Disney’s MagicMobile vs. MagicBands: Here’s What To Know

Part of being prepared for a Walt Disney World vacation is being familiar with the Disney language. Two words you might hear a lot before and during your trip are MagicMobile and MagicBands. So, what are these and how can they both help enhance your Disney vacation? Recently Disney introduced MagicMobile. This is a new service that guests can use through the My Disney Experience app and it allows guests to have more of a contactless experience. So, what makes it different from a MagicBand?  Let’s take a look at what each offer.

MagicBands

MagicBands are colorful, themed wristbands that look like a watch or bracelet and you can wear throughout your vacation. It allows you to have quick access through a touch sensor called a touch point.  MagicBands can allow you do to the following easily:

• Unlock the door of your Disney Resort hotel room
• Enter the theme parks and water parks
• Gain access to join a virtual queue (currently Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance)
• Connect Disney PhotoPass images to your MyDisneyExperience account
• Charge food and merchandise purchases to your Disney Resort hotel room

MagicBands are no longer a free item when booking a Disney package.  Guests can choose or purchase and order MagicBands through the MyDisneyExperience app or on shopDisney if they choose to use one.  MagicBands are also available throughout Disney Property.

MagicMobile

MagicMobile is available in the My Disney Experience app through the power of eligible iPhones, Apple Watch or Google Pay enabled Android phones.  By using the Disney MagicMobile features, guests are able to create a digital pass which gives them access to a variety of vacation entitlements just like magic.  All guests have to do is hole up their smart device near an access point.

MagicMobile currently allows guests to do the following:

• Enter theme parks
• Connect Disney PhotoPass images
• Gain access to join a virtual queue (currently Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance)
• Soon: charge to your Disney Resort

So, what are the big differences between MagicBands and MagicMobile. Looking at them currently, the big difference is that MagicBands allow you to automatically link photos from attractions as well as access Disney Resort hotel rooms and amenities.  When it comes to the resort rooms and amenities, the MyDisneyExperience app allows you to have access to your hotel room and amenities it just isn’t specifically in the MagicMobile feature as it is separate.

So, which one is better?  Which one should you use?  Right now, it seems like it is up to you and what you are more comfortable with. Do you like having a MagicBand on you at all times or would you prefer to just have to carry your phone?  It does seem like Disney is moving away from MagicBands and towards a more contactless, digital system meaning MagicMobile will become more important to a Disney vacation moving forward.