Last year many were shocked to hear that the free MagicBand program for resort guests was being phased out as Disney wound down this billion-dollar technology in its parks. And now we know what will be offered in addition to MagicBands: MagicMobile.
This new smartphone-based technology will allow guests to store tickets, passes, and more right on their phone through the My Disney Experience app and then scan it at the front of the theme park to gain admission. MagicMobile also supports several digital wallet systems (including smartwatch digital wallets like the one found on the Apple Watch), so guests who don’t want to use My Disney Experience will have options when it comes to accessing their tickets.Though this option will be available on all mobile platforms Disney has confirmed that the MagicMobile service will roll out first on Apple devices.
Though Disney has stressed that MagicBands are still being produced (with new colors and styles on the way) and still can be used instead of MagicMobile or alongside it, it looks increasingly like the focus will be on developing smartphone-linked technology, especially as mobile options like digital key and mobile order have proved to be very popular with guests.
Right now MagicMobile is only confirmed to be used for guests looking to gain admission, but we’d imagine that this technology will eventually have the PhotoPass (and potentially FastPass+) integration that was a part of the MagicBand experience eventually. Will you be using this new service when it debuts later this year?
