Walt Disney International has discontinued the bargain MagicBand+ program for pre-arrival Walt Disney International hotel lodge visitors and Annual Passholders. With this, it’s any other finish of an generation for the preferred wearables; what was once as soon as a fan-favorite on-site perk when it introduced has declined in recognition within the years since and is now quietly being killed.
For more moderen lovers who’re unfamiliar with this program (or someone who needs to take a walk down reminiscence lane), this program introduced again in Might 2019 in birthday celebration of the MagicBand’s fifth Anniversary. On the time, the improve portal introduced the power to improve from a loose solid-color MagicBand to one in every of greater than 30 new top class MagicBand designs that includes favourite Disney characters and designs at a different value reflecting a $14.99 cut price.
Even as soon as the improve program introduced, a number of loose MagicBands have been nonetheless to be had for visitors who select to not improve. The brand new designs is also shipped to visitors’ properties (U.S. addresses most effective) if ordered 11 or extra days forward of arrival and may also be personalised if achieved so a minimum of 6 or extra days forward of arrival. On the time, maximum MagicBands price $5 to $15 after the bargain.
The pre-arrival program introduced on Might 20, 2019 and, like such a lot of issues using Disney IT, had a rocky rollout. I might estimate that that roughly one-third of the 953 feedback on our Information to Pre-Arrival Cut price MagicBands at Walt Disney International contain some kind of troubleshooting assist. (Therefore that being a big phase of the put up!)
The improve program sooner or later labored (kind of) as supposed and temporarily become a Walt Disney International fan-favorite providing. We noticed a ton of reader passion on this subject, and we ourselves boughts a number of MagicBands with the pre-arrival cut price. (I nonetheless fondly take into account the sluggish free up of resort-specific MagicBand designs in past due 2019, that have been a private favourite.) It was once a no brainer when it was once most effective $10 for a top class design!
I might danger a bet that any other one-third or so of the feedback on that put up got here when Walt Disney International introduced the top of the ‘complimentary’ facet of the MagicBand improve program, efficient January 2021. That was once some of the proverbial nails within the coffin for MagicBands at Walt Disney International, despite the fact that it didn’t appear love it on the time.
That announcement in reality flew slightly below the radar, because the MagicBand information was once one in every of a number of ‘cushy resets’ to the visitor enjoy that was once introduced in Summer time 2020 earlier than the parks even reopened. Walt Disney International retiring the loose MagicBand program was once introduced in the similar press free up because the Disney Park Move reservation machine and different well being coverage projects. This bombshell got here most effective a few weeks after the retirement of FastPass+ and Further Magic Hours, in addition to the suspension of the Disney Eating Plan.
Suffice to mention, it was once a large, unhealthy information month for Walt Disney International lovers, and the top of loose MagicBands was once a few of the least consequential information. There have been quite a lot of lovers who have been–and nonetheless are–disenchanted, however Disney flooded the zone with unfavourable information, and it was once tough to be similarly disenchanted about it all. (“Problem accredited” mentioned essentially the most devoted WDW diehards.)
The following large blow to MagicBands was once the advent of the MagicMobile provider at Walt Disney International by way of the My Disney Revel in app. This kind of coincided with the sunsetting of loose MagicBands in early 2021.
Round that very same time, Walt Disney International introduced the MagicBand+. The time from divulge to release was once a drawn out procedure, with the MagicBand+ first being introduced lengthy earlier than it debuted, and a lengthen reputedly going on someplace alongside the best way.
From the time it was once introduced, our worry with MagicBand+ was once that it was once going to be a dear boondoggle. That Disney would make investments a ton of cash creating new wearable tech and push it as exhausting as conceivable to recoup the ones prices, most effective to peer it flop with lovers.
Judging through the hundreds of MagicBand+ that got away to Disneyland lovers and the way few of the units we see within the WDW parks as in comparison to OG MagicBands most effective ~5 years in the past, it’s protected to mention that MagicBand+ has now not been the good fortune that Disney envisioned. In spite of this, there was no pivot again to the better days of the OG MagicBand.
There’s not anything essentially unsuitable with the MagicBand+ while you boil the wearable all the way down to its core capability. It’s high-quality. It may possibly do the entire issues that the OG MagicBand can do; it’s only a subject of ignoring the unnecessary bells and whistles, deficient battery lifestyles, and so on.
