Hey Gabriel,
Welcome back to planDisney! First and foremost, welcome back to the magic! I’m happy to hear that you’ll be returning to Walt Disney World soon. There are so many new experiences to be had at The Most Magical Place on Earth compared to your last visit 8 years ago. You’re going to have such a great time. Let’s get some answers to your questions.
MagicBand+ is a wrist band Disney guests can wear that has several functions. When scanned at the front gates, they connect to your valid park ticket and allow you to enter all 4 theme parks with a simple wrist tap. MagicBand+ can also be used to unlock your
Disney Resorts Collection hotel room door. Linking your MagicBand+ to your room also gives you the option to use it for food and merchandise purchases throughout the resort. In addition to these handy uses, you can also use it to check in for your Lightning Lane bookings, link your PhotoPass photos to your My Disney Experience account and more. While MagicBand+ is super convenient to have, it is not a required accessory. You could easily use other methods for all of these features, like using your Key to the World Card (room key) to enter the parks and scan for Lightning Lanes.
Speaking of
Lightning Lanes, I provided information about those in another
response here. Essentially, Lightning Lane passes allow you to skip the traditional standby queue and stand in an often shorter line for select attractions. There are three types of passes, Multi Pass, Single Pass and Premier Pass.
As for your final question, guests hoping to avoid the traditional standby queue due to a developmental disability like Autism can apply for
Disney’s Disability Access Service (DAS). DAS supports guests with special needs who may not be able to wait in a conventional queue for extended periods of time. If approved, guests can self-select return times for attractions right in the
My Disney Experience app. While you’re considering applying for DAS, keep in mind that Disney has a few additional resources available like the
Accessibility Planning Guide and the
Sensory Experience Details document for guests with disabilities. Both of these planning resources will help you prepare by telling you exactly what to expect.
I hope this information is helpful, Gabriel. If you have any additional questions about your visit, please come back and see us here at planDisney again. Until next time, TTFN… ta-ta for now!
Sakinah