To MagicBand or not to MagicBand, that is the question.

While MagicBands are not required to enter Disney World, they might make your trip a little easier, but before you rush out to grab one, make sure you know these three rules!

MagicBands are these super cool bracelets you can wear around Disney World and use as your park ticket. They’re great for entering the parks and for scanning in for Lightning Lanes. With each person having their own bracelet, it can be a lot easier than juggling multiple cards, especially when they have cool designs on them of your favorite characters or attractions.

Here are three rules you should know before buying a MagicBand!

1. You need to charge your MagicBand+ for all the features

MagicBand+ is the newer version of MagicBands, where they have cool light-up features and interactive elements throughout the park. They vibrate during attractions or firework shows and you can even cause certain statues to make noise. We love that they make a certain sound and color when you scan into a park or use a Lightning Lane.

These light-up elements are awesome, but they do require you to charge your band. Your band likely won’t come charged, but it will come with a charger, where you’ll have to plug it into a USB for a few hours. The battery life typically doesn’t last more than one day, and this can be a lot in the hotel room at night trying to manage all the bands.

You can grab a multicharger for MagicBands for around $10 on Amazon and charge up to four MagicBands using only one of the outlets in your hotel room!

Grab the MagicBand MultiCharger Here!

Luckily, you don’t need them to be charged for scanning! If you didn’t remember to charge up, no worries, you can still use them as normal but if you’re going to spend the money on them, you’ll want to be getting those full features.

2. You might still need to pull out your card or phone

The convenience of MagicBands is unmatched, but that doesn’t mean they’re perfect. Oftentimes, to use discounts associated with your account, like your Annual Pass, you’ll still have to pull open the app or show your physical card.

MagicBands can also be used to make charges, but they don’t work at every location, so you’ll still have to bring your wallet just in case.

This can be annoying when you bought the MagicBands to make your life easier and while they do, you can’t get away without having your wallet.

3. You can change the size of the MagicBand — but only once

You might be looking at that MagicBand with your child’s favorite character on it and questioning if it’s going to fit. To make the bands smaller, all you need to do is peel the outside plastic, leaving the smaller band.

On old MagicBands, the tear-away section used to be gray, so if you didn’t tear it off, you had a large gray section. Now, the whole band is covered in design. This is great for those who aren’t making it smaller, but when you rip off the plastic, you might be removing a whole character and a large portion of the design!

We recommend these little rubber sliders that attach to the MagicBand and keep it from coming off. They’re great if you’re wrapping the band around your wrist or if you’re scared you’ll bump it off.

CHECK OUT OUR FAVORITE MAGICBANDS HERE

These are our top MagicBand tips for your next trip. Do you prefer to use MagicBands? Let us know in the comments, and keep following Disney Food Blog for all things Disney.

Read everything you need to know about Lightning Lanes at Disney World here!

Do you use a MagicBand in the parks? Let us know in the comments!