Do you know what the Disney Magic Band colors are for you?
Hello there fellow ThemeParkHipsters! In this post, instead of giving you the latest on our favorite ride or food options at the most magical theme parks, we’re going to talk about something a little bit different…
… Your ThemeParkHipster style!
Today, we’re going to discuss everyone’s favorite wearable technology at Disney World: Magic Bands!
This article is going to be your one stop shop for all things Disney Magic Bands! From what they do, to how to get one, to more importantly…what Disney Magic Band colors and styles are available.
That way you can plan your next Disney World visit confidently, knowing that your Magic Band will match your favorite park ‘fit!
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What is a Disney World Magic Band Anyway?
Introduced to the Orlando, Florida Walt Disney World resort location in January of 2013, Disney Magic Bands were a technological solution to a better guest experience.
The idea was: no more carrying around your park tickets, FastPasses, room key, wallet, and credit card all over the parks all day. Why do that when you can wear it all in one place!
In essence, Disney’s Magic Band is a rubber bracelet that will make your pockets lighter and your guest experiences more efficient and convenient.
Essentially, by using the My Disney Experience app or website, or by visiting a concierge or Guest Relations desk, you can link up as much or as little information to your Disney Magic Band as you’d like.
From their park ticket, to their room key, to their credit card, the more you link up, the less cards you have to carry around!
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What are the Disney Magic Band Colors?
Below are the standard solid colors to choose from.
- Gray (default color)
- Green
- Blue
- Purple
- Yellow
- Orange
- Red
- Pink
- Black*
- Brown*
- White*
*Please note that the black, brown, and white are not the standard colors that come free for Annual Passholders.
Walt Disney World Magic Bands: Then and Now
For the past 7 years, the system of Disney World Magic Bands has pretty much been the same.
How to Use Your Magic Band
- Step 1: Book a Disney Resort visit.
- Step 2: About two weeks before your visit, you receive an email reminding you to choose your Disney Magic Band color (either gray, the default color, green, blue, purple, yellow, orange, red, or pink).
- Step 3: Personalize the inside of the Magic Bands with your name/text of their choice.
- Step 4: Have the Disney Magic Bands shipped to their home in preparation for their resort visit.
From 2013 until now, this process has been the same, and free of charge, for all Walt Disney World resort guests…however, you should know that soon, this will no longer be the case!
New Changes
As of January 1, 2021, guests staying on Disney property will be expected to pay (a discounted price) for Disney Magic Bands.
This is likely to cut costs for the Disney company, although don’t fret, if you’re not interested in paying for one, Disney Magic Bands aren’t 100% necessary for Disney guests. (But we’ll get into that more in the FAQ section below.)
“But, what if I’m not interested in staying in a Walt Disney World hotel or resort, but I still want a Disney Magic Band for my park visit…Can I still get one?” you might be wondering.
The short answer is yes. But again, check out our “Walt Disney World Magic Bands FAQ” section below for more details.
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Walt Disney World Magic Band Tips
Just like any other facet of your Walt Disney World stay, the Magic Bands have their own set of tips and tricks that you should learn before getting one for the first time! See our favorite Magic Band hacks below!
1. Personalize the Inside – for Free!
If you are staying on Walt Disney World property and therefore ordering your Disney Magic Band ahead of your stay, we’ve got some good news! Not only can you select from one of eight Disney Magic Band colors (listed above), but you can also opt to put your name on the inside for free!
This is a fun detail that shouldn’t be missed! Especially if you’ve got a unique Disney nickname you’d like to add…maybe something like Happy, Sleepy, Dopey, or Grumpy…if you catch our drift?
2. Add Your Credit Card Info
Ok, we know this may sound like an “unsafe” idea at first, but hear us out. For those of you who’d like to enjoy a convenient, efficient, touch-free park experience, (remember, less touching = less germ spread!) then consider doing this.
Use the My Disney Experience app or website, or visit a concierge or Guest Relations station on property (there’s one in each of the four parks and Disney Springs). Ask to hook up your credit card info.
Just like with any typical debit card, you’ll also be asked to set up a 4-digit pin number to go with it. This keeps your payment information safe and private.
So now, anytime you’re anywhere on Walt Disney World property, from a gift shop to a restaurant, all you have to do is touch your Disney Magic Band to the mickey head. Input your pin number, and BAM you’ve paid for your purchase without touching or exchanging cash or plastic cards!
3. Personalize the Fit
If you’ve got small wrists, then listen up to this trick! All Disney Magic Bands are made of a rubber material and have multiple holes in the wristband to personalize the size.
However, if you have extremely small wrists, you can make the fit even more comfortable! Simply remove the extra piece of rubber on the wristband and throw it away for a tighter, comfier fit.
4. Connect Your Photopass Account and Park Tickets
Yet another way to personalize your Disney Magic Band and make your park experience more efficient is by adding your park tickets and PhotoPass account to your band.
Again, this is another option that can be done through the My Disney Experience website or app, or at any Guest Relations or concierge location.
Both your park tickets and PhotoPass accounts have unique serial numbers.
Simply input this information into My Disney Experience and suddenly you don’t need to carry around your PhotoPass card or Park Tickets as all that information will be stored on your band.
Walt Disney World Magic Band FAQs
Now that we have the basics out-of-the-way, let’s go through a few of the most common questions regarding your MagicBand.
Are Disney World Magic Bands Free?
As we explained above…this is a bit of a tricky question at the moment. If your Disney Resort hotel stay is prior to January 1, 2021, then YES! Your Disney World Magic Bands will be free!
