Lanes.
Additionally, MagicCell service is accessible at Walt Disney World by way of the My Disney Experience app. This may be added to your Android, iPhone, or Apple Watch digital pockets as soon as enabled. This works similar to a MagicBand with most options working by merely holding up your sensible system close to an entry level. It can be utilized to enter theme parks, join Disney PhotoPass photos to your account, enter Lightning Lanes, and extra.
In different information, MagicBand+ has debuted at Walt Disney World! The MagicBand Plus comes alive at varied occasions with color-changing lights, haptic vibrations, and gesture recognition, and has the power to take part in two in-park minigames.
MagicBand+ is now included within the pre-arrival buy program, and there’s truly much more stock for the brand new system than the common MagicBand 2.0, as we’ll talk about beneath. For all the things we all know plus solutions to frequent questions, see our FAQ to MagicBand+ at Walt Disney World.
We’ve additionally revealed our complete and brutally sincere MagicBand+ Review: Good, Bad & Ugly. If you’re on the fence about MagicBand Plus, that submit ought to aid you decide whether or not it’s for you.
If you’re actually excited in regards to the MagicBand+ and have already ordered one for every member of your loved ones, you may not need to learn that. Sometimes ignorance is bliss.
For these questioning how MagicBand+ and MagicCell examine to the unique MagicBand, right here’s an useful chart:
When it involves the common MagicBand 2.0 (which is what we suggest for most individuals), choices have been enhancing over the past a number of months after being in brief provide within the spring and summer time. Due to that, Walt Disney World has warned of Limited MagicBand Upgrade Availability.
Even as stock has improved, there’s nonetheless a banner on the Walt Disney World web site stating that “due to ongoing, industry-wide supply chain challenges, MagicBands may have limited availability or be unavailable in some styles. Our teams are working to improve our selection over the coming weeks and recommend Guests continue to check back to see if their preferred style is available.”
Speaking of which, right here’s a present take a look at MagicBand 2.0 and MagicBand+ stock as of December 13, 2022:
Currently, there are 68 pre-arrival choices, which is probably the most we’ve seen at any level in 2022.
That’s up from 52 final time that final time we supplied an replace earlier this fall, and in addition up from the low 60s quantity the stock has been hovering round for the previous few weeks. (We deliberate on offering an replace in the beginning of the vacation season with the expectation that Walt Disney World would add a number of Christmas designs, however that didn’t occur. Unless you rely a “Toy Story Nutcracker” design…which we don’t.)
Of the 68 types, 49 are MagicBand+ and 19 of that are common ole MagicBands (formally generally known as MagicBand 2.0). Honestly, there’s not a lot price discussing in the case of the common MagicBand. There are greater than common, however most are strong colours or bland designs. The solely noteworthy choices are those primarily based on “A Guide to the Magic Kingdom” that function retro paintings from authentic Seventies park maps. We beforehand lined these in this submit.
When it involves MagicBand Plus, there are a handful of latest designs. The highlights right here embody characters like Winnie the Pooh and Stitch, Baby Groot, Mickey & Friends, Star Wars characters, and extra. There are additionally new Walt Disney World emblem and My First Visit designs. For me, the highlights of the recently-released designs are Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway and EPCOT fortieth Anniversary MagicBand+ types.
Honestly, I wish to see extra common MagicBand types launched. I concern that is going to sluggish to a trickle in 2023 and past, however hope to be fallacious about that. From my perspective, MagicBand+ is basically a flop–I’d slightly pay much less and persist with tried and true MagicBand 2.
If you don’t like every of those designs–or there isn’t one thing for everybody in your social gathering–there’s no hurt in ready till you arrive at Walt Disney World to buy your MagicBand. The solely draw back is that you just gained’t be capable to instantly use your MagicBand to open your resort room door, enter the parks, and so on–however the precise course of of shopping for a MagicBand and linking it to your My Disney Experience account is easy and straightforward.
Speaking of which, you could possibly stroll right into a Walt Disney World present store proper now and discover cabinets and cabinets of MagicBands. There is ample availability within the parks & resorts…however these will not be the identical product traces and the logistics of delivering to the parks is totally different than the success middle for these MagicBand improve choices. (A extra resourceful firm may work out a method to reallocate provide, however Disney isn’t any Amazon!)
Those choosing a pre-arrival buy ought to know that the system works the identical as earlier than, and as described within the the rest of this text. The solely distinction is that the MagicBands upgrades now begin at $10 every, versus free.
Whether you need to pay to buy a MagicBand pre-arrival is a private determination, however there’s one large upside in that it makes the holiday expertise seamless and streamlined. You can bypass your resort’s entrance desk, don’t must problem with separate funds, keys, and so on. So there’s undoubtedly a component of comfort for on-site friends.
Note that you’ve till 10 days earlier than your arrival at Walt Disney World to customise and order your MagicBand if you wish to have the MagicBand shipped to your property. If you order in beneath 10 days, you’re eliminating two of the most important benefits in shopping for MagicBands.
Due to postal service delays, we suggest inserting your order at the least 14 days upfront to play it secure. Anecdotally, we’re additionally listening to of extra friends having their orders delayed or cancelled utterly, so even ordering far upfront doesn’t assure that your MagicBands will arrive on time–or in any respect.
With that mentioned, listed here are our troubleshooting suggestions and the step-by-step course of for ordering. (Just remember the fact that this was written when provide chain disruptions weren’t a factor–so that you’re going to see much more stock n the screenshots beneath that’s NOT at present accessible!)
