Hi Carole,
Thanks for visiting planDisney! I'm so happy that you and your daughter will be celebrating your birthdays at the Happiest Place on Earth. The
MagicBand+ is a great way to add a little extra magic to your time in the parks.
I recommend purchasing a MagicBand+ when you arrive at the resort. They’re available at World of Disney in the Downtown Disney District. There are lots of fun designs to choose from, but you can start by checking out what’s available at
DisneyStore.com.
MagicBand+ works a bit differently at the Disneyland Resort compared to the Walt Disney World Resort, so let me give you a quick rundown of what you can expect. You can use your MagicBand+ for the following:
1) Park Entry: Link your MagicBand+ to your ticket through the Disneyland app. I do this for both myself and my little one—she loves scanning herself into the park! With
Disneyland’s new turnstiles, the MagicBand+ helps make entry seamless.
2)
Lightning Lane: Use your MagicBand+ to redeem Lightning Lane reservations. There are scanners at each Lightning Lane entrance where you can either scan your park ticket or tap your MagicBand+. Personally, this is my favorite feature—it means I don’t have to fumble with my phone and can save my battery for taking photos of all the snacks I eat!
3)
PhotoPass: When you take a photo with a Disney PhotoPass photographer, simply scan your MagicBand+ to link the photos to your account. If you’ve purchased Genie+ (which includes Lightning Lane access), you’ll also get unlimited photo downloads.
3)
Interactive Kiosks and Medallions: To celebrate the
70th anniversary, you’ll find special medallions spread across the resort, each featuring a unique character. Your MagicBand+ will react when you get close to a medallion. There are also interactive ticket kiosks in various lands that activate with MagicBand+ and give you a free souvenir ticket. We’re not sure how long these will be around, so keep an eye out!
Interactive Nighttime Entertainment: Your MagicBand+ lights up in sync with the nighttime shows! I feel like I’m part of the performance when mine glows along with
Tapestry of Happiness,
Paint the Night,
Wondrous Journeys, and
World of Color – Happiness!.
I hope this information was helpful, Carole! If you have any more questions or need additional tips, don’t hesitate to reach out to me or any of my fellow planDisney panelists. We’re always here to sprinkle a little extra pixie dust on your trip.
Happy planning!
– Melinda