NEW DETAILS: MagicBand+ Launching this Summer, ‘Hey Disney!’ Later this Year
Originally published at Disney Parks News
Are you ready to interact with Disney magic in all-new ways?
This summer, Walt Disney World Resort will launch our newest wearable, MagicBand+. Followed later this year by the “Hey Disney!” digital voice assistant. Both products will enhance guest visits throughout the 50th-anniversary celebration and beyond.
If you already own a MagicBand, you understand how this technology makes visits to Walt Disney World more convenient. With just a tap of your band when entering parks and guest rooms*, making retail and dining purchases*, and creating magic moments with Disney PhotoPass service. MagicBand+ will do all that and more.
Use MagicBand+ to Bring Sculptures to Life
You may have seen the golden character sculptures throughout the four Walt Disney World theme parks during the 50th-anniversary celebration. Soon, you’ll be able to use MagicBand+ to bring the sculptures to life and interact with them on the “Disney Fab 50 Quest.” You can also dive deeper into the experience using the Play Disney Parks mobile app to keep track of which sculptures you’ve found. The more you find, the more features you can unlock with digital achievements and an augmented reality feature that will give you a glimpse into your favorite characters’ worlds.
MagicBand+ Invites You to Join the “Star Wars: Batuu Bounty Hunters” Experience
Over in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, MagicBand+ invites you to join the “Star Wars: Batuu Bounty Hunters” experience, where you’ll use your band to find numerous virtual bounties hidden throughout Black Spire Outpost. MagicBand+ will be your guide, vibrating and lighting up to show if you’re on the right path. You can then use the augmented reality thermal viewer in the Play Disney Parks app – which reveals what’s behind locked doors in Black Spire Outpost – to uncover your virtual bounty**. Once your mission is complete, the local guild master will reward you with galactic credits.
Experience Nighttime Spectaculars in a New Way with MagicBand+
You can also experience nighttime spectaculars in a new way as you’ll see your MagicBand+ light up and complement the magic in the skies! It’s a dazzling way to join in the celebration and create unforgettable memories at the theme parks.
These experiences will be available with MagicBand+ and will launch when the new wearable goes on sale this summer. Disney Resort hotel guests and Walt Disney World Annual Passholders will have the option to purchase at a discounted, pre-arrival price. You can still use existing MagicBands and Disney MagicMobile, available on eligible devices, to enjoy other features, such as park entry*. The original MagicBand wearable will continue to be available for purchase as well.
MagicBand+ will be available at Disneyland Resort later this year. Some of the features will vary between Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort. We’ll have more to share on that soon.
Magical New Digital Voice Assistant – “Hey Disney!”
There’s a magical new digital voice assistant ready to bring Disney characters and stories to life called “Hey Disney!” Using Alexa technology for supported Amazon Echo devices, you’ll be able to ask all the useful questions – weather forecasts, set timers and alarms, etc. – and get answers from more than 25 popular characters including Mickey Mouse, Olaf, Rocket and Groot, Princess Tiana and many more. Plus, when you stay at select Disney Resort hotels, you can use “Hey Disney!” to learn helpful information about your vacation, order room amenities and more. Wondering when the next bus to EPCOT leaves or need to request more towels for your room? Just ask the Disney Magical Companion, a new character who will interact with you via “Hey Disney!”
‘Hey Disney!’ will begin rolling out in select Disney Resort hotel guest rooms across Walt Disney World later this year as part of our 50th anniversary celebration. Access will be offered as an optional, complimentary feature during guest stays. “Hey Disney!” will also be available for purchase for supported Amazon Echo devices via the Amazon Alexa Skills store, inviting Disney fans to make every day at home more magical. In the future, MagicBand+ will work with “Hey Disney!” by pairing with supported Amazon Echo devices to enhance some “Hey Disney!” experiences. More details will be released soon.
Which experience are you most excited about?
Stay tuned to the Disney Parks Blog for more updates on new magic coming to Walt Disney World Resort as part of the 50th anniversary celebration.
*Guests can use MagicBand and MagicBand+ to gain access to Walt Disney World theme parks with valid admission and theme park reservations, enter their Disney Resort hotel room, and charge food and merchandise purchases to the payment card on file at their Disney Resort hotel room during their stay.
**To use the Play Disney Parks mobile app to enhance the MagicBand+ experience, guests must be logged into the Play Disney Parks app with the Disney account linked with their MagicBand+.
