My Disney Experience App (2024)

This Guide will teach you how to use the My Disney Experience App. My Disney Experience allows you to make reservations prior to your trip and then continues to be your source for information and updates throughout your Disney World vacation. Mastering this app is essential to planning the absolute best Disney World vacation possible. Let’s take a deeper look at this powerful app and examine why it will make your life much easier and your vacation more magical.

Walt Disney World’s old paper ticketing system is now a thing of the past. It’s been replaced with a new planning tool – My Disney Experience – which combines innovative, wearable technology with a powerful smartphone app. By using the service, you’ll be able to combine all of your planning and reservation information into one location. It’s now easier than ever before!

My Disney Experience allows you to make Advance Dining Reservations (ADR) and Lightning Lane/Disney Genie+ selections, check out the park hours, interactive maps, up-to-the-minute wait times for attractions, and much more.

The app is easy to use, and you can access your account via a smartphone, tablet, or computer. Once you create an account, you’ll simply log in to make your reservations and check every detail of your trip.

Want to share these details with your travel companions? No problem! Once everyone in your party has set up their own My Disney Experience account, you’ll be able to share the details of your Disney trip with your connections.

The app also allows you to customize your MagicBand, that colorful wearable device everyone has on their wrist. Once you activate your MagicBand, the device will act as your park tickets, resort hotel key, verification for Genie+ and Lightning Lane selections, and payment system. Your account will be charged automatically when you purchase items like food and merchandise from your MagicBand. No need to open up your wallet!

If you have a Disney resort reservation, then your MagicBand is automatically linked to your My Disney Experience account. If not, you can purchase a MagicBand at a participating retail location and link it to your account.

• Build your Dream Disney World Vacation: Once your account has been created, you’ll be able to save items in your cart for convenience.

• Make Reservations in Advance: With the My Disney Experience app, you can easily make your dining reservations (and other reservations) before you arrive.

• Manage your Itinerary: Not only will you be able to create your vacation details, but you can also share your itinerary with family and friends.

• Seamless Organization: My Disney Experience will connect your ticket for theme parks and Annual Passes to your card or MagicBand.

• Hotel Registration Made Easy: Instead of the normal hotel lobby check-in, you’ll be able to head directly to your room (if you are staying at a Disney Resort hotel).

• Relive the Fun: With My Disney Experience, you’ll be able to view all of your Disney PhotoPass photos.

You can begin the process of setting up a My Disney Experience account as soon as you have booked your ticket and hotel reservation.

To begin with, you’ll simply head over to the My Disney Experience website to set up your account and then download the free mobile app. The app is available for Android, iPhone, and iPad devices.

Once you have set up an account, then it’s time to enter your reservation information. Each member of your party/family will be able to choose their preferred MagicBand color and personalize it with a name. Once completed, Disney will send your MagicBands to your home address, but you can begin your trip planning in the meantime.

Update: With the expectation of Annual Passholders, Disney no longer sends free MagicBands to its guests. You can still purchase them online here.

Ready to get started?

With a computer, you can simply log on to the website and get started:

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/plan/my-disney-experience/

Smartphone and tablet users can download the app here:

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/plan/my-disney-experience/mobile-apps/

The My Disney Experience App will come in handy for a lot of things, and it’s even more valuable with the integration of the Disney Genie app.

Disney Genie+

The Disney Genie+ reservation system allows you to bypass the regular lines at the popular attractions and then breeze right onto the rides via the Lightning Lane entrance.

Your first Disney Genie+ reservation can be made starting at 7 AM on the day of your visit, regardless of if you are staying at a Disney World resort or somewhere off Disney property.

Disney Genie+ typically costs $15-$30 (varies by date/demand/park) per ticket per day and gives you access to the Lightning Lane entrance at over 40 Disney World attractions. Selections can be made one at a time throughout the day.

Lightning Lane Passes

Individual Lightning Lane passes are available for Disney’s highest-demand attractions. Costs vary based on attraction, date, and availability.

