It’s the tip of an period for MagicBands at Walt Disney World. Most of you must not buy the wearables on your trip and, judging by what we’ve seen just lately, most likely usually are not even absent this recommendation. This discusses the decline of Disney’s MagicBands, what led to this, and different ideas.
We’d be remiss if we didn’t begin in the identical spot as a number of latest articles, retreading floor beforehand coated in Walt Disney World is Anxious About Its Excessive Costs and that progeny of posts. The corporate has inner issues about Disney alienating the center class, with rising fears about how value will increase and unpopular selections are angering followers and shedding visitor goodwill.
As we’ve identified, it’s not simply value will increase. It’s these coupled with corresponding cuts, nickel and diming, and different methods the visitor expertise has been diminished. Worth isn’t the one, or maybe even major, concern. It’s the worth proposition, which has taken hits in each instructions.
There have been a number of nails within the proverbial coffin of MagicBands at Walt Disney World. The gadgets had been as soon as ubiquitous within the parks as a result of they got away free to all Walt Disney World resort resort friends. This on-site perk was eradicated in January 2021, and was one in every of a number of ‘delicate resets’ to the visitor expertise that was introduced in mid-2020 earlier than the parks even reopened.
Walt Disney World retiring the complimentary MagicBand distribution program, and switching to a pre-arrival low cost was introduced in the very same press launch because the Disney Park Go reservation system. This bombshell got here solely a few weeks after the retirement of FastPass+ and Further Magic Hours, in addition to the suspension of the Disney Eating Plan.
Suffice to say, it was a giant information month between all of that and the phased reopening, and the tip of free MagicBands was most likely the least consequential information. There have been loads of followers who had been–and nonetheless are–upset, however Disney flooded the zone with damaging information, and it was troublesome to be equally upset about all of it. (Though some followers tried!)
Walt Disney World sunsetting the complimentary MagicBand distribution program garnered the least backlash, by far. That’s partly as a result of MagicBands would nonetheless exist, and for as low-cost as $5 every when discounted for pre-arrivals. On the very least, this does lend a little bit of credence to followers who say they want Disney’s Magical Categorical would’ve been retained as an choice, however for a charge. (I don’t assume that may’ve labored, but it surely’s inappropriate.)
The subsequent large blow to MagicBands was the introduction of the MagicMobile service at Walt Disney World by way of the My Disney Expertise app. This roughly coincided with the sunsetting of free MagicBands in early 2021.
MagicMobile may be added to your Android, iPhone, or Apple Watch digital pockets as soon as enabled. It’s considerably just like a MagicBand, with most options working by merely holding up your good machine close to an entry level. It may be used to enter theme parks, join PhotoPass pictures to your account, enter Lightning Lanes, and extra.
MagicMobile didn’t have a seamless rollout, however has labored flawlessly for us in the previous few years. As somebody who already wears an Apple Watch, I sometimes don’t put on a MagicBand now as a result of I don’t like two wearables on my wrist, and the MagicBand is generally redundant to what’s provided by MagicMobile while not having a standalone machine.
Probably in response to this actuality and wanting to differentiate MagicBands from MagicMobile, Disney launched MagicBand+ a pair years in the past.
From the time it was introduced, our concern with MagicBand+ was that it was going to repeat the errors of the Made with Magic/Glow with the Present boondoggle. In a nutshell, that’s to say that Disney would make investments a ton of cash creating new wearable tech and push it as onerous as doable to recoup these prices, solely to see it flop with followers.
Judging by the hundreds of MagicBand+ that got away to Disneyland followers and the way few of the gadgets we see within the WDW parks as in comparison with OG MagicBands solely ~5 years in the past, it’s protected to say that MagicBand+ has not been the success that Disney envisioned.
The latest era of the machine was most likely the each the literal knockout punch for each the common ole MagicBands (formally often known as MagicBand 2.0), and the figurative one for visitor curiosity in Walt Disney World’s wristbands, interval.
If you take time passing by the expertise, MagicMobile providing an appropriate various to many friends without cost, and MagicBand+ being met with an icy response from most followers, it’s not stunning to see fewer friends sporting MagicBands within the parks.
After all, one large issue that can’t be neglected is the price. What was as soon as free for everybody staying on-site now comes with a cost. The minimal is $25 and there are improve choices costing as a lot as $45. If you would like something apart from a plain shade, the value is at the very least $35. You’re arguably higher off simply ready for a sale on the Disney Retailer, which additionally has higher choice.
So far, right here’s the present collection of pre-arrival MagicBand low cost improve choices for on-site friends as of mid-February 2025:
As you is perhaps conscious, one in every of our as soon as monthly-updated posts is/was Low cost Pre-Arrival MagicBands & MagicBand+ at Walt Disney World. That used to trace the discounted and (previously) free choices, as there was a whole lot of visitor curiosity and designs had been consistently altering.
Admittedly, I hadn’t checked or up to date that shortly till doing so on a whim this weekend. In actual fact, what I noticed there was what impressed this publish within the first place. There are at the moment 17 pre-arrival choices, which is traditionally low. Final 12 months, we noticed 25-40 decisions, on common. That was far fewer than the all-time peak of 82 MagicBands.
That is notable partly as a result of there’s been little or no turnover in new MagicBand+ choices. About two-thirds of the designs above had been additionally obtainable after we final up to date the listing 6 months in the past! And lots of of these had been there 6 months earlier than that. We’re seeing little or no turnover, which might be as a result of MagicBand+ has flopped. Or as a result of the pre-arrival low cost has low uptake. Or a combination of each.
Extra notably, for the primary time ever, there isn’t a single common ole MagicBand 2.0 obtainable by way of Walt Disney World’s pre-arrival low cost program.
Whereas the writing has been on the wall for some time because of a dearth of latest designs, this kind of confirms what we’ve lengthy suspected: the OG “dumb” MagicBand is lifeless. A fast search of the Disney Retailer would appear to substantiate the identical. There are many MagicBand+ designs for $35 to $65, however zero common ole MagicBands.
That is unlucky. Not solely does the MagicBand 2.0 look like lifeless, however these value factors are solely going to speed up the demise of MagicBands, interval, at Walt Disney World. Whereas I’m positive there are some collectors who nonetheless buy them, the identical might’ve been mentioned for Vinylmations or any variety of now-extinct product traces that when had loyal fan followings.
Fairly merely, the value factors now make the wearables value prohibitive for the common visitor, particularly on high of each different expense.
