Hi Linda! Thanks for visiting planDisney.
Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort operate a little differently in some ways. Only
MagicBand+ is operational in the California parks. Additionally, the functionality associated with MagicBand+ isn't the same. You won't be able to pay for food, beverages, or merchandise using your band at Disneyland Resort and it doesn't unlock your room at Disneyland Resort Hotels. You can scan into the parks and Lightning Lane Entrances with Genie+, soon to be called Lightning Lane Multi Pass, however. The bands are interactive as well, lighting up and buzzing along with select Attractions and Entertainment. We recently used bands as a family at the parks and found them especially helpful when scanning into our Lightning Lane return time windows. The hands-free option is speedier than getting out a mobile device and pulling up the
Disneyland mobile app.
Another difference relates to reassigning bands. At Walt Disney World Resort, you can't reassign a band once it's linked to a Guest in the My Disney Experience app, which means borrowing an already assigned band for a trip to Walt Disney World would be out of the question. At Disneyland Resort, an admission ticket can be
unlinked and reassigned to a MagicBand+ at any time, and after you're finished, that MagicBand+ can be unlinked from your MyDisney account and linked to a new account using the Disneyland mobile app. I'm happy to walk you through it if that would help.
Pull up the app and tap the three-bar menu on the bottom right side. Scroll down until you see "Account" and look for the "MagicBand+" link. You'll need the bands with you while doing this and you'll want to make sure they're fully charged! When you tap the "MagicBand+" link you'll be taken to a screen where you can link a band to your account. Tap the "+" sign. Then tap "Open Scanner to Link." Hold the band close to the upper back side of your mobile device to link. On the previous page, you'll see all the bands you've linked. Under the band, look for the option to assign that band to one of the tickets linked to your MyDisney account. Once you've assigned all the bands, you'll be ready to go! When you're finished with your visit, tap the band in the app again and scroll down to "Unlink" to unlink the band from that account.
If that sounds like a hassle, bands are available for purchase currently online at the
Disney Store and when you arrive at the Disneyland Resort. You'll find them for sale in Disneyland Resort Hotel merchandise locations, select Downtown Disney District merchandise locations, and in various spots in the parks. There are so many designs that selecting a band that fits your style is part of the fun! Everyone in my family has a different band. A friendly Cast Member can assist you with linking the bands in person too.
I hope this helps!
Elizabeth