Magic Bands are without a doubt, the number one, “top”, must have fashion accessory on your next Disney World vacation! Check out: Disney 101: Magic Bands…Don’t Leave Home Without Them! to find out why!

Disney 101: Magic Bands…Don’t Leave Home Without Them!

This cute little wrist accessory is not just for showing off your “Disney side”…it has a ton of other uses and will be your best friend once you get into Disney World!

Magic Bands are fairly simple and they were made to make your life easier while you are on your magical vacation. All of the “must haves” in ONE place! Keys to the room, park tickets, dining information, credit cards…the list goes on. The Magic Band makes traveling back and forth to the parks easier and a whole lot lighter! Let’s face it, sometimes we DO get pretty weighed down with things we need in the parks.

They have been known to have a glitch or two in the past, but Disney is on top of the matter and is always working out the kinks to improve any issue. My family and I have been plenty of times since the start of Magic Bands and I will be honest in the fact that there has been a time or two that we have not been fans of the Magic Bands. Yet every time we go they get better and better and now we are very pleased with these handy, dandy accessories. So don’t be afraid of the new technology, embrace it! (I have to remind myself of that everyday!).

What will Magic Bands do?

• First and foremost, Magic bands are small, waterproof, all-in-one wristbands that allow you to access your vacation plans and reservations that are stored in My Disney Experience.
• Magic Bands will unlock your Disney Resort room.
• Magic Bands replace your key to the world card.
• Magic Bands are your “ticket” into Disney Theme Parks and Water Parks with valid park admission. Special admission ticketed events can also be linked up to the Magic Bands!
• Magic Bands allow you to check in at Fast Pass entrances.
• Magic Bands allow you to connect your Disney Photo Pass images to your My Disney Experience account. This is done automatically now! Instantly see your photos and even videos! If you have pre-purchased Memory Maker, you can even start downloading and sharing your images right from your phone.
• You can charge merchandise and food on your MagicBand during your Disney Resort Stay. (Don’t take it home and expect it to work the same way for you.) Make sure you add your credit card information into the check-in portion of My Disney Experience, so you are able to have the payment option from your MagicBand. Even after doing this, STILL check with the resort during check-in. We always say it’s better to be safe than sorry.
• If you are on any of the Disney Dining Plans, all of your information will be on your Magic Band.

• If you are staying on property in a Disney World Resort, you will also receive “magical extras“. These include luggage tags and MORE!

Magic Bands are all about convenience. These wrist bands mean you have one less thing to keep up with. It’s always on your wrist! Plus, all Magic Bands have a sensor touch point that you will scan each time you do any of the above things. Just place the Mickey to Mickey at any touch point area and watch the magic take place.

How do I get a Magic Band?

You will receive Magic Band if you are staying on Disney Resort Property or if you are a Walt Disney World Passholder for no additional fee. If you are not staying on Disney Resort Property or Passholder, you have the option of buying a Magic Band in the parks or in Disney Springs.

Magic Band Tips

• A four-digit pin number will be needed in order to make purchases with your Magic Band. Add this in your My Disney Experience account before leaving home.
• The same pin number will also be needed if you are using the Disney Dining Plan.
• Magic Bands are available in the following colors: RED, GREEN, ORANGE, BLUE, YELLOW, PINK, PURPLE and GRAY.
• Also available for an additional charge are all kinds of cute decorations for your bands. These are available all over Disney World and online!
• They WILL fit. From the smallest or arms to the larger ones, the adjustable band makes it super easy!
• Magic Bands are available in select limited edition and special event designs!

Make sure to pack your Magic Bands FIRST! If you are flying, you will want to have them in your carry-on luggage. When driving, make sure you keep them close by also! You will need them to enter your resort area.

If you are using a Disney Vacation Planner, they will link all of your reservations to your My Disney Experience. You can do the same as you plan your magical vacation! I hope this helps with all of your vacation planning and as always, if you have more questions feel free to let us know.

Walt Express Favorites!

Here are a few of our favorite custom MagicBands!

Do you love the ease of the Magic Band? It makes traveling back and forth around Disney World SO easy!

Join the Disney Express Lane Facebook Group to discuss this and many other Disney related topics.

The post Disney 101: Magic Bands…Don’t Leave Home Without Them! appeared first on WaltExpress.com.

Planning your Disney World vacation can be a bit overwhelming but, it doesn’t have to be. With the right tools and knowledge it can be easy and fun! Before you get overwhelmed take a look at these revised and up-to-date blog posts. All of these blogs will equip you with what you need to know with easy steps to get you well on your way to your magical vacation!

So let’s get started……

Step by Step Guide to Start Planning Your Next Disney World Vacation

1. First, learn what Magic Bands are and how they work! We love our MagicBands and customizing them are so easy.
2. Next, decide what tickets you will need for you and your family. Not everyone needs or wants the same tickets, so make sure you know before you go what tickets fit your family the best.
3. Learn how to use My Disney Experience and all it has to offer. It offers a lot to make your vacation easier, before you get there and while you are there.
4. Check out what Memory Maker has to offer and how it works.
5. Everyone wonders about food while they are on their magical family vacation. Dining plans can be a bit confusing at first glance, but it doesn’t have to be. Find out which dining plan is right for you and your family, so you can get more bang for your buck!

