Hi Shannan, and welcome back to planDisney!
Wow, I see you are zooming in on an upcoming
Walt Disney World Resort vacation! What a fun time to visit for you and your family.
So you have a
Capture Your Moment session planned, right? Let me tell you; it was such a fun experience when my family and I were “captured” for our session at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park. To answer your question, a gratuity is not required, but if you received fantastic service from the cast member, I believe in giving them a “shout out” so that everyone else knows how wonderful they are. You can leave a Cast Compliment using your
My Disney Experience mobile app. When you open the app, select the three lines at the bottom right and then scroll until you see the “Cast Compliment” link, and there you can outline what that Cast Member has done for you.
As it pertains to the
MagicBands, I recommend visiting the
World of Disney Store in Disney Springs, where you will find MagicBands in various themes and colors. I know the selections change, so it won’t hurt to ask a Cast Member if one of your desired themes is available when you arrive. Also, it doesn't hurt to check the merchandise shops for each attraction and perhaps you will be able to find the themed MagicBands there. I hope this helps.
Please go and have the best time with your family, but if you have any questions before you leave, do not hesitate to ask. We will be here if you need us.
Have a magical vacation!
Raquel