Hi Elaine, welcome to planDisney!
You'll be visiting Walt Disney World Resort during my favorite season of celebration. In December, holiday magic coats the theme parks and Disney Resorts Collection hotels in a layer of evergreen-scented pixie dust.
Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, offered on select nights at Magic Kingdom Park, is festive fun for Guests of all ages. Keep an eye on the
Disney Parks Blog for an announcement about 2023 party dates and note that Magic Kingdom Park closes early for general admission Guests on those dates.
I'm giving you a virtual high five for deciding to immerse yourself in the magic by staying at a
Disney Resorts Collection hotel during your visit, Elaine. In addition to invaluable perks like
early theme park entry and the ability to make
advance dining reservations for your entire stay (up to 10 days) 60 days before arrival, Disney Resort hotel Guests can receive a discounted pre-arrival price on a customized
MagicBand+.
Unfortunately, Disney Gift Cards are not an accepted payment method for pre-arrival MagicBands. I learned this when placing my own pre-arrival MagicBand order a couple of months ago. If using a Disney Gift Card to purchase MagicBands for your party is a priority, Elaine, you are welcome to purchase them on
shopDisney or at a retail location on Disney property. Just note that the pre-arrival price is not available for these purchase methods. Something else to keep in mind is that
MagicBand+ designs must be linked to your My Disney Experience account, fully charged, and paired with a mobile device before use; pre-arrival MagicBands come pre-linked but must still be charged and paired.
When I learned that Disney Gift Cards were not accepted for pre-arrival MagicBand orders, Elaine, I cut my family's order down from four to two. My husband and daughter decided to stick with their MagicBand 2 designs from a previous trip. Each person in your party must select or decline a MagicBand before a pre-arrival order can be placed. If anyone in your party decides not to purchase a MagicBand, other
methods of theme park entry include
Disney MagicMobile passes and admission cards.
I ho-ho-hope this information helps you make an informed decision about your MagicBand purchase. Please return to planDisney with any other trip-planning questions.
Choose holiday magic,
Jennifer