Welcome to planDisney, Suzanne! I'm so glad you found us to ask your question.
So, let me tell you a little something about myself: I'm a
huge MagicBand fan. Do I need a new one for each trip? Absolutely not. Do I get a new one for each trip? Absolutely I do! I love the different designs and the convenience they provide. Plus, they just make me smile when I look down at my wrist. They just scream the
Walt Disney World Resort to me. And now with
MagicBand+, they are better than ever. These new bands will interact with the
nighttime spectaculars, some attractions, and the
Disney Fab 50 Character Collection statues around the park. In short, I will always opt for the MagicBand purchase. But don't worry, you don't
have to purchase one to experience the magic!
You do not need a MagicBand or MagicBand+ to have pictures or videos taken during select attractions linked to your
My Disney Experience account. Simply make sure that before you board the attraction, you have downloaded and signed into the
My Disney Experience mobile app, turned Bluetooth on, and allowed the My Disney Experience mobile app to use Bluetooth in your phone/app settings. In fact, some attractions will have these instructions in the queue!
If you'd like a
Disney PhotoPass Photographer to take pictures of you and your travel party, you can also have them linked to your account without a MagicBand. Follow the instructions to activate the
Disney MagicMobile Service and you can have the Cast Member scan your Disney MagicMobile pass. You can also click on the three horizontal lines (≡) at the bottom right-hand corner of the app, select "Photos," select "Link Photos" in the upper right-hand corner of
this screen, select "Show PhotoPass Code," and the Cast Member can scan that code to link it to your account as well! Just keep in mind that these photos will have a watermark unless you purchase them or purchase
Memory Maker.
So while I will always advocate
for the purchase of those wonderful MagicBands, not having them will not detract from the experience. But your wrist might feel left out of the magic. Do wrists have feelings? No? Well, I tried!
Have a wonderful vacation. If you have any other questions,
please reach out directly to me to get a quick response!
Do whatever it takes to seize your moment,
Matt