New MagicBand+ Now Available in My Disney Experience and at Disney World

Posted on by Mathew Corn Animal Kingdom, Disney Parks, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom

MagicBand+ is here! Walt Disney World Resort guests can now interact with Disney stories in all new ways through the magic of technology, with the launch of Disney’s newest wearable, MagicBand+. The new product will enhance guest visits to Walt Disney World Resort throughout the vacation destination’s 50th-anniversary celebration and beyond. The bands are now available for purchase at Walt Disney World (select locations) and in guests My Disney Experience accounts.

While MagicBands have not been complimentary for some time, Disney Resort guests can still purchase bands ahead of their visit and receive a “pre-arrival” discount. MagicBands are offered for sale up to ten days before arrival to guests residing in the United States and Canada in English only. Customized MagicBands are available for purchase up to six days before arrival for guests residing in the United States and Canada. Currently, customization is only available in English. MagicBands may also be purchased when you arrive.

To order your MagicBands for a resort stay, you need to visit the “My MagicBands and Cards” section of your My Disney Experience account. There you will see upcoming resort stays, and if you’re an annual passholder, an option to purchase a band for your pass. Select a future stay and choose to customize your bands.

Here is a look at the bands that are now available:

Bands are either $34.99 and discounted to a $24.99 pre-arrival price or $44.99 and discounted to a $34.99 pre-arrival price. Annual passholders will be able to use their 20% discount if they choose to purchase the bands in person.

Note that MagicBand+ bands are also available on shopDisney.com.

Here are some shipping details as listed in My Disney Experience:

Shipping Timeline

As soon as you book your Resort stay, you may select your MagicBand and customize your name, up until 10 days prior to your arrival.

For U.S. Guests, your MagicBands will ship to your home, usually within 10 business days of placing your order. Eligible International Guests will receive their MagicBands at their Disney Hotel Front Desk.

10 – 6 Days Before Your Trip – Select your MagicBand and customize your name. MagicBands will ship to your Resort Front Desk.

5-1 Days Before Your Trip  – Pre-Arrival MagicBand selection is no longer available.

Shipping Details

Pre-arrival, online offer available only to Guests who will be staying at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel or Guests who are new or renewing Walt Disney World Annual Passholders. Premium MagicBands sold by Magic Kingdom, Inc. Credit card will be charged when order is placed. Personalized MagicBands cannot be cancelled, returned, refunded or exchanged, even if the hotel reservation is cancelled. Cancellation of hotel reservations will result in cancellation of MagicBands orders; however, if personalized at the time of hotel cancellation, the MagicBands order cannot be cancelled and the nondiscounted full retail or comparable value of the premium personalized MagicBands will be charged. Shipping to eligible U.S. addresses (including U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico) only; shipping not available to PO Boxes, APO, FPO, DPO, or international addresses. Pricing may vary. Selection subject to availability. Other discounts not applicable. Offer subject to restrictions and change without notice.

Finally, do note that guests may continue to use their existing MagicBand and Disney MagicMobile, available on eligible devices, to enjoy other features, such as park entry. The original MagicBand product will continue to be available for purchase as well.

Car Locator – New App Feature Coming to Disney Parks

Posted on by Mathew Corn Animal Kingdom, Disney Parks, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom

One tip we give over and over again is to take a photo of the row where you parked in a Walt Disney World theme park parking lot. Soon, Disney is giving guests another way to remember where they parked.

From a Disney Cast Member;

How many of us can remember a time we had trouble finding our car in a Walt Disney World or Disneyland Resort parking lot? Well, say goodbye to that as we are bringing you a new car locator feature presented by State Farm to the My Disney Experience and Disneyland apps!

The feature will first launch at Walt Disney World Resort this summer and will be available at Disneyland Resort later this year.

Car locator is a complimentary feature that uses location technology to find and save your parking details. The feature functions best when you enable Location Services, Bluetooth, and Notifications on your mobile device.

The feature will be available at all four Walt Disney World theme parks, Disney Springs, Disney Water Parks, and the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. All you have to do is open your My Disney Experience app and tap the car locator card on your home screen—or you can use the Feature menu (☰) for access.

After that, follow the prompts to enter your parking information. If you choose to enable location permissions on your device, car locator can help fill in the details for you. When you’re ready to leave, return to car locator for your parking information.

In addition to helping you find your car at the end of the day, you can tap into a variety of other convenient features to make your Disney visit easier! From mobile merchandise checkout and mobile food ordering to the direct-to-room service at Disney Resort hotels, the My Disney Experience app helps free up more time for you to enjoy attractions and experiences. And if you haven’t already, be sure to check out the MagicMobile service, which is a great contactless way to enter the theme parks and enjoy other helpful features like linking your Disney PhotoPass photos.

