With the MagicBand+ now available at Walt Disney World, guests are reportedly very interested in the new wearable device. According to Cast Members, the demand for MagicBand+ pre-arrival orders has been strong. The demand is so strong that Disney is routinely missing shipping deadlines and guests are not receiving their pre-ordered MagicBand+ devices in time for their Walt Disney World vacations. Here’s what we know.
As part of a resort stay, guests are given the option to pre-order MagicBand+ devices at a discount. This follows the same procedure for the previous MagicBand 2.0 devices and even goes back to when MagicBand wearables were included free with your Disney Resort stay. Back in January 2021, Disney stopped giving MagicBands away for free to resort guests, and instead offered a discount if guests made a “pre-arrival” purchase.
Earlier this year, Disney informed guests that supply chain issues were impacting their stock of MagicBand 2.0 devices. This notice was posted well before the arrival of MagicBand+ devices. As a result of supply chain issues, MagicBand 2.0 devices began disappearing from the pre-arrival lineup of available MagicBands. We saw supply dip as low as just a handful of options before it started to rebound slightly. Enter, MagicBand+.
When MagicBand+ launched on July 27th, Disney added more than 30 MagicBand+ devices to the pre-arrival lineup. By adding the MagicBand+ devices to the lineup of available offerings, guests were made to assume that the MagicBand+ devices were, in fact, available. As it turns out, Disney Cast Members are informing guests that demand for the MagicBand+ devices is higher than expected, and order fulfillment delays are to be expected. Hundreds of guests have reported that their MagicBand+ orders have not, or will not, arrive in time for their upcoming vacations. The Disney call center is flooded with guests calling about the status of their MagicBand+ purchases and Cast Members are unable to provide useful information about the status of their order.
It is important to note that this is a purchase. This is not a complimentary band with your name printed inside like resort guests would’ve received prior to January 2021. Guests are now expected to buy the devices for their upcoming vacations, and Disney is dropping the ball.
Cast Member communication to guests who have an upcoming vacation and haven’t received their MagicBand+ devices is to talk to the resort front desk. It has been communicated that the front desk will be able to provide a solid color MagicBand 2.0 device and that your MagicBand+ order can be refunded if it does not arrive in time for your vacation. Some guests have reported being given a voucher to purchase a MagicBand+ device in the parks, but many resort locations do not have access to MagicBand+ inventory to provide at check-in. There doesn’t seem to be a standardized recovery procedure and your experiences may vary.
This poses the next problem for guests – charging and updating the band. If Disney would’ve been able to fulfill orders, resort guests would be able to arrive at Walt Disney World with their MagicBand+ paired to their device, with a full charge, and updated to the latest firmware version. Instead, guests aren’t even guaranteed a MagicBand+ device despite already paying for one, and if they are able to wrangle a MagicBand+ device within the first few hours of their vacation, they will spend at least 90 minutes charging it, and possibly another 15 minutes updating it, linking it, and pairing it to their phones.
Disney World has not provided any official communication to guests, which means that each and every guest who purchased a MagicBand+ as part of the pre-arrival process will have to track down their own solution as one of the first things they do to kick off their vacation at The Most Magical Place on Earth.
This issue appears to be limited to guests with imminent Disney World vacations. Other guests, such as Annual Passholders and guests who purchased off of shopDisney.com, appear to be receiving their MagicBand+ devices.
As always, keep checking back with us here at BlogMickey.com as we continue to bring you the latest news, photos, and info from around the Disney Parks!
To learn more about MagicBand+, check out our articles below!
Hi –
We bought 4 off shopDisney.com on July 27 and they still have not shipped. I have emailed asking for a status update and have gotten no reply. We leave in a week and probably won’t have them either.
I purchased 4 bands on July 27th and have a stay this Sat, Aug 13th. I called yesterday because they haven’t shipped and was told there was nothing they could do and I could not be refunded. The CM told me it is unfortunate but I could use them for my next visit! I could not have been more irate.
I’m having the same issue with regular magic bands not the new kind
I also ordered on July 27. We arrived at resort on August 10 but bands had not shipped yet. Bought new bands at Springs and just received notice that my original order will arrive at my home on August 13. They definitely dropped the ball on this rollout.