When did MagicBands go out if style?

[loves to dive]

I still wear mine, I usually take 3 of them on every trip. I have the old original ones and every one that came after that. I usually just use my MB+ just because I like the design. I just stick it on the charger when I go to bed at night, no big deal since I have one of the brick type things that have a number of plugs on them so I can charge my MB and phone at the same time. I don't use my phone for anything but mobile ordering and every now and again checking wait times. Half the time I don't even remember I have my MB on, I've worn it to the pool and even to sleep in just because I forgot to take it off.

 

[Neener16]

I still use Magic Bands. Have a trip in August and bought my first MB+, even though I said I would never do that. ( yes, I know it’s stupid early to buy one for an August trip, but they had a Lion King one and I couldn’t help myself). I like not digging in to find a card when I’m opening the door with my hands full. It’s especially helpful when traveling with a toddler. Also helpful when going to SAB. Easy to just scan it. Can you tell I’m trying to rationalize spending $35 for something I said I would never buy?????

 

[Grace&Carolinesmom]

We prefer to wear our MB+ for both convenience and novelty.

I can understand why many people have stopped using them given they are quite costly now. I wish Disney would offer guests a basic MB for free maybe once a year to help avoid waste or a once a year comparable discount on a MB+. My MB+ from 2023 completely died--RIP--and I had to buy one for our last trip. Ouch!

I do have one gripe however....being behind someone in the LL cue using their phone to tap for entry for their entire party. It backs up the line as they fumble around trying to toggle between each guest in their party and inevitably one person's LL isn't working and a CM has to step in and help.

 

[theMoreDisneytheBetter]

I love the old school Magic Bands. Having to charge them at night and then having them randomly light up…for A LOT more money…no thank you.

In any case I much prefer everyone having their own MB vs. trying to run something on a phone.

 

[DisneyGuy]

We still wear our MagicBand +’s - I love the convenience for lighting lanes, purchases, and opening my hotel door. I don’t feel like worrying about taking a hotel key card or my phone out my pocket for those things. It was even useful on the elevators at the Polynesian Island Tower when going to/from our room.

 

[DizneyFamof4]

Another family that still wear theirs, with everyone in our family having their own it is so much more convenient than phone or card and we love to charge to room and knowing it's PIN code protected, where GC's are not.

 

[Robber Baron]

We wear our original Magic Bands. We have a lot of the old single color ones.

Then, maybe 5 or more years ago we got really nifty bands, mine looks like Spaceship Earth, my wife has a Tinkerbell.

We have used these every trip since getting them.

I usually need to have the newest thing and have severe FOMO, but, I really had no desire to buy the MB + when they came out.

When they first came out it was fun watching people with MB+ frantically waving their arms at those sculptures all over the parks and nothing happening.

 

[Dave006]

When they first came out it was fun watching people with MB+ frantically waving their arms at those sculptures all over the parks and nothing happening

There are still guests that have a new (or first) MB+ that still wave their arms trying to get the lighting interactions to go off even when their MB+ is no longer charged since they don't come fully changed. That's the first thing everyone learns is the battery life of the MB+ is not forever.

Dave

 

[Simba's Mom]

For me, it seemed that I was always being asked to show ID, usually for a discount (like I'm going to "cheat" in order to save 50 cents, but that's another story). So, since I was bringing my ID purse, it was just as easy to bring the card that I got at the front desk. On my last visit I brought 2 MBs, but the CM gave me a card "just in case" and I found myself bringing and using that more often. To the OP, yes, I was also surprised to notice that more people were NOT wearing MBs than were. At first, I expected to be the exception, not wearing a MB, but was surprised to learn that I was with the majority.

 

[elcapitanJack]

We have gone back to using card(s).

 

[OThopeful35]

I love my Grogu and Monster's University MB+. Gonna pick up a new one on our May trip.

 

[VancouverIslandDisney]

I’m not sure that it’s so much MBs going out of fashion, more that it’s simply a matter of cost and everyone relying on their phones.

I knew before my trip earlier this month that I was getting a new band. I just love the convenience of it. My fiance preferred using his key card.

There were so many people using their phones for everything but then getting upset when their phone batteries were running low. I loved not having to worry about my phone batter because I was only on my phone/app to book new lightening lanes, which was 2 minutes in line then I put it away and enjoyed being in the park.

 

[PetePanMan]

We still use MBs…love them

 

[CoachBeard]

I had a really cool haunted mansion Magic Band I used in 2022 and lost it so I have just a plain black magic band plus and I use it when I go to Disneyland (magic key holder) though, it’s not as useful there but it’s still convenient.

I plan to use it again in 2026 for my next WDW trip even though I have an Apple Watch. I didn’t know I could use that there so I’ll experiment with both. Part of me wants to buy a new one for the next trip but there’s no point. Why waste the money?

I couldn’t care less about the buzzing and colors and vibrations. I just like it for park entry and lightning lanes.

 

[Mle8308]

The MB+ battery only needs to be charged for automatic linking of ride photos and any of the interactive stuff (Bounty Hunter game at DHS for example). It will still work for anything where you need to touch the band to a reader (park entry, room entry, LL entry, etc.).

Exactly! Was just about to post the same thing! If you don't charge it, it acts like a regular MB. I have a few of the MB+ and I'm not so great at remembering to charge them. It still works for opening your door, getting in to the parks/lightning lanes, and charging stuff back to your room account.

 

[BarbLynnM]

There’s only us two, so we do magic bands. I find the app kind of cumbersome in my experience in the past: one has to pull up the app, get to the right section/page, and tap-which didn’t always happen on the first try. With the MB, you just tap and voila! You’re in. Easy-peasy.

Ditto with the park entrances. I don’t have to pull out my phone, go through the rigamarole, rinse and repeat if it didn’t “take” the first time (which it didn’t enough to be a pain). I don’t know why I kept having such a hard time (it was early days and I had android at that point), but it soured me on the app.

I can absolutely agree with those with families who don’t want to put out the money for bands, though. The prices have gone up to the point that if you’re not planning on returning, buying them would be a waste of money.

 

[Mazz519]

We’ve been using the same MBs for the last 10 years works just fine no need to purchase the newer ones.. Will continue to use them until the internal battery dies

 

[Dave006]

We’ve been using the same MBs for the last 10 years works just fine no need to purchase the newer ones.. Will continue to use them until the internal battery dies

Your MB internal battery is long dead on the original MB from 10 years ago, and the tap function does not, and never has required a battery for the basic tap functions in the parks, stores or even your resort room door.

The tap function is based on RFID technology and a chip with an unique number that is registered to your MDE Account. It works just like a Credit card with a Chip where you are able to tap to pay.

Dav

 

[Mazz519]

Your MB internal battery is long dead on the original MB from 10 years ago, and the tap function does not, and never has required a battery for the basic tap functions in the parks, stores or even your resort room door.

The tap function is based on RFID technology and a chip with an unique number that is registered to your MDE Account. It works just like a Credit card with a Chip where you are able to tap to pay.

Dav

I just used them 2 months ago used them for everything, like I said once they stop Inwill either use my phone or buy new ones

 

[holden]

We use them because we have so many of them. I won't buy new ones when they stop working.