When you have a funds when visiting Walt Disney World, robust decisions should be made when spending on splurges. If you need to select between MagicBand+ designs for everybody in your get together, or utilizing MagicMobile (and common ole Key to the World Playing cards for teenagers or older friends with out smartphones/watches) and shopping for Lightning Lane Multi-Go at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the choice ought to be a no brainer.
MagicBand+ is a minimal value-add, whereas LLMP is vastly advantageous. The story is identical with nearly any upcharge–and even different random souvenirs. I can put on a sweatshirt, t-shirt, or hat in the true world. As a giant fan of espresso mugs (dishwasher protected ones) and resort-specific Tervis cups, these get infinitely extra utilization at residence. MagicBand+ is lifeless weight at residence.
Not solely that, however MagicBand+ is minimally helpful within the parks. The mini-games are considerably satisfying (though maybe extra so from a people-watching perspective because of all of the arm-flailing), however they’re arguably a poor use of restricted trip time. And the decreased utilization price of MagicBands all however ensures that Disney received’t throw good cash after dangerous by investing extra sources into creating new ones (hopefully).
Consequently, MagicBand+ will slowly circle the drain till it’s quietly retired. It’s solely a matter of time–when, not if.
I’m actually shocked that Disney even bothered to roll out MagicBand+ at Disneyland and Disney Cruise Line. Or that they proceed so as to add results into exhibits and elsewhere. Perhaps it is a matter of the corporate figuring out greater than me, and MagicBand+ being a quiet success story.
I doubt it. Extra doubtless is that they wish to recoup/unfold out among the growth prices, dedicated to the growth years in the past after they anticipated it to be a giant hit, or are nonetheless by some means holding out hope it’ll achieve traction. I don’t know why–expertise doesn’t precisely get higher with time.
Once more, this has shades of Glow with the Present. Regardless of that flopping internationally and discovering restricted success when it was unveiled stateside, Disney saved attempting to make it a “factor” for years. In so doing, they devoted/wasted beneficial retail area to advertise a product that was DOA.
The excellent news is that, in mild of the entire above, MagicBand+ will most likely proceed to be bought for at the very least the following few years. And as with the OG MagicBand, the gadgets will doubtless proceed to be supported lengthy after that. Simply as you possibly can nonetheless use a MagicBand 2.0 from ages in the past, you’ll most likely nonetheless be capable to use a MB+ from launch in 2030.
That’s nice for followers who already personal MagicBands, however we however advocate that almost all new friends don’t purchase MagicBand+ gadgets.
That is particularly aimed toward first-timers who don’t have any sentimentality for the wearables, and would possibly in any other case be swayed by followers who’ve outsized nostalgia for the gadgets. That’s based mostly largely on perceptions of MagicBands from over 5 years in the past, not an earnest cost-benefit evaluation of the wearables as we speak.
As of 2025, MagicBands merely usually are not well worth the excessive costs. The free options perform almost as nicely, and the chance value of allocating a portion of your trip funds to MagicBand+ versus one thing else will seldom make sense. It’s because of this that MagicBands made our listing of the Worst Wastes of Cash at Walt Disney World. That’s why I’ve purchased my final MagicBand, irrespective of how a lot I’d like that Figment design above.
All of that is sure to be controversial or unpopular with longtime diehard followers, and I get that. It breaks my coronary heart just a bit bit to write down this. We began used MagicBands because the authentic pilot program over a decade in the past, and have a whole lot of nostalgia for the wearables and the easier occasions they signify.
I used to be even excited for MagicBand+ and hoped it could reinvigorate the gadgets. As a substitute, it did the alternative. MagicBand+ simply isn’t a very good machine, and it was the demise knell for the OG MagicBands. Walt Disney World friends now solely have the selection of the costlier choices that do nothing particular or no machine in any respect, and are overwhelmingly selecting the latter. And for good cause!
To be clear, we’re not suggesting that nobody ought to use MagicBands. In the event you already personal one, extra energy to you! I’ve an OG MagicBand from a decade in the past that’s nonetheless going robust. What we’re saying is that only a few individuals ought to buy new ones given the $25 to $65 value and restricted performance over the free MagicMobile. Even for those who’re tech-averse, there’s additionally the free Key to the World card, which is actually only a piece of plastic.
Truthfully, I can’t even fault Walt Disney World for this one. We’ve been staunch critics of the finish of Disney’s Magical Categorical, and just lately reaffirmed our take that eliminating it was a colossal mistake. That was an unforced error, and an occasion of Walt Disney World making a short-sighted choice versus taking part in the lengthy recreation.
Sunsetting MagicBands is sort of the reverse of that. Time handed them by years in the past.
MagicBands had been arguably out of date inside a 12 months or two of first being launched, and if not by then, as soon as smartphones gained better market share amongst Individuals and, particularly, Walt Disney World’s core demographics. The largest factor that saved MagicBands related till 2021 was Walt Disney World distributing them to so many friends for “free” (or constructing them into the price of rooms).
It’s comprehensible that many friends, particularly technology-averse ones, would disagree with this. It likewise is sensible that followers push again on all cost-cutting, nickel & diming, and many others., as a matter of precept–if we give Disney an inch, they’ll take a mile. I actually don’t like shedding perks.
On the similar time, we’re now a number of years faraway from the choice to finish free MagicBands, so I ought to be capable to “safely” admit that I believe it was the best name. There’s no such factor as a free lunch, and offering a MagicBand with each on-site resort keep was extremely wasteful on stability.
If something, I believe the actually unsuitable name right here was throwing good cash after dangerous and making the MagicBand+, as I’m extremely skeptical that’s even managed to recoup its growth prices and it was a worse product than its predecessor. If Walt Disney World is simply going to supply one model of MagicBands, it ought to be the cheaper and dumber ones. Principally, they’ve retired the unsuitable model of the product!
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Study lodges on our Walt Disney World Resorts Evaluations web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Evaluations. To save cash on tickets or decide which kind to purchase, learn our Ideas for Saving Cash on Walt Disney World Tickets publish. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys publish takes a singular have a look at intelligent gadgets to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Trip Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the very best place to start out is our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information for the whole lot it’s essential to know!
Your Ideas
Do you continue to buy or use OG MagicBands or MagicBand+ at Walt Disney World? What do you consider decline of wearables at WDW? Do you assume the MB+ is well worth the cash, or are there higher methods to allocate restricted trip budgets? Assume Disney made a mistake by sunsetting the free MagicBands for on-site stays, or was it the best name? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions we might help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even once you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!