The issue is value. What was once as soon as loose for everybody staying on-site modified to a rate. No longer an enormous factor to start with, as there have been nonetheless $5 to $15 choices, which is minimum within the grand scheme of a Walt Disney International holiday. No less than, when the OG MagicBand was once nonetheless round.
That every one modified as soon as the MagicBand+ successfully changed the OG MagicBand. The minimal price shot as much as $25 and there have been improve choices costing up to $45 as of mid-2022. For those who sought after the rest as opposed to a undeniable coloration, the associated fee was once a minimum of $35. At that time, you have been arguably simply looking ahead to a sale on the Disney Retailer, which additionally has higher variety.
And that proper there’s what doomed the bargain MagicBand+ pre-arrival program.
It wasn’t the provision chain problems that plagued this system right through the phased reopening, which Disney rebounded from properly through remaining yr (there have been a report choice of designs to be had at one level!). It wasn’t generation passing through the MagicBand, or the loose MagicMobile provider changing the wearables.
If Disney persisted to offer away MagicBands, they’d nonetheless be an enormous hit with visitors. A type of “little issues” that makes other folks be ok with the top class pricing that Walt Disney International fees, as a result of they ship a top class product and a commensurate visitor enjoy.
Above all else, what ended in the bargain’s loss of life was once the sensible fact that the “cut price” MagicBands stopped being a deal, and the most affordable MagicBand+ to get during the portal was once mechanically $35 or extra.
This ended in visitor disinterest, which ended in fewer updates from Walt Disney International, and so forth and so on. The writing was once at the wall a very long time in the past, and it become patently glaring when Disney retained seasonal, annual, and celebratory stock lengthy after it was once inappropriate.
Despite the fact that some lovers are going to categorize this as Walt Disney International short of to extend income through charging extra–a value building up through a special title–we’re now not so sure that’s the proper characterization. If the rest, I might danger a bet that Walt Disney International is producing some distance, some distance much less income from MagicBands than they have been again in 2019. It’s a question of quantity, because of how they’ve bungled MagicBands during the last ~4 years.
Walt Disney International has in spite of everything made it legit with the sunsetting of the bargain MagicBand program as of October 8, 2025. The order waft nonetheless exists to move during the motions and make a choice, there’s simply no cut price:
Up to date MagicBand Order Procedure
This web page most commonly seems the similar as earlier than, save for the removing of verbiage referring to important discounted pricing being to be had for visitors with an upcoming Disney Hotel lodge reservation or Annual Passholders.
Above is the web page we see for our first hotel reservation. In conventional Disney IT style, it in reality took me a couple of instances simply to get this to show. Previous to this, I gained an error message: “We’re not able to show your MagicBands and playing cards presently; please take a look at once more later.”
This occurs about 1/2 the time, and it’s my working out that this can be a “me drawback” as a result of I’ve too many MagicBands and playing cards related to my account. (Even supposing I’ve proactively got rid of them on my finish, they nonetheless exist at the backend; each few years I’ve to have some of the “Avengers” Solid Individuals pass during the backend and delete the lifeless weight so my complete account doesn’t continuously crash. However I digress.)
If you’re questioning what the non-discounted pre-arrival MagicBand+ stock seems like as of as of late, there’s your resolution.
There are in reality a couple of new additions since our remaining replace at the designs in August, however that’s additionally now not the aim of this put up. I’d estimate that a minimum of 75% of those types have now not modified within the remaining year-plus. Over 1/2 are just like what was once right here at MagicBand+ release.
These kind of designs at the moment are $44.99. There are a couple of half-dozen strong colours which are $34.99. There are a pair ‘coloration developments’ which are $49.99.
The most productive design is now $44.99.
I’ve screenshots from this very same MagicBand when it was once $34.99 after cut price two months in the past.
Now I remorseful about now not making the acquisition, despite the fact that I take care of that this design is far better on a blouse, the place it seems like Figment is bursting from your abdomen. It’s great synergy with Alien: Earth, now taking part in on Hulu through Disney. (Subscribe now and save!)
The similar MagicBand+ is similar value by way of DisneyStore.com.
Given how incessantly DisneyStore runs offers, it makes little or no sense to shop for from My Disney Revel in except you’re doing so remaining minute and don’t care about the associated fee.
