MagicBand+ is the new new factor at Walt Disney World, however it’s not the one possibility for getting into the parks and different options. MagicMobile is a service that makes use of your cellphone or different good units, and is usually a handy various to Magic Bands. This put up compares and contrasts the choices, supplies primary background, and presents commentary about which we favor.
Let’s begin with a easy rundown of the choices: Key to the World Card, MagicBand, MagicBand Plus, and MagicMobile service. All of those are a part of the built-in MyMagic+ system. You might not be aware of that time period, which wouldn’t be shocking since Walt Disney World has primarily deserted it in the previous couple of years. Even the official MyMagic+ web page now not mentions it (besides within the superb print).
Anyway, MyMagic+ is a collection of applied sciences that combine numerous features of their Walt Disney World expertise into one system. Half of that happens within the My Disney Experience app, the place you make Advance Dining Reservations and Genie+ reservations, whereas the opposite half happens within the bodily world, principally by interacting with touchpoints.
There had been plenty of different huge ambitions for MyMagic+ that by no means got here to fruition, however the underlying system stays. (See “The Messy Business of Reinventing Happiness” and “Behind the Scenes at Disney As it Purged a Favorite Son” in case you’re desirous about extra on the trials and tribulations of MyMagic+ and NextGen.)
With that out of the best way, let’s run by means of the varied ‘real world’ choices for interfacing with the My Disney Experience app and Walt Disney World’s infrastructure:
Key to the World Card – This is Walt Disney World’s time period in your lodge room key. This predates MagicBands and MagicMobile, however remains to be going robust. While the corporate has tried to completely change and remove Key to the World playing cards within the final a number of years, they are nonetheless accessible in case you go to the entrance desk of your resort and request one.
Key to the World Cards can do the next:
- Unlock your Disney Resort lodge room door
- Enter theme parks (with linked legitimate theme park admission and park reservation)
- Connect Disney PhotoPass pictures to your account
- Gain entry to digital queues (presently in use for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind)
- Redeem Lightning Lane experience reservations booked through Genie+ or the a la carte buy possibility
- Charge to your Disney Resort lodge folio throughout your keep
MagicBand – Walt Disney World’s authentic wearable machine, now in its second technology. MagicBands are waterproof and adjustable wristbands that enable friends to hyperlink their My Disney Experience accounts to a bracelet, permitting them to be hands-free within the parks and resorts. MagicBand has all the similar options because the Key to the World Card.
Additionally, MagicBands function with long-range RFID for computerized linking of on-ride pictures. A battery is critical for that, and people are likely to die after about 2 years. All different MagicBand options use short-range RFID, which doesn’t require a battery. This means you should utilize the identical MagicBand for scanning into the parks, opening lodge doorways, or every other faucet level…just about perpetually! Only the on-ride picture function will cease working after a pair years.
MagicBand+ – We discover it greatest to consider MagicBand+ as two units in a single. One of those is the MagicBand, which features in precisely the identical methods as a legacy MagicBand. It has all the similar options, performance, strengths and weaknesses as these recognized above. Think of this because the “dumb” facet of the machine, which (once more) works with out battery energy and does basic items like getting into the park or Lightning Lanes.
Then there’s the opposite half–the “Plus Part.” This is element not provided by the OG MagicBand, and encompasses all the interactivity, lighting, vibrations, minigames, and experiential parts. This is the (sorta) good machine that’s powered by a battery and requires recharging. When the battery is lifeless, the minigames and particular results gained’t work, however all the common MagicBand options will. (For extra on this popular-but-polarizing new machine, see our MagicBand+ Review: The Good, Bad & Ugly. Sadly, there’s a bit an excessive amount of of the latter two classes for our liking with the MagicBand Plus.)
MagicMobile – This service is now accessible for Walt Disney World friends within the My Disney Experience app, and might be added to your Android, iPhone, or Apple Watch digital pockets. Once enabled, the MagicMobile service works by holding your good machine close to entry factors round Walt Disney World.
Disney MagicMobile passes can do the next:
- Enter theme parks (with linked legitimate theme park admission and park reservation)
- Connect Disney PhotoPass pictures to your account
- Gain entry to digital queues
- Redeem Lightning Lane experience reservations booked through Genie+ or the a la carte buy possibility
- Charge to your Disney Resort lodge folio throughout your keep
In evaluating these lists, you would possibly discover the one factor lacking from MagicMobile is opening lodge room doorways. At current, this isn’t supported (but?). In case all of that’s complicated, right here’s a comparability chart that breaks down the variations:
Before we get began with the commentary, one robust advice we’ve got in relation to MagicMobile is enabling Express Mode. (See How to Set-Up MagicMobile.) With this, MagicMobile works routinely with out FaceID or your passcode. Just maintain your iPhone or Apple Watch close to a reader. Your cross might also be accessible when your iPhone must be recharged.
This signifies that utilizing MagicMobile doesn’t require any display screen time. I’ve bolded this as a result of there’s the misunderstanding amongst some Walt Disney World followers that MagicMobile requires extra time together with your face in your cellphone, which is fake.
That is a sound criticism with the entire of the Walt Disney World visitor expertise within the period of Mobile Order, Genie+ and Lightning Lanes, and all the pieces else that’s reliant upon My Disney Experience–however it’s inapplicable with regard to MagicMobile, particularly. After the preliminary setup (which might be finished each time), you don’t want to “interact” together with your cellphone or watch to make use of MagicMobile. The machine might be in sleep mode or inactive and MagicMobile nonetheless works!
