There’s no doubt that, when you visit Walt Disney World, Magicbands are not only a cute accessory, they’re highly practical. While basic Magicbands used to be free if you were staying at a Walt Disney World Resort, we all have to pony up and pay for them – and they’re not cheap. So, what about buying a Magicband on Amazon? Are they safe? Here’s the truth and the scoop – and what to look for if you do purchase.
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Is It Safe to Buy a Magicband on Amazon?
Remember the good old days of Walt Disney World (WDW) when you could book a resort stay and then keep an eye out for an email to begin selecting your, and your traveling party’s, free Magicbands? Personally, I opted for one of every color so I’d have a complete set. Next, it became fun to not have our names, but nicknames, engraved on the inside of the bands.
A few years ago, WDW tightened its proverbial purse strings and stopped offering complimentary Magicbands for its resort guests. If we want one, we’re shelling out additional money.
Additionally, if we want a trendy, colorful one, or a band with a fun design on it, we’re dolling out even more money for the wrist accessory. And while I do enjoy what they offer, in terms of practicality, I have spent a pretty penny on them, I did enjoy getting free ones with each resort visit.
What Can You Do with Magicbands?
Happily, there are plenty of things to do with Magicbands:
- Resort room key – You can use it to unlock your room door (or via the My Disney Experience app)
- Making purchases – as long as you have a valid credit card on file, you can make purchases at any theme park in Walt Disney World, Disney Springs, waterparks, and at all of the resorts for both dining (and the Disney Dining Plan) and shopping
- Genie+ – You can scan your Magicband to enter the Lightening Lane queue
- Theme park admission – Instead of a credit card-style ticket, use your Magicband to enter the parks
In addition to all of the above, Magicband+ ups the ante with additional features:
- Enhance park trivia by lighting up with haptics and buzzing
- Wave your wrist when near a 50th anniversary park statue to make music or sounds with gesture recognition
- Play Batuu Bounty Hunters in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Is a Magicband on Amazon Safe?
Now that you know the backstory of what a Magicband can do, knowing how to save money while at WDW is a top priority for most of us. And, of course, that goes for Magicbands.
When you purchase a Magicband, the first thing you need to do is link it to your My Disney Experience account. Once it’s linked, it’s linked to your account and yours alone – you cannot give it to someone else to use as they’ll be unable to. You can’t unlink it and give it to someone else, either.
That’s where buying a Magicband from a third party gets iffy. If an Amazon third party is selling a Magicband, you need to make sure that the description says “new in box” to make sure you’re getting one that’s not already linked to someone else’s account.
Another word of note: There’s really no way to tell just how old a Magicband on Amazon is, and because each has a battery life, you may be buying one that’s already worn out. Having written that, I have Magicbands that I’ve used for years that work perfectly fine, but it does need to be stated.
Lastly, make sure you’re buying from a reputable third party dealer. Check out the reviews, read them thoroughly, and then make. a decision. And if you have any reservations, don’t order one. Instead, purchase on from ShopDisney or in the parks when you arrive.
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