Welcome to planDisney, Tom! It's always great to hear from a fellow U.K. resident heading to the Most Magical Place on Earth.
Disney bands (known as MagicBand or MagicBand+ in the United States) can provide access to Disney Resort hotel rooms, theme park tickets, and more. A Disney band is not required to enter the Parks, and many features can be accessed through the My Disney Experience App. That said, we always have great fun choosing from the abundance of options.
I like to see before I buy, so selecting a band, widely available across various retail locations throughout Walt Disney World, is my preferred way to purchase. There's the perfect choice for everyone, from Frozen fans to Grogu gurus. Once you've found your perfect match, it takes mere seconds to link with the My Disney Experience App, and Cast Members can always help if needed.
As a fellow U.K. resident, I, too, found it trickier to purchase beforehand, hence why we always buy at Walt Disney World, but it is possible. If you add your
Disney Resort hotel as the shipping address and Guest details, you should be able to pick up your Disney Band from the front desk. There is likely to be a fee for this delivery - another reason to purchase on arrival.
Tom, I hope this information helps, and please pop back with any other questions. I'm so excited for you to experience all the latest thrills at Walt Disney World. Try to nab a
virtual queue for
TRON Lightcycle / Run - it's particularly spectacular at night!