It’s the tip of an period for MagicBands at Walt Disney World. Most of you must not buy the wearables on your trip and, judging by what we’ve seen just lately, most likely usually are not even absent this recommendation. This discusses the decline of Disney’s MagicBands, what led to this, and different ideas.
We’d be remiss if we didn’t begin in the identical spot as a number of latest articles, retreading floor beforehand coated in Walt Disney World is Anxious About Its Excessive Costs and that progeny of posts. The corporate has inner issues about Disney alienating the center class, with rising fears about how value will increase and unpopular selections are angering followers and shedding visitor goodwill.
As we’ve identified, it’s not simply value will increase. It’s these coupled with corresponding cuts, nickel and diming, and different methods the visitor expertise has been diminished. Worth isn’t the one, or maybe even major, concern. It’s the worth proposition, which has taken hits in each instructions.
There have been a number of nails within the proverbial coffin of MagicBands at Walt Disney World. The gadgets had been as soon as ubiquitous within the parks as a result of they got away free to all Walt Disney World resort resort friends. This on-site perk was eradicated in January 2021, and was one in every of a number of ‘delicate resets’ to the visitor expertise that was introduced in mid-2020 earlier than the parks even reopened.
Walt Disney World retiring the complimentary MagicBand distribution program, and switching to a pre-arrival low cost was introduced in the very same press launch because the Disney Park Go reservation system. This bombshell got here solely a few weeks after the retirement of FastPass+ and Further Magic Hours, in addition to the suspension of the Disney Eating Plan.
Suffice to say, it was a giant information month between all of that and the phased reopening, and the tip of free MagicBands was most likely the least consequential information. There have been loads of followers who had been–and nonetheless are–upset, however Disney flooded the zone with damaging information, and it was troublesome to be equally upset about all of it. (Though some followers tried!)
Walt Disney World sunsetting the complimentary MagicBand distribution program garnered the least backlash, by far. That’s partly as a result of MagicBands would nonetheless exist, and for as low-cost as $5 every when discounted for pre-arrivals. On the very least, this does lend a little bit of credence to followers who say they want Disney’s Magical Categorical would’ve been retained as an choice, however for a charge. (I don’t assume that may’ve labored, but it surely’s inappropriate.)
The subsequent large blow to MagicBands was the introduction of the MagicMobile service at Walt Disney World by way of the My Disney Expertise app. This roughly coincided with the sunsetting of free MagicBands in early 2021.
MagicMobile may be added to your Android, iPhone, or Apple Watch digital pockets as soon as enabled. It’s considerably just like a MagicBand, with most options working by merely holding up your good machine close to an entry level. It may be used to enter theme parks, join PhotoPass pictures to your account, enter Lightning Lanes, and extra.
MagicMobile didn’t have a seamless rollout, however has labored flawlessly for us in the previous few years. As somebody who already wears an Apple Watch, I sometimes don’t put on a MagicBand now as a result of I don’t like two wearables on my wrist, and the MagicBand is generally redundant to what’s provided by MagicMobile while not having a standalone machine.
Probably in response to this actuality and wanting to differentiate MagicBands from MagicMobile, Disney launched MagicBand+ a pair years in the past.
From the time it was introduced, our concern with MagicBand+ was that it was going to repeat the errors of the Made with Magic/Glow with the Present boondoggle. In a nutshell, that’s to say that Disney would make investments a ton of cash creating new wearable tech and push it as onerous as doable to recoup these prices, solely to see it flop with followers.
Judging by the hundreds of MagicBand+ that got away to Disneyland followers and the way few of the gadgets we see within the WDW parks as in comparison with OG MagicBands solely ~5 years in the past, it’s protected to say that MagicBand+ has not been the success that Disney envisioned.
The latest era of the machine was most likely the each the literal knockout punch for each the common ole MagicBands (formally often known as MagicBand 2.0), and the figurative one for visitor curiosity in Walt Disney World’s wristbands, interval.
If you take time passing by the expertise, MagicMobile providing an appropriate various to many friends without cost, and MagicBand+ being met with an icy response from most followers, it’s not stunning to see fewer friends sporting MagicBands within the parks.
After all, one large issue that can’t be neglected is the price. What was as soon as free for everybody staying on-site now comes with a cost. The minimal is $25 and there are improve choices costing as a lot as $45. If you would like something apart from a plain shade, the value is at the very least $35. You’re arguably higher off simply ready for a sale on the Disney Retailer, which additionally has higher choice.
So far, right here’s the present collection of pre-arrival MagicBand low cost improve choices for on-site friends as of mid-February 2025:
As you is perhaps conscious, one in every of our as soon as monthly-updated posts is/was Low cost Pre-Arrival MagicBands & MagicBand+ at Walt Disney World. That used to trace the discounted and (previously) free choices, as there was a whole lot of visitor curiosity and designs had been consistently altering.
Admittedly, I hadn’t checked or up to date that shortly till doing so on a whim this weekend. In actual fact, what I noticed there was what impressed this publish within the first place. There are at the moment 17 pre-arrival choices, which is traditionally low. Final 12 months, we noticed 25-40 decisions, on common. That was far fewer than the all-time peak of 82 MagicBands.
That is notable partly as a result of there’s been little or no turnover in new MagicBand+ choices. About two-thirds of the designs above had been additionally obtainable after we final up to date the listing 6 months in the past! And lots of of these had been there 6 months earlier than that. We’re seeing little or no turnover, which might be as a result of MagicBand+ has flopped. Or as a result of the pre-arrival low cost has low uptake. Or a combination of each.
Extra notably, for the primary time ever, there isn’t a single common ole MagicBand 2.0 obtainable by way of Walt Disney World’s pre-arrival low cost program.
Whereas the writing has been on the wall for some time because of a dearth of latest designs, this kind of confirms what we’ve lengthy suspected: the OG “dumb” MagicBand is lifeless. A fast search of the Disney Retailer would appear to substantiate the identical. There are many MagicBand+ designs for $35 to $65, however zero common ole MagicBands.
That is unlucky. Not solely does the MagicBand 2.0 look like lifeless, however these value factors are solely going to speed up the demise of MagicBands, interval, at Walt Disney World. Whereas I’m positive there are some collectors who nonetheless buy them, the identical might’ve been mentioned for Vinylmations or any variety of now-extinct product traces that when had loyal fan followings.
Fairly merely, the value factors now make the wearables value prohibitive for the common visitor, particularly on high of each different expense.