State Farm is sponsoring the new car locator feature and the brand-new planDisney Podcast that offers insightful tips, helpful suggestions, and inside looks for guests preparing for an upcoming Disney Parks vacation as ways to help Disney introduce more magical experiences to its guests.

Be sure to have the latest update of the My Disney Experience app so you’re ready when car locator launches this summer! Later this year, the feature will launch at Disneyland Resort. Stay tuned for more updates!

Dazzling ‘World of Color’ Returns on April 22 to Disney California Adventure Park

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

“World of Color,” the nighttime spectacular that has enchanted millions of Guests with its dazzling display of water, fire, fog, lights, music and the magic of Disney storytelling, is returning to the Disneyland Resort April 22, 2022! 

This breathtaking extravaganza at Disney California Adventure Park brings animation to life, where Guests can relive memorable scenes from beloved Disney and Pixar films. Powerful dancing fountains shoot high to the sky on Paradise Bay, creating a fantastic movie screen of water and a veil of mist, while lasers electrify the night, capped with a soaring soundtrack. Guest’s may see scenes such as WALL-E and Eve zipping through the cosmos, Pocahontas exploring just around the river bend and Jack Sparrow battling on the sea.

Did you know? Here are a few “World of Color” fun facts!

  • The inspiration for “World of Color” came from Walt Disney himself. The show begins and ends with the original theme song from “Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color” 1960s television program, which was written by Disney Legends Richard M. and Robert B. Sherman.
  • “World of Color” features a gigantic projected water screen – a wall of water 380 feet wide by 50 feet high, for a projection surface of 19,000 square feet!
  • The fountains can send water to heights ranging from 30 feet to 200 feet – higher than the top of Pixar Pal-A-Round!
  • The “stage” for “World of Color” in Paradise Bay is nearly one acre and longer than a football field!
  • During “World of Color,” Guests will see an array of heroes, heroines and colorful villains from the vast treasure of Disney and Pixar films, with characters from “Finding Nemo,” “The Little Mermaid,” “Toy Story,” “Aladdin,” “Beauty and the Beast” and “The Lion King.”

When “World of Color” returns, we will be adding a virtual queue system to help you view this popular show. This virtual queue is only accessible via the Disneyland mobile app. Beginning April 22, distribution times for the virtual queue enrollment will begin at noon, daily.* Guests that are able to make a virtual queue selection will receive a notification via the Disneyland app to enter the designated “World of Color” viewing area via one of the two marked entrance points (Blue or Yellow) assigned to them, approximately 45 minutes before the show begins. For how-to details on the virtual queue system, visit Disneyland.com. If the virtual queue reaches capacity, please visit the Paradise Bay viewing area shortly before “World of Color” begins to check in with a Cast Member for walk-up viewing options. Joining the virtual queue for World of Color is not required to view the spectacular, but it is highly recommended.

Check the latest entertainment details and schedules at Disneyland.com or the Disneyland mobile app. Entertainment, experiences, and offerings may be modified, limited in availability or unavailable, and are subject to restrictions, and change or cancellation without notice. Theme Park reservations and valid admission for the same Park on the same day are required for Park entry. Park reservations are limited, subject to availability and not guaranteed. Park admission and offerings are not guaranteed. Visit disneytraveltradeinfo.com/dlr for important information to know before your visit, including the latest information on face coverings.

*Please note, in order to enter the virtual queue, you must have entered Disney California Adventure park with a one day, one park ticket/Park Hopper ticket or Disneyland park with a Park Hopper ticket. The virtual queue is only accessible beginning at 12:00 p.m. via the Disneyland mobile app, and is subject to availability. Guests who begin their day at Disneyland may then enter Disney California Adventure park with their Park Hopper ticket after 1 p.m. for their designated entrance and show time. Joining the virtual queue does not guarantee the ability to view “World of Color.”

Celebration of Disney+ Day

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney+

In Sept., Disney announced that we would be celebrating Disney+ Day in a big way on November 12, and we’re excited to share more about what Disney Parks Guests and shopDisney users can expect later this week as we roll out the blue carpet around the world for Disney+ subscribers.

In celebration of Disney+ Day, Disney+ subscribers with a valid ticket or pass and theme park reservations for the day will enjoy special benefits at select Disney theme parks. Disney+ subscribers are invited with their travel party to enter all theme parks at both Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort 30 minutes before regular park open.

Disney+ subscribers are the real stars at Disney Hollywood Studios and Disneyland Park, where Guests will be welcomed with a blue carpet experience, including special photo opportunities throughout the parks.

lus up their photos with complimentary Disney PhotoPass digital download(s) taken at select locations, offered especially to Disney+ subscribers via the My Disney Experience and Disneyland apps. 

Fan favorite Disney+ characters are also joining the festivities with appearances around the parks. The fun doesn’t stop there – there are more surprises in store for subscribers who visit on Disney+ Day at Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort!

