Howdy, Jabeen, and welcome back to planDisney! You're getting more and more prepared for your upcoming Disney getaway! We're glad to help you with that.
Honestly, there’s no wrong answer here, just two different kinds of fun.
If you order
MagicBands ahead of time, the biggest perk is convenience. They’ll be shipped to your home before your trip, already linked to everyone in your party, and ready to go the moment you arrive. That’s especially nice after a long travel day when the last thing you want to think about is setting something up. The selection online when you’re staying at a
Disney resort is often a discounted pre-arrival price, which is a nice bonus.
That said… there are usually more options in person. The shops at the resorts and in the parks tend to have a wider variety, including seasonal designs, limited-edition bands, and ones you just don’t see online.
Disney's Art of Animation Resort in particular has a fun, colorful selection that fits the vibe of the resort perfectly. There’s something really exciting about picking out a MagicBand once you’re officially “in the Disney bubble,” and a lot of families enjoy making it part of their arrival ritual. Each Disney resort and theme park will have MagicBands specifically designed for that resort or park.
My usual advice is this: if you like having everything handled before you travel and don’t want one more thing to think about, go ahead and order now. If you enjoy browsing, want the widest selection, and don’t mind setting them up once you arrive, waiting can be worth it. Either way, you’ll end up with something fun and functional. If you find that you have trouble linking the new MagicBand after you purchase it at Disney, a Cast Member can help you get all set up and ready to use.
Have a magical time, Jabeen! Stop by again if we can help you plan any other details.
Toodles,
Korliss