Hi Nancy!
Thanks for bringing your question to planDisney!
If your MagicBand was used on a previous vacation, it should already be linked to your My Disney Experience account. You can check this in the
My Disney Experience mobile app by clicking the three horizontal bars in the bottom right of the screen and selecting the “MagicBands and More” tile. You didn’t mention if you have a MagicBand or MagicBand+ but there are sections for both in this area of the app.
I looked through my previously linked MagicBands and could see some of the older ones were marked as lost, probably because I haven’t used them recently. However, a Cast Member told me that if I have the MagicBand available, I could mark it as “Found” to activate it again. When I was chatting with this Cast Member, I asked about the lifespan of the MagicBand, since you can’t charge it like the newer MagicBand+. The Cast Member told me that the older MagicBand batteries typically only last for two years, so he couldn’t guarantee anything older than two years would work while you are in Walt Disney World.
If you decide to upgrade your MagicBand to a
MagicBand+, you will find a wide variety of MagicBand+ designs available at
merchandise locations throughout Walt Disney World Resort. These can easily be linked to your account through your My Disney Experience mobile app on the day of purchase, so you can start using it right away! The MagicBand+ can still be used to enter the theme parks and your Disney Resort hotel room, but it also interacts with the theme parks at select attractions or entertainment experiences.
I hope this was helpful, Nancy. If you have any future questions, we’ll be here to help at planDisney!
Kaitlin