When you have a funds when visiting Walt Disney World, robust decisions should be made when spending on splurges. If you need to select between MagicBand+ designs for everybody in your get together, or utilizing MagicMobile (and common ole Key to the World Playing cards for teenagers or older friends with out smartphones/watches) and shopping for Lightning Lane Multi-Go at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the choice ought to be a no brainer.
MagicBand+ is a minimal value-add, whereas LLMP is vastly advantageous. The story is identical with nearly any upcharge–and even different random souvenirs. I can put on a sweatshirt, t-shirt, or hat in the true world. As a giant fan of espresso mugs (dishwasher protected ones) and resort-specific Tervis cups, these get infinitely extra utilization at residence. MagicBand+ is lifeless weight at residence.
Not solely that, however MagicBand+ is minimally helpful within the parks. The mini-games are considerably satisfying (though maybe extra so from a people-watching perspective because of all of the arm-flailing), however they’re arguably a poor use of restricted trip time. And the decreased utilization price of MagicBands all however ensures that Disney received’t throw good cash after dangerous by investing extra sources into creating new ones (hopefully).
Consequently, MagicBand+ will slowly circle the drain till it’s quietly retired. It’s solely a matter of time–when, not if.
I’m actually shocked that Disney even bothered to roll out MagicBand+ at Disneyland and Disney Cruise Line. Or that they proceed so as to add results into exhibits and elsewhere. Perhaps it is a matter of the corporate figuring out greater than me, and MagicBand+ being a quiet success story.
I doubt it. Extra doubtless is that they wish to recoup/unfold out among the growth prices, dedicated to the growth years in the past after they anticipated it to be a giant hit, or are nonetheless by some means holding out hope it’ll achieve traction. I don’t know why–expertise doesn’t precisely get higher with time.
Once more, this has shades of Glow with the Present. Regardless of that flopping internationally and discovering restricted success when it was unveiled stateside, Disney saved attempting to make it a “factor” for years. In so doing, they devoted/wasted beneficial retail area to advertise a product that was DOA.
The excellent news is that, in mild of the entire above, MagicBand+ will most likely proceed to be bought for at the very least the following few years. And as with the OG MagicBand, the gadgets will doubtless proceed to be supported lengthy after that. Simply as you possibly can nonetheless use a MagicBand 2.0 from ages in the past, you’ll most likely nonetheless be capable to use a MB+ from launch in 2030.
That’s nice for followers who already personal MagicBands, however we however advocate that almost all new friends don’t purchase MagicBand+ gadgets.
That is particularly aimed toward first-timers who don’t have any sentimentality for the wearables, and would possibly in any other case be swayed by followers who’ve outsized nostalgia for the gadgets. That’s based mostly largely on perceptions of MagicBands from over 5 years in the past, not an earnest cost-benefit evaluation of the wearables as we speak.
As of 2025, MagicBands merely usually are not well worth the excessive costs. The free options perform almost as nicely, and the chance value of allocating a portion of your trip funds to MagicBand+ versus one thing else will seldom make sense. It’s because of this that MagicBands made our listing of the Worst Wastes of Cash at Walt Disney World. That’s why I’ve purchased my final MagicBand, irrespective of how a lot I’d like that Figment design above.
All of that is sure to be controversial or unpopular with longtime diehard followers, and I get that. It breaks my coronary heart just a bit bit to write down this. We began used MagicBands because the authentic pilot program over a decade in the past, and have a whole lot of nostalgia for the wearables and the easier occasions they signify.
I used to be even excited for MagicBand+ and hoped it could reinvigorate the gadgets. As a substitute, it did the alternative. MagicBand+ simply isn’t a very good machine, and it was the demise knell for the OG MagicBands. Walt Disney World friends now solely have the selection of the costlier choices that do nothing particular or no machine in any respect, and are overwhelmingly selecting the latter. And for good cause!
To be clear, we’re not suggesting that nobody ought to use MagicBands. In the event you already personal one, extra energy to you! I’ve an OG MagicBand from a decade in the past that’s nonetheless going robust. What we’re saying is that only a few individuals ought to buy new ones given the $25 to $65 value and restricted performance over the free MagicMobile. Even for those who’re tech-averse, there’s additionally the free Key to the World card, which is actually only a piece of plastic.
Truthfully, I can’t even fault Walt Disney World for this one. We’ve been staunch critics of the finish of Disney’s Magical Categorical, and just lately reaffirmed our take that eliminating it was a colossal mistake. That was an unforced error, and an occasion of Walt Disney World making a short-sighted choice versus taking part in the lengthy recreation.
Sunsetting MagicBands is sort of the reverse of that. Time handed them by years in the past.
MagicBands had been arguably out of date inside a 12 months or two of first being launched, and if not by then, as soon as smartphones gained better market share amongst Individuals and, particularly, Walt Disney World’s core demographics. The largest factor that saved MagicBands related till 2021 was Walt Disney World distributing them to so many friends for “free” (or constructing them into the price of rooms).
It’s comprehensible that many friends, particularly technology-averse ones, would disagree with this. It likewise is sensible that followers push again on all cost-cutting, nickel & diming, and many others., as a matter of precept–if we give Disney an inch, they’ll take a mile. I actually don’t like shedding perks.
On the similar time, we’re now a number of years faraway from the choice to finish free MagicBands, so I ought to be capable to “safely” admit that I believe it was the best name. There’s no such factor as a free lunch, and offering a MagicBand with each on-site resort keep was extremely wasteful on stability.
If something, I believe the actually unsuitable name right here was throwing good cash after dangerous and making the MagicBand+, as I’m extremely skeptical that’s even managed to recoup its growth prices and it was a worse product than its predecessor. If Walt Disney World is simply going to supply one model of MagicBands, it ought to be the cheaper and dumber ones. Principally, they’ve retired the unsuitable model of the product!
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Study lodges on our Walt Disney World Resorts Evaluations web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Evaluations. To save cash on tickets or decide which kind to purchase, learn our Ideas for Saving Cash on Walt Disney World Tickets publish. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys publish takes a singular have a look at intelligent gadgets to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Trip Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the very best place to start out is our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information for the whole lot it’s essential to know!
Your Ideas
Do you continue to buy or use OG MagicBands or MagicBand+ at Walt Disney World? What do you consider decline of wearables at WDW? Do you assume the MB+ is well worth the cash, or are there higher methods to allocate restricted trip budgets? Assume Disney made a mistake by sunsetting the free MagicBands for on-site stays, or was it the best name? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions we might help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even once you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!
