MickeyBlog News for August 1st, 2022
After a false start earlier this year, MagicBand+ finally debuted at Walt Disney World. Did it live up to the hype?
I’ll let you know in the latest MickeyBlog News update!
MagicBand+ Goes Live
You may recall a serious snafu at Magic Kingdom earlier this year. Some stores accidentally sold MagicBand+ wearables ahead of schedule.
While the bracelets arrived at that point, the parks weren’t ready to utilize the new technology.
MagicBand+ utilizes several new and/or updated services to provide a better park visit.
For example, the wearables add haptic feedback, a vibrating feature that will enhance various new interactions.
Also, the bracelet includes an illuminated display that lights up with one of nine colors. You pick which one you want!
Even better, you can alter the color as you see fit. Alternatively, you can make it match the color of your MagicBand+ during your visit. The choice is yours.
Really, that’s the mantra for MagicBand+. Disney has taken the original idea of MagicBand and augmented it with additional features.
The new device also interacts with special objects like the 50th-anniversary statues currently on display at Walt Disney World.
Using your wearable, you can also participate in an interactive game called Star Wars: Batuu Bounty Hunters at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
You’ll also discover a scavenger hunt game involving the 50th-anniversary statues.
MagicBand+ makes the Disney park experience more interactive, presuming you want that.
Those guests who don’t want MagicBand+ tech can continue to use MagicBands instead…or your smartphone. Disney offers guests plenty of choices on this subject.
On opening day, approximately 30 MagicBand+ designs were available. The prices ranged from $34.99 to $44.99, which is cheaper than some MagicBands.
Those of you with existing official Disney resort reservations can preorder MagicBand+ for your upcoming trip. Disney even throws in a $10 discount on many of them!
Alas, MagicBand+ did suffer some hiccups during its first few days, as is customary for new technology.
MagicBand+ Snafus
You don’t need to be a nuclear engineer like my brother to know that things need power to light up and vibrate.
Unlike the MagicBand, MagicBand+ wearables require frequent charges. You may not even realize that your existing MagicBand includes a tiny battery.
That power source will eventually drain and die. You cannot replace it because the process is too laborious. So, you just get a new one.
MagicBand+ works differently. The lighting effects and haptic feedback require more juice than the basic MagicBand functions.
Photo: Disney
So, the new wearables come with a rechargeable battery and also require occasional updates, as is the case with most tech.
Unfortunately, this need for energy caused problems for early adopters. Disney shipped MagicBand+ devices with full charges.
However, charges diminish over time, and, as you know, those MagicBand+ packages sat on the shelf for a while. You can see where this is going.
When new MagicBand+ owners opened their packages, they learned that their devices needed to update. But, alas, said devices lacked the charge to do so.
This seems like a good time to mention that the batteries require more than half a full charge to perform an update.
This series of unfortunate events led to a mad scramble as guests tried to charge and update their new tech.
On top of that, people wore out the new features, specifically the vibrations and illuminations, during the first few days.
Early adopters also learned that the new games, especially the Star Wars one, used a hefty amount of battery charge.
None of these hiccups surprised Disney, but it caused a bit of a social media uproar.
Guests have since deduced the best ways to maximize a charge. Some, like our own Jared, had a great time with MagicBand+ anyway. It’s fun!
Miscellaneous Park Updates
This past week was actually one of the slowest for park news in recent memory. Instead, Disney spent most of its time on Comic-Con and planning for the 2022 D23 Expo.
Speaking of which, tickets for the 2022 D23 Expo have officially sold out.
Photo:D23
Disney also announced details about the various events for the lucky guests with tickets to the show! Oh, and here’s what you get for joining D23 this year!
Speaking of sellouts, I’ve got some impactful news about Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party (MNSSHP).
Image Credit: Disney
We’d already discussed how Halloween Night has sold out, much to my chagrin. Now, other random nights are starting to sell out as well.
One of the earliest dates, August 16th, has dished out its ticket allotment for the night. So, if you’re planning on going to MNSSHP this year, you should buy now!
Image Credit: Disney
Seriously, we heard this news and immediately bought our tickets for October 30th.
I’m 100 percent serious when I say you should do the same. This year’s event will probably be the most successful one ever.
Credit: Disney
Speaking of Magic Kingdom, Merida has returned to her spot near Cinderella Castle!
Everyone’s favorite curly redheaded archer is holding down the fort at New Fantasyland once more!
Remarkably, that’s not even the most significant comeback this week. Instead, this honor belongs to a historic Tomorrowland attraction at Disneyland.
Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage has finally reopened. It had remained closed since the pandemic’s start in March of 2022.
Imagineers have used the downtime to refurbish the ride. Here’s a video if you’re interested:
Disney has also revealed the dishes you can eat soon when BoardWalk Deli opens. MickeyBlog has posted some pictures here.
As you can see, we’re all over the parks these days! Keep checking back for breaking news!
