Welcome to planDisney, Meredith!
Oh, my goodness, I am so excited for your return visit to
Walt Disney World. There is so much more magic to explore since your last trip--prepare to be amazed!
Meredith, you'll be happy to know that while
MagicBand+ is available for purchase, guests are not required to have them. You'll be able to
unlock your door, access park tickets, and more via your
My Disney Experience Mobile app should you choose to do so. If you prefer a physical Key to the World Card, you'll be able to pick that up at the front desk of your resort, too.
If you happen to have your old MagicBands, there's a chance they could work on your upcoming trip. Once logged into your My Disney Experience account, look toward the top right side and hover over My Plans. You'll see MagicBands listed there, so click on that. At that point, you should be able to see any MagicBands that have been associated with your account in the past. You might find that those old MagicBands are active, but if they aren't, you might be able to select Activate. We reuse old MagicBands frequently, and only rarely have we found one no longer functions. If you still have yours, give them a try!
Meredith, I love the ease of going hands-free as I tour the parks, resorts, and
Disney Springs, so I always make sure I bring an old MagicBand or MagicBand+ with me on each WDW trip. However, there are so many wonderful ways to utilize the My Disney Experience app from your smartphone, you might find that this is your new favorite tool for your trip instead.
As you gather together your pixie-dusted plans, Meredith, be sure to send additional questions our way. We love to help!
Andrea H