Major new redesigned MagicBands, as seen from the FCC post I did earlier this year, are coming to Walt Disney World starting today! The first guests to ever receive them will be the Wilderness Explorer VIP ticket attendees to D23’s Destination D: Amazing Adventures event being held at the Contemporary Resort in Walt Disney World, as I just posted about earlier today. Disney is officially calling this redesign the MagicBand 2. Starting tomorrow, all guests at the event will get these MagicBands.
These new redesigned bands feature a puck in the middle that will allow guests to swap the tappable part out with any band, allowing for mismatching of colors, new cheaper straps, and more! The back has screws, which will help the puck be child proof. You can see a picture below showing this. Also, as you can see from one of the pictures below, there is keychain accessory that will be coming out as well, adding a ton of new convenience.
It looks like Disney will continue making different colors, graphics, and Limited Edition straps and designs. I was worried when I first heard about this new redesign that Limited Editions in boxes would be going away, but it looks like they are here to stay if the Destination D band is an indictor. But it may be that the actual graphic straps no longer show up on the My Disney Experience website when you type in your puck ID on the back. I hope to find out by the end of today whether this is true or not and will update this story.
Another huge question: What will become of the MagicBand On Demand stations in Walt Disney World? Will they be retrofitted to print on the new straps? And will costs come down?
Notice the keychain and clip-on accessories:
As you can see, the back of the band features tiny screws that allows you to take the puck out and pop it into different straps. The screws make it so that the puck is child proof.
So anytime you want to change the puck out you’ll have to unscrew it?
Looks like it.
I’m glad that will be necessary. IMO, it could be too easy to lose the pucks otherwise if they pop out on a ride or when reaching into a purse, etc (I’ve lost so many Magic Bandits this way…sigh).
Seems so yeah. But really how often will that be at the park
Will these be available at any of the parks today? I was going to swing by and pick some up.
Thanks for the update. We won’t be back in the kingdom for a few more years and our current magic bands will likely be dead by then so it is interesting to see that we can still get special edition bands…wonder if they will have a whole in the middle so you can insert your own puck, but then the limited would not have special effects if they always read the puck and not the band. Anyway thanks for the info.
Will the old bands not work anymore? We just bought all new custom magic bands last week for our two upcoming 2017 trips. Did I just lose all that money?
The old bands will work just fine. Same technology, just a new updated design, that’s all.
When are these going to be made available to everyone staying on Disney property? I am going on a trip Feb 2017 and am wondering if we will get the old or the new band style?
I am wondering the same. I am in the same situation.
We booked All-star movie resort for Feb 2017 and recieved Magicband 2s in the mail today! So… probably!?!? Yay!
Nice design. Maybe the design of its original strap will still show in the app even if you remove it. That could be how future LE bands will work hopefully ☺.
Looking forward to seeing them in person.
Does anyone know when these bands are going to be out if your not doing the event tomorrow ?
Just a few weeks from now.
I don’t like the look of the band and puck.
Are these new bands constructed of the same material as the original ones? Are they rubber/latex free? Just curious if they are safe for those with latex allergies.
Yes, exactly the same.
Thank you!
Hmm… I wonder if the screws will cause me issues with my metal allergy. Are they in contact with your skin when worn?
They are very tiny but yes, they will will be in contact with skin.
Crud. This means that I won’t be able to wear a MagicBand. I wonder what Disney plans to do to accommodate people with nickel allergies? The option to carry one on a keychain is great except 1) That’s extra money that I would be forced to pay because of an allergy, and 2) Not all of my clothing has pockets or belt loops to attach it to. Woman’s clothing is notorious for failing to include pockets/loops a lot of the time.
Sorry to hear that! If I were you’d I’d hold on to the old style MagicBands as long as possible and just use those for now.
Unfortunately, I don’t have an old style! February 2017 will be my first ever trip to Disney World, so now I’m a little bummed. 🙁
Oh no! Well, come February I bet they still have plenty of old styles left for sale… it’s going to take a while for MagicBand 2 to really take off.
Yeah… It just stinks that I’ll be forced to spend extra money for a replacement. I told have been perfectly happy with a purple MagicBand!
Wish me luck!
I have the same problem. Just cover the screw slots with scotch tape or electrical tape. Problem solved! 🙂
You can Cover the screws with nail polish also.
I was about to suggest covering the screws with nail polish.
Tiny screws can be masked by clear or colored nail polish. When you need to change the puck a few drops of polish remover solves that…
Just reapply the polish occasionlly as it will wear off after several wearings.
Could you cover the screws with something like duct tape/ electrical tape or seal it with nail polish or caulking? Or better yet, replace them? What is your actual allergy? If it’s nickel you could replace them with nickel- free stainless steel or titanium (which I’m sure you know). Hope you can find a solution so you can still use a magicband. 🙂
Put a small piece of tape over the screw.
I was wondering the same exact thing! I guess I will have to go with the key chain rather than wearing on my wrist since they have any metal on them at all, even the smallest of screws.
You can cover the spot with the screw with a tiny Band-Aid!
Do we know if they will be supplied with the screw driver to remove the screws to get to the puck? Or will we need to bring our own or buy them separately due to their size.
I have to say I am looking forward to getting the new version when I go in September. I lost my old magic band at the airport security this year.
The accessories from Disney (like the keychains, etc) will come with a small screwdriver from what I understand.
I have an upcoming trip (dec 18th) my bands are on the way; do you think they will be the new bands? If not, do you think I can change them once I arrive?
I doubt they will be the new ones (resort guests aren’t supposed to get the new ones until January). And unfortunately no, you won’t be able to exchange them. You will have to buy new ones. Solid colored bands will be $12.99.
thanks!
but… what do you mean by aren’t suppossed?
What I mean is that resort guests will not get the new MagicBand 2 bands before January.
will the old covers be able to be used on the new magic band 2 versions? i bought custom covers and then received magic band 2 in mail so will i still be able to use the old covers?
No I don’t think so.
Disneystore.com still has all the old ones listed. Just ordered 8 magic bands in varying solid colors. Will they actually send the new ones you think? Also, I’m assuming they will “size down” for a small child…?
Yes they will size down. I am pretty sure you’ll be getting the original MagicBand 1 from disneystore.com right now.
We are going in June and staying off-site. I want to buy magic bands but I’ve noticed that some of the solid colors of the magic band 1 are already sold out. Any idea when they will be selling the new magic band 2 on disneystore.com?
No idea yet, sorry!