Hi there, Steven, and welcome to planDisney! I'm so happy that you're here with this great question about your upcoming Walt Disney World Resort vacation! It will be here in just a few short days, and you must be getting so excited!
Steven, you'll be happy to know that you can use a
MagicBand+ whether you purchase it from the Disney Store or within My Disney Experience. You can order a new MagicBand when you book your vacation, and there are a few deadlines to keep in mind. If you make your purchase at least 11 days before your visit, your MagicBand will be shipped to you. If you purchase it six to ten days before your visit, your MagicBand will be available for you to pick up at the Front Desk of your
Disney Resorts Collection hotel. If you're within five days of your arrival, you won't be able to purchase a MagicBand in advance.
Happily, you can find MagicBands at merchandise locations throughout Walt Disney World Resort, including within the Disney Theme Parks, Disney Resorts, and Disney Springs. A Cast Member will be happy to help you get it set up so you can begin to use it! My biggest tip when it comes to merchandise is: if you love it, go ahead and buy it. Merchandise varies from store to store, and there's no guarantee that you'll see the same item again!
Even when I wear a MagicBand+, I use
Disney MagicMobile Service, which is a complimentary feature of the My Disney Experience Mobile App that allows you to save your
Disney Theme Park ticket to the wallet of your smartphone, just like a credit card. This means you can tap in at park entry with your phone if you don't have a MagicBand!
Steven, I hope this is helpful to you as you make your plans for your vacation. Please stop by planDisney with any other questions you have!
See ya real soon!
Jennifer