Disney has just announced that MagicBand+ is coming to Walt Disney World on July 27.
Some MagicBand+ bands were accidentally released early in May and we got to test them out, although most features were not available yet. MagicBand+ operates like a regular MagicBand, but with color-changing lights, haptic vibrations, and gesture recognition that help interact with the parks. It will be available in more than twenty-five designs.
The main experiences that will be available with MagicBand+ when it launches are Disney Fab 50 Quest, Star Wars: Batuu Bounty Hunters, and interaction with nighttime spectaculars.
Disney Fab 50 Quest
On this quest, guests will help Tinker Bell bring the Disney Fab 50 sculptures to life using “virtual pixie dust.” Guests can wave their hands to sprinkle pixie dust on the statues and trigger different reactions. On the Play Disney Parks app, guests can collect the sculptures and enter the augmented realities of the Fab 50 characters.
Here are the interactions we were able to try with our MagicBand+.
Star Wars: Batuu Bounty Hunters
Guests will be able to use their MagicBand+ to seek out bounties in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge during this game. The lights and vibrations on their band will guide them. They can also use the AR of Play Disney Parks app to see who’s hiding with a reality thermal viewer.
Nighttime Spectaculars
Finally, MagicBand+ will sync with nighttime spectaculars “Disney Enchantment” at Magic Kingdom and “Harmonious” at EPCOT. It will complement the fireworks and visual effects with lights and vibrations. It will also interact with the Beacons of Magic at all four parks.
MagicBand+ will need to be charged and paired to your device for these experiences to work. How-to videos will be available on the Walt Disney World website. Disney Resort hotel guests will be able to purchase MagicBand+ online at a special price before their arrival. Annual Passholder discounts will be available on MagicBand+. The regular starting price is $34.99.
Guests will be able to purchase a MagicBand+ at these locations:
- Magic Kingdom Park: Emporium
- EPCOT: Pin Traders – Camera Center
- Disney’s Hollywood Studios: Celebrity 5 & 10 and Tatooine Traders
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park: Discovery Trading Company
- Disney Springs: Disney’s Pin Traders
- Select merchandise locations at Disney Resort hotels
MagicBand+ will later launch at Disneyland Resort.
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We are still going to be aloud to use our normal band right? no offense this sounds like alot of fluff and an excuse for some fun for the tourists like the light up trinkets at night or balloons etc. Or the water fans that squirt other parties but your own. Def Something for the kids to go but mommy daddy i want the cool band. Not for the real wdw folks.
Yes your regular band or electronic smartphone pass will still work
Ugh! Interactive features at the Fab 50 locations will create congestion similar to that around the Harry Potter themed locations at Universal that respond to interactive wands. What a mess!
We check into our resort on 7/27. Will these be available for purchase from the resort? I didn’t buy magic bands for our trip yet.. hoping to get these. Thanks!
So with the launch, you can not buy them online unless your staying at the hotel? Can annual pass holders purchase them online too?