Are DisneyBand+ (Magicbands) Worth it?

Wish Band #2

After Wish Band #1 cracked on our cruise aboard the Treasure earlier in 2026.

What is a DisneyBand+ / MagicBand+?

DisneyBand+ and MagicBand+ are the same thing it just depends on where you purchase the item from. DisneyBand+ comes from Disney Cruise lines, which offer a few unique designs such as the Wish design, whereas MagicBands+ are purchased through the parks. But a DisneyBand+ will work in the parks and a MagicBand+ will work on the ships.

What do these Bands do?

Onboard the Disney Cruise ships these bands can be used to unlock and open your stateroom door, make purchases on board the ships or at the private island, and be used to get on/off the ship at ports in lieu of your Key to the World Card. Bands also provide some interactivity as they will vibrate and flash during deck parties and other events on board. Kids will need a DisneyBand+ in order to use the Kids Clubs. If you do not have one, they will charge a deposit fee at the port to your stateroom at the beginning of the cruise. If you return the band before the end of the cruise that fee is refunded or if you want you can keep the band issued to your kids and they keep the deposit.

On board the Disney Treasure they are required to play the onboard game where you track down the ghosts from the Haunted Mansion.

At the Parks the bands can be used to open your resort room door, make purchases at the resorts, grant entry to the parks, and provide access to interactive elements throughout the Walt Disney World Parks. We found their use at the Disneyland California parks to be much more limited as they had a magic key that seemed to trigger more of the interactive experiences scattered around the venues.

DisneyBand+ (Magic Band) Synced to music at a deck party.

How much do they cost?

Anywhere from USD 30 to USD 50 depending on the design. Those with more themed designs will cost more than say one with just a basic color.

Where do I purchase?

You can purchase online through the Disney Cruise website or through a link in the Navigator’s App from home. When ordered ahead of your cruise you can get the band engraved at no extra charge giving you a personalized memento.

How long do they last?

Our experience has been mixed. The first Stitch Themed band we bought our daughter never worked right. It functioned okay at the kids club, but we could never get it to connect to our phones (iPhone 7, iPhone SE Gen 3 at the time). It made it through two cruises and a trip to the parks before we replaced it with her current R2-D2 design. It’s been on 5 cruises and 4 trips to the parks so far and going strong. Mom’s Jungle Cruise themed band has made it through 7 cruises, 6 trips to the parks, and is still going strong. Dad’s original Wish themed band made it through 6 cruises and 6 trips to the parks before the center design started peeling off. It is still functional and worked the first two days of our Alaska cruise before we decided to purchase another Wish themed band while they still had one available on board the Disney Wonder.

We have noticed with the Jungle Cruise band, and the first Wish band, that battery life after 3 years was starting to fade to the point where the bands would be exhausted by the end of a full day at the parks or on board the ship. It was to the point where we would carry a charger to use with a Fuel Rod and recharge the bands near dinner time.

Are they worth the money?

It depends. If you are sailing on a Dream or Wish class ship that requires a card to be used in order to keep the lights on they can be extremely handy. Quite literally, need to buy a coffee, just scan your band. And it’s a lot easier to take with you and not leave behind as we have walked out of the room without our Key to the World Cards more than once on a cruise. Being able to put it on in the morning and wear it is very convenient.

How many cruises & trips to the parks are you going to take? For us they’ve been worth it through a dozen Disney trips and counting. But if you are going on a cruise once every few years along with going to the parks once or twice…well it is debatable. If you do order online a few weeks before your trip and get one that is engraved with your name it’s a nice keepsake to remember that special cruise or trip to the parks.

We have found the Bands to be much more valuable on a cruise. Just remember, it’s not a watch. And your watch won’t open your stateroom door.