It’s the tip of an period for MagicBands at Walt Disney World. Most of you must not buy the wearables on your trip and, judging by what we’ve seen just lately, most likely usually are not even absent this recommendation. This discusses the decline of Disney’s MagicBands, what led to this, and different ideas.
We’d be remiss if we didn’t begin in the identical spot as a number of latest articles, retreading floor beforehand coated in Walt Disney World is Anxious About Its Excessive Costs and that progeny of posts. The corporate has inner issues about Disney alienating the center class, with rising fears about how value will increase and unpopular selections are angering followers and shedding visitor goodwill.
As we’ve identified, it’s not simply value will increase. It’s these coupled with corresponding cuts, nickel and diming, and different methods the visitor expertise has been diminished. Worth isn’t the one, or maybe even major, concern. It’s the worth proposition, which has taken hits in each instructions.
There have been a number of nails within the proverbial coffin of MagicBands at Walt Disney World. The gadgets had been as soon as ubiquitous within the parks as a result of they got away free to all Walt Disney World resort resort friends. This on-site perk was eradicated in January 2021, and was one in every of a number of ‘delicate resets’ to the visitor expertise that was introduced in mid-2020 earlier than the parks even reopened.
Walt Disney World retiring the complimentary MagicBand distribution program, and switching to a pre-arrival low cost was introduced in the very same press launch because the Disney Park Go reservation system. This bombshell got here solely a few weeks after the retirement of FastPass+ and Further Magic Hours, in addition to the suspension of the Disney Eating Plan.
Suffice to say, it was a giant information month between all of that and the phased reopening, and the tip of free MagicBands was most likely the least consequential information. There have been loads of followers who had been–and nonetheless are–upset, however Disney flooded the zone with damaging information, and it was troublesome to be equally upset about all of it. (Though some followers tried!)
Walt Disney World sunsetting the complimentary MagicBand distribution program garnered the least backlash, by far. That’s partly as a result of MagicBands would nonetheless exist, and for as low-cost as $5 every when discounted for pre-arrivals. On the very least, this does lend a little bit of credence to followers who say they want Disney’s Magical Categorical would’ve been retained as an choice, however for a charge. (I don’t assume that may’ve labored, but it surely’s inappropriate.)
The subsequent large blow to MagicBands was the introduction of the MagicMobile service at Walt Disney World by way of the My Disney Expertise app. This roughly coincided with the sunsetting of free MagicBands in early 2021.
MagicMobile may be added to your Android, iPhone, or Apple Watch digital pockets as soon as enabled. It’s considerably just like a MagicBand, with most options working by merely holding up your good machine close to an entry level. It may be used to enter theme parks, join PhotoPass pictures to your account, enter Lightning Lanes, and extra.
MagicMobile didn’t have a seamless rollout, however has labored flawlessly for us in the previous few years. As somebody who already wears an Apple Watch, I sometimes don’t put on a MagicBand now as a result of I don’t like two wearables on my wrist, and the MagicBand is generally redundant to what’s provided by MagicMobile while not having a standalone machine.
Probably in response to this actuality and wanting to differentiate MagicBands from MagicMobile, Disney launched MagicBand+ a pair years in the past.
From the time it was introduced, our concern with MagicBand+ was that it was going to repeat the errors of the Made with Magic/Glow with the Present boondoggle. In a nutshell, that’s to say that Disney would make investments a ton of cash creating new wearable tech and push it as onerous as doable to recoup these prices, solely to see it flop with followers.
Judging by the hundreds of MagicBand+ that got away to Disneyland followers and the way few of the gadgets we see within the WDW parks as in comparison with OG MagicBands solely ~5 years in the past, it’s protected to say that MagicBand+ has not been the success that Disney envisioned.
The latest era of the machine was most likely the each the literal knockout punch for each the common ole MagicBands (formally often known as MagicBand 2.0), and the figurative one for visitor curiosity in Walt Disney World’s wristbands, interval.
If you take time passing by the expertise, MagicMobile providing an appropriate various to many friends without cost, and MagicBand+ being met with an icy response from most followers, it’s not stunning to see fewer friends sporting MagicBands within the parks.
After all, one large issue that can’t be neglected is the price. What was as soon as free for everybody staying on-site now comes with a cost. The minimal is $25 and there are improve choices costing as a lot as $45. If you would like something apart from a plain shade, the value is at the very least $35. You’re arguably higher off simply ready for a sale on the Disney Retailer, which additionally has higher choice.
So far, right here’s the present collection of pre-arrival MagicBand low cost improve choices for on-site friends as of mid-February 2025:
As you is perhaps conscious, one in every of our as soon as monthly-updated posts is/was Low cost Pre-Arrival MagicBands & MagicBand+ at Walt Disney World. That used to trace the discounted and (previously) free choices, as there was a whole lot of visitor curiosity and designs had been consistently altering.
Admittedly, I hadn’t checked or up to date that shortly till doing so on a whim this weekend. In actual fact, what I noticed there was what impressed this publish within the first place. There are at the moment 17 pre-arrival choices, which is traditionally low. Final 12 months, we noticed 25-40 decisions, on common. That was far fewer than the all-time peak of 82 MagicBands.
That is notable partly as a result of there’s been little or no turnover in new MagicBand+ choices. About two-thirds of the designs above had been additionally obtainable after we final up to date the listing 6 months in the past! And lots of of these had been there 6 months earlier than that. We’re seeing little or no turnover, which might be as a result of MagicBand+ has flopped. Or as a result of the pre-arrival low cost has low uptake. Or a combination of each.
Extra notably, for the primary time ever, there isn’t a single common ole MagicBand 2.0 obtainable by way of Walt Disney World’s pre-arrival low cost program.
Whereas the writing has been on the wall for some time because of a dearth of latest designs, this kind of confirms what we’ve lengthy suspected: the OG “dumb” MagicBand is lifeless. A fast search of the Disney Retailer would appear to substantiate the identical. There are many MagicBand+ designs for $35 to $65, however zero common ole MagicBands.
That is unlucky. Not solely does the MagicBand 2.0 look like lifeless, however these value factors are solely going to speed up the demise of MagicBands, interval, at Walt Disney World. Whereas I’m positive there are some collectors who nonetheless buy them, the identical might’ve been mentioned for Vinylmations or any variety of now-extinct product traces that when had loyal fan followings.
Fairly merely, the value factors now make the wearables value prohibitive for the common visitor, particularly on high of each different expense.
