Hi Jan, and welcome to planDisney! I love the convenience of using
MagicBands at Disney World and just used both the MagicBand 2 and MagicBand+ when I was there last weekend.
Unfortunately, it seems that the older MagicBand 2 is being phased out at Disney World and new ones are hard to find. Currently, only MagicBand+ is available to
pre-order ahead of
Disney Resort hotel stays and to purchase on
DisneyStore.com. I was at Disney World last weekend and didn’t see any MagicBand 2 sold in the stores at the theme parks and resort hotels.
I love the simplicity of the MagicBand 2, but it’s also fun to have the added features of the MagicBand+. These newer MagicBands light up and vibrate around the theme parks and during the nighttime spectaculars, making you feel right in the middle of the action! MagicBand+ also lets you channel your inner Boba Fett and play the
Batuu Bounty Hunters game in
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. It’s a fun way to explore all the nooks and crannies around Black Spire Outpost!
Now, if you don’t want to charge the MagicBand+, Hakuna Matata! All the functionality you get with MagicBand 2 will work with MagicBand+ even if you don’t keep the band charged. This includes opening your resort hotel room door, linking
PhotoPass pictures, interacting with the
Disney Fab 50 Character statues, and scanning into the theme park,
Lightning Lane, and
Virtual Queue entrances. When MagicBand+ isn’t charged, it just doesn’t light up or vibrate. During my last visit, I left my MagicBand+ charger at home and used my band at the theme parks and resort hotels throughout my vacation without any issues.
If you’re looking to buy a MagicBand+ before your trip, you can pre-order one on the Disney World website if you’re an
Annual Passholder or have a Disney Resort hotel stay coming up. I love this option because they usually engrave your name on the back, giving it a special personalized touch! But you can also order a MagicBand+ on DisneyStore.com. For a larger selection, I’d recommend waiting until you get to Disney World since many of the stores have more options available.
Until then, you can also set up
Disney MagicMobile Service, which gives you most of the MagicBand features right from your phone’s mobile wallet! Getting a Key to the World card from
Guest Relations or your resort hotel's front desk would be another complimentary option.
I hope this helps you get ready for your magical vacation! If you have any other questions, please don’t hesitate to visit us again at planDisney.
JoAnna