Welcome to planDisney, Christan! You'll arrive for your
Walt Disney World Resort vacation in a couple of days, so let's talk about MagicBands. In true magical fashion, we'll peek behind the curtain and find a "Presto!" moment for you!
Guests staying at Disney Resort Hotels are eligible to purchase a MagicBand+ for members of their party before they arrive. The catch is that the
order must be placed up to six days before check-in, so it looks like you're past that window. That's probably why you don't see an option to place your order. But never fear! I have some options for you.
While pre-ordering your band offers the advantage of having it automatically linked to your My Disney Experience Account, you can still purchase one onsite and link it yourself. Most resort and theme park gift shops offer a variety of designs and colors. Select the MagicBand that speaks to you, and
follow the instructions on the package to link it to your account.
A bonus tip: purchase one as soon as you arrive and take it to the Front Desk for assistance. If they have time, I'm sure the Cast Members at your resort would be happy to help get your band up and running! They can also make sure you have a payment method linked so you can
use your band to charge to your resort folio.
Once you've linked your
MagicBand+, you can use it to open your resort door, scan in at the theme parks, and more. I love how convenient and fun my band is, but some of my friends prefer to use
Disney MagicMobile service on their phones. Feel free to check out this option, especially if you decide to forego purchasing a band this trip.
If you're planning to spend time at Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park, I hope you head to the
Festival of the Lion King. This musical extravaganza is one of my favorites, and I was delighted by how my MagicBand+ interacted with the show on a recent visit; I felt like I was part of the cast!
Christan, I hope your visit is full of magic and pixie dust. Stop by
planDisney anytime; we love pulling answers out of our hats! Violà!
Magic awaits,
Elaine