When you have a funds when visiting Walt Disney World, robust decisions should be made when spending on splurges. If you need to select between MagicBand+ designs for everybody in your get together, or utilizing MagicMobile (and common ole Key to the World Playing cards for teenagers or older friends with out smartphones/watches) and shopping for Lightning Lane Multi-Go at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the choice ought to be a no brainer.
MagicBand+ is a minimal value-add, whereas LLMP is vastly advantageous. The story is identical with nearly any upcharge–and even different random souvenirs. I can put on a sweatshirt, t-shirt, or hat in the true world. As a giant fan of espresso mugs (dishwasher protected ones) and resort-specific Tervis cups, these get infinitely extra utilization at residence. MagicBand+ is lifeless weight at residence.
Not solely that, however MagicBand+ is minimally helpful within the parks. The mini-games are considerably satisfying (though maybe extra so from a people-watching perspective because of all of the arm-flailing), however they’re arguably a poor use of restricted trip time. And the decreased utilization price of MagicBands all however ensures that Disney received’t throw good cash after dangerous by investing extra sources into creating new ones (hopefully).
Consequently, MagicBand+ will slowly circle the drain till it’s quietly retired. It’s solely a matter of time–when, not if.
I’m actually shocked that Disney even bothered to roll out MagicBand+ at Disneyland and Disney Cruise Line. Or that they proceed so as to add results into exhibits and elsewhere. Perhaps it is a matter of the corporate figuring out greater than me, and MagicBand+ being a quiet success story.
I doubt it. Extra doubtless is that they wish to recoup/unfold out among the growth prices, dedicated to the growth years in the past after they anticipated it to be a giant hit, or are nonetheless by some means holding out hope it’ll achieve traction. I don’t know why–expertise doesn’t precisely get higher with time.
Once more, this has shades of Glow with the Present. Regardless of that flopping internationally and discovering restricted success when it was unveiled stateside, Disney saved attempting to make it a “factor” for years. In so doing, they devoted/wasted beneficial retail area to advertise a product that was DOA.
The excellent news is that, in mild of the entire above, MagicBand+ will most likely proceed to be bought for at the very least the following few years. And as with the OG MagicBand, the gadgets will doubtless proceed to be supported lengthy after that. Simply as you possibly can nonetheless use a MagicBand 2.0 from ages in the past, you’ll most likely nonetheless be capable to use a MB+ from launch in 2030.
That’s nice for followers who already personal MagicBands, however we however advocate that almost all new friends don’t purchase MagicBand+ gadgets.
That is particularly aimed toward first-timers who don’t have any sentimentality for the wearables, and would possibly in any other case be swayed by followers who’ve outsized nostalgia for the gadgets. That’s based mostly largely on perceptions of MagicBands from over 5 years in the past, not an earnest cost-benefit evaluation of the wearables as we speak.
As of 2025, MagicBands merely usually are not well worth the excessive costs. The free options perform almost as nicely, and the chance value of allocating a portion of your trip funds to MagicBand+ versus one thing else will seldom make sense. It’s because of this that MagicBands made our listing of the Worst Wastes of Cash at Walt Disney World. That’s why I’ve purchased my final MagicBand, irrespective of how a lot I’d like that Figment design above.
All of that is sure to be controversial or unpopular with longtime diehard followers, and I get that. It breaks my coronary heart just a bit bit to write down this. We began used MagicBands because the authentic pilot program over a decade in the past, and have a whole lot of nostalgia for the wearables and the easier occasions they signify.
I used to be even excited for MagicBand+ and hoped it could reinvigorate the gadgets. As a substitute, it did the alternative. MagicBand+ simply isn’t a very good machine, and it was the demise knell for the OG MagicBands. Walt Disney World friends now solely have the selection of the costlier choices that do nothing particular or no machine in any respect, and are overwhelmingly selecting the latter. And for good cause!
To be clear, we’re not suggesting that nobody ought to use MagicBands. In the event you already personal one, extra energy to you! I’ve an OG MagicBand from a decade in the past that’s nonetheless going robust. What we’re saying is that only a few individuals ought to buy new ones given the $25 to $65 value and restricted performance over the free MagicMobile. Even for those who’re tech-averse, there’s additionally the free Key to the World card, which is actually only a piece of plastic.
Truthfully, I can’t even fault Walt Disney World for this one. We’ve been staunch critics of the finish of Disney’s Magical Categorical, and just lately reaffirmed our take that eliminating it was a colossal mistake. That was an unforced error, and an occasion of Walt Disney World making a short-sighted choice versus taking part in the lengthy recreation.
Sunsetting MagicBands is sort of the reverse of that. Time handed them by years in the past.
MagicBands had been arguably out of date inside a 12 months or two of first being launched, and if not by then, as soon as smartphones gained better market share amongst Individuals and, particularly, Walt Disney World’s core demographics. The largest factor that saved MagicBands related till 2021 was Walt Disney World distributing them to so many friends for “free” (or constructing them into the price of rooms).
It’s comprehensible that many friends, particularly technology-averse ones, would disagree with this. It likewise is sensible that followers push again on all cost-cutting, nickel & diming, and many others., as a matter of precept–if we give Disney an inch, they’ll take a mile. I actually don’t like shedding perks.
On the similar time, we’re now a number of years faraway from the choice to finish free MagicBands, so I ought to be capable to “safely” admit that I believe it was the best name. There’s no such factor as a free lunch, and offering a MagicBand with each on-site resort keep was extremely wasteful on stability.
If something, I believe the actually unsuitable name right here was throwing good cash after dangerous and making the MagicBand+, as I’m extremely skeptical that’s even managed to recoup its growth prices and it was a worse product than its predecessor. If Walt Disney World is simply going to supply one model of MagicBands, it ought to be the cheaper and dumber ones. Principally, they’ve retired the unsuitable model of the product!
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Study lodges on our Walt Disney World Resorts Evaluations web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Evaluations. To save cash on tickets or decide which kind to purchase, learn our Ideas for Saving Cash on Walt Disney World Tickets publish. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys publish takes a singular have a look at intelligent gadgets to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Trip Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the very best place to start out is our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information for the whole lot it’s essential to know!
Your Ideas
Do you continue to buy or use OG MagicBands or MagicBand+ at Walt Disney World? What do you consider decline of wearables at WDW? Do you assume the MB+ is well worth the cash, or are there higher methods to allocate restricted trip budgets? Assume Disney made a mistake by sunsetting the free MagicBands for on-site stays, or was it the best name? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions we might help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even once you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!
