Welcome to planDisney, Laurie! Part of the fun of purchasing a
MagicBand+ is being able to use it (and show off the design you chose) as soon as possible. Let’s talk about how to make that happen.
When you purchase a new MagicBand+, it will typically have enough charge to perform basic functions, like scanning into the theme parks or redeeming a
Lightning Lane reservation. However, the fun interactive features (like flashing red when you're told to "hurry back" as you exit Haunted Mansion or glowing along with Wondrous Journeys) may not be available until the band is fully charged. To have these features active, you'll want to give your MagicBand+ a full charge before your day in the parks.
Thankfully, a charging cable is included in the box when you purchase your MagicBand+. It usually takes about two hours and you can track the progress in a couple of ways. First, while your band is charging, the lighted ring surrounding the center icon will glow in segments. Each segment represents about 25% of a full charge. Once it is fully charged, the ring will glow all the way around.
You can also check the charge in the
Disneyland app! To link your MagicBand+ to your app, tap the menu icon (☰) in the bottom right corner of the home screen. From there, select MagicBand+ under the "Account" section and click on the blue plus sign at the top right of the next screen. Follow the instructions listed there for linking your MagicBand+. Once it's connected, you'll be able to monitor the battery level and link your MagicBand+ to your theme park tickets or Magic Key.
Laurie, if you run into any issues while setting up your MagicBand+, please don’t hesitate to reach out to
App & Online Support. A friendly Cast Member can help troubleshoot any problems you may encounter. And of course, you can always reach out to us again planDisney. We’re happy to help!
Enjoy discovering the magic in the parks!
David