In truth, even earlier than as of late, this was once beautiful as regards to being the case. It’s simply definitive now.
Are MagicBands Wanted at Walt Disney International?
No. MagicBands are now not required and even important at Walt Disney International. For room access, park admission, Lightning Lanes, and charging privileges to the lodge room, Walt Disney International gives plastic Key To The International playing cards. This may also be supplied on the lodge entrance table, and is how issues labored previous to the debut of MagicBands a number of years in the past. Then again, visitors can obtain same old price tag media and use that for park access or the usage of Lightning Lanes.
Moreover, MagicMobile provider is to be had at Walt Disney International by way of the My Disney Revel in app. This may also be added in your Android, iPhone, or Apple Watch virtual pockets as soon as enabled. This works identical to a MagicBand with maximum options operating through merely protecting up your good tool close to an get right of entry to level. It may be used to go into theme parks, attach Disney PhotoPass pictures in your account, input Lightning Lanes, and extra. Right here’s how MagicMobile compares to MagicBands.
MagicMobile and Key to the International playing cards are two of 4 techniques to get right of entry to those options. The opposite choices are the MagicBand+ and the common ole MagicBand 2.0, as we’ll talk about underneath. Our brutally fair MagicBand+ Evaluate: Just right, Dangerous & Unpleasant must can help you decide whether or not it’s for you.
MagicBand Cut price Dying Ultimate Ideas
As urged above, it was once this chipping away on the pre-arrival MagicBand cut price program that has ended in its sluggish downfall. Despite the fact that this system is being formally retired as of late, Disney has been slowly letting it die for years. I suppose to their “credit score,” they’ve ensured that the backlash to this information wouldn’t be robust, as this one-time fan-favorite program way back misplaced its luster.
I’m positive some Walt Disney International diehards will nonetheless be dissatisfied through this construction. I do know I unquestionably am. However that is extra corresponding to finding out {that a} mag you stopped studying years in the past is in spite of everything going out of print. You moved on way back, and perhaps are even shocked to be informed it was once nonetheless limping alongside. However it’s nonetheless disheartening as the top of an generation. You’re mourning what as soon as was once, and the way the days have modified.
That’s how I think in regards to this. In slightly of a complete circle second, as of late is any other day that Walt Disney International has flooded the zone with unfavourable information. Identical to the when loose MagicBands ended, that is hardly ever essentially the most consequential tale of the day. And but, it’s the exchange that hits toughest for me, as it’s but any other little approach that we’re absolutely and in spite of everything ultimate a bankruptcy at the circa 2019 Walt Disney International visitor enjoy.
On the possibility of mentioning the most obvious, nobody is a fan of value will increase. However in truth, maximum of that information as of late bothers me so much lower than this. Even supposing it’s a coverage selection through Disney, pricing is in large part a fabricated from the marketplace; it’s what it’s. However as we’ve identified, it’s now not simply value will increase which have been going down since 2019. It’s the ones coupled with corresponding cuts, nickel and diming, and different ways the visitor enjoy has been reduced.
Worth isn’t the one, or most likely even number one, worry. It’s the worth proposition, which has taken hits in each instructions. Walt Disney International has made a large number of certain selections in recent years, and we don’t wish to diminish any of that. In many ways, it actually seems like Walt Disney International is popping a nook and getting again heading in the right direction! However they nonetheless can’t assist however get out of their very own approach on the subject of one of the “little issues,” and as inconsequential as they could appear, they’re a lot more significant selections than pricing insurance policies.
Making plans a Walt Disney International go back and forth? Find out about resorts on our Walt Disney International Resorts Evaluations web page. For the place to devour, learn our Walt Disney International Eating place Evaluations. To economize on tickets or decide which sort to shop for, learn our Guidelines for Saving Cash on Walt Disney International Tickets put up. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys put up takes a singular take a look at suave pieces to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney International Experience Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the most efficient position to begin is our Walt Disney International Shuttle Making plans Information for the entirety you wish to have to grasp!
YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you bring to mind Walt Disney International finishing the bargain MagicBand improve program? Is it the top of an generation for you, or do you now not care? Will you be paying complete value for such a colours or themed designs? Agree or disagree with our evaluate? Any questions we will can help you resolution? Listening to your comments–even while you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please proportion your ideas underneath within the feedback!