When MagicMobile first debuted, I had points with it. While setup went easily, the touchpoints at Walt Disney World didn’t at all times acknowledge my iPhone. In essence, nothing occurred once I put the machine close to the reader–nothing got here up on the cellphone and the touchpoint didn’t illuminate.
In equity, it’s additionally doable that this was a difficulty with my Apple Wallet. I’ve actually by no means had any issues with it anyplace else, so that may be a primary. By distinction, I’ve been having points with Walt Disney World expertise for over a decade; about the one consistency with Disney IT is issues. While I’ll by no means know conclusively the reason for my points with MagicMobile, I’m going to use Occam’s razor.
As a consequence, I ended utilizing MagicMobile for some time and reverted to MagicBands. I didn’t give MagicMobile a second thought till someday I left my MagicBand within the automotive and didn’t understand this whereas inside ft of the park entrance. Rather than strolling all the best way again to the parking zone, I figured I’d give MagicMobile one other shot.
It labored flawlessly, even in Express Mode.
Suffice to say, I started utilizing MagicMobile increasingly and was gained over by the service. I haven’t had a single difficulty with it within the final a number of months, and to my recollection, I haven’t had any points with it on this complete calendar 12 months. My troubles had been at launch, which isn’t to say it’s error-free, however in case you tried MagicMobile when it first debuted and had issues, it is likely to be value revisiting.
There’s nothing significantly novel or noteworthy about MagicMobile. It works precisely like different Apple Wallet merchandise and cost choices, and even just like the Key to the World card or MagicBands. For me, the benefit actually comes right down to the truth that I’m at all times carrying my cellphone, anyway, so why not simply use that?
I used to not thoughts and even take pleasure in sporting a MagicBand, however that hasn’t been the case for some time. To every their very own, however I already put on an Apple Watch on one hand. I don’t want or need something on the opposite–appears a bit Bohemian to have a bracelet on every wrist.
Speaking of which, MagicMobile might be enabled on the Apple Watch as an alternative of the cellphone. This actually simplifies issues, and makes the transition from MagicBand to MagicMobile particularly simple. (Former Disney CEO Bob Iger speculated that Disney and Apple would’ve merged had Steve Jobs not died. I ponder whether the MagicBand would even exist if Disney and Apple collaborated somewhat extra carefully–or if Disney had simply waited for wearable expertise to advance a bit earlier than growing the MagicBand.)
For no matter it’s value, Sarah prefers to make use of MagicMobile through her Apple Watch. However, she additionally favors utilizing MagicBands and continues to take action. From her perspective, the MagicBand is related to trip and is a enjoyable accent. (I additionally don’t suppose the aforementioned Bohemian bracelet ‘rules’ apply to girls.)
Sarah additionally finds the MagicMobile service to be inferior to the MagicBand, as there are nonetheless some issues it may possibly’t do. She’s proper.
While usable by anybody, I’ve realized not too long ago that MagicMobile is certainly extra of a function for locals, whereas MagicBands would possibly make extra sense for vacationers.
Generally talking, locals don’t put on MagicBands to work or of their day-to-day lives. Those residing in Central Florida would possibly retailer a MagicBand of their cupholder, however it’s simple to overlook. By distinction, evidently everybody as of late feels “naked” with out their cellphone. It’s so much much less more likely to be left at house or within the automotive when making that after-work journey to EPCOT.
For a vacationer, there may be undoubtedly one thing to be mentioned for placing in your MagicBand as soon as touchdown in Florida, getting into ‘vacation mode,’ and pulling out your cellphone or different screen-based units as little as doable.
Another related consideration for vacationers is one conspicuous omission from MagicMobile: unlocking your lodge room door. For that, you should open the Resort Hotel tile in My Disney Experience, and use the “unlock door” function. While that sounds easy sufficient, it’s usually simpler mentioned than finished. I’d say my success charge for that is about 75-85%.
That might not sound unhealthy…till a type of failures happens whenever you’re staying in Ranchos 7A at Coronado Springs and get again to your room after midnight. Sadly, that’s not a hypothetical. It additionally wasn’t the primary time I’ve been burned by the unlock door function in My Disney Experience, which at all times appears to fail on the most inopportune instances.
Ever since that fateful night, I cease on the entrance desk to get a room key someday early-on throughout our stays when it’s handy. Much sooner to do this than to stroll to the room, strike out with expertise, stroll to the entrance desk, after which again to the room.
Ultimately, there’s no one-size suits all reply as to whether a Key to the World Card, MagicMobile, MagicBand, or MagicBand+ is greatest. All 4 are very related to one another, with the function set having appreciable overlap. What it actually comes right down to is your trip price range, view in the direction of equipment or wearable collectibles, and private preferences.
While we’ll readily admit that MagicBand+ upset us, we nonetheless suppose shopping for a MagicBand is smart for many vacationers staying on-site at Walt Disney World. However, that comes with the appreciable caveats mentioned above, and is hardly “necessary.” It’s undoubtedly the simplest and most streamlined possibility, however it’s doable the ‘value add’ over MagicMobile or Key to the World Cards doesn’t outweigh the price. If you’re on a good price range, follow the free options. As far as Walt Disney World splurges go, MagicBands aren’t excessive on the listing for us. As at all times, your mileage might differ.
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Learn about motels 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 put up. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips put up takes a singular have 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 pieces you should know!
YOUR THOUGHTS
Have you used MagicMobile in your cellphone or watch? What about MagicBand+ or MagicBand? Or, are you continue to sticking with the Key to the World Card, circa 2008 type?! If you’ve used all (or a number of) of the above, which of them do you want or dislike? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions we may also help you reply? Hearing your suggestions–even whenever you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!