Yesterday, Disney shared a few reopening details including the fact that they would be canceling Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party.
Magic Kingdom
They also announced that the Epcot Food and Wine Festival would kick off on July 15th this year. And just this morning, Disney shared a full list of tours and special events that will not take place during the initial phase of reopening.
Now, they have just released a BIG update regarding MagicBands. Disney will be discontinuing FREE MagicBands in January 2021. Previously, Disney World Hotel guests would receive a complimentary solid colored MagicBand. This will no longer be the case beginning next year.
MagicBand Options ©Disney
Instead, Disney plans to launch new offerings as part of the My Disney Experience app that will bring features of a MagicBand to your smart devices. While expanding upon the app’s Digital Key Feature (which allows guests to unlock their rooms using their smartphones), Disney will be “retiring complimentary MagicBand distribution” for all Disney Resort hotel guests starting January 1st, 2021.
MagicBand reader in Walt Disney World
Disney Resort hotel guests will still be able to purchase new MagicBands at a discounted price, and Disney says they will continue releasing new MagicBand colors and designs. These will continue to be sold at retail locations as well as online.
New MagicBand display at World of Disney
Guests who prefer not to purchase a discounted MagicBand will be able to use the My Disney Experience app or a Key to the World card during their visit. We’ll continue to provide you further details as soon as they’re released!
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What do you think about Disney’s decision to discontinue distributing free MagicBands to resort guests? Let us know in the comments below!
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I would not want to be wandering around the parks and resorts constantly having to refer to my phone. Magic Bands are wonderful and so much easier. Surely they are making enough money from visitors already without making them pay for a Band.
I found the magic bands very convenient to maneuver around the World. It was on your wrist and you just had to have it scanned. Now we will have to pull out our phones or cards whenever we need to get in the park, purchase food or ride rides. I wish they were going to keep the bands. Made it so much easier
Just like I thought, due to these ongoing crisis we will get less magic and pay more! That means less visits for us! Sad
No doubt price increases next year. Less for your money while staying on site.
I think discontinuing free magic bands is a great idea. How many does one person need? Anything to help preserve W.D.W. after this pandemic is viable. Perhaps offering a discount to Hotel Guests to purchase character bands could be an option.
Will the MagicBands that I purchased for my trip this past March still work next year? Obviously I had to cancel my trip due to the closure. I plan on going next March.
Step backwards in my opinion. Don’t really want everyone in my party carrying cell phones or the hassle of a plastic card. Was always much easier to have a wrist band.
I would rather have the magic bands. What happens when the phone loses its charge.
@Janelle
Will we be able to use existing Magic Bands that are still “live?”
Thanks!
Will I still be able to use my older magic band to open doors and pay for merchandise. I would hate to have to have my phone in my hand during the entire visit.
Will old Free bands Be able to be used?
Another tracking system on your phone? I guess the magic bands sitting at home just aren’t providing enough data about us when off property.. Insidious and insulting…
No thanks….
Not shocking, but disappointing – the box of magic bands was such an exciting thing to open in advance of a trip to WDW…
This is such BS. Just a money making grab by Disney again. If they weren’t selling any bands, that would be one thing. And who wants to pull out their phone every single time? We only ever take one phone in order to avoid loss/theft. Now every person in party will need to have their phone so it can get lost on a ride?
I have had it with them. Last trip was awful enough with so much gone, i.e., no Voices of Liberty every day, Surly cast members, Merch advertised not available, menu items no longer available, prices through the roof, unbelievable, obnoxious crowds, etc. And now this. The whole enterprise can collapse as far as I’m concerned.
Great! Now our phone is sure to die half way thru a day. And if our phone dies how are we going to get on rides, etc. Very inconvenient
What about for passholders when you renew? Is that discontinued as well?
Can all new info be put on already owned Magic Bands…I mean they’re not discontinuing the bands since they’re still on sale and new ones are being made and sold….
Pete, I think as long as the battery is still kicking and you can attach it to your trip in My Disney Experience, you should be able to use old MagicBands.
