MagicMobile Service Coming to Disney World
Walt Disney World has announced the MagicMobile service, a new contactless way to use features like theme park entry through iPhones, Apple Watches, and other smart devices. In this post, we’ll share details, address whether the MagicBand is dying, and also speculate on the future.
Launching in phases starting later this year, MagicMobile will be available via the My Disney Experience app, and added to the digital wallet of users’ smart devices once enabled. It works just like a MagicBand, with most features working by simply holding up your smart device near an access point. Disney MagicMobile service and its features will roll out first on Apple devices, like iPhones and Apple Watches.
Disney MagicMobile service will not replace the MagicBand. This is in addition to MagicBands, not instead of them. You’ll be able to pick whichever option works best for you during your Walt Disney World vacation. You can even use both, alternating between the two for added flexibility.
The one “exception” to Disney MagicMobile services is that the existing digital room key feature will continue to be available within the My Disney Experience app. This allows guests to expedite their arrival by using online check-in, going directly to their Walt Disney World resort hotel room, and using their phone to unlock their door. Alternatively, WDW hotel guests may also still pick up a Key to the World card at their convenience by visiting the front desk.
In addition to this, Walt Disney World announced that it will soon be introducing more MagicBands in trendy new colors and fun designs featuring favorite Disney characters and stories. (See New MagicBand Upgrade Options for a look at the 50+ styles already available–when in stock.)
We’ve heard from many Walt Disney World fans who are concerned that this means the “death of the MagicBand.” That’s an understandable fear, especially coupled with Walt Disney World eliminating the complimentary solid-color MagicBands that were sent to resort guests pre-arrival.
Rest assured, MagicBands are not going anywhere anytime soon.
The free MagicBands were retired primarily due to cost and waste. The last I heard, MagicBands cost Disney a few dollars each. While I haven’t kept up on price fluctuations of RFID tags, plastic, or coin batteries since, the cost is presumably more or less the same. In isolation, that would arguably be worth it, especially given the higher perceived value of the perk among Walt Disney World hotel guests.
However, there’s also the matter of waste. Anyone who is a member of Walt Disney World groups on social media has undoubtedly seen photos of Christmas trees adorned in MagicBand “garland” or other decorations. Despite trying to decline them in the past, we had each amassed over 50 MagicBands in our My Disney Experience accounts. (It got so bad that our accounts were barely functional and IT had to manually remove them from the backend.)
I’ve refrained from sharing this in the past as it’s very much an “unpopular opinion,” but I’m totally fine with Walt Disney World reducing waste. That’s my stance even though I think much of this is actually motivated by cost-savings and not a sincere desire for more environmental sustainability. Although humans enjoy tangible things and Disney fans in particular love to collect stuff, there’s simply no need for so much of this.
However, I do wish that each cutback had a corresponding perk added. That way, they would not be met with quite as much resistance, as they’d be 1:1 changes. Instead, they’re understandably (and accurately) viewed as monetary savings for Disney that are not passed on to guests. But I digress.
Anyway, the reason MagicBands won’t go away anytime soon are similar reasons–Walt Disney World fans love to collect stuff and humans love tangible accessories. More to the point, MagicBand related products sell incredibly well.
While the profit margin on the basic colors is pretty thin, that’s not true of the limited edition or special ones, which are priced significantly higher yet have roughly the same costs for Disney. MagicBands are also relatively small, with the entire selection taking up very little valuable real estate in Walt Disney World stores.
MagicBands are unlikely to go away because Walt Disney World fans love them and the adoption rate of the devices has been quite high, even now that they’re no longer free. Beyond collecting the colors and styles, MagicBands are also a more practical solution for those who do not have smart phones, such as small children and elderly individuals. These are two groups that make up a large portion of Walt Disney World’s guest demographics.
In a nutshell, MagicBands will continue to be sold until they stop selling.
And given the response we’ve seen from Walt Disney World fans to this news, that’s not happening any time soon. There are basically two camps here, with a reaction that’s pretty evenly split. First, those who are deeply invested in the Apple ecosystem and are excited about being able to use their phone or Apple Watches for more convenience at Walt Disney World.
The second is people who feel they’re already looking at screens too much while on vacation and want to disconnect more. This group prefers the simplicity of the MagicBand. Many in this group have also had issues with this type of functionality in My Disney Experience, particularly the digital room key feature in My Disney Experience. (In our extensive experience, that feature is very temperamental and spotty.)
