Hi Raven,
Welcome to planDisney! We're glad you stopped by with your question about
MagicBands as you plan your Walt Disney World vacation.
First, a confession: I have a bit of a MagicBand problem. I have more than a dozen active MagicBands, including one of each solid color and a number from the special collections. (I have another 30 or so that are not longer active.) So obviously, I'm a little biased.
The chief pro for having a MagicBand is convenience. All the information that is in your
My Disney Experience account is right there on your wrist, including your admission tickets, your
Disney Park Pass reservation and the link to
Disney PhotoPass Service.
FastPass+ is currently suspended during the phased reopening of the theme parks. Under normal circumstances, it also would be linked to your MagicBand, even if you aren't a resort guest.
(For those staying at a Walt Disney World resort, the MagicBand also acts as a room key and can charge purchases to your room.)
I think a MagicBand makes an inexpensive souvenir, too. I hang mine with my jewelry, and they remind me every day of wonderful days in the theme parks and visits to come. You also can reuse the MagicBands for subsequent vacations. The batteries last at least a couple of years.
All that said, Raven, if you don't want to buy MagicBands, you can use your ticket cards for admission and PhotoPass. It's just a little less convenient.
Either way, I'd also suggest that you download the most recent version of the
My Disney Experience Mobile App before you hit the parks. The app contains a wealth of information, such as wait times, directions and, my favorite new feature,
Mobile Food and Beverage Ordering. Talk about easy and convenient!
I hope that helps. Please let us know if we can answer any other questions for you as you make your plans. Enjoy!
Wilma