There you have it! Hopefully, these articles will help you get started with all of your planning needs. Whether you use a Disney travel agent or not, it is always nice to know your options.

Don’t forget to look to the right of this article and find our top ten articles. Our website is packed full of helpful information to help you with all of your planning needs.

Join the Disney Express Lane Facebook Group to discuss this and many other Disney related topics.

photo credit: A Night of Fantasy via photopin (license)

The post All You Need to Know to Start Planning Your Disney World Vacation appeared first on WaltExpress.com.

Disney 101: A Beginner’s Guide to Disney Ticket Options

Tickets, tickets, get your tickets! Tickets are a necessity if you plan to enjoy the wonderful world of Disney theme parks. However, the vast variety of ticket options can make anyone feel overwhelmed. Even seasoned veterans can have a tough time picking the right ticket package for a Disney World vacation. But have no fear, because the team at Walt Express is here to give you all the details on every ticket option at Disney World. This handy, dandy blog post will have you feeling much better about picking the best ticket option for you and your Disney vacation.

Ticket Options:

Ticket options include all of the following: One Day Magic Kingdom, One Day Epcot, One Day Hollywood Studios, One Day Animal Kingdom, Magic Your Way-Base Tickets, Magic Your Way+Park Hopper, and Magic Your Way Park Hopper Plus. That’s a ton of choices and keeping them all straight can be really tough. Let’s talk about each one in more detail.

One Day Magic Kingdom

One Day Magic Kingdom tickets are pretty self-explanatory. You can only visit Magic Kingdom for one day. The ticket is not valid for another park or another day. Recently, these ticket prices became variable. This means that the price varies based on which date you choose. Prices vary from $105 up to $124 per ticket for Magic Kingdom 1 day tickets.

One Day Epcot, Hollywood Studios or Animal Kingdom

One Day Epcot, Hollywood Studios or Animal Kingdom means that you can pick one of the parks listed and visit only that park on that chosen day. You are able to go in and out of the same park. These ticket prices are also variable. Check your date here.

Magic Your Way-Base Tickets

Magic Your Way Base Package Tickets allow you to visit one park per day. You can leave the park, but you have to come back to the same park if you plan to visit again the same day. You can not go to more than one park a day. Magic Your Way Base Tickets are available for 2 days or more ticket packages.

Magic Your Way + Park Hopper

Magic Your Way + Park Hopper allows you to enjoy same-day access to all 4 of Walt Disney World’s theme parks which includes: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. This is a great option if you like to visit on park in the morning, but watch the fireworks or nighttime shows at another park. More on the pros and cons of park hoppers are discussed later.

Magic Your Way + Park Hopper Plus

Magic Your Way + Park Hopper Plus offers a certain number of visits based on the length of your ticket to certain destinations. For example, a 4-day ticket Magic Your Way+Park Hopper Plus ticket allows you to visit all four Disney World theme parks on four different days plus you receive 4 visits to any of the destinations listed below. The destinations are as follows:

• Disney’s Blizzard Beach
• Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon
• Disney’s Oak Trail Golf Course
• Disney’s Winter Summerland Miniature Golf Course
•  ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
• Disney’s Fantasia Gardens Miniature Golf Course

Are Park Hoppers Right For You?

With all of that being said, I’m sure you are wondering if the Park Hopper is right for you. I will be honest, I have never been to Walt Disney World without the Park Hopper (with my kids) and the reason is, I like it for convenience. I like being able to go and do wherever I want and whenever I want. Our plans change a lot with small kids so that is my safety blanket. Just my preference!

Let’s take a look at who will benefit from park hopper tickets:

• (Someone like me) wants flexibility
• Visitors who want to do all four parks in less than four days. Do the math. 🙂
• Guests staying at Magic Kingdom area resort and Epcot area resorts. You can always walk to Epcot or walk or take the monorail to the Magic Kingdom for a late night stroll or dinner. Epcot especially has a lot to do for late night dinners or drinks.

Here are the people who should not get park hopper tickets:

• People who have every detail planned of their vacation and don’t need to hop.
• Travelers who have a strict budget because the park hopper is currently about $60 extra per ticket package.
• Travelers with very young children. Park hopping can be quite exhausting.
• Travelers who are not fond of spending lots of time on Disney transportation. Park hopping takes time, because you are moving from one park to another. Disney Parks are not situated close together and a standard travel time from one park to another is around 30 minutes or more. Disney recommends scheduling up to 90 minutes to arrive at your destination.

And Don’t Forget…

• All tickets on a package must be used within 14 days.
• 2 base tickets can not be used to enter two different parks in one day. Therefore, to enter two different parks on one day, you must purchase the park hopper.
• Special Event Tickets are sold separately. These include Harambe Nights, Villians Unleashed, Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, Night of Joy and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. You can purchase tickets for those events as they become available HERE, on the Disney website or by contacting your travel agent.

Related Topics:

What are MagicBands?

Weigh in on all the ticket options in the comments section or join the Disney Express Lane Facebook Group to discuss this and many other Disney related topics.

Updated February 14th, 2017 to reflect the changes in ticket options.

The post Disney 101: A Beginner’s Guide to Disney Ticket Options appeared first on WaltExpress.com.