4 – Purchasing a MagicBand at Walt Disney WorldGuests can also purchase MagicBands at select retail locations at Walt Disney World. Any guest can purchase and use a MagicBand, they do not need to be staying at a resort to do so.
Your order must be submitted 11 or more days before you arrive so that it has time to ship to your home. Shipping time varies but you will get an email from [email protected] that says Your MagicBands are on the way! with a tracking link. I'm also from New York and I found that it usually took less than 10 days.
If you aren't sure whether or not to budget them for your vacation, we say…go for it! MagicBand is one of those rare add-ons that makes a big difference regarding ease and convenience on a trip that can sometimes be overwhelming.
If you are staying at at Walt Disney World Resort, you can book your Individual Lightning Lanes earlier than non-Disney resort guests. Individual Lightning Lane reservations open up at 7 am for Disney Resort guests. They are available at park opening for any visitors not staying at a Disney owned property.
You can use your phone. Create a Magic Mobile pass within the My Disney Experience app. As long as you're using your phone to only scan in YOURSELF (meaning not you AND the other members of your party), then it should be fine. It might be slower than using a MagicBand, but it still works.
If you are getting closer to the correct door, your MagicBand+ will vibrate and light up green. If you are getting further away, it'll turn red. The closer you get to your bounty, the quicker your band will vibrate. If you walk up to a door and your band turns purple, you've found your bounty.
Genie Plus is definitely worth it for Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios, and if you don't like early starts, you might consider it for Epcot and Animal Kingdom. If you are park hopping, Genie+ is even better value as it maximises the number of rides you have access to.