While these two groups are pretty much mutually exclusive in Walt Disney World fan circles…we fall into both camps. We’ve become vehemently anti-screen when traveling, wanting to “live in the moment” and be more present. We’ve gone so far as to uninstall most social media apps from our phones and set time limits on other apps. (Not that you care, but this has been incredibly successful at weaning us off them.)
For us, part of this decreased screen time has been accomplished via the Apple Watch. It can quickly do a lot of things that are more elaborate processes on the phone, and it also functions as a digital wallet. From fitness tracking to productivity, Apple Watches are among the best purchases we’ve made in years. But this is not an advertisement for the Apple Watch. (At least, not a paid one!) Again, I digress.
What I do wonder is whether the Disney MagicMobile service is the groundwork for more far sweeping changes in the Walt Disney World experience. The announcement specifically stated that MagicMobile is “launching in phases.” That could just be in reference to it first debuting for Apple products before presumably being launched for Android devices, or it could be because this is the groundwork for something bigger.
Both Disney CEO Bob Chapek and Chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products Josh D’Amaro have repeatedly stressed their desire to reset and make significant operational changes that paradoxically will improve the guest experience but wouldn’t have been accepted by fans pre-closure. In Disneyland, this has meant the suspension of the Annual Passholder program. At Walt Disney World, this has been all about new and different types of technology.
Walt Disney World has undoubtedly invited distinguished scientists from all over the world to come and work on this technology. Unfortunately, none of them showed up…so we’re stuck with this duo developing Disney’s IT.
(That’s a joke to meet our monthly quota of MuppetVision references, but it would literally explain so much.)
Ultimately, we’ve already seen many of these changes. Things like the expansion of Mobile Order, Merchandise Mobile Checkout, Table Service To-Go, and Walk-up Waitlist are all solid improvements to the experience that have sort of been “forced upon” guests during the phased reopening. More is almost certainly on the horizon in the lead-up to October 1, 2021.
While the Disney MagicMobile service will be integrated into the My Disney Experience app, there’s nothing to say that will always be the case. To the contrary, the MagicMobile service could function as a bridge between the My Disney Experience app and the Disney Genie app. In the updated When Will FastPass+ Return to Walt Disney World? post, we’ve already speculated that the Florida parks might transition towards a MaxPass style system. While MagicMobile differs from Disneyland’s approach, it could be a step in that direction. We’ll keep you posted on subsequent develops and future rollout of the Disney MagicMobile service!
Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page. For where to eat, read our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!
Your Thoughts
Will you use the new Disney MagicMobile service, or stick with MagicBands? Which of the two camps do you fall into? Think this is simply a standalone feature, or laying the foundation for Disney Genie to replace the My Disney Experience app? Do you agree or disagree with our assessment? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
I seem to be in the minority here, but I would absolutely prefer to use my iPhone for everything. MagicBands take up extra space, and I just end up with too many extras sitting around the apartment when I get back. I’ll gladly do everything from my phone instead, and I have a portable charger to get my phone battery through the day. I have one MagicBand I can keep as a souvenir. And in regards to waste, I’m not really concerned with Disney’s intentions. I’m concerned with the result, and the result will be less waste. That being said, keeping MagicBands as an option is good. No reason to eliminate options if you don’t have to. But I’d also really encourage people to learn how to use a smartphone if at all possible. It’s a skill that is going to become more and more of a requirement as things go forward in all aspects of life. The rest of the world will not slow down and wait for us to catch up, as much as we’d all love for it to from time to time.
I do have one question. By November do you think the parks will be open later. I love when Epcot is open until 11 and MK at least until Midnight. Parks are so much fun later at night.
I love the magic bands and would just pay. Also I don’t want to worry about my phone dying. Sometimes Disney over thinks. Why can’t they just leave things that work alone!
The bands were part of the magic. Getting them in the mail before the trip was awesome for the kids. The bands empowered the kids to do cool things like “magically open the door” and see that glow on the tap stiles. And there was a way that you could not allow them to charge items but I forget now (maybe a pin). “Free” is good. Not free is bad. Another erosion of magic has happened.
If you happen to get separated from your group, you could also get help tracking them.
