DisneyBand+, the Disney Cruise Line version of MagicBand+, is now available on “select sailings” on all five ships. We were able to test the band’s features on a recent Disney Magic sailing, so we can now bring you a full guide to the new service.
What is DisneyBand+?
In short, DisneyBand+ is to Disney Cruise Line what MagicBand+ is to Walt Disney World. In fact, the bands are the exact same technology. A MagicBand+ can be used as a DisneyBand+ and vice versa. Even Disney Cruise Line Cast Members on our sailing referred to “DisneyBands” as MagicBands. The “DisneyBand+” branding is just used for Disney Cruise Line.
What Does DisneyBand+ Do?
For context: The original MagicBand was introduced at Walt Disney World in 2013. Guests can wear the bands, or (with newer models) pop out the pucks and put them on keychains. Guests can use the bands to enter parks, open their hotel room door, pay for merchandise (if it’s attached to a hotel folio), enter Lightning Lanes, and link PhotoPass photos. Disney also uses scanners that detect the MagicBands on rides to automatically load ride photos.
The newer MagicBand+ has extra interactive features including lights and haptics that respond to attractions and entertainment. Guests can wave the MagicBand+ at select statues and decorations to get responses. They can also use the bands to play games like Batuu Bounty Hunters in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
DisneyBand+ works in much the same way. You can use it instead of your Key to the World Card (your hotel key card) to embark and disembark the ship, open your stateroom door, pay for merchandise and specialty menu items, and link photos to your account. It’s waterproof so you can wear it rain or shine and in the pool. It also lights up and vibrates during select entertainment.
On our sailing, the band responded the most to the Pirates of the Caribbean deck party and fireworks. It lit up and vibrated throughout the performance. It also interacted with a pirate game show in D-Lounge earlier in the evening.
It also interacted with the live entertainment at Rapunzel’s Royal Table and during the “Drawn to Magic” show at Animator’s Palate.
A magician performed live on the main stage of the Walt Disney Theater during our sailing and the band flashed during applause. It also lit up at dinner when servers sang “Happy Birthday” to guests at our table.
When we visited the Oceaneer’s Club during an open house, a dance party was underway and the band began to light up and vibrate. We assume the band has more interactions during youth activities.
DisneyBand+ vs. Disney Oceaneer Bands
Kids on Disney Cruise Line have received Disney Oceaneer Bands for several years. These are an older model of MagicBand that is programmed to only provide entry and exit from the youth clubs. They don’t provide stateroom access, photo linking, etc. If a family purchases DisneyBand+ for a child, they can set it up at the youth club to be used instead of a Disney Oceaneer Band.
How Much is DisneyBand+?
A DisneyBand+ with a special Disney Cruise Line design is $44.99, whether purchased in advance or during your sailing. Solid bands are $34.99. Both kinds are available with advance purchase but only the Disney Cruise Line-exclusive designs are available on the ships.
Disney Cruise Line-Exclusive Bands
There are three Disney Cruise Line-exclusive band designs currently available.
The first is light blue with images of Mickey and Minnie on the sides. A Disney Cruise Line ship with fireworks is on the puck.
Minnie and Mickey are in their captain uniforms, with Minnie depicted at a ship’s wheel.
This band is light gray with the Disney Cruise Line logo (three waves and a Mickey head) and anchors patterned down one side. The puck is Navy blue with the Disney Cruise Line logo in white.
A Disney Cruise Line ship and the company’s wordmark are on the other end of the band.
The last band is Navy blue with golden Art Deco designs down the sides. The Disney Cruise Line logo is in gold against a compass rose on the puck.
The Art Deco designs on the sides resemble a deck layout for a ship.
Disney has revealed a fourth design exclusive to the Disney Treasure, which launches in December 2024. This band is blue with aqua-colored waves, the Disney Treasure logo, and the Disney Cruise Line logo on the sides. The puck is white with a blue and aqua image of the Disney Treasure’s bow, including the Voyager Minnie medallion.
When and Where Can I Purchase DisneyBand+?
U.S. residents who have a fully paid reservation can purchase a DisneyBand+ online 45 days before their sailing by visiting My Reservations on the Disney Cruise Line website. Orders must be placed at least 11 days before the sail date as it takes approximately 10 days for the order to arrive. There is no shipping charge.
Shipping is available to valid U.S. addresses (including the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico) only. Shipping is not available to PO Boxes, APO, FPO, DPO, United States ports, or international addresses.
On the ship, guests can purchase a DisneyBand+ at Mickey’s Mainsail. Note that gift shops onboard are only open when at sea.
DisneyBand+ orders cannot be canceled, returned, refunded, or exchanged, even if the reservation is canceled.
How Do I Charge and Use My DisneyBand+?
According to Disney, the battery of a DisneyBand+ can last 1 to 3 days, depending on how much it’s used. A charger is included and can also be purchased separately.
Disney recommends charging the band overnight. To charge, connect the band to the flat side of the charger and connect the USB side to a power source. Make sure the band is facing the right way so that the dots on the bottom align with the dots on the charger. Depending on the band, either the bottom corner of the face will light up to indicate that your band is charging or the full face will glow while charging. Pressing the button on the back of the band will cause it to light up in specific colors to indicate the current battery status.
- Flashing Red indicates “No Battery.” You should charge your band as soon as possible with the included charging cable.
- Flashing Yellow indicates “Low Battery.” Continue charging your band until the light turns green for the most optimal usage throughout your day.
- Flashing Green indicates “High Battery.” You are good to go.
Battery power is only for extra entertainment services. If depleted, the DisneyBand+ will still work for stateroom entry, charging purchases, and linking photos.
Once on the ship, you’ll need to link your DisneyBand+ to your phone. It will work with most smartphones, including Android and Apple devices. To link your phone and band, open the Disney Cruise Line navigator app and find “DisneyBand+” under the “More” tab. Follow the directions to pair the two. You will then see your DisneyBand+ in your account, where you can also adjust settings like brightness, vibration, and lighting preferences.
You can reuse a DisneyBand+ on future Disney Cruise Line sailings.
You can only use one DisneyBand+ (the one you use on embarkation day) during your sailing.
DisneyBand+ Review
A big appeal of MagicBand+ is that you don’t have to worry about keeping track of and constantly pulling out a card. A wearable device is more convenient. This mostly holds true for DisneyBand+. One convenience problem is that you do have to take the band off to pay for items at restaurants and bars since the Cast Members have to take it. In this case, there’s no real benefit to using the band instead of your Key to the World card, and both charge directly to your stateroom folio.
There are also currently no games available to play with DisneyBand+. There are ship-wide games on some of the Disney Cruise Line vessels that we hope will become compatible with the bands. But right now, the only special thing about the band is that it occasionally lights up when you don’t expect it, and that gets kind of boring. We were surprised and disappointed that it didn’t interact with the ship’s sailaway party, which seemed like a prime entertainment opportunity.
DisneyBand+ is convenient if you don’t mind wearing a band and collectors might appreciate getting the exclusive bands, but ultimately, we recommend skipping this pricey souvenir, at least until there’s more to offer.
If you’re thinking of booking a cruise on one of Disney Cruise Line’s new ships, why not contact our official travel agent, Be Our Guest Vacations, and let them handle the entire booking process for you!
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