Hey there, Colby! It is nice to see you here at planDisney.
The estimated life for a MagicBand is about 2 years. However, I own several
MagicBands that are older than that, and they are working just fine. You've got it right; even if the long-range battery is no longer working, your MagicBands should still work at "Mickey-to-Mickey" touchpoints, such as the readers at the theme park entrances and
Lightning Lanes, merchandise and dining payment terminals when charging purchases to your room folio, unlocking the door to your
Disney Resort Hotel room, and linking
Disney PhotoPass photos captured with a Disney PhotoPass photographer.
The primary
long-range feature is "automagically" linking your on-ride attraction photos to your
My Disney Experience account. The long-range feature also powers some other fun surprises, such as wishing you "au revoir" by name on
"it's a small world" or featuring your name on a concert poster at
Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith. Some, but not all, attractions offer a photo preview area where you can tap your MagicBand to link your attraction photos. Other attractions require a MagicBand or Disney MagicMobile pass in order to receive your photos. If the long-range feature of your MagicBand is no longer working, you can set up a
Disney MagicMobile pass via the
My Disney Experience mobile app and save it to the digital wallet on your smartphone.
A Disney MagicMobile pass will have much of the same functionality as a MagicBand, including the ability to automatically link your attraction photos.
If there is a specific MagicBand feature that you are wondering about that I did not address, please feel free to
write back. We are always happy to help. Enjoy your visit!
Anne Marie