In the past we have received cute greetings from Mickey and Minnie on our phones, because the park “knows” where you are and what you just experienced.
If Disney really wanted to stop waste, they change the length of stay mug situation. I like them..however, I buy them EVERY time we’re there, and I honestly don’t need that many. =( They could simply have you bring an old programmable one back and change the dates! Less waste, less clutter for me!
And I don’t think Magicbands are going anywhere, they have too much money spent on them. I have had frustrating issues with My Disney Experience, so we’ll definitely be using the bands!
As always thanks for an interesting and informative blog!
“If Disney really wanted to stop waste, they change the length of stay mug situation. I like them..however, I buy them EVERY time we’re there, and I honestly don’t need that many. =( They could simply have you bring an old programmable one back and change the dates! Less waste, less clutter for me!”
Totally agree on this.
Alternatively, cycling through new designs more often would be fine by me. Mugs are something I use regularly at home, so I don’t feel guilty about having a huge collection of those. I just have no use for the same design over and over.
Except for the possibility of having one person touch in for an entire group of people at an attraction, I agree that this is Not Good.
If they’re allowing the option of the old fashioned Key to the World cards, will they at least come with a lanyard? Not the best solution, but it worked okay back in the day.
Ok, I’ll need some good Apple Watch band designs equivalent to magic bands’. So get on that D. I’m thinking the Dole Whip, EPCOT and Crush designs, and a much longer battery life would be good too!
I don’t think Magic Bands are going anywhere for all of the reasons mentioned in the comments. I personally wish there was an option to be given a Magic Band for the length of your stay, rather than the Key to the Kingdom. I like the ease of use of the Magic Band but have found being given one wasteful for people like me, who don’t care about having it as a souvenir and don’t visit often enough for it to be something I can conceivably reuse (I think there’s a 3-4 year life on the battery). So if Muppet Labs could work on making that happen I would be very grateful 🙂
I expect the Magic Band will be replaced with something. The replacement might be an ‘improved’ Magic Band.
I’m in the magic band camp. I am a senior and don’t even have a smart phone (just an old flip phone which I only turn on if needed while out) I don’t like being connected all the time, but that’s probably because I’m not used to living like that:)
I hated the magic bands when they came out.
NOW, I love the convenience; just put them on, tap, and go on.
I don’t carry anything with me while in the parks, Gasp! My husband puts our pills in his pockets along with some cash (that we never use, LOL) We don’t need to carry alot of stuff with us at this stage of life.
My husband wound up in the hospital after a Run Disney event a few years ago. Lucky for us that I had a driver’s license, credit card and insurance card with me. Now I always make sure I at least have these items. Don’t need sunscreen, change of clothing, hair brush or other items like this so they don’t get taken to the park.
I wonder how the new MagicMobile might work for families with children that don’t have smart phones. Currently I see the parent pull out all of the cards to scan each one at the entrance to a park (as I remember doing back when my kids were small). Would you be able to keep the passes for everyone in your family in the wallet? Maybe scroll through and scan each pass from the wallet?
I do like the Magic bands and also like the recent changes like mobile ordering that can be done through the app. I also would spend a lot of time fast pass fishing while touring the parks and I haven’t missed that at all on recent trips.
One thing that might just be nit picking is that I like using Magic band for charging purchases to my resort room and have all of that billed to credit card at the end of the trip. But using mobile food ordering, each order gets charged separate. Not a big deal, but if you have others in your group all linked to your room, they each still need to put a credit card in their account to do mobile ordering. Would be nice to have it all work the same.
I have enjoyed using the magic bands for two reasons. First, the my Disney experience app is not very reliable. I have it crashing or just not responding more often than working. Second, what about kids? My grandchildren are in their tweens and don’t yet on smart phones. So how do they do other things around the park without having mom and dad or grandparents tagging along all the time to hold our phones up to pay for something or get them access to a ride?
I think MagicBands are particularly useful for kids, so I hope they stay affordable for families. I do agree that there was *far* too much waste with the free ones given with each resort reservation. I thought it was extremely convenient, especially for going to waterparks. I didn’t have to worry about my phone getting wet, and was able to purchase food by charging to the room. Even in the main parks, I’m sure parents appreciated the ability to let their kids do the same so they did not constantly have to give kids cash or a credit card to buy snacks or fiddle with phones for Fastpass. (Even worse was the paper tickets and Fastpass at Tokyo Disney, though maybe that’s a non-issue now with the new app). The intangible – I liked “feeling” like I was on a proper WDW Disney vacation when I was wearing my MagicBand. I think MagicBand is one of the things WDW did right. I hope they never phase it out completely.
