Hello Christopher and welcome to planDisney!
An old MagicBand is like an old friend! They might not have as much get up and go as they used to, but they are still very friendly and should have a lot of life left in them!
The first thing you need to do is to make sure your old friend MagicBand is still active in your My Disney Experience account. To figure this out, log onto your
My Disney Experience account and look under "My MagicBands and Cards”. Scroll down to "Managed Magic Bands or Cards". Check the number inside of your friend the MagicBand to see if it is still linked to you and it's still active. If all systems are linked and active, you should still be able to use your MagicBand for park entry, Lightning Lane redemption, room access at your resort hotel, some other touch point tap-and go items. The RFID chips in your MagicBand will magically continue to supply you with your touch point access.
If you are looking for other features like linking photos or other long-range access, the MagicBand batteries usually last around 2-13 years, so if your old friend is a bit older than that, it might not work for the long-range items.
I have a holiday wreath built out of all my family's old friends and I’ll pick one out to take with me on each trip we make! I also have a
MagicBand+ that I will break out for some trips just so I can enjoy the added magic that it allows me to have while I’m in the parks!
Christopher, to me a MagicBand is a magical part of the Disney experience, and I have mine on the minute we arrive at the airport in Orlando, and I don’t take it off until we’re on our way home! My MagicBand wreath always finds a place in our home during the holidays, and it is one of the items that gives me a big smile every time I think about all of the memories those MagicBand friends have helped me make with my family throughout the years!
Christopher, have a magical adventure with your old friend MagicBand, and don't forget to enjoy a Mickey Bar or two!
Kurt