TROUBLESHOOTING
It’s onerous to consider, however the MagicBand improve choice went dwell a number of years in the past. Part of the explanation that it’s onerous to consider is as a result of MagicBand stock stays hit and miss. The system can also be frustratingly glitchy, with issues requiring non-public or antiquated browsers, plus errors all through the method–even after submitting cost.
We assumed the kinks would’ve been ironed out by now, however sadly, that isn’t the case. (How naive of us given the fixed points with My Disney Experience years after its launch.) Unfortunately, past this troubleshooting recommendation beneath coupled with persistence, there’s no good decision. If reader reviews are any indication, contacting Disney is unlikely to yield favorable outcomes. (We’d love to listen to your experiences within the feedback!)
We can’t stress sufficient that this method continues to be having an incredible quantity of issues. If you’re having hassle finishing the choice course of, or getting this to work, we’d suggest utilizing the desktop web site as an alternative of the My Disney Experience app or cellular web site.
Additionally, if the desktop model of DisneyWorld.com gained’t give you the results you want, attempt non-public searching, incognito mode, or a unique browser fully. Usually, we first attempt non-public searching on Chrome, and that resolves the problem. However, a few occasions we’ve acquired a message that we should not have entry to a sure web page, or that our cost couldn’t be processed–each of these points may be resolved by time-traveling again to Y2K and utilizing Internet Explorer. (Don’t fear, you gained’t have to make use of AOL or dial-up, too.)
We’ve discovered that this course of will get hung up on a number of totally different pages, together with on the choice and checkout course of. Having a ‘clean’ browser will typically resolve these points. It’s not foolproof, however when you’re discovering that issues turn out to be unavailable proper after you choose them, that’s one clarification as to why.
If you’re having points with stock…there’s no nice answer to that. We’d suggest watching the positioning, checking every morning at round 8 am for the day’s restocks, and ordering your MagicBands if you see a ‘good enough’ choice of MagicBands that enchantment to you. Additionally, individuals are reporting points with their orders truly delivery, however this appears to be a sporadic downside.
If your Walt Disney World trip just isn’t within the close to future, we’d suggest being affected person and ready for a design you truly need. Now that Disney has a extra correct understanding of demand, they’re (hopefully) extra prone to improve the stock to an satisfactory degree to fulfill the unimaginable demand.
While we aren’t enormous into Magic Bands, this may undoubtedly have collectors and character followers excited, because it means buying a brand new design for what quantities to $15 off. If you favored distinctive designs and have already got a drawer filled with the ‘standard’ colours from previous Walt Disney World journeys, leaping on the up-charge definitely is smart.
Personally, I’ll most likely simply persist with the only, strong blue MagicBand that I’ve been utilizing for the previous a number of years…which itself changed a unique blue one which needed to be “retired” as a result of it was too soiled.
Not that you just care about that. Anyway, right here’s how the method works…
After clicking the “My MagicBands and Cards” hyperlink beneath the My Disney Experience drop-down on DisneyWorld.com or the “Choose MagicBands” button in your resort reservation, you’ll see the above display.
As you’ll be able to see, there’s a message on the display indicating that the brand new improve choices may be shipped to friends’ properties (U.S. addresses solely) if ordered 11 or extra days forward of arrival. They may be personalised if achieved so at the least 6 or extra days forward of arrival.
Once you click on the “Choose My MagicBands” button, the above display seems…as soon as.
I began this on my telephone and continued by way of desktop (the place I didn’t see it once more), which is why it’s the one cellular screenshot right here.
This is what seems subsequent, and when you hit “Select” the display scrolls down on the identical web page, revealing all of this:
Through the magic of Photoshop, I mixed each single web page right into a single view, so you could possibly see every character and attraction-themed MagicBand.
Above is nearer take a look at a single web page, together with what you see if you hover over the MagicBand you need to choose.
No Country Bear Jamboree, however ya can’t win ’em all. Hopefully, over time new designs will probably be added as a part of particular promotions, seasonal occasions, and that kind of factor. (I presume the ‘best’ designs that Walt Disney World believes will promote to collectors and fans will stay unique to shops, the place they are often bought at full worth.)
If I had been going to order something, it’d be this Spaceship Earth design. It goes properly with my assortment of ~372 gray Magic Bands.
Once chosen, you arrive at this whole buy display the place you’ll be able to change your title. From there, you’ll enter cost information, a delivery deal with, and end the checkout. Assuming the system works!
One of the upsides is {that a} vary of latest MagicBand selections are additionally being added frequently. Newer choices embody a classy voyageur Mickey Mouse design for Disney’s Riviera Resort, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Toy Story Land, Figment, Spaceship Earth, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort, and varied films.
In addition to those MagicBands, we’ve seen a wide range of different choices coming out and in of inventory. On a “good” day, there are round 30 choices in inventory. These embody it’s a small world, Disney Vacation Club, Haunted Mansion, and a wide range of different film and attraction designs. If you don’t see choices you want and you’ve got loads of time earlier than your Walt Disney World journey, maintain checking again!
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Learn about inns on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To lower your expenses on tickets or decide which kind to purchase, learn our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets submit. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips submit takes a singular take a look at intelligent gadgets to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the very best place to start out is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for all the things it’s good to know!
YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you consider the brand new MagicBand improve choices? Will you be paying the $10 to $20 premium for one among these colours or themed designs? Any particular design catch your eye? Do you cynically suppose that is only a lame cash-grab? Any questions we may also help you reply? Hearing your suggestions–even if you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!