Lisa, it sounds like you’ll still be able to use MagicBands. Disney says they will continue to sell them and that Resort guests will be able to get one for discounted rate — they’re just not giving them out with a Resort stay.
Absolutely appalled by their decision. It is such a pain searching for your mobile while juggling everything else getting into the park or on rides and will the app work or will it freeze with so many people using the app . Disney please rethink this – Magic bands should stay!
Jackie, no specific word on this, but you should be able to activate/attach an old MagicBand to your current reservation in order to use them.
Raquel, we’ll have to see how that all works out. We are fond of power banks/portable chargers for our long Park days.
What about children who do not have smart devices? They get a “key to the world” card? Weren’t magic bands created to eliminate the card system? Another money grab by Disney
So for people who do not have smart phones, they are left out from not having to pay more money.
Any idea if this will also apply to DVC members?
Think this is a terrible idea! The great thing about magic bands is you didn’t have to carry anything!! And to not give out the basic one is ludicrous.!! Really bad idea on Disney’s part!!
I love magic bands ! So handy when entering fast pass rides etc – I’m assuming they are not getting rid of magic band ‘check in’ stands for fast pass and at park entrance ? That would be such a shame !
I am dismayed that they are discontinuing the free magic bands. Every recent change requires more reliance on cell phones. Not everyone has a cell phone and those who don’t will be at a clear disadvantage. I have seen no talk of alternatives to the use of smart phones. I have a cell phone, but I don’t have a data p!an so relying on the spotty Wi-Fi connection will be frustrating to say the least. And do guests who own cell phones with all the bells and whistles really want to have to have it in hand all the time? We had to cancel our trip for this summer and are hoping to visit WDW next summer, but even if we are able to return to a more pre-covid normal, I’m worried that the days of a phone free vacation are over. Sad…very sad.
I find this ridiculous. It cost so much to go the way it is, now they can’t give you a couple bands? What happens if you are low on battery for your phone? This is just sad to me. They are pricing people out of these vacations.
Money Hungry thrives! Not what Walt Disney would approve of.
Wow! Seems like another “perk” of Disney goes bye-bye. I’ve heard too many horror stories about Disney’s park WiFi being unreliable. And sucking out battery life.
Magic Bands are really convenient. Now I have to carry even more stuff – a phone AND a battery charger. I was always able to avoid the bag check lines before. Guess that’s a thing of the past as well now.
Upset about lack of free magic bands. I, and I’m sure many others who have loved Disney trips, don’t have a smartphone. Not purchasing one for this purpose. As a senior citizen who feels safe and has had enjoyed Disney trips, I’m really sad about this decision. Each year I take our adult son with down syndrome there. Now this is going to be made more difficult to go added to coronavirus.
I ABSOLUTELY DO NOT WANT TO USE MY PHONE INSTEAD OF A MAGIC BAND. WHAT A PAIN! AND WHAT ABOUT KIDS??? IT IS SO EASY TO JUST STICK YOUR ARM UP WHENEVER YOU NEED ANYTHING INSTEAD OF HAVING TO DIG FOR YOUR PHONE!
I don’t like using my phone for something else. It’s hard enough to get the app to work but I’m willing to give it a try. I also don’t know what Disney can do about obnoxious people in the parks but whatever…🙄 Some of these people are like that no matter where they are and some of them are even on the internet. Loosen up!
Hi, NENolan. Good news is we expect folks can continue to use MagicBands… they just won’t get one for free with a new Resort reservation in 2021.
I swear anything for them to make a buck.
Cancel the included/complimentary Magic bands and require guests to use their smart phone instead. Oh… but if you still want one, you can purchase them in the park.
We’re still gonna charge you the same amount. Well more actually because we gots to have those price hikes. But you’ll certainly be getting less. 🤬🤬🤬
So does EVERY person have to have a phone now for fast passes etc?
