Hi Brandie, and welcome to planDisney! It’s so convenient to use my
MagicBand+ to do everything from opening my resort hotel room door to entering the theme parks. But, like you, I’d rather not charge yet another device at night!
When I was at Disney World last month, a Cast Member told me the older MagicBand 2 was being phased out and I only saw MagicBand+ sold in the gift shops. But I do have some good news! You don’t need to keep your MagicBand+ charged to get all the core functionality like scanning into theme park and
Lightning Lane entrances, opening your resort hotel room door, linking
PhotoPass pictures, and interacting with the
Disney Fab 50 Character statues. When MagicBand+ isn’t charged, it just doesn’t light up or vibrate. I often leave my charger at home and still use my MagicBand+ throughout my vacation!
The newer MagicBand+ does add a bit of extra pixie dust to your theme park day! Sometimes the bands will light up and vibrate when you get close to the Disney Fab 50 Character statues, ride certain attractions, and watch the nighttime spectaculars. It always makes me feel like I’m right in the middle of the magic!
One of my favorite MagicBand+ features is being able to play
Batuu Bounty Hunters in
Galaxy’s Edge. Completing these missions with your MagicBand+ is a fun way to explore Back Spire Outpost and catch the details you might otherwise miss!
If you’re staying at a
Disney Resort hotel, or are an
Annual Passholder, you can pre-order MagicBand+ at a lower price through the
Disney World website. I love doing this because, in addition to the discount, they usually engrave your name on the back of the band, which is pretty cool! However, if you wait to purchase a MagicBand+ at Disney World, you'll find a much bigger selection.
There are also two complimentary alternatives to buying a MagicBand+. You can pick up a Key to the World card from
Guest Relations or your Disney Resort hotel’s front desk. The other option is to set up
Disney MagicMobile Service on your phone, which gives you most MagicBand+ features right from your mobile wallet!
I hope you have a magical visit to Disney World in May! And if you have any other questions, we’d love to have you back at planDisney.
JoAnna