Cast Members Get Sneak Peek of New MagicBand+

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

This summer, Walt Disney World will debut its highly anticipated new MagicBand, called MagicBand+. These new MagicBands will be able to do things above and beyond the traditional MagicBand. Regular MagicBands — which have been at Walt Disney World for years — are able to hold Guests’ theme park tickets, Park reservations, Lightning Lane Reservations, open your hotel room door, and more. MagicBand+ will be able to do all that and more, a lot of which will be in conjunction with the 50th Anniversary.

As part of its 50th Anniversary celebration, Walt Disney World Imagineers created 50 beautiful gold statues of classic and newer Disney characters. These statues are called the Fab 50. The new MagicBand+ will be able to interact with these statues, creating a truly one-of-a-kind experience for Guests. Some Walt Disney World Resort Cast Members were given the chance to use MagicBand+ and had a great time.

MagicBand+

WDW Ambassador shared footage of the fun interactions on Instagram.

We recently “banded” together with some Cast Members at Magic Kingdom for a special sneak peek of the new MagicBand+ Disney Fab 50 Quest! We had a blast bringing some of our favorite Disney characters to life and can’t wait to interact with the rest of the Disney Fab 50 Character Collection when MagicBand+ launches this summer. Which sculpt are you most excited to interact with? #DisneyCastLife #DisneyWorld50

In addition to using the MagicBand+ to interact with the Fab 50 statues, Guests will also see their Bands light up as they watch Disney Enchantment at magic Kingdom and Harmonious at EPCOT. Much like the Mickey ear hats that debuted at Disney years ago, MagicBand+ will light up in time to the music and change colors as the show progresses. 

Disney Enchantment

Guests who purchase MagicBand+ will also be able to become Bounty Hunters as they spend time in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The MagicBand+ will light up and vibrate as you get close to the hidden virtual bounties you are searching for. Then, in conjunction with the Play Disney Parks app, a thermal imager on your phone will reveal the hidden bounty. If Guests complete their missions, local guide masters will reward them with galactic credits. 

Now, the Fab 50 statues, as well as Disney Enchantment and Harmonious, were created specifically for the Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary. The 50th is scheduled to run through March 2023, and it is unknown if the statues and shows will remain after that. Disney has not revealed what things the MagicBand+ will be able to interact with once the 50th is over.

Disney World Pulls MagicBand+ From Shelves After Accidental Release

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

On May 1, Guests visiting Walt Disney World Resort were shocked and elated when they saw Disney’s new MagicBand+ on sale. Disney had announced the new bands would be coming to the Parks in 2022. There was no official announcement of the release from Disney, so these Guests thought it was just a pleasant surprise. Unfortunately, they soon learned that it was all a big mistake.

Not long after the MagicBand’s release, theme park insider Scott Gustin shared on Twitter that the new MagicBand’s were released by accident. Disney Cast Members had pulled the Bands from shelves and were refunding Guests who had already purchased them.

Disney says a limited number of MagicBand+ bands were sold earlier today. They removed the bands from the store and are offering refunds. MB+ features/in-park experiences are not live and are planned to launch later this year. Details (and a launch date) will be revealed later.

Guests have been waiting for months for Disney to finally release its MagicBand+. Sadly, they will have to wait a little longer. The new MagicBands are supposed to interact with the Fab 50 statues that have been placed at the Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom for Disney World’s 50th Anniversary celebration. However, the 50th Anniversary has less than a year left, so if the statues are taken down when it ends, Guests will have a very limited time to actually use that feature.

Chip and Dale Fab50

According to Disney, MagicBand+ is also supposed to light up as you watch both Disney Enchantment at Magic Kingdom and Harmonious at EPCOT. Those are also only around for the 50th Anniversary. Disney has said that its MagicBand+ would be released early in 2022, but we are almost halfway through the year, and there is still no release date.

Disney Enchantment

Even though Guests are still unable to purchase MagicBand+, traditional MagicBands — with dozens of incredible colors and designs — are still available for sale at all four theme parks, as well as Disney Springs.

DisneyDining.com will keep readers updated if and when Disney finally gives its MagicBand+ a release date. Hopefully that will be soon, since stores at Walt Disney World Resort are already getting shipments of them.

The newest Disney technology, MagicBand+, comes to Disneyland in 2022

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

We first brought you news about the newest member of the MagicBand family just before the kick-off to the Most Magical Celebration on Earth on October 1 at Walt Disney World.

The next-generation MagicBand+ will feature the latest in ways to access the Magic at Disney Parks, and we’ve just learned that the magic of the new bands will be available to Guests at the Disneyland Resort beginning in 2022 as well!

More details will be revealed soon about all that Guests can do with the next-gen technology of the MagicBand+. Features will differ some between the two U. S. parks, and we’ll learn more about that in the coming months.

ALSO, the most fun technology from Disney ever–the “Hey, Disney!” voice assistant powered by Alexa on Amazon Echo devices will also become available to Guests at Disneyland who book a stay at one of Disneyland’s exciting and themed Resort Hotels.

Disney Announces New MagicBand+

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

In the long list of technological innovations that Disney has introduced over the years to enhance the guest experience at Walt Disney World, the introduction of MagicBands is certainly up toward the top of the list. We love using them! This morning, Disney announced the introduction of a new generation of MagicBands that adds brand new functionality and takes interactivity to an entirely new level.

Innovation is essential to The Walt Disney Company story, dating back to its inception nearly a century ago. As Walt Disney once said, “We’ll always be introducing and testing and demonstrating new materials and new systems.” Well, that promise will come true once again next year when Walt Disney World Resort releases our next-generation wearable technology, MagicBand+.

The original MagicBand was introduced in 2013 at Walt Disney World, making the guest experience in our theme parks and resorts more convenient and hands-free for things like park and guest room entry, retail and dining, Disney PhotoPass and more. MagicBand+ will retain those popular features and add functionality that unlocks new moments of magic for you.

After you enter a theme park, MagicBand+ will come alive at various times with color-changing lights, haptic vibrations, and gesture recognition. The wearable will allow you to engage with favorite Disney moments in new ways, including:

    • Play like a bounty hunter in a galaxy far, far away and find virtual bounties throughout Black Spire Outpost in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
    • Interact with the “Disney Fab 50 Character Collection,” the golden sculptures spread throughout the Walt Disney World theme parks.
    • Experience nighttime spectaculars in a new way as you see your band light up and complement the magic in the skies, including the new “Harmonious” at EPCOT and “Disney Enchantment” at Magic Kingdom Park.

MagicBand+ will be available for purchase beginning next year, including a discounted, pre-arrival price for Disney Resort hotel guests as well as new and renewing Walt Disney World Annual Passholders. Current MagicBands will continue to be available, too, along with the complimentary Disney MagicMobile service that extends MagicBand features, such as park entry, to smart devices.

MagicBand+ will help immerse you in Disney stories and connect with characters you love like never before. We’ll have more to share about this exciting new technology in the future. And be sure to check out all our coverage of the Walt Disney World 50th anniversary, because “The World’s Most Magical Celebration” begins tomorrow!