Hi Joanne! Thanks for reaching out to planDisney with your question.
Your magical vacation is almost here! I love it when the countdown gets closer and closer to zero. You are coming to the resort at such a great time. You will be able to learn a lot from the flowers at the
EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival. The park looks absolutely beautiful at this time of year with all of the flower and
topiary displays. I'm most excited to see the
topiaries inspired by Encanto, which will be brand new this year. And the menus for the
Outdoor Kitchens that were recently released for this festival look delicious!
Regarding your old
Disney bands, they actually may not be obsolete. Depending on how old they are, they may still work. If you are going to try to use them, just ensure they are still listed in your
My Disney Experience account. Since you don't have a guarantee that they will work, let me answer your question directly: you do not need a Disney band to enter the parks. While I love my Disney bands and use them every time I go to the parks, they have always been an optional purchase.
If you choose not to purchase a Disney band, you have a few options for entering the parks. My second favorite option, behind Disney bands, is to use the
Disney MagicMobile Service. This service is offered through the
My Disney Experience mobile app and allows you to enter the park using your phone. You can also use this option to redeem any
Lightning Lane reservations you may make or
Virtual Queues you register for, as well as connect any
Disney PhotoPass Service photos to your account. It's very easy to set up. Just follow the instructions on the
Disney MagicMobile Service page and you'll be all set to go!
Another option is to go to
Guest Relations outside of the park gates on your first park day to get a physical card to use throughout your visit. I know a lot of people like these cards as they can be a fun souvenir for when you get back from your trip.
Joanne, no matter how you access the parks, you are bound to have a wonderful time! Be sure to check out the
nighttime spectaculars in
EPCOT and
Magic Kingdom Park while you are there because they are retiring in April!
Remember you're the one who can fill the world with sunshine,
Matt