Hiya Brad!
Welcome to planDisney! Technology has made visiting the Parks convenient! I remember visiting the Parks with a paper ticket and getting paper Fast Pass tickets. I had to keep them all stored in a zippered compartment of my bag so I didn't lose them! Now, everything is digitally organized and I love it.
We are huge fans of
MagicBand+ in our home. We love it for their designs and their convenience. There are more features to the band than just interaction with the environment via color changes and haptic vibrations. These bands can let you enter the Parks and
Lightning Lanes, open your Resort room door, link to
Disney PhotoPass photos, and also charge dining and merchandise purchases if staying at a Walt Disney World Resort Hotel.
Disney MagicMobile is when you can download your ticket to your iPhone and use that instead of a MagicBand+. Disney MagicMobile also lets you pick out a design and use it to enter the Parks and Lightning Lanes and make charges for dining and merchandise if staying at Walt Disney World Resort Hotel. However, it cannot link to Disney PhotoPass photos or unlock your Disney Resort hotel room door. However, there is a feature that can let you unlock your within the
My Disney Experience Mobile App. In addition, as a solution for the PhotoPass situation, there is a card you can get from a Disney PhotoPass photographer that you can use throughout your trip to link your pictures.
So, Brad, you don't have to have or use Disney MagicBand+ as your iPhone with Disney MagicMobile will do just fine. Make sure to bring a portable charger as you will find your device will need some juice to make it through the day. There are kiosks throughout the Parks where you can pay for a portable charger and then swap it out for a new fully charged one at another location. It's a great way to keep moving and having fun without having to be stuck next to an outlet charging your phone!
I hope this helps and you have a fabulous time!
Happy Planning!
-Nimmy