MagicBands and Fastpass+ for offsite guests

Good morning!!

On Monday, March 31st, Disney continued there expansion of the MyMagic+.  Now guests staying offsite can enjoy some of the same privileges of MyMagic+ as onsite guests do.  I say some because there are some differences.

Difference number 1 - onsite guests can book their Fastpass+ reservations at 60 days out from checkin.  Offsite guests have to wait until 30 days out.  While this will not hugely impact most selections, popular attractions may be long gone by the time their window opens - think meet and greet with the Frozen characters Anna and Elsa!

Difference number 2 - onsite guests get a MagicBand for FREE with their resort reservation, whether it be a room only and they buy their tickets separately or have them from a previous trip or as part of a package.  Offsite guests have to purchase their MagicBand for $12.95 plus tax per band.  If they chose not to purchase a band their park ticket will work the same as a MagicBand would.

Difference number 3 - obviously just as before when staying offsite your MagicBand or ticket would not have any charging abilities.

Here's the media sent to travel agents from Disney:

As part of the test-and-adjust process for MyMagic+, Day Guests (those Guests who are not staying at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel) are now able to make FastPass+ selections 30 days in advance of their trip and can purchase MagicBands to link to their plans in My Disney Experience.

Day Guests may make FastPass+ selections for each day they have admission linked in My Disney Experience starting 30 days in advance of their visit.

While day Guests are not issued MagicBands, they may use their RF-enabled theme park admission to enter the theme parks and redeem FastPass+ selections, or they may purchase a MagicBand and link their theme park admission to the MagicBand.

MagicBands will be available to purchase for $12.96 plus tax at Walt Disney World Resort Park merchandise locations and atDowntown Disney®. They will be available in all seven colors – pink, blue, red, green, orange, gray and yellow.

After a MagicBand is purchased, Cast Members will link the Guest’s admission media (or other RF media such as an existingMagicBand or Memory Maker card) to the retail MagicBand. If the Guest’s ticket is already linked to his/her My Disney Experience account, all of the plans, such as tickets, dining reservations and FastPass+ selections, will be seamlessly linked to their new MagicBand.　

Touch to pay is not available for day Guests. Only Guests staying at Walt Disney World Resort hotels who establish charging privileges upon check-in are able to touch to pay using MagicBands or RF-enabled theme park tickets.

As a reminder, MagicBands are available to all Guests staying at Walt Disney World Resort hotels.