However, if you will be checking into a Disney Resort ON or AFTER January 1, 2021, then no. Disney Magic Bands aren’t complimentary any longer, but will be offered to guests at a discounted rate. (No official price has been released yet, but our guess is anywhere from $8 – $15 each.)
Although this may disappoint frequent Disney Resort hotel guests, there is a bit of a silver lining in their latest announcement pertaining to this:
“Disney Resort hotel guests will continue to have the option to purchase new Magic Bands at a discount, and we’ll be introducing even more colors and designs featuring favorite Disney characters in the future.”
Kind of exciting, right?
But, what if you only intend on visiting the parks and NOT staying at a Disney resort or hotel?
Well, the answer to that question has always been and will remain the same: they’ll have to be purchased separately at an extra cost to you. See where and how below.
Where can I get a Walt Disney World Magic Band?
For guests who want a more exciting color or design option for their Disney World Magic Band, or for those who will not receive a complimentary one at Disney resort or hotel check-in, don’t worry!
There’s plenty of places for you to purchase unique ones for anywhere from $15 – $50, depending on the design and availability.
If you’re already on Disney property and are interested in buying a Disney Magic Band, check out all major gift shop locations, including:
- The Emporium on Main Street of Magic Kingdom
- MouseGear in Epcot
- Windtraders in Animal Kingdom
- Adrian and Edith’s Head to Toe in Hollywood Studios
- World of Disney in Disney Springs
Or, if you haven’t arrived on Disney World property yet and want to order ahead of time, check out the Shop Disney App. Search “MagicBands” to see all the latest and most popular options!
What Disney Magic Band Colors and Designs are Available?
The amount of Disney Magic Band colors and designs are endless! From more traditional designs featuring Mickey or Minnie, to limited edition ones like park anniversaries or discontinued rides or characters, the price you pay will reflect how rare your Magic Band is.
Remember though, regardless of your Disney Magic Band color or design, they all work the same. So what you’re really paying for is aesthetic.
And Disney has done a great job of creating such a large array of designs, we’re sure there’s one that every ThemeParkHipster will enjoy!
Additionally, “Magic Band on Demand” stations are available in Magic Kingdom and Disney Springs for guests who would like to completely customize their very own Disney Magic Band.
From the background color, to what characters are featured, to personalized text, you can make a Magic Band that is as unique as you are at any Disney store with a “D-Tech” touchscreen.
How can I choose my Disney Magic Band Color?
If you’re staying on Disney Property and therefore will be provided with a Disney Magic Band, you can choose your Disney Magic Band color by logging into your My Disney Experience account via the app or online.
Once your account is created and activated, click on “My Disney Experience Account” and then “My Magic Bands and Cards” from the drop down menu. This will bring you to all your customizable options like Disney Magic Band colors, inscriptions, linked accounts and park tickets, etc.
If you’re not staying on Disney property, then you’ll have to choose your Magic Band color or design the old fashioned way: by shopping in store or online!
Can I put my FastPass+ Selections on my Magic Band?
Yes! Just like those who don’t have a Disney Magic Band can link their FastPass+ selections to their park ticket, you can do the same with your Magic Band!
This makes hopping onto the FastPass+ line even faster and more convenient, in case you didn’t think that was possible!
Do I need a Magic Band to go to Disney World?
The short answer is no. You don’t need a Disney Magic Band to enjoy the four Orlando theme parks.
In fact, Disney hopes that more guests will begin to use the My Disney Experience app in lieu of Magic Bands since they’ve invested so much money into building and perfecting this application’s technology.
However, at the same time, do Magic Bands make your Disney visit more convenient? Yes. Do the majority of guests have them? Yes.
But, even still, you can do everything a guest with a Magic Band can do, without one. Just instead of having your park ticket, Photopass, and room key in one place, you’ll have them all on separate cards.
The bottom line? Don’t feel pressured to purchase or get a Disney Magic Band if they don’t fit your vibe or will cause you discomfort.
But at the same time, keep in mind that they are safe to use (you need to scan your Magic Band to confirm your identity before entering the park) and they’re waterproof.
Which means you don’t have to worry about damaging or losing your credit card, cash, or wallet on roller coasters or water rides!
Ready to start planning your next Disney World vacation? Listen to the latest podcast episode on Apple or on your non-Apple device now!
Final Thoughts about Walt Disney World Magic Bands
Overall, here at ThemeParkHipster, we’re a big fan of Disney World Magic Bands! They let you show off your Disney style, rep your favorite characters, and enjoy an efficient day at the park all at once.
It feels great walking around the park hands-free with no purse or full pockets, because you know everything you need is right on your wrist! We also love that they’re reusable.
Buy or receive your Disney Magic Band once, and use it for the rest of your Disney days!
So, now that you’re a pro on all things Magic Band, if you’ve never used one before, are you excited to try one? Or, if you’ve already had your fair share of Disney Magic Band wear time, what’s your favorite thing about it? We’d love to hear in the comments below.
As always, thanks for joining us and choosing ThemeParkHipster to be your guide for all things amusement parks!
Until next time, Happy Park Hopping Hipsters!
About the Author
About the Author
Gina is a former Walt Disney World and Disney Cruise Line Cast Member who enjoys reliving the magic by writing helpful tips and tricks for future guests!
Check out more about her Disney adventures and writing endeavors at www.ginaarfi.net.
UP NEXT: What are the Disney World FastPass Tiers for Each Park? (Definitive Guide)
(Original Article Date: January 27, 2015/Updated September 1, 2020)