Hi. I totally agree! Kids need the magic band the last thing you need is damage or loss to a phone or watch! And I think it’s safer too! Also you really must keep everything charged and that’s a pain during a long day! I vote put away the phone and be on vacation!
Besides the my Disney experience app has it’s challenges at times we all know Plus, the bands are fun to collect your favorites It’s like wearing a piece of Disney!
All excellent points! Another point is when a version of Fast Pass returns it will be very difficult to monitor one to one correspondence in a large group using one phone instead of individual magic bands. Don’t have a Fast Pass – piggyback on a group!
The positive reasons for keeping Magic Bands are endless. Having to use phones for the multiple tasks involved with a Disney vacation is not a realistic option.
You’re first digression is a very important point that should not be glossed over. Disney would be wise to implement your 1:1 suggestion.
Definitely in camp 2.
I prefer keeping my phone in my pocket as much as possible. Lost it once on Space Mountain and had to wait till closing to get it. Mobile ordering was impossible but CM’s, as always, saved the day.
Tom what works best at Disney? Android, iPhone, Apple iphone, Apple watch?
I’ve never used any Android devices, but I don’t think either are necessarily better or worse for Disney purposes. Despite Android having more market share, there’s also more fragmentation, which often leads to greater support for Apple devices.
i have no “Attachment” to the bands and am not a “band apologist” as some have gone to saying, but i think the bands are simply very convenient. as a mom, my hands seem to be inevitably full, all the time, with who knows what. i loved the last two visits not having to dig out my KTTW card to do everything (i am not a lanyard person). i’m glad they are providing options. i’m sure some people want everything on an app, but the band allows me to have it at my fingertips at all times to enter the park, do fp, enter my room, pay, etc. digging out my phone is not something i want to do all day long at disney.
not to mention, if they don’t plan on substantially improving in-park wifi, forget it. the app drains the battery as it is. i have an anker charger, but it’s heavy. fuelrods, no thanks. but without improving the wifi, people using this are going to be draining battery like no other.
Fair points all around, and I think you speak for MANY Walt Disney World fans with all of this!
I just am not a fan of having to use my phone for everything. It feels like one more thing to hold in my hand constantly. I like magic bands because they feel more convenient for me. I guess if you have an apple watch it wouldn’t be bad but for those of us that don’t, pulling out your phone is just an annoyance. Plus, I love my magic bands 🙂
With a 70% market share for Android, I assume it will roll out to that platform soon. Keeping the Magicbands is great news – more options is almost always better so you can do what you like.
Bus as to this quote: “That’s a joke to meet our monthly quota of MuppetVision references”. I’m sorry, but you are still well short of your quota. You need to up your muppet game to catch up! 🙂
In generally, I’ve definitely been dropping the ball on pop culture references lately. I’m clearly not watching enough television.
(Also haven’t seen MuppetVision in over a year!)
I am a technology challenged senior! Enough with the phones. The magic band doesn’t take charging, setting, etc. it’s easy and I hope it stays.
this is an excellent point my mom constantly makes. she has a very basic smartphone designed for seniors, but she gets very annoyed at constantly feeling “left behind” because it takes her longer to adapt to these kinds of changes. the vaccine rollout was a perfect example- people were told to register “on the app”. well, for anyone without a smart device, and someone to help them, they didn’t know what to do. options are good.
100% agree. Much more convenient all around.
Regarding Magic Bands, I sincerely hope Disney will continue to sell them for years to come. This statement is not based on me being a collector, but think using the band is much easier and convenient than having to pull out phones every time needed. Phones also could be misplaced if distracted and could be accidentally dropped.
Not to mention the battery life. I feel like I’m pushing my phone’s limits on a normal day with checking wait times, taking pictures and now mobile ordering. I just got a new phone with a day at Disney in mind.
I’m just a klutz so every time I pull out my phone I could drop it…so I’ll keep using my magic band. Or this might be the little thing that converts me to an Apple Watch. Less Disney magic for us lately…ten failed attempts at Rise of the Resistance have soured us a lot.