Magic Bands - so many questions!

[HMG1984]

Good Morning! Our Disney trip is only two weeks away! We are staying at the Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista in Disney Springs, so I thought we would get magic bands included, but nothing has arrived yet. Do I need to order them separately? Can I buy them once we arrive? As a first timer (well, since magic bands were a thing), I'm so confused.

 

[sponica]

They're only included with a Disney resort stay. You can buy them when you get to Orlando, if you really want them. You could order them now, but I'm not sure if they'd be shipped in time.

 

[georgina]

oops, meant to quote OP!

You don't really need a magic band. Do you have physical tickets? You can use those for entry and FP. If not, you can have actual tickets issued to you when you arrive. Like sponica said, you can buy them if you want them.

 

[HMG1984]

Thank you both! I really appreciate your replies!

 

[only hope]

If you are buying photopass, I recommend buying at least one magic band for the group. All photos are automatically added to your account if you have a magicband 2 with a functioning battery. There’s a few rides where that is the only way to get the photo, and in some cases, video. If everyones planning to stick together, you’ll
only need one band. If you’re not using photopass, it’s just an expensive option to avoid pulling tickets out.

 

[Disneylvr1971]

Since you are staying in the DS area, if you want you can head over to DS and get them at most stores there.

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

You only get complimentary magic bands if you are staying at a Disney resort.
You can buy them ahead of time on the shopdisney website or app but with only 2 weeks I don't think I'd risk it.
Yes you can purchase once you get there.

 

[ElizabethG]

If you decide to purchase, be aware it cannot be used to unlock your hotel room door or for purchases (as it can at a Disney resort).

 

[bumbershoot]

If you are buying photopass, I recommend buying at least one magic band for the group. All photos are automatically added to your account if you have a magicband 2 with a functioning battery. There’s a few rides where that is the only way to get the photo, and in some cases, video. If everyones planning to stick together, you’ll
only need one band. If you’re not using photopass, it’s just an expensive option to avoid pulling tickets out.

I agree with all of this.

Especially it being an expensive option to avoid pulling out tickets.

OP, it sounds like you’ve been there before, so maybe you have lanyards from your previous visits? You can use those for tickets etc if you don’t want to use a wallet.

 

[HMG1984]

If you are buying photopass, I recommend buying at least one magic band for the group. All photos are automatically added to your account if you have a magicband 2 with a functioning battery. There’s a few rides where that is the only way to get the photo, and in some cases, video. If everyones planning to stick together, you’ll
only need one band. If you’re not using photopass, it’s just an expensive option to avoid pulling tickets out.

This is super helpful information! We did get photopass, so I'll be sure to buy at least one band when we arrive. It just me, husband, and 4 year old daughter, so we will definitely be together the whole time.