OK, What is the Difference Between MagicBands and MagicMobile?

For years, Disney World guests have used MagicBands as a means of gaining park entry, redeeming FastPass+ reservations (when available), acquiring PhotoPass pictures, unlocking their hotel room door, and charging purchases to their Disney World resort hotel room.

But with the rollout of the new MagicMobile service, there are even more options now for guests to choose from when deciding which piece of technology to use! But what exactly are these two services, and how are they any different from each other?

If you’ve been to Disney World and stayed on property for the last eight years or so, you are likely well aware of MagicBands. That’s because, since 2013, Disney would send complimentary MagicBands to their resort hotel guests ahead of each vacation.

This wearable technology provides a wide variety of services, from unlocking your hotel room door to acting as your park ticket! That way, you don’t have to fumble through your pockets or wallet for any sort of ticket, card, or other device — it’s all available on your wrist!

Over the years, Disney developed MagicBand into a countless assortment of fun colors, patterns, and designs for every Disney fan imaginable. More than just a piece of RFID technology, MagicBands became a fun, complimentary way of accessorizing your park day outfit. Fans would coordinate their MagicBand to their clothing, using them as a way to express their favorite Disney parks, movies, or characters.

This year, Disney launched MagicMobile, a new way of accessing essentially all of the same services as MagicBand, but on your phone! Through their smart device, guests can tap their phones to gain park entry and redeem FastPass+ reservations (when available). This service is still in the earliest stages, but the goal would be to also offer charging purchases to Disney World hotel rooms as well.

This rollout of MagicMobile essentially eliminates the need to wear a MagicBand, as all of the same services exist entirely in your phone. However, guests can choose to use MagicMobile alongside their MagicBand or in place of — it’s a nifty and/or situation that the guest has full control over!

The way that it works is, through My Disney Experience, a guest will add a MagicMobile pass to their phone (if you’re an iPhone user, the card will be added to your Wallet). If a guest has an AppleWatch, MagicMobile can also be used using that device in addition to your phone, giving you a quasi-MagicBand experience without wearing a MagicBand.

Another perk to keep in mind is that MagicMobile will be the new complimentary service available for guests. At the beginning of 2021, Disney World suspended all complimentary MagicBands. Guests can still order MagicBands ahead of their vacation for a nominal fee, or they can be purchased at the parks and resorts after you arrive. Guests can also reuse old MagicBands from previous vacations. As of this writing, Disney has not announced any plans to completely retire the MagicBand system.

Having a hard time deciding which system to use? Keep in mind that Disney does allow you to use both, so you can test it out for yourself and see which system you like better! In general, while MagicMobile could save your travel party money by not having to purchase MagicBands, you will be tied to your phone’s battery life and cell service more if you primarily use MagicMobile.

In the coming weeks and months as we continue to see the rollout of MagicMobile, we’ll keep an eye out for more developments and bring you the latest information so you can make the most informed choice on which service to use on your next vacation!

Click here to learn about more important details when it comes to MagicMobile!

Which service would you rather use: MagicBand or MagicMobile? Let us know in the comments!

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