UPDATED: Everything You Need To Know About Disneyland MagicBand+

After years of speculation, MagicBands finally made their way to Disneyland in October of 2022, with a limited set of functionality. Magicband+ was first introduced at Walt Disney World, and can be used for a much wider number of things. So, we have a pretty good idea of the trajectory the Disneyland MagicBand+ product is evolving. 

About Disneyland MagicBand+

MagicBand+ allows Disneyland guests to tie their admission media to their band so they can tap to enter theme parks, tap to enter Lightning Lanes, gather PhotoPass, and interact with shows and special experiences. The new bands add flashing lights and haptics… so your band can alert you by tapping your wrist. 

Walt Disney World has had MagicBand (and MagicBand 2) for years, but recently unveiled the new MagicBand+ which added additional functionality. While the technology of the bands is the same at Disneyland, not all the features will be available here (at least at first). All Disneyland Resort guests are now able to purchase a new MagicBand+, including a new design for the Disney100 celebration. 

 

If you’ve recently visited Walt Disney World you may already have a Disneyland-capable MagicBand and not even know it. While the original generations of MagicBands aren’t designed to work at Disneyland, the new MagicBand+ has been available at Walt Disney World and shopDisney since mid-2022! All you have to do is associate any MagicBand+ with your Disneyland account for it to work.   

In addition to the MagicBand+ Disneyland features listed above, Disney World guests can also use the bands to enter their hotel rooms and make payments in shops. But that functionality will NOT be available initially at Disneyland (but is very likely to make its way to Disneyland in the not-to-distant future). 

As of March 1st, 2023, Disneyland MagicBand+ has just added a new feature…

NEW: MagicBand+ Interactivity With Theme Park Props

Guests can now wave their MagicBand+ in front of certain Disney100 props and medallions to activate special sounds. This is similar to Walt Disney World’s interactivity with 50th-anniversary statues. Just wave your band near the prop and you’ll trigger a special action. 

The first of the Disneyland interactive props can be found here:

Disney California Adventure Park

• Disney100 Medallion – Buena Vista Street, near the Storyteller’s Statue

Disneyland Hotel

• Disney100 Medallion – near the Disneyland Hotel pool

Downtown Disney District

• Disney100 Medallions   
• Across from Earl of Sandwich
• Near Naples Ristorante e Bar      
• Downtown Disney District LIVE! Stage
• Platinum Mickey Mouse Statue – Near Downtown Disney District LIVE! Stage

There are no interactive props at Disneyland Park … yet … but your band does interact with some of the rides and shows…

MagicBand+ Show Interactivity

MagicBand+ comes alive during nighttime spectaculars (like Wondorous Journeys, World of Color, Fantasmic and other shows) with color-changing lights, and haptic vibrations. 

We tested MagicBand at World of Color the day the bands were released and found them to be fun (but a bit distracting). 

You may also see your band light up or feel it vibrate at other times or on attractions. We’ve noticed little surprise interactions throughout the resort, including some interactivity at the Spider-Man stunt-animatronic show.  But the true light show is during the spectaculars. (Let us know where you’ve experienced MagicBand lights and haptics at the Disneyland Resort). 

MagicBand+ “Star Wars: Batuu Bounty Hunters” Game

One of the big reasons to buy a MagicBand+ is to play Star Wars: Batuu Bounty Hunters in Galaxy’s Edge. 

Guests can join the Bounty Hunters’ Guild and find virtual bounties throughout Black Spire Outpost. Through the DisneyPlay app and your MagicBand+, you’ll be able to scan doors to see the creatures behind them, tap data ports with your MagicBand+, and collect points for capturing the bad guys in Galaxy’s Edge. 

We’ve tested the new Bounty Hunter game and found it to be a lot of fun. Kids might want to play this game on every visit, but adults will likely find it to be a one and done sort of activity.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

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And here’s a video of one of our young readers playing the Bounty Hunter game at Galaxy’s Edge in Walt Disney World. You can see how his MagicBand+ lights up, taps to let him know if he is getting nearer or further from a bounty, and more.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The Bounty Hunter Guild will be a hub for claiming your bounty. 

Elsewhere in the land, the data ports are interactive with your MagicBands as well. 

Buying Disneyland MagicBand+

Prices for MagicBand+ start at $34.99 on shopDisney and range from $34.99 to $44.99 in parks at launch. Magic Keyholder, DVC, and other discounts apply. 

There are many designs to choose from at Disneyland: 

 Some of the designs are exclusive to the Disneyland Resort. 

New bands are added all the time:

 

Setting Up MagicBand+ Via the Disneyland App

Once you’ve purchased your MagicBand+ (or if you already have one), you’ll activate it using these 3 steps: 

• STEP 1 – Power on your MagicBand+ by pressing on the button on the back once and tap the band to the back of your phone.
• STEP 2 – You’ll be directed to open or download the Disneyland app.
• STEP 3 – Follow the instructions in the app to link the MagicBand+ to your Disney account, assign it to your ticket or pass and pair it to your smartphone.

Disneyland MagicBand+ Tips

We do have a little bit of advice for you about Disneyland’s new MagicBand+. 

• Battery life is short. To make sure your bands stay active throughout your visit: 1) charge them up fully before your visit 2) Turn them off when you aren’t actively using them. 3) Bring the charging cord with you to the park.
• Charging Cord is not universal. The charging cord for the MagicBand+ is exclusive to this product. Don’t lose it. Select stores will carry replacements for a fee (believed to cost approximately $8).

• Check MagicBand+ Battery Level. You can check the battery status of your MagicBand+ through the My Disney Experience App or by the colors displayed on the MagicBand+ when you press the button on the back of the band. Flashing Red indicates no battery charge (you should charge your MagicBand+ battery as soon as possible), flashing Yellow indicates a low battery, and flashing Green indicates a fully charged battery.
• Can MagicBand+ get wet? Yes! Wear it in the rain, in the pool, take it to the water parks with you, MagicBand+ is waterproof!
• One size fits all. There isn’t a separate size for kids. However, the bands can be cut down to size for smaller wrists. 

• Bands Can Fall Off. The MagicBand affixes to your wrist via two small snaps. It’s easy for the band to get snagged on something and pop off. Make sure you press the snaps fully into place. You may even want to use a sharpie to write your return info on the interior of your band. That will at least help Disneyland Lost and Found identify it as yours.  

Let’s Hear from You

Keep in mind that MagicBands are entirely optional. The Disneyland bands are able to:

• • Tap for entry at the front gate
  • Tap for entry into Lightning Lanes
  • Interact with game elements and props (such as Star Wars Bounty Hunters)
  • Glow and provide haptic feedback during shows and experiences
  • Additional functionality coming later 

Have you used (or are you planning to use) the new Disneyland MagicBand+ or will you skip it? What features are you most interested in? What features would you like to see added next? Let us know in the comments below!

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