Ways to Access the Magic
Written By Dannielle Puckett, Travel Advisor | Disney Specialist
With the addition of Disney’s MagicMobile service, we have a lot of clients asking questions. Do I still need a Magic Band for my Disney World vacation? Are MagicBands being phased out? Well, according to Disney, MagicBands are still sticking around… at least for now. The introduction of MagicMobile simply means that there are now just more ways to access the magic.
So, which option is best for you? Is it MagicBands, MagicMobile or a Key to the World card?
MagicBands
MagicBands are colorful, waterproof wristbands that you can quickly and easily touch to a sensor called an access point. You can use MagicBands to:
- Unlock doors at your Disney Resort hotel, including your room
- Access theme park admission
- Enter the Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance attraction when your boarding group is called in the virtual queue (Read our best tips for joining a group.) Update: Rise of the Resistance no longer uses a virtual queue.
- Redeem Genie+ Lightning Lanes
- Link Disney PhotoPass photos (including automatic linking at select attractions)
- Charge purchases to your Disney Resort hotel room, if you are staying in a Disney Resort hotel
MagicBands used to be complimentary with a resort stay, but now there is a charge. Disney Resort hotel Guests do still have the option to purchase MagicBands up to 10 days before arrival at special pre-arrival prices, starting at only 5 dollars. You can have your magic band shipped to you for free, and it will already be linked to your My Disney Experience account. Alternately, if you are staying off property you can purchase a MagicBand online at shopDisney or at select merchandise locations at Walt Disney World Resort.
Quick tip: Don’t pack your MagicBands away in your luggage. Instead, keep them with you and easily accessible, since they will be used at check in —and to unlock your room when you arrive at your Disney Resort hotel!
While Disney Resort hotel Guests no longer receive complimentary MagicBands, if you have MagicBands from a previous visit, you can still use them.
MagicBands make great souvenirs and are re-usable for future trips. Resort Guests can purchase pre-arrival exclusive bands. There is even a birthday themed band if you are celebrating.
Image Credit: Disney
Disney MagicMobile Service
Disney MagicMobile service is a new, contactless feature of the My Disney Experience app that gives you the power to use an eligible iPhone, Apple Watch or Google Pay enabled Android phone to:
- Access theme park admission
- Enter the Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance attraction when your boarding group is called in the virtual queue. Update: Rise of the Resistance no longer uses a virtual queue.
- Link Disney PhotoPass photos
- Redeem Genie+ Lightning Lanes
- Charge purchases to your Disney Resort hotel room (coming soon)
- If you’re staying at a Disney Resort hotel, you can also use the My Disney Experience app to unlock doors at your Resort hotel, including your room.With Direct-to-Room service, you may even be able to use the unlock door feature when you arrive at your Disney Resort hotel to skip the Front Desk and proceed directly to your room.
You can even create multiple digital passes for different members of your party and access them through a single device. It’s a great option for large families! CLICK HERE to see my video on Instagram!
You might be concerned about your battery life, but it’s actually not an issue. MagicMobile uses the transit and access feature of Apple Wallet. This means that your phone doesn't need to be unlocked, and it will still work when you are out of battery. Most features are available by holding up your eligible smart device near an access point, just as you do with a MagicBand. If you put your Apple device in Express Mode, you don’t need to unlock it in order to use a Disney MagicMobile pass.
Key to the World Cards
Key to the World Cards work in a similar fashion to MagicBands, but physically resemble a plastic credit card. This option has been around for a while. You can use Key to the World Cards to:
- Unlock doors at your Disney Resort hotel, including your room
- Access theme park admission
- Enter the Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance attraction when your boarding group is called in the virtual queue
- Redeem Genie+ Lightning Lanes
- Link Disney PhotoPass photos
- Charge purchases to your Disney Resort hotel room
Complimentary Key to the World Cards are available for Disney Resort hotel Guests at the Front Desk.
So in summary, these options all do about the same thing, and they can even work seamlessly together. You can use a MagicBand, a Disney MagicMobile pass or a card during your vacation. Just choose whichever works best in the moment. They will all also work with Fastpass+, but this option is currently suspended due to COVID-19.
I do recommend setting up MagicMobile even if you plan to use MagicBands. If someone loses their band or forgets it back at the room, you can pull up their pass on your phone and save the day! If all else fails, you can always step over to guest relations for some help. Just ensure you link your tickets, reservations or other entitlements to your account before you ever leave home.
Contact your Sojourney Travel advisor for more assistance.
Source: Disney.com
Dannielle has been a lover of travel her whole life. From family ski trips in Canada and the US, to adventurous deep sea fishing and lobstering in the Florida Keys, her love for travel never stops. Since having children of her own, she has fallen in love with the magic and wonder that Walt Disney World Resort vacations bring her family. She is always planning trips for herself, family, and friends and now is excited to help YOU plan your next Disney or Universal Vacation.
Attention to detail is her specialty, and she loves finding magical moments everywhere in her trips. Dannielle is a blessed wife and mother to four amazing children.