What's the best Disney tech to use at the parks?
Ahhhh...remember the good 'ole days? They were tech free! You could wander around Disney World at your leisure, paper map in hand, no gadgets or gizmos aplenty required.
...and you'd waste a ton of time getting lost, or you'd misplace your hotel key card at 11pm while your kids have a meltdown...
Okay, maybe technology isn't so bad.
Disney has debuted multiple pieces of tech over the years that are designed to be used at the parks. Right now, the three you need to know are MagicBands, MagicBands+, and the My Disney Experience app.
Each of these items can help you navigate the parks, with maps, wait times, character locations, hotel key cards, and more. Of course, they all have pros and cons. That's why this past trip, my family and I decided to test all 3! As part of our trip planning, we decided which of us would use each method, and were determined to find the one that made our trip as stress-free as possible. Read on for our biggest discoveries.
Comparing MagicBands, MagicBands+, and the My Disney Experience App
Just the app (on your phone!)
My husband decided to forego the MagicBands and just use the My Disney Experience app on his phone..
Here's how it works:
Link your tickets, reservations and any other reservations to your Disney account
Download the (free!) My Disney Experience app
Set up a Disney MagicMobile pass
Choose from a variety of Disney MagicMobile pass options (with cute Disney art and animations!). Then, add it to Apple Wallet on your iPhone and Apple Watch, or to your digital wallet on other smart devices.
Pros
No extra cost!
Works on an Apple Watch, which can act very similarly to a Magic Band
No additional items to wear (unlike a MagicBand, which is a physical bracelet)
All of your family's tickets can be placed on one app
Cons
Not the speediest option if you're crunched for time, e.g. queuing in the Lightning Lane entrance
Can't link your credit cards or Disney gift cards to the app
Our Overall Rating: 3.5 out of 5 Mickey ears!
These wristbands act as your ticket. With a MagicBand, you can open the door to your Disney hotel room, redeem a Lightning Lane, make any purchase in the parks, and even load photos. Our 5-year-old, Noah, gave a MagicBand a try!
Pros
Super easy to use! It was so convenient for Noah to have his own easy access into the park and onto rides. And it made him feel very grown-up, too!
Adorable designs (my kids had a field day choosing their favorites)
A more affordable option than the MagicBand+
Cons
A little too big for kids to wear. Each MagicBand is one size fits all. While you can technically adjust the band, the chip itself is pretty large
Since it's worn on your wrist, it can technically fall off, be lost, or be forgotten at any time!
Our Overall Rating: 4 out of 5 Mickey ears!
MagicBands+ have the same features as MagicBands.... But with a little extra magic! I was excited to see my MagicBand+ interacting with certain games, park locations, and characters, and revealing fun new experiences (like hunting bounties across Galaxy's Edge!). Your band can even react to the fireworks shows at Epcot and Magic Kingdom.
Pros
The extra features are pretty awesome! Hunting bounties, collecting golden statues, color-changing light patterns... Kids will love them, and they definitely add to the magic
Like the original MagicBands, they have ton of cute, colorful designs
Cons
These bands have to be charged--the battery life is around three days
They're a little pricy, and if you're not interested in the interactive features, they may not feel worth it
Our overall rating: 3 out of 5 Mickey ears!
So which piece of Disney parks tech is best?
...The one that works best for you!
Overall, all 3 methods were convenient and easy to use. My husband enjoyed using his phone and Apple watch, since they were items he already owned. My son LOVED the experience of choosing his own band, and had quite a pep in his step when he was in charge of his own ticket! As for myself, the MagicBand + was definitely worth it to experience something new at the parks I love.
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