Hello and welcome to planDisney, Brianne!
I’m so excited that you’re hEAR planning for your upcoming vacation. With the
50th anniversary celebrations only days away, make sure to read all about the extra pixie dust you’ll find to commemorate this milestone!
Now, let’s talk about MagicBands and how to see your favorite characters in the parks!
With the arrival of the
Disney MagicMobile service, complimentary MagicBands were retired. If you’re staying at a Disney Resorts Collection hotel you are still able to
purchase a MagicBand in advance of your visit. MagicBands purchased through your My Disney Experience account will be mailed to your house (as long as they are purchased far enough in advance). It’s also important to note that if you have MagicBands from prior trips, those may still be active! Simply log into your My Disney Experience and visit the “My MagicBands and Cards” tab.
Now, once you decide if you’d like to use a MagicBand, Disney MagicMobile or a card, you’ll be ready to search for your favorite characters! With the continued focus on health and safety, the “traditional” character meet & greet continues to be on pause. I am happy to report, however, that there are still great ways to see, interact and get pictures while on vacation. You’ll find characters strutting through the parks during the
cavalcades and stationed in areas that offer more social distance. For example, when my family and I were in EPCOT this summer we found Joy outside the Imagination! Pavilion and were able to snap the cutest selfies with her posing behind us.
Another great way to see characters is through
a modified character dining experience. One of my favorites is
Tusker House Restaurant at Disney's Animal Kingdom. Donald Duck in his safari outfit is just the QUACKest! Oops, I mean... CUTEST!
Brianne, I hope this information is helpful as you're counting down the days until you're in the Most Magical Place on Earth. If you have any other questions just come on back to planDisney where we love to serve guests even more than Tinker Bell loves to fly over Neverland.
Lauren