At long last Disney has officially announced the highly awaited MagicBand+ for the next iteration of customization merchandise technology! The teams behind the bands have been working this new product for quite sometime.
From a touch away from entering the theme parks, towards connecting towards Disney PhotoPass and unlocking your Disney Resort hotel room. The original MagicBand first launched in 2013 and has now forever changed the tech and innovation landscape for Disney Parks in overhauling the guest experience.
For some who haven’t gotten a new MagicBand in a while, as their might be some confusion between the regular bands and MagicBand+. So here’s a breakdown for your FAQs down below!
What’s The Differences Between Magicband and MagicBand+?
While their is to many features to name off for both of the bands, as here’s a chart to breakdown for a “much clear explanation” between the both of them:
How Long Does The Battery Life Last?
According to Disney, “Depending on an individual’s use of the band, the battery can last an estimated 1 to 3 days.” However, Disney is recommending you charge it each night for the best experience.” As shared within their guest services page. It’s also important to note, if you forget to recharge your MagicBand+ and depletes towards 0% as “it will still work like a normal MagicBand”. Examples for like park and lighting lane entry, Disney Resort room entry, Disney Resort folio and charging Disney PhotoPass photographer interactions.
It also comes with a 6-inch USB charging cable when you first purchase a MagicBand+. *Certain MagicBand+ functionality and features, such as automatic association of Disney PhotoPass attraction photos to your linked Disney account, software updates, customization settings and use with certain Park and Resort interactive experiences may be affected if the MagicBand+ is not adequately charged*.
How I set up MagicBand+ Towards My Disney Account?
It’s pretty easy to set up your MagicBand+ towards your Disney account from Disney’s site, shared down below:
How Much Will The New Bands Cost?
The new bands will cost $34.99 (discounts do apply) throughout selected locations at Walt Disney World and online via ShopDisney. While compared towards a singular colored MagicBand will costs at $19.99. Depending on the design you want and the design’s creator (for example, you could fork up almost $60.00 for a Dooney & Bourke MagicBand). More elaborate designs will likely cost more. But there’s already a price difference of $10 at the most basic design level. Basically if you want the more interactive features as the extra $10 bucks difference (will give you more things to do at the parks).
Also bare in mind that most of the features of a classic MagicBand are also now available on your smartphone devices. The sizing for the new bands are bigger and bulkier versus a classic MagicBand (depending on your wrist size as well). The wearable devices come with new features such as color-changing lights, haptic vibrations and gesture recognition.
Here’s the locations at the parks you can purchase the new bands at Walt Disney World:
- 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
When They Will Be Launching?
MagicBand+ officially drops at Walt Disney World on July 27th and later this year for Disneyland some point. As it was shared before hand as “some of the features of MagicBand+ will vary between Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort”. It will be also paired up with “Hey Disney”! as the Amazon Echo digital voice assistant at Walt Disney World, for some point later this year including Disneyland as well. Over 25 different designs will be launching at Walt Disney World for that date.
The OtterBox cases have been on sale for quite a while and can purchase them on Amazon’s site for $24.99 for Echo devices.
Interactive Nighttime Spectaculars, Fab 50 Quest And Batuu Bounty Hunters
One of the cool aspects for MagicBand+ is that it will sync towards the nighttime spectaculars for examples like “Disney Enchantment” at Magic Kingdom Park and “Harmonious” at Epcot. Similar if you recalled during Disneyland’s 60th anniversary for the Mickey ears that synced towards “World of Color” and “Disneyland Forever” back in 2015.
MagicBand+ complements the magic in the skies, lighting up and vibrating in sync with fireworks, visual effects, and music. Your MagicBand+ will also engage as all four theme park icons or “Beacons of Magic”.
Cast members at Walt Disney World were able to test them out back in May before the official date was announced.
Meanwhile over in a galaxy far, far away on Batuu as “bounty hunting is a dangerous profession” for the business. MagicBand+ will your guide for seeking “virtual bounties” all across Black Spire Outpost for Star Wars: Batuu Bounty Hunters.
Vibrations and lights on MagicBand+ will guide you for seeking your bounty to be synced with Play Disney Parks app’s augmented reality thermal viewer to reveal who’s hiding in the shadows. Local guild master Raga Bua will reward you with galactic credits to see if your worthy joining the guild.
Earlier this week during the EARidescent Evenings Cast Member event at Disney’s Hollywood Studios as they got to test out the Batuu Bounty Hunters, and can check it out here!
Lastly as Disney Legend, Jodi Benson as the voice of Ariel from “The Little Mermaid” showed off another demo for the “Disney Fab 50 Quest”. Scattered throughout all four theme parks for Walt Disney World, as you can bring the sculptures to life with some fellow pixie dust help from Tinkerbell. All you have to do is just wave your hand with the Magicband+ in front of these character statues and they say a fellow phrase.
Here’s the video down below:
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Source: Disney
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