Hey there, Shonda! Welcome to planDisney!
Sounds like you’ve got a MagicBand from the past, and you’re hoping it still holds a little extra pixie dust. Let’s find out!
The good news? MagicBands don’t have an expiration date when it comes to their tap-and-go features. You should still be able to use it for park entry, Lightning Lane redemption, resort room access, and purchases (if staying at a Disney Resort hotel). Those magical little RFID chips don’t rely on a battery, so they’ll keep working like clockwork.
Now, if you’re wondering about the extra bibbidi-bobbidi-boo features, like automatically linking on-ride photos or other long-range magic, that’s where the battery comes into play. MagicBand batteries typically last around 2-3 years, so if your band is older than that, those features might have lost their spark.
Before you arrive, make sure your old MagicBand is still active in your My Disney Experience account. This will ensure that even if the internal battery is dead, you’ll still be able to use its tap-and-go features. To find out, log into your
My Disney Experience account and look under "MagicBands & Cards”. Check the number on the inside of your band to see if it’s still linked and active. If you’re already at Walt Disney World, you can test it at a park entrance touchpoint or your Disney Resort hotel door.
If you’re like me and have a collection of old MagicBands, I totally get the sentimental attachment to a favorite. But if you’re looking for all the latest bells and whistles, you might want to consider a shiny
new MagicBand+, because more magic is never a bad thing, right?
Hope your MagicBand still has plenty of pixie dust left! And if not, well... every great Disney adventure deserves a little upgrade.
Sending you all the EARidescent vibes for a magical trip! ~
Emille