Hello there, Ruth! Welcome to
planDisney, and thank you so much for stopping by with your question. I can absolutely understand wanting to keep costs down while still enjoying all the Disney magic! Let’s sort this out together.
The great news is that if you’ve previously linked a MagicBand to your account, you don’t need to re-link at all. Once a MagicBand has been connected to your
My Disney Experience profile, it stays tied to your account permanently. You can use that band again and again for as many visits as you’d like!
That said, there’s one little thing to keep in mind. Older MagicBands use RFID technology that tends to wear down after about two years. What that means is that your band may still work just fine for the basics like scanning at the park entrance, redeeming Lightning Lane passes, or linking your Disney PhotoPass pictures. But some of the “hands-free” features, like automatically linking attraction photos and videos without scanning, might not function reliably anymore.
So while you’re more than welcome to keep using your older bands (and I love that idea for cost savings!), just know they may not give you the full experience. Pairing them with the new
MagicBand+ options you’re considering is a great strategy. You’ll have the new interactive features plus the peace of mind of a backup band if you’d like to switch things up.
Ruth, I hope this helps you feel more confident as you plan ahead for your magical visit. You’re doing such a wonderful job thinking ahead, and I promise you’ll be all set whether you stick with your trusty old bands or treat yourself to something new!
Warm hugs,
Ana Paula