It’s the tip of an period for MagicBands at Walt Disney World. Most of you must not buy the wearables on your trip and, judging by what we’ve seen just lately, most likely usually are not even absent this recommendation. This discusses the decline of Disney’s MagicBands, what led to this, and different ideas.
We’d be remiss if we didn’t begin in the identical spot as a number of latest articles, retreading floor beforehand coated in Walt Disney World is Anxious About Its Excessive Costs and that progeny of posts. The corporate has inner issues about Disney alienating the center class, with rising fears about how value will increase and unpopular selections are angering followers and shedding visitor goodwill.
As we’ve identified, it’s not simply value will increase. It’s these coupled with corresponding cuts, nickel and diming, and different methods the visitor expertise has been diminished. Worth isn’t the one, or maybe even major, concern. It’s the worth proposition, which has taken hits in each instructions.
There have been a number of nails within the proverbial coffin of MagicBands at Walt Disney World. The gadgets had been as soon as ubiquitous within the parks as a result of they got away free to all Walt Disney World resort resort friends. This on-site perk was eradicated in January 2021, and was one in every of a number of ‘delicate resets’ to the visitor expertise that was introduced in mid-2020 earlier than the parks even reopened.
Walt Disney World retiring the complimentary MagicBand distribution program, and switching to a pre-arrival low cost was introduced in the very same press launch because the Disney Park Go reservation system. This bombshell got here solely a few weeks after the retirement of FastPass+ and Further Magic Hours, in addition to the suspension of the Disney Eating Plan.
Suffice to say, it was a giant information month between all of that and the phased reopening, and the tip of free MagicBands was most likely the least consequential information. There have been loads of followers who had been–and nonetheless are–upset, however Disney flooded the zone with damaging information, and it was troublesome to be equally upset about all of it. (Though some followers tried!)
Walt Disney World sunsetting the complimentary MagicBand distribution program garnered the least backlash, by far. That’s partly as a result of MagicBands would nonetheless exist, and for as low-cost as $5 every when discounted for pre-arrivals. On the very least, this does lend a little bit of credence to followers who say they want Disney’s Magical Categorical would’ve been retained as an choice, however for a charge. (I don’t assume that may’ve labored, but it surely’s inappropriate.)
The subsequent large blow to MagicBands was the introduction of the MagicMobile service at Walt Disney World by way of the My Disney Expertise app. This roughly coincided with the sunsetting of free MagicBands in early 2021.
MagicMobile may be added to your Android, iPhone, or Apple Watch digital pockets as soon as enabled. It’s considerably just like a MagicBand, with most options working by merely holding up your good machine close to an entry level. It may be used to enter theme parks, join PhotoPass pictures to your account, enter Lightning Lanes, and extra.
MagicMobile didn’t have a seamless rollout, however has labored flawlessly for us in the previous few years. As somebody who already wears an Apple Watch, I sometimes don’t put on a MagicBand now as a result of I don’t like two wearables on my wrist, and the MagicBand is generally redundant to what’s provided by MagicMobile while not having a standalone machine.
Probably in response to this actuality and wanting to differentiate MagicBands from MagicMobile, Disney launched MagicBand+ a pair years in the past.
From the time it was introduced, our concern with MagicBand+ was that it was going to repeat the errors of the Made with Magic/Glow with the Present boondoggle. In a nutshell, that’s to say that Disney would make investments a ton of cash creating new wearable tech and push it as onerous as doable to recoup these prices, solely to see it flop with followers.
Judging by the hundreds of MagicBand+ that got away to Disneyland followers and the way few of the gadgets we see within the WDW parks as in comparison with OG MagicBands solely ~5 years in the past, it’s protected to say that MagicBand+ has not been the success that Disney envisioned.
The latest era of the machine was most likely the each the literal knockout punch for each the common ole MagicBands (formally often known as MagicBand 2.0), and the figurative one for visitor curiosity in Walt Disney World’s wristbands, interval.
If you take time passing by the expertise, MagicMobile providing an appropriate various to many friends without cost, and MagicBand+ being met with an icy response from most followers, it’s not stunning to see fewer friends sporting MagicBands within the parks.
After all, one large issue that can’t be neglected is the price. What was as soon as free for everybody staying on-site now comes with a cost. The minimal is $25 and there are improve choices costing as a lot as $45. If you would like something apart from a plain shade, the value is at the very least $35. You’re arguably higher off simply ready for a sale on the Disney Retailer, which additionally has higher choice.
So far, right here’s the present collection of pre-arrival MagicBand low cost improve choices for on-site friends as of mid-February 2025:
As you is perhaps conscious, one in every of our as soon as monthly-updated posts is/was Low cost Pre-Arrival MagicBands & MagicBand+ at Walt Disney World. That used to trace the discounted and (previously) free choices, as there was a whole lot of visitor curiosity and designs had been consistently altering.
Admittedly, I hadn’t checked or up to date that shortly till doing so on a whim this weekend. In actual fact, what I noticed there was what impressed this publish within the first place. There are at the moment 17 pre-arrival choices, which is traditionally low. Final 12 months, we noticed 25-40 decisions, on common. That was far fewer than the all-time peak of 82 MagicBands.
That is notable partly as a result of there’s been little or no turnover in new MagicBand+ choices. About two-thirds of the designs above had been additionally obtainable after we final up to date the listing 6 months in the past! And lots of of these had been there 6 months earlier than that. We’re seeing little or no turnover, which might be as a result of MagicBand+ has flopped. Or as a result of the pre-arrival low cost has low uptake. Or a combination of each.
Extra notably, for the primary time ever, there isn’t a single common ole MagicBand 2.0 obtainable by way of Walt Disney World’s pre-arrival low cost program.
Whereas the writing has been on the wall for some time because of a dearth of latest designs, this kind of confirms what we’ve lengthy suspected: the OG “dumb” MagicBand is lifeless. A fast search of the Disney Retailer would appear to substantiate the identical. There are many MagicBand+ designs for $35 to $65, however zero common ole MagicBands.
That is unlucky. Not solely does the MagicBand 2.0 look like lifeless, however these value factors are solely going to speed up the demise of MagicBands, interval, at Walt Disney World. Whereas I’m positive there are some collectors who nonetheless buy them, the identical might’ve been mentioned for Vinylmations or any variety of now-extinct product traces that when had loyal fan followings.
Fairly merely, the value factors now make the wearables value prohibitive for the common visitor, particularly on high of each different expense.
