Hiya, Kayla! Thanks so much for visiting planDisney. We're so glad you're here! Your
Walt Disney World Resort vacation is just around the corner, and like Tarzan, I'm ready to swing into action to find the information you need for your travels!
Guests no longer receive complimentary MagicBands for each stay, but you can choose from a variety of designs and order a discounted next-generation
MagicBand+ from the MagicBands and Cards section of your
My Disney Experience account before your arrival. If you have your heart set on a MagicBand featuring a particular favorite character or attraction, you'll find a great selection in the shops at the resorts, theme parks, and
Disney Springs. You could even pack some of your older MagicBands and see if they still work--the "official" word is that the batteries last 2-3 years, but I've heard of multiple pals using theirs well past that time.
If you choose to go without MagicBands, I personally have come to love the
Disney MagicMobile Service--it turns your phone into a MagicBand! We visited Walt Disney World earlier this year for a dance competition and hadn't made plans to visit the theme parks, so I didn't pack a band. When I found myself with a free day to visit
EPCOT, I set up my MagicMobile pass and saved it to the wallet of my phone. This lets you use your phone for park entry, access to Lightning Lanes, and even Disney PhotoPass pictures (the photo option does require adjusting your settings). You don't even need to pull up the pass itself; simply holding up the phone works. The
My Disney Experience app also has a feature to unlock the door of your hotel room that I use regularly. However, I like to pick up a physical room card at the front desk as a backup!
Kayla, I hope this info is helpful for your planning purposes. Whether you decide to MagicBand or not to MagicBand, you are going to have a magical vacation! Thanks again for stopping by planDisney--please reach out again anytime if we can help with any other questions.
See Ya Real Soon!
Susan