Do you use MagicBands at Disney World?
MagicBand+
In case you’re unfamiliar, a MagicBand or MagicBand+ is a wearable piece of tech that can function as your park ticket, hotel room key, payment method, and a whole lot more. MagicBands have been around for a while, but MagicBand+ — a souped-up version of the original — are newer and have features that can interact with park attractions. Disney just rolled out some new functions on MagicBand+, so you know we had to check them out!
NEW features have been rolled out on MagicBand+ at Disney World! One of the main differences between MagicBands and the new MagicBand+ is that MagicBand+ reacts to its environment with flashing lights and haptic vibrations. Like at fireworks shows, for example — when a firework goes off, your MagicBand+ might light up and vibrate as well. Disney recently added some additional features to MagicBand+ so it will interact with MORE attractions around the parks.
Cinderella Castle
At Animal Kingdom, your MagicBand+ can interact with Festival of the Lion King and Finding Nemo: The Big Blue…and Beyond! And at Hollywood Studios, expect to see some effects at Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage, Disney Jr. Play and Dance!, For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration, and the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular! We visited Hollywood Studios recently and got to test out some of the new features ourselves.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
At the Frozen Sing-Along, we loved that the MagicBand+ lit up with blue every time Elsa did her Snow Queen thing — and it also vibrated to prompt us to sing along with the music! From what we experienced, this was the interaction that was the most seamless and seemed to flow the best.
Frozen Sing Along
At Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular, our MagicBand+ tended to light up orange or red any time there were explosions or fire. They seemed a bit more subtle than the interactions over at the Frozen show. It didn’t vibrate for every explosion, just the major ones — which made it more exciting!
Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular
We tested things out over at the Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along, and while we enjoyed the interaction and effects — they seemed a bit more random like there was no real rhyme or reason to when they went off. It seemed like Belle’s emotions triggered a reaction with purple lights, but we couldn’t really keep track.
Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along
We love these new effects and that Disney is still coming up with ways to improve on the newer MagicBand+. Hopefully, this just means more updates are yet to come. In the meantime, we’ll be on the lookout for the latest news and updates from Disney World, so make sure you stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog for more!
The ULTIMATE Guide To Magic Bands at Disney World
Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe!
WE KNOW DISNEY.
YOU CAN, TOO.
Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation.
Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever!
Do you use MagicBands at Disney World? Tell us in the comments.
Our handy (and portable!) ebook guides make sure you get the best deals and can plan a vacation of a lifetime.
We have them but don’t always use them. They can get hot and sweaty. I recently heard there were special lights when AP’s checked in to a park. I haven’t noticed them. Is that true?
Hi Dulcie! Yes! When you’re an Annual Passholder, they light up a green/purple/blue instead of just green.
I love using Magic Bands+, have used regular, then the + for many years. Question – I assume you don’t have to buy a new MB+ for the above new features to work, right? It’s almost been 3 months since I was at Disneyland before the D23 convention, so I can’t wait to get back to WDW in Orlando soon!