Are Magic Bands Free?

Prefer To Speak With Someone? Get Free Help From Our Favorite Disney Travel Agency!

What are Disney Magic Bands?

A MagicBand is a wearable electronic wristband that lets you tap into the magic of Walt Disney World Resort. It gives you the freedom to ditch your paperwork (and wallet) and travel lighter for the duration of your Disney World vacation.

Image © Disney

These colorful wristbands seamlessly connect to your My Disney Experience account, allowing you to…

• Enter the theme parks using your purchased admission
• Redeem Lightning Lane and Virtual Queue entries at rides
• Unlock your Disney hotel room door
• Charge food and merchandise purchases back to your resort room account
• Redeem Disney Dining Plan entitlements
• Claim PhotoPass and Memory Maker photos as they’re taken
• Access “surprise” photo and video captures of your on-ride experiences
• Open security gates at your resort’s “returning guests” drive-through lane
• Play interactive games and experience interactive moments during certain shows and fireworks displays (MagicBand+ only)
• Access other experiences you’ve reserved

Once you’ve purchased a MagicBand and linked it with your My Disney Experience account, you’ll enjoy a seamless and hands-free user experience. It’s such a convenient little gadget and they look cool too!

How Much do MagicBands Cost?

Disney has mostly transitioned to a new type of MagicBand called MagicBand+. This newest model includes lighting and vibration effects, along with in-park interactive features that will make the wristband function somewhat like the interactive wands in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Because of the enhanced special effects, they include a rechargeable battery—a big improvement over prior bands which had a non-replaceable battery that would usually only last a couple of years.

Image © Disney

Current pricing is as follows, subject to change:

• $34.99 for a basic solid-color band
• $44.99 for bands with character graphics or other special designs
• $54.99+ for special limited-edition bands (typically celebrating anniversaries and holidays)

You’ll also need to add tax to the above prices, as well as shipping if applicable.

Earlier versions of the Magic Band have fewer features and a lower cost, but have become nearly impossible to find these days.

Where Can You Buy MagicBands?

Guests can purchase their MagicBands via any one of the following:

• Online via the Disney Store website
• Through the Disney World website or MyDisneyExperience app as part of the “pre-arrival flow” for your hotel room reservation
• Walt Disney World theme park retail locations
• Walt Disney World Resort hotel retail locations
• At a select number of Disney Springs retail locations
• Other participating merchandise and retail locations

After you’ve received your Magic Band, you’ll need to link your MagicBand to your Disney account to get full access to all your entitlements.

Are Magic Bands Mandatory?

No, it’s not required to buy a MagicBand. Almost everything that a MagicBand does can be replicated by using either your phone’s digital wallet (via the MagicMobile service) or a free RFID-enabled keycard from your Disney Resort’s front desk.

You’ll mainly be missing out some on-ride photo/video “surprises” that might not be triggered by a keycard alone.

Are Disney Magic Bands Worth It?

The main benefit of MagicBands is extra convenience. Because it’s a wearable device, you don’t have to pull it out of a wallet, pocket, or backpack like you do with the ticket. And because Magic Bands are waterproof, they offer great convenience for pool days or a visit to the water parks.

So while they aren’t necessary, we certainly think they’re “worth it”—at least at the lower cost of a basic band—as long as you’ll be there for more than just a couple of days. This is especially true if you’ll be returning in the future—you can reuse them on multiple trips!

MagicBands make life much easier and provide you with all of your data on one easily-accessible, wearable device. Even though you’ll now have to shell out money for one, MagicBands are still worth the cost.