Learn about how Guests can celebrate Disney+ Day at Walt Disney World Resort and the Disneyland Resort via handy event guides directly in the My Disney Experience mobile app and the Disneyland app. For Guests using a mobile device, they can directly access the Walt Disney World Resort event guide and the Disneyland Resort event guide.

Disney+ Day is coming to Disneyland Paris too with a special celebration taking place at Walt Disney Studios Park for all Guests to enjoy!* Guests can be the star they are, and strut the blue carpet in true Hollywood style, stopping along the way for selfies with Disney characters dressed in blue for the occasion. Relax between takes in an eatery reminiscent of the Golden Age of Hollywood at Restaurant en Coulisse – and don’t miss the chance to indulge in a complimentary Disney+ Day-inspired treat offered with each menu item purchase. Disney+ Day photo locations will plus up Guest’s pics with special character appearances (both in-person and virtual); and to culminate the celebration, Walt Disney Studios Park will remain open for 30 extra minutes with a grand finale illuminating the Tower of Terror in blue.**

Guests can celebrate with Disney Parks from home, too! They can step up their selfie game on the My Disney Experience app with a special appearance from Grogu. This all-new AR feature rolls out November 12, and just for Disney+ Day, Guests will be able to give it a go right from home!

Disney+ subscribers will enjoy more special benefits from home with free shipping on shopDisney from November 12-14. In addition, for a limited time starting TODAY, shopDisney is rolling out new customizable products from Disney, Pixar, Star Wars and Marvel including short sleeve and long sleeve T-shirts for kids and adults from Disney+ favorites: “Raya and the Last Dragon,” “Luca,” “Star Wars: The Bad Batch,” and “Loki.”

In celebration of Disney+ Day, Disney Publishing Worldwide will offer selected $0.99 cent eBooks Nov. 8-17. Fans can discover the stories behind their favorite Disney+ series, including, “Loki,” “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series,” and “The Mandalorian.”

Guests can also choose to memorialize the magic with the release of a limited set of digital collectibles representing some of the most beloved characters and stories from iconic Disney franchises. Each digital collectible purchase will include a free offer code allowing new subscribers to enjoy several free months of Disney+.***

For Guests not already a Disney+ subscriber, they can join in the celebration with a special, introductory offer, and get one month of Disney+ for only $1.99, then $7.99/mo. 

Guests may be required to verify that they are a Disney+ subscriber by displaying their logged-in home screen on the Disney+ app via their phone to receive special benefits at the parks. Please be sure to download the Disney+ app and sign in prior to arrival.

*A Health Pass is required for any guests aged above 12 years and 2 months in order to visit Disneyland Paris. Please visit our Health and Safety page https://www.disneylandparis.com/en-us/health-safety-measures/ 

**Please note that seasons, shows, parades and similar events at Disney Parks may be changed, delayed or cancelled at any time without notice for reasons beyond our control.

*** This Disney+ offer is only valid for new and returning Disney+ subscribers, cannot be shared with any other person or transferred in exchange for money or any other consideration, with or without the NFT, and is only available in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, Netherlands, Spain, Mexico, and Singapore.

Virtual Queue for Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure Begins Oct. 1

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Epcot

When we say “bonjour!” to Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure on Oct. 1, in order to experience the attraction, Guests will be required to join the virtual queue. Here’s how our Guests will use the virtual queue to experience Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure: 

  • Guests with a valid ticket or pass and theme park reservation who will start their day at EPCOT can access the virtual queue system via the My Disney Experience app and check for an available boarding group starting at 7 a.m. on the day of their park reservation. This can be done before Guests arrive at the theme park.
  • If Guests are unable to join the morning virtual queue opportunity, they may check for an available boarding group starting at 1 p.m. after they have entered the park. Keep in mind, Guests must be at EPCOT to access this second virtual queue opportunity, and access to a boarding group is subject to availability and not guaranteed.

Tips for getting into the virtual queue

By the day prior to their visit, Guests should make sure to have done the following:

  • Have an account in My Disney Experience
  • Download the My Disney Experience mobile app on their smart device or ensure they have the most updated version of the app before arriving at the park
  • Link their tickets to their My Disney Experience account 
  • Have a valid Disney Park Pass reservation for EPCOT for the day

Virtual queue is only accessible via the My Disney Experience mobile app.

Please keep in mind, only one Guest per traveling party should attempt to enroll in virtual queue. Multiple Guests and devices attempting to enroll the same party could complicate securing a boarding group. As a reminder, in order to be eligible for the 1 p.m. virtual queue enrollment, all Guests in a party must already be inside EPCOT.

Guests who need additional help joining the virtual queue for the 1 p.m. enrollment time should seek out a Guest Relations or Guest Experience Team Cast Member at EPCOT.