Disney’s been making some changes to its MagicBands recently!
MagicBands
As the new MagicMobile service rolls out as an optional replacement to MagicBands, our favorite little wrist accessories have gotten some adjustments! First, they were no longer complimentary for Resort Guests — and as of August 16th, 2021, they won’t be free for Annual Passholders, either. And now, we’re seeing another change.
That’s right, friends — MagicBands have gotten a price increase! Besides those $5 Resort Guest MagicBands, your cheapest option was previously a solid band for $14.99. Well, in a $5 price increase, those plain MagicBands are now $19.99! You’ll see the new price reflected both in stores and online.
These are $19.99 now!
Other MagicBand styles are more expensive now, too! Themed MagicBands (those with designs inspired by rides, characters, etc.) now cost $29.99…
Themed MagicBands
…while limited release bands (like this brand-new Olaf design!) are now $34.99.
This one’s pretty pricey!
Disney’s updated their color labeling system to reflect these changes. Coral indicates the $19.99 solid MagicBands; bronze is the themed bands; and amethyst represents those limited releases.
New Pricing
For comparison, here are the old prices.
The old prices!
You can find the corresponding color label on the back of your MagicBand!
Find your price here!
If you’re in the market for a MagicBand, do keep these price changes in mind. Let us know if YOU would splurge the extra cash for a MagicBand — and how you feel about these MagicBand changes in general. And remember, if you don’t want to spend this much, you can opt to use Disney’s free MagicMobile service instead (although spoiler: most of our readers would prefer not to)! We’ve got a full guide on that right here for you.
We’ll keep you posted with the latest Disney news, so stay tuned to DFB!
Learn More About the Discontinuation of Free MagicBands!
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I’ll just use my ticket
Wow, not worth the cost but I don’t want to use my precious phone battery availability
Claiming ppl prefer using their phones to a magic and is complete nonsense. It’s a guarantee you will need a fuel rod, or bring your own charger. Also, it’s distracting since you’ll need to be taking out your phone why not peek at IG or FB. Magic bands were very convenient. I will continue using old ones, hoping the battery is fine. Etsy shops sell stickers for them, I would never shell out the extra cash for a specialty one.
I will be skipping the Magic Bands and using my phone.
The fun left Disney when the company decided to go with reservations to ride a ride . The best kind of fun, is spontaneous fun. Not planned fun. 2PM–ride this ride…230PM–eat…4PM–attend show. Imagine a travel itinerary for 4 or 5 days like this. NO FUN!
Need something about disability and diabetic in parks.
I like tbe MagicBands. I think it is s pain to constantly be taking your phone out for everything. It is much easier just to scan your band for everything. It is right there on your wrist. Not all of us own Apple Watches either.
It’s almost as if Disney is discouraging visitors. And prefer you to stay off property. You would think they would have some great deals for the next couple of years to bring people back and make up for some of the profit they lost. I like magic bands and prefer not to have my phone drained using it all the time. And speaking of magic bands, have you heard if there will be a special one for the 50th anniversary?
Magic Bands are the only way to travel to Disney World. They are water proof, attached to one’s wrist, and a very secure means to track and account for one’s vacation. Cell phones get lost, they get dropped, broken and stolen. Once your cell phone is gone, you are out of luck for the rest of your vacation.
Also, the internet connection in the Disney World Parks is very poor and not secure.
Where can you find all of these different Bands. Not on the Shop Disney site or My Disney Experience App
Is there a paper pass? Come on Disney! You just want to complicate things and nickel & dime us to death! Dont want to use my phone, will die! We are paying YOU for park entrance (at a steep price), are YOU going to pay for MY cell service? No, then YOU need to provide an alternative option as we will already be paying YOU for our tickets. Who ever comes up with these ideas should be fired!
WOW! Not surprised. Everything is on the increase. $$
Greedy, greedy, greedy… that’s all I can say about this change. To jump from a free courtesy band to $20.00 is just outrageous. Disney should be ashamed. The trip is expensive enough without this added to it. Magic Bands WERE part of the magic. Disney is effectively removing all traces of magic from the whole trip planning experience. Aren’t all the restrictions and the pain and suffering of this last year enough to deal with, now this. Shame on you Disney, shame on you!
