Hi there, Sherry! Thanks so much for your question!
I do love a pretty MagicBand, and I will confess that I love purchasing new ones on each trip. For some people, it's shoes. For me, it's definitely MagicBands.
You do not need a brand new
MagicBand in order to use it with the new
Disney Genie Service. You actually don't need a MagicBand at all, since everything can be done via your
My Disney Experience app on your smartphone. But who doesn't love a cute Disney accessory on their wrist?
The one caution I will give is that the battery life on the MagicBands is about two years. That is not to say that there is a definite expiration date, because I'm fairly sure I've got bands that are much older and still going strong. But there is a chance that you will get to
Walt Disney World and find your bands no longer function. I wish there was a way to check them before you left home, but as of now, there just isn't.
Just so you're ready in any event, you may want to go ahead and hook yourself up with the
Disney Magic Mobile service. This gives you everything you need right on your phone, from theme park tickets to your resort room key. You can also check with guest services upon your arrival to see if your MagicBand still has life left, and if you find it doesn't, you can retire it in favor of a card. You can also purchase a new MagicBand.
I hope this helps, Sherry, and I hope you have a spectacular visit!
Anna