Hi Jamie,
Thanks for bringing your thoughtful question to planDisney. Simba just couldn't wait to be king and I bet your kids just can't wait to visit Walt Disney World Resort in May.
Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade recently returned to Magic Kingdom park. I highly recommend grabbing a Mickey-shaped snack and watching Mickey and an entire cast of beloved Disney characters pass by on Main Street, U.S.A.
Valid admission and
theme park reservations are currently required for theme park entry. Additionally, each individual in your party over the age of three needs one or more of the following items to scan in at park entry: MagicBand, admission card, and/or MagicMobile pass. The method of park entry will also be used to access Lightning Lanes. Since you mentioned your children not having
MagicBands, let's dig a little deeper into the other two
methods of entry.
Admission cards can be obtained at any ticket or
Guest Relations window located outside the entrance to the theme parks or the
Disney Ticket Center at Disney Springs. They're plastic cards the size of a credit card that can easily fit inside a wallet. They also make great souvenEARS; the current card designs for the
50th Anniversary Celebration feature one of the
Fab 50 character statues. My Bo Peep card even matched my Halloween costume this year! Admission cards are my recommendation for your children because they are easily shared between adults and the kids will have fun scanning their cards at Lightning Lane entrances.
In the
My Disney Experience mobile app,
Disney MagicMobile service allows Guests to set up a Disney MagicMobile pass, which can be added to a digital wallet on eligible iPhones, Apple Watches, and Google Pay enabled Android phones. Tap the three small lines at the bottom right of the home screen --> Disney MagicMobile --> Set Up Your Pass. Since you manage the children's My Disney Experience plans under your account, you would create a pass for each child under your account and share it with the other adults with whom they will be experiencing attractions. The act of sharing passes is initiated through the digital wallet, not the My Disney Experience app.
It's also a good idea for all members of your planning party to be connected as
Family and Friends in My Disney Experience, which allows an individual to book
Lightning Lane attractions for all members of the planning party. Pro tip: as soon as you pass the second touchpoint of a Genie+ Lightning Lane attraction, you are able to book your next arrival window. I make it a goal to book the next Genie+ Lighting Lane attraction before I experience the first.
As you continue to plan Disney, be sure to planDisney.
Jennifer