Anyone else recall back in the day when you’d make a Disney hotel reservation and you could choose from about 5 colors of Magic Bands, Disney would personalize them with your first name and send them out UPS Overnight to your home prior to your visit??? They were practically gift wrapped too. That had to cost them a lot of money. But they were pretty cool at the time.
Yet another idea not throught through by Disney. THere are still many people all over the world who do not rely on Cell phones for every waking hour of thier lives.
I for one hate cell phones and prefer not to carry one around the park all day. (easy to lose or damnage) and how many of those kids that don’t have cell phones.
The magic bands were the answer to all the hastle and scheduling problems. THey made an all in one Park Ticket (entry) fast pass, resort hotel key, credit card.
Of course all the Magic of the Magic Bands was cast aside with the Start Wars land opening. You have to have a phone just to have that slight chance at getting on Rise of the Resistence. (spent a week there last Febuary and could not get a bording pass) Even with the frequent break downs of the attraction.
Disney seems set on a course of self destruction. Whats next take away the complamentry bread at those fine dining establishments,
Magic band not for me I never like them my daughter had a problems with it and took a ticket from us .When I came home called Disney they e mail me a ticket for our next visit . But it did take time to get the right person .Disney made good for it . I would use a resort key is free and one thing to use for everything I would do in the resorts and parks . Electronics are not the best and spend a lot of money for a magic band it is not needed .
We really liked the Magic Bands, they were so convenient and easy to use. Just put them on in the morning and use them all day for everything. Not everyone has a smart phone and if they do they have to find it in their bag to use it. And if u travel alone and leave your phone in your room or lose it you will have a big problem which could ruin your whole trip . Please !! Bring back the Magic Bands !!!
We live in the UK and it’s so annoying that we can’t buy them over here at all. Don’t really understand why.
Nora, you can still use MagicBands if you’d like; Disney just isn’t providing them for free with a Resort reservation.
Price increase. Make the stock holders happy
Kris, to answer your first question, you can request a plastic card loaded with your tickets. Check with your hotel front desk if you’re staying in a Disney Resort or at Guest Relations in the Parks and Disney Springs.
Robert, the photos used in this post were all from onsite. Online and on-app options do vary.
I will use my existing magicbands as long as I can, only after they don’t work anymore will I even consider buying one at those prices!
I understand they’re offering the card option but I don’t want something hanging around my neck! I really prefer the magic bands! I don’t want to be using my phone for every little thing. The magic bands were so convenient!
Danielle, personally, I agree. I’m glad we can still purchase MagicBands (or use old ones) going forward.
I love the magic bands, but not at the new prices. I’ll use mine until they die then I’ll use my phone and credit card. Life goes on …
I have a question about magic bands: if you purchase a band and use it during your vacation, can the band be recycled (reconditioned) and reused by another person?
Not really. You need your own “puck” the part w the Mickey head on it. Those cannot be changed to a different user. But you could take your puck out of your band and use w a different band.
Still waiting for a reply to my question about reconditioning used magic bands. Is it possible?
Hi, Doug. I’m trying to confirm this for you. EDITING TO UPDATE: One of our reporters tells me that Guest Services may be able to unassign and then reassign a MagicBand, but she doesn’t believe you can do that yourself in My Disney Experience. You might try deactivating (and deleting, if possible) a MagicBand in MDE, then have the other guest try to activate it in their own account using the serial number on the back. But we don’t think that’s likely to work.
Recycling the magic bands would be a good idea. Option: instead of purchasing a magic band then take it home and throw it in a drawer, rent a band with a security deposit, returning deposit at the end of their stay at Disney. $10 rental +$20 deposit (example)band returned to rent again. Just a thought
How about magic band with security deposit during there stay
Rent the magic bands. $10 rental $20 security deposit. End of vacation return band get your security deposit back. Disney recondition the band and rent it out again. I would do that
are the resort bands still $5?
Lee, if you’re referring to the MagicBands you can order pre-arrival, they are still discounted in My Disney Experience. I see a variety of reduced prices. (If this isn’t what you were asking, let me know!)