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8 Fabulous Walt Disney World Magic Band Tips

Walt Disney World began testing MagicBands in late 2013. The bands are silicon wrist bands that function as room key, park ticket, Fastpass, and credit card (for those who wish to attach one to the band). It makes for a very on-the-go park experience. As with much of the new My Disney Experience, many guests are still unfamiliar with how to make the most of their MagicBands. Here are eight tips to help you out!

8. Write Phone Number Inside

Use a Sharpie to write your name and phone number on the inside of a child’s MagicBand. This way, should a child get separated from you, they will have your phone number handy when asking for help. Of course, parents should always have a plan with their family about how they will handle getting separated, and this is by no means a foolproof method, but it might help a child or parent feel safer knowing there is contact information readily available.

7. DIY Decorations

Jazz up your bands will nail polish or Sharpie paint pens. You can add polkadots, Mickey heads, swirls, or even a character’s costume (if you’re feeling especially artsy). DIY decorations will make your MagicBands stand out from the thousands of others. You can also find vinyl stickers to add characters or monograms to your MagicBand on Etsy. A quick Google or Instagram search is sure to get you inspired!

6. Pull Gray Rim Off

Make those MagicBands fit the littlest wrists by pulling the gray edging off. The edging is more readily visible on the colored bands, since the rim stays grey. It might take a little elbow grease at first, but it will come off. Then the bands can fit snugly around a toddler’s wrist.

5. Collect and Coordinate

Every time you stay in a Disney hotel, you’ll get a new MagicBand as part of your stay. You can choose to decline a new one once you have several active ones on your account. But it’s fun to have a few different bands to choose from. Pick out several different colors that you can coordinate with your outfits, or amongst your family. For example, I try to wear my red MagicBand to match my Minnie Mouse shirts.

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4. Customize

There are two locations to create custom MagicBands– in Tomorrowland and in Disney Springs. You can design a MagicBand and pick it up later that day. If you don’t want to totally customize a band, there’s no shortage of characters or attraction MagicBands, and limited time bands for various events, like Food and Wine Festival or RunDisney events.

3. Designer Bands

In summer, 2016, Dooney and Bourke released a line of limited edition MagicBands, with designs from their Disney handbag line. The Dooney and Bourke MagicBands were a huge hit, and many designs sold out within a few days. Surely we will see more designer bands given the popularity of the first limited edition release! I think the colorful Vera Bradley designs would look great on a MagicBand!

2. Waterproof

The MagicBands are waterproof. That means you can wear them into the pool or at the water park. It’s not a good idea to leave valuables hanging around poolside while you’re in the water. And while no one could get into the park (your ticket is attached to your fingerprint), and it’s highly unlikely someone will use your credit card (unless they know your PIN) or sneak into your hotel room (unless they know your room number), it would still be a big pain to replace a lost or stolen MagicBand. You’re better off having one person wear a band down to the pool, and just keep it on the whole time.

1. Order Ahead

Before you leave for your magical vacation, log onto your Disney account online to customize your MagicBands. You can choose from eight colors: blue, pink, green, red, yellow, orange, purple, and grey. You can also personalize the name on the backside of your band with a nickname or favorite character. If you don’t customize your MagicBands, the whole family will get grey. Your MagicBands will be mailed to your home about two weeks before your vacation. It’s a fun surprise to find your MagicBands waiting on your doorstep!

Do you have a customized or character MagicBand? Have you ever DIYed your band? Let us know!

About Robin Swanson

Robin’s Disney journey began with Beauty and the Beast bedsheets, a Jasmine dress up set, and a purring Nala plush. As a child in the 1990s, the renaissance and classic animations alike captivated her imagination. In 2008, Robin visited Walt Disney World for the first time, and the obsession really took hold. Since then, Robin has enjoyed visiting the Happiest Place on Earth many more times. She lives in the Chicago suburbs where she is wrapping up a Masters in writing. When not at Disney World, Robin enjoys researching fairytales, eating ice cream, Netflix binging, reading and, of course, planning the next Walt Disney World vacation!