Disney announced last year that it would be introducing a new, upgraded version of MagicBands called MagicBand+.
We already saw Disney World accidentally release the new MagicBand+, but it was quickly pulled from the shelves. And now, we have the official release date of this new technology!
MagicBand+ will be launching on July 27th at Walt Disney World!
MagicBand+ is like a MagicBand in that it can do all of the same things, but it can also do a lot more. There are color-changing lights, haptic vibrations, and gesture recognition. It also pairs to your smartphone using the My Disney Experience app.
There are also over 25 designs of the new MagicBands, so you can choose whichever suits you best! Now, let’s take a look at everything it can do.
For the 50th anniversary celebration, you can use the new MagicBand+ to interact with the Disney Fab 50 Character Collection throughout all four theme parks with the “Disney Fab 50 Quest.” You can help Tinker Bell bring the sculptures to life across all four Walt Disney World theme parks using virtual pixie dust from Tink!
Just wave your hand to use your virtual pixie dust at each statue to see their different reactions. You can also pair this with the Play Disney Parks app to collect the sculptures and enter the worlds of your favorite characters through an augmented reality feature.
For all of you Star Wars fans, get ready for some bounty hunting! MagicBand+ will help you seek numerous virtual bounties hidden across Blake Spire Outpost in Hollywood Studios. Vibrations and lights will guide you down the right path. When you find your Bounty, you can use the Play Disney Parks app’s augmented reality thermal viewer to reveal who’s hiding in the shadows. Then, Local guild master Raga Bua will reward you with galactic credits!
And, we can’t forget about the band syncing up with nighttime spectaculars! During Enchantment at Magic Kingdom and Harmonious at EPCOT, MagicBand+ will complement the show in the skies by lighting up and vibrating with the fireworks, visual effects, and music. Your MagicBand+ will also engage as all four theme park icons transform into Beacons of Magic! We can’t wait to see what this looks like.
If you’re wondering where you can buy the new MagicBand+, here are the 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, and select merchandise locations at Disney Resort hotels.
We don’t know when MagicBand+ will be coming to Disneyland Resort, but we do know it will be later this year.
If you want to see more about the Disney Fab 50 Quest, you can check out this video from Disney where Jodi Benson (the voice of Ariel!) tries it out!
Stay tuned to All Ears for more Disney news and updates.
VIDEO: See MagicBand+ in Action in Disney World
Will you be buying MagicBand+? Tell us why or why not in the comments!
Do you if the new Magic Band center can be taken out to put on a lanyard like the old ones?
Not buying. So far doesn’t have any functionality that I would use. Like the rechargeable battery though.
Absolutely! A new band (or two) for each trip!
I got tired of it airing and just bought an old one. So I won’t be getting for this trip
I literally just ordered 3 MagicBands for my trip next weekend, two adults and a child! Now I’m thinking I’ll need to return those and possibly buy the new ones! What do you all think!? I bought the $19.99 ones. I haven’t been to Disney in probably 15 years.
I wont buy it. I dont meed to hear the gold staturs talking. I also dont need to bounty hunt.
It IS good it has replaceable batteries though.
Any idea if hotel guests will be able to purchase online in advance of their trip like the current magic bands?
Any idea on prices? Also I heard these have a way to charge the battery is that correct?
Hi Cindy! The new MagicBand+ starts at $34.99 and they do have rechargeable batteries.
A lot of the functionality seems to come from pairing the magic band with your cellphone and the MDE app.
What about children who don’t have a cellphone? Will they lose half the functionality? Or can we pair more than one magicband+ to each cell phone?