When Disney released MagicBand+ they included a new center piece that houses the RF reader. This allows the band to interact more. The new piece can be removed with a screwdriver and customized in a variety of ways.
When you wave your MagicBand+ at a statue the band will vibrate and light up green (or red for Bounties) and then purple indicating you have collected that statue.
1. The band is not paired with your phone
MagicBand+ is the new generation of Disney’s magical wearables. They contain all of the same functions as the legacy MagicBands and include some extras like haptic vibrations that play along with nighttime shows in the parks, interactivity with 50th anniversary statues, and access to a special Bounty Hunter game in Galaxy’s Edge.
If you’re using a MagicBand+, make sure it is paired with your phone. You can do this by going to the MagicBand section of your My Disney Experience app and tapping the MagicBand+ square. This will start the process of pairing and updating the MagicBand+. If you’re having trouble with this, try a factory reset on the band. This can be done by holding the button on the back of the band for 15 seconds. You’ll feel a single buzz, then a double buzz, then one final buzz with a green color animation.
The MagicBand+ contains two different forms of communication – the basic RFID chip that provides the same functionality as the previous Magic Bands, and the MagicBand’s own radio that allows it to communicate with the Disney apps on your phone and other devices. When your MagicBand is paired with your phone, it will communicate with these other devices through the radio on the 2.4-Ghz band of the spectrum. This means your MagicBand is always communicating with Disney, even when it’s not displaying any of the interactive features.
2. The band is charging
When Disney first introduced Magic Bands, they did so with a lot of bravado. They invested billions of dollars in research and development to ensure that these bands would be cutting edge and show the latest technology. They were right to be excited and the Magic Bands really do show a lot of innovation in their design.
The Magic Bands have a basic RFID chip and a two-way radio that operates on the 2.4-Ghz band of the spectrum. Both of these communication systems have tracking enabled so that your Magic Band is constantly being updated with location information. This is done by connecting the band to your phone and using the My Disney Experience app. You will need to follow the in-app instructions that will likely include pressing the button on the back of the band at one point in the process.
The Magic Band also has a light on the front that will tell you how much charge it has. This will start out a solid red color and progressively progress to yellow when it’s halfway charged and green when fully charged. You can check the battery status on your MagicBand+ by opening the My Disney Experience app and tapping the MagicBand+ square. You can also see the status on your phone’s lock screen by touching the MagicBand+ icon.
3. The band is out of battery
MagicBands have a battery that is not rechargeable and it will eventually die. This battery is what powers things like your on-ride photos and some of the fun interactive features at the parks (like your name showing up on Space Mountain or Haunted Mansion). It’s also what allows MagicBands to “automagically” connect with your upcoming Disney PhotoPass photos. The good news is that even if your MagicBand+ is out of battery it will still work for everything else like hotel room access and park entry.
To check your MagicBand+ battery status simply press the button on the back of your band. It will flash a color to indicate the battery status. Red indicates a dead battery, yellow means that the battery is low, and green means that the battery is fully charged.
One of the most popular new features with MagicBands is their interaction with Fab 50 statues. A simple wave of your MagicBand+ can trigger a variety of different responses from the statues including having them speak, playing music, and more. Johnny loves waving his MagicBand+ at the Fab 50 statues to see what they will say to him. However, sometimes the statues don’t respond to Johnny’s wave and it can be frustrating for him. The best solution is to try again and maybe wave a little harder or double-tap your MagicBand+.
4. The band is not in use
When the Magic Bands were first introduced by Disney there was a lot of bravado about this new technology. Unfortunately, like any other tech, mistakes and glitches can happen. If you lose your Magic Band somewhere in the park, try not to panic. Retrace your steps and ask nearby Cast Members if they have seen it. If that doesn’t work, stop by Lost and Found at the location in question and explain your situation. The Cast Member will assist you as best they can.
It can be comical to watch Johnny and his buddies frantically wave their Magic Bands at the Fab 50 statues hoping for a response.
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