MagicBand+ Hits Walt Disney World this Summer

The 50th Anniversary Celebration continues with the release of MagicBand+, a new wristband that give you an even more interactive experience with Walt Disney World parks and resorts.

Expected to officially launch this summer, we all got a sneak peak at the new wearable when it hit shelves early last week.

MagicBand+ touts all the features of the original bands we’ve come to know, like granting entry to parks, rides and resort guest rooms, paying for merchandise or dining, and linking to Disney PhotoPass. It’s ever-so-slightly larger than the traditional MagicBands, but packs new technology that lets you connect with characters and shows as you roam around the parks. 

If you’ve been to Orlando as part of the 50th Anniversary already, you’ve probably seen the dozens of golden character statues that are strewn around the parks. With MagicBand+, you’ll be able to do more than just take a cute photo with them.

As part of the Fab 50 Quest, when you come within range of a statue, the band will vibrate, alerting you to come closer and wave for an interactive experience. Once you wave your hand, you can hear anything from a character voice to animal noise or music from the movie. 

These interactions are cute and short. While they likely won’t take the place of your favorite thrill rides, we think they’re a sweet addition to the parks, and a fun way to inject a bit more magic into your power walk between attractions.

If you’re looking for more of a challenge, take it up a notch with Batuu Bounty Hunters over in Hollywood Studios. Once you get to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, follow light patterns and vibrations from your MagicBand+ to find hidden bounties around Black Spire Outpost. 

Your MagicBand+ will light up when you’re on the right path, and since the game connects with the Play Disney Parks app, you can use your phone to see the virtual bounties with “thermal imaging” technology. The more bounties you collect, the more galactic credits you’ll be awarded from the local guild master when the mission is done. 

If you or your family were fans of Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom, the Fab 50 Quest or Batuu Bounty Hunters may be enough to satisfy your itch for a Disney scavenger hunt.

If your vacation bucket list includes more fireworks than scavenger hunts, you still may want to check out the new MagicBand+ collection. Whether you’re watching Harmonious at Epcot or Disney Enchantment in the Magic Kingdom, these bands will vibrate and light up to complement the show.

For those of us who rely on Amazon’s Alexa for just about everything from recipes to news and music, “Hey Disney!” could be a lifesaver when it launches on MagicBand+ later this year. The digital assistant will recruit 25+ character voices to answer your Disney questions, set alarms and offer helpful hints about the parks. Resort guests even can use it to get room info or details about their trip. 

We’re excited to see how “Hey Disney!” stacks up to other Disney apps and tools, and if it’s worthwhile to purchase on other supported Echo devices.

So what else do we know about the new MagicBand+?

Aside from the slightly bulkier style, we’ve seen the price of these new bands range from $29.99-$49.99, depending on color and design. As with similar past releases, resort guests and Annual Passholders will be able to purchase/preorder at a discounted price before they hit officially hit shelves this summer. 

The band connects with your device(s) via Bluetooth, so you’ll be able to customize the color-changing lights right from your phone.

One of the biggest physical differences you’ll notice here is that MagicBand+ comes with a rechargeable battery and USB power cord. As regular MagicBands don’t need to be charged, you’ll need to keep an eye on these. Thankfully, they also come with a light indicator, so you’ll always be able to tell how much juice is left.

Overall, we’ll let you decide if the added features are worth buying a whole new band, but it’s certainly a move in a fun direction to see Disney building out more interactive experiences for guests across the parks. 

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*Photos courtesy of Disney