Hiya Julie, and welcome to planDisney!
Thanks for stopping by with your question. I’m glad you asked this one because it’s something I wondered myself not long ago. There’s nothing quite like tapping into the parks, unlocking your resort room door, or making a purchase with just a flick of your wrist. It really makes your Disney vacation experience that much smoother.
When it comes to your question about purchasing a standard MagicBand (also known as MagicBand 2) instead of a MagicBand+, the short answer is yes, it’s still technically possible, but they’ve become increasingly hard to find at
Walt Disney World. Last year, I found myself in the same boat when my little one decided to “set free” his Spider-Man MagicBand+ at Disney’s Blizzard Beach on our very first day. I was hoping to replace it with a simple MagicBand 2, but I wasn’t able to track one down at our Disney Resorts Collection hotel or even at my go-to spots like
Pin Traders at Disney Springs or the
Pin Traders – Camera Center at EPCOT.
In theory, you can still purchase MagicBand 2 designs, but it’ll likely take some luck or a bit of third-party searching to find one, as most retail locations on property and
online have transitioned to selling the newer
MagicBand+. If you do happen to find a MagicBand 2 through an outside seller, just be sure it has never been linked to a My Disney Experience account, as once a band is linked, it can’t be reassigned to another Guest.
If you’re not particularly interested in the added features or higher price point of the MagicBand+, I’d suggest going with a basic solid-color MagicBand+ instead. Even if you never charge it, it will still
function for the essentials like unlocking your Disney Resort hotel room, tapping into the parks and Lightning Lane entrances, and charging food and merchandise to your room (if you’re staying at a Disney Resort). Those functions work through RFID technology, so you’ll only miss out on the interactive features around the parks.
Personally, I can’t imagine visiting without one. They’re convenient, fun to customize, and a great keepsake for future trips. My family even likes to collect them and swap them out throughout the vacation to match the day’s park or character meet-and-greets.
Julie, I hope this helps clear things up. Whether you end up with a classic MagicBand or the newer MagicBand+, you’ll be well equipped to tap into the fun! If you’d like any help picking a design or setting it up in your My Disney Experience account,
feel free to send another question my way, and I’d be happy to help you get started.
Brent