Hi Stephanie,
Welcome to planDisney, and thanks for bringing such a great question our way. You're tapping into a bit of Disney tech nostalgia here, and I'm happy to help clear things up so you're ready to make the most of your visit!
MagicBands have come a long way since they were first introduced, but the good news is that many of the original bands—including those from 2015—can still function in several ways. As long as the band is still listed as active and linked to your My Disney Experience account, it should still work for core functions like entering your
Disney Resorts Collection hotel room, scanning into the theme parks (with valid admission and a theme park reservation if required), and linking Disney PhotoPass photos to your account.
Now, let's talk about where things get less predictable—battery life. The original MagicBands (and even some MagicBand 2 versions) contain internal batteries. While Disney doesn't provide an exact expiration date, they typically work reliably for about two to three years. Since your bands date back to 2015, there's a decent chance that some battery-dependent features—like automatically linking attraction photos or interacting with certain touchpoints in the parks—might not work anymore. And you're correct—those earlier models don't include the additional features introduced with MagicBand+, such as gesture-based interactivity and haptic feedback.
So, while you may be able to use your older MagicBands for room access and park entry, I'd consider them a bit like vintage keepsakes at this point—functional in some ways, but no longer running at full power. If you'd like to upgrade, purchase
a new MagicBand+ online before your trip or upon arrival at Walt Disney World. And just like before, you'll link them to your account through the My Disney Experience app. Suppose you want to do some shopping upon arrival. In that case, I suggest heading to
Pin Traders at Disney Springs the day before you visit the parks or waiting until you make it to EPCOT and can browse
Pin Traders – Camera Center, as I think these two locations offer the best selection to add to your collection.
I hope this helps you feel a little more confident about what to expect from your MagicBands. If you need help picking out a new one or have questions about features like MagicBand+ or Disney PhotoPass Memory Maker, say the word—
I'm always happy to help with the details.
See you real soon!
Brent