When you have a funds when visiting Walt Disney World, robust decisions should be made when spending on splurges. If you need to select between MagicBand+ designs for everybody in your get together, or utilizing MagicMobile (and common ole Key to the World Playing cards for teenagers or older friends with out smartphones/watches) and shopping for Lightning Lane Multi-Go at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the choice ought to be a no brainer.
MagicBand+ is a minimal value-add, whereas LLMP is vastly advantageous. The story is identical with nearly any upcharge–and even different random souvenirs. I can put on a sweatshirt, t-shirt, or hat in the true world. As a giant fan of espresso mugs (dishwasher protected ones) and resort-specific Tervis cups, these get infinitely extra utilization at residence. MagicBand+ is lifeless weight at residence.
Not solely that, however MagicBand+ is minimally helpful within the parks. The mini-games are considerably satisfying (though maybe extra so from a people-watching perspective because of all of the arm-flailing), however they’re arguably a poor use of restricted trip time. And the decreased utilization price of MagicBands all however ensures that Disney received’t throw good cash after dangerous by investing extra sources into creating new ones (hopefully).
Consequently, MagicBand+ will slowly circle the drain till it’s quietly retired. It’s solely a matter of time–when, not if.
I’m actually shocked that Disney even bothered to roll out MagicBand+ at Disneyland and Disney Cruise Line. Or that they proceed so as to add results into exhibits and elsewhere. Perhaps it is a matter of the corporate figuring out greater than me, and MagicBand+ being a quiet success story.
I doubt it. Extra doubtless is that they wish to recoup/unfold out among the growth prices, dedicated to the growth years in the past after they anticipated it to be a giant hit, or are nonetheless by some means holding out hope it’ll achieve traction. I don’t know why–expertise doesn’t precisely get higher with time.
Once more, this has shades of Glow with the Present. Regardless of that flopping internationally and discovering restricted success when it was unveiled stateside, Disney saved attempting to make it a “factor” for years. In so doing, they devoted/wasted beneficial retail area to advertise a product that was DOA.
The excellent news is that, in mild of the entire above, MagicBand+ will most likely proceed to be bought for at the very least the following few years. And as with the OG MagicBand, the gadgets will doubtless proceed to be supported lengthy after that. Simply as you possibly can nonetheless use a MagicBand 2.0 from ages in the past, you’ll most likely nonetheless be capable to use a MB+ from launch in 2030.
That’s nice for followers who already personal MagicBands, however we however advocate that almost all new friends don’t purchase MagicBand+ gadgets.
That is particularly aimed toward first-timers who don’t have any sentimentality for the wearables, and would possibly in any other case be swayed by followers who’ve outsized nostalgia for the gadgets. That’s based mostly largely on perceptions of MagicBands from over 5 years in the past, not an earnest cost-benefit evaluation of the wearables as we speak.
As of 2025, MagicBands merely usually are not well worth the excessive costs. The free options perform almost as nicely, and the chance value of allocating a portion of your trip funds to MagicBand+ versus one thing else will seldom make sense. It’s because of this that MagicBands made our listing of the Worst Wastes of Cash at Walt Disney World. That’s why I’ve purchased my final MagicBand, irrespective of how a lot I’d like that Figment design above.
All of that is sure to be controversial or unpopular with longtime diehard followers, and I get that. It breaks my coronary heart just a bit bit to write down this. We began used MagicBands because the authentic pilot program over a decade in the past, and have a whole lot of nostalgia for the wearables and the easier occasions they signify.
I used to be even excited for MagicBand+ and hoped it could reinvigorate the gadgets. As a substitute, it did the alternative. MagicBand+ simply isn’t a very good machine, and it was the demise knell for the OG MagicBands. Walt Disney World friends now solely have the selection of the costlier choices that do nothing particular or no machine in any respect, and are overwhelmingly selecting the latter. And for good cause!
To be clear, we’re not suggesting that nobody ought to use MagicBands. In the event you already personal one, extra energy to you! I’ve an OG MagicBand from a decade in the past that’s nonetheless going robust. What we’re saying is that only a few individuals ought to buy new ones given the $25 to $65 value and restricted performance over the free MagicMobile. Even for those who’re tech-averse, there’s additionally the free Key to the World card, which is actually only a piece of plastic.
Truthfully, I can’t even fault Walt Disney World for this one. We’ve been staunch critics of the finish of Disney’s Magical Categorical, and just lately reaffirmed our take that eliminating it was a colossal mistake. That was an unforced error, and an occasion of Walt Disney World making a short-sighted choice versus taking part in the lengthy recreation.
Sunsetting MagicBands is sort of the reverse of that. Time handed them by years in the past.
MagicBands had been arguably out of date inside a 12 months or two of first being launched, and if not by then, as soon as smartphones gained better market share amongst Individuals and, particularly, Walt Disney World’s core demographics. The largest factor that saved MagicBands related till 2021 was Walt Disney World distributing them to so many friends for “free” (or constructing them into the price of rooms).
It’s comprehensible that many friends, particularly technology-averse ones, would disagree with this. It likewise is sensible that followers push again on all cost-cutting, nickel & diming, and many others., as a matter of precept–if we give Disney an inch, they’ll take a mile. I actually don’t like shedding perks.
On the similar time, we’re now a number of years faraway from the choice to finish free MagicBands, so I ought to be capable to “safely” admit that I believe it was the best name. There’s no such factor as a free lunch, and offering a MagicBand with each on-site resort keep was extremely wasteful on stability.
If something, I believe the actually unsuitable name right here was throwing good cash after dangerous and making the MagicBand+, as I’m extremely skeptical that’s even managed to recoup its growth prices and it was a worse product than its predecessor. If Walt Disney World is simply going to supply one model of MagicBands, it ought to be the cheaper and dumber ones. Principally, they’ve retired the unsuitable model of the product!
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Study lodges on our Walt Disney World Resorts Evaluations web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Evaluations. To save cash on tickets or decide which kind to purchase, learn our Ideas for Saving Cash on Walt Disney World Tickets publish. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys publish takes a singular have a look at intelligent gadgets to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Trip Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the very best place to start out is our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information for the whole lot it’s essential to know!
Your Ideas
Do you continue to buy or use OG MagicBands or MagicBand+ at Walt Disney World? What do you consider decline of wearables at WDW? Do you assume the MB+ is well worth the cash, or are there higher methods to allocate restricted trip budgets? Assume Disney made a mistake by sunsetting the free MagicBands for on-site stays, or was it the best name? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions we might help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even once you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!