You mentioned a Keys to the world card. What is that? Will it have the short range radio transmitter so the fun magical stuff will still happen? Like the posters at Rockin Rollercoaster and on It’s a small world?
Over the past few years Disney has been making some AWEFUL DECISIONS.
Sandi, it seems like guests will be able to use MagicBands, they just won’t get complimentary ones with a Resort reservation.
Bob, you can still use a MagicBand, but they won’t be given ‘free’ to Resort guests.
Brandon, I can hear your frustration. I’ll try to answer what I can in your comment. It appears that guests can still use MagicBands; in all likelihood, they can attach MBs they already have or they can purchase one (as you mentioned) on-site or (we imagine) online. Resort guests who would normally have gotten a ‘free’ MB will be eligible for a discounted MB (Disney has been doing this with upgraded discounted ones for several months now). I’m not sure how FastPasses will work for folks who have, say, young kids in their group who wouldn’t have a phone. I imagine the FP will be pooled in the system. However, we just don’t know for sure because it’s programming that we won’t start seeing until January 2021. The Keys to the World card is a hard plastic card with your account information on it, but as far as I know, it only has short-range RFID, so it would not work for things like on-ride enhancements (like your name at the end of ‘small world’). I know this all likely doesn’t make you feel much better, but I wanted to at least answer some of your inquiries. Take care.
Sarah. Thanks for the response.
Has Disney made any mention as to why they have made this decision?
Thanks
WHAT IS THE DISCOUNT PRICE OF THE MB
Nice job with the calm, quick replies Sarah!
Magic Bands were so convenient, and a nice perk for resort guests, It would be nice if AP and DVC members would get MB as a perk for them. From reading the comments, I can see I am not the only one not happy with this decision by Disney. MB are so much more convenient than carrying around a ticket, or having to always get out your phone. Not a good move Disney.
I guess I saw this coming but disappointing nonetheless. I hope this is not a sign of things to come with Chapek, Vahle and D’Maro, (and DPEP) who was a great leader at Walt Disney World and Disneyland
We have a room booked for 1/23/21 and have had it booked since february of this year so I looked to see if they are still offering free magic bands as of today for our trip that booked and I still seethe free MB’s. I’m tempted to pick free Magic Bands to see if they cancel the order. I will say there’s no way I will be using my phone in place of a MB. I use enough battery as it is with the app and taking pictures, plus its just way more convent to swipe without he bands. We upgraded for our trip this January ad February so I’m sure that’s what we will end up doing, even though I hate that they won’t be giving them out as part of your tickets/room stay I’m glad I can still purchase them for our upcoming trip I would have been really upset if phones were the only option. I wonder if this will change if enough people call and complain? Thanks for the updates as always DFB!
I’m so impressed by the amount of whining about perks being taken away. All they are doing is changing from using a MB to the same functions on your mobile device OR you can choose the same access item that was offered before MBs, which is a plastic Key to the World card, free. I didn’t get upset when they switched from paper tickets to plastic, and I’m not upset about this change either. I don’t have a smartphone so I’ll use my previously purchased bands which still show active in my MDE account until the batteries die. Then I likely will buy another if they have a design I like or just use the Key card. Easy! If this doesn’t float your boat, luckily you do have other choices for your vacation besides Disney, like Universal.
I have no intention of using my phone to get in and out of parks or my room. When I go walking, or to the pools, I use my apple watch and my phone stays in the safe. I am not adding extra weight by carrying around a charger, nor will I revolve my time around charging my phone in the parks. I’ll use my magic bands until they die and get a new one if the price is right. If need be, I’ll use the card and put it on a lanyard as I do at Universal.
It says guests will still be able to use a key to the world card. To my knowledge those are free. Put it on a lanyard and you don’t need your phone. At least for park entrance and rides. I don’t know how they work for Dining plans.
So 3 yr olds need their own smart phone to be able to get in the park or ride rides or you have to make an additional purchase to buy them a magic band?
Will the Keys to the Kingdom cards work for on ride photos or will you have to swipe for photo?