Hello there, Amanda!
Welcome to planDisney, I'm so glad you stopped by! MagicBand+ has many features that are the same between Walt Disney World Resort and
Disneyland Resort, but there are also a few differences. I'm happy to walk through them with you!
MagicBand+ is relatively new in the California Disney parks, but you can already do a lot with it! Some of my favorite ways to use MagicBand+ would be:
- Linking to my park tickets to quickly tap into Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park
- Checking in at Lightning Lane entrances when we're using Disney Genie+
- Having Disney PhotoPass Photographers scan my band to quickly link my PhotoPass pictures to my account
In addition to the practical features above, we've also loved seeing our band light up during nighttime spectaculars and even some daytime shows! You might even notice some attractions activating your MagicBand+...I think the one at the end of the Haunted Mansion is particularly clever! My kids really love using their bands to go Bounty Hunting on Batuu, as well!
Only MagicBand+ bands will work at the Disneyland Resort, so if you have older bands from your Walt Disney World trips they will not work at Disneyland.
MagicBand+ is available to order on the shopDisney website, or it's very easy to purchase them when you arrive at the resort. There are some special designs that are only available at Disneyland! These bands are rechargeable, so I recommend carrying an external battery to charge them up on the day you purchase them or if you have a long day in the park, so you can keep the lights and fun going. They come with pretty unique charging cables, so make sure you don't lose them or accidentally throw them away with the packaging!
MagicBand+ doesn't include hotel features at the Disneyland Resort just yet, so you'll use a regular room key or a Cast Member can show you how to use the Disneyland Mobile App to open your Disney hotel room. But you can purchase MagicBand+ in many of the hotel gift shops as soon as you arrive!
I'm so excited about your first visit to Disneyland, Amanda! I enjoy Walt Disney World a lot, but Disneyland is still my very favorite. I would love to answer any more questions you have about the parks,
just send me a note here if I can help! Hope to see ya real soon!
Keep moving forward!
Amanda