Hi Coreen! Thanks for bringing your question to planDisney.
Your trip is almost here. You must be excitedly packing. Are you trying to decide whether to pack your bands or possibly buy them when you arrive? I'll try to help you make your decision! Either way, you're going to have the best time. But do pack sunscreen, sunglasses, and maybe a refillable water bottle too. It looks like you're going to get sunny skies and warm days: perfect weather for an afternoon swim.
Bands can be used to scan into the parks and
Lightning Lane Entrances with Genie+, soon to be Lightning Lane Multi Pass, which is an option you can pre-purchase with your admission ticket or after entering the parks using the
Disneyland mobile app so long as there is still availability. We find the band's hands-free nature to be really helpful when scanning in as a family. It doesn't slow us down the way pulling out your mobile device potentially can. Your band will also interact with select Attractions and Entertainment, furthering the immersive experience. It'll light up and buzz on your arm unexpectedly. It's always a fun surprise to me when it does! We all inevitably end up glancing down at them when they start up.
Some features currently aren't operational at Disneyland Resort, which you might be familiar with, however. You can't open your room at Disneyland Resort Hotels or pay for food, beverages, or merchandise with the bands. That's not a deal-breaker for us. What they do, we certainly appreciate!
Please be aware that only the newer interactive bands function at Disneyland Resort. Be sure you've got the correct kind. The other bands won't work, so go ahead and leave them at home. You can purchase a new band at many different merchandise locations both in the parks and outside of them, including select shops in Disneyland Resort Hotels and the Downtown Disney District. Plus, there are lots of fun styles to choose from to fit your Disney mood. Picking which one you've got to have might be your biggest problem. Everyone in my family has their own unique band style, which makes it a fun accessory as well as a handy hands-free tool for your park day. Some people own more than one!
Have a magical time.
Elizabeth