If you make reservations to stay at a Disney-owned resort hotel, then you’ll be able to make your pay-per-ride Lightning Lane selections starting at 7 AM on the same day as your Walt Disney World visit. If you are staying elsewhere but have your theme park tickets, then you can make your selections once the park opens.

Need more information? Contact The Vacationeer today!

The chart below details which rides and attractions are included in Disney Genie+ and which are eligible for Lightning Lane Passes (pay-per-ride).

Where to Begin

How to Choose Your Disney Genie+ Selection

First, decide which Disney experiences are your top priorities. Next, consider which attractions will likely have the longest lines.

It probably goes without saying, but you’ll want to choose rides that are expected to have long lines so you can get the most value out of your Genie+ and Lightning Lane selections.

For some Disney Genie+ ideas, see our Best Magic Kingdom Rides, Best Epcot Rides, Best Animal Kingdom Rides and Best Hollywood Studios Rides pages before you choose. And for other strategies to avoid crowds, see our Disney Crowd Calendar, How to Avoid Lines at Disney World, Disney After Hours, Club Level at Disney World, and Disney VIP Tours articles.

Make your trip as magical as possible!

With the My Disney Experience (and now Disney Genie) mobile app, you can check the current wait times for rides and character greetings in real time.

Once you are in the Disney parks, you’ll be able to change your Genie+ selections on the go. And after you’ve completed your first Genie+ experience, then you’ll be able to reserve more times for the Lightning Lane entrance as the day goes on.

You’ll also be able to change dining reservations and use the map view to locate restrooms and restaurants and to read more about a particular attraction. And the Disney Genie service will provide you with real-time wait times and advice!

See our Disney World Souvenirs and Best Disney Backpacks pages for ways to carry your belonging and keep your phone charged.

Each guest will receive a MagicBand – a colorful rubber wristband that contains an embedded computer chip that holds all of your vacation information. Your MagicBand will act as the key to unlock all of your Walt Disney World magic. They are used as your hotel room key, theme park ticket, dining reservations, Genie+, Disney PhotoPass, and resort charge card during your trip.

Your My Disney Experience account (and credit card) are linked directly to your MagicBand. This makes for a seamless and effortless in-park experience.

Please check that the upcoming vacation is linked to your My Disney Experience account. If you have booked through a Disney travel planner or Disney’s website, then it should be automatically linked to your account. If you book your trip via a third party, then you’ll need to link your accounts.

Once your accounts are linked, then you can begin to personalize your MagicBand. Click on “My Disney Experience” in the upper right corner and then click “MagicBands and Cards.” Verify your mailing address and begin to customize your MagicBand.

After you’ve added your details, then click the “ship now” button to have it shipped to your home address. Allow a week or two for delivery.

Once your MagicBand has arrived, now you’ll now be ready to hit the ground running upon your arrival at Walt Disney World Resort.

With the My Disney Experience app, you’ll be able to save time when you stay at one of Disney’s official hotels.

In conjunction with your MagicBand, you’ll be able to check into your hotel room using the “My Resort Dashboard” feature. It will grant you access to your Disney Resort hotel reservations, where you can see your building, floor, and room number. You’ll also be able to check in from the app! This will come in especially handy for families with young (and impatient) kids.

The “My Resort Dashboard” includes directions and transportation options to your resort, a map of the hotel with the location of your room, and a number to call your hotel’s front desk if you need some assistance.

Walt Disney World Resort has dozens and dozens of gift shops and vendors throughout the park. As you make your purchases, there’ll be no need to pull out your wallet because these merchants are equipped with MagicBand readers. Simply place your MagicBand up against the reader, type in your PIN, and then your My Disney Experience account will be charged automatically. It’s that simple!

If you lose your MagicBand, don’t fret. You can deactivate your MagicBand (using the My Disney Experience app) until you replace it with a new one. And if your MagicBand is found by someone else, they won’t be able to make purchases without your PIN code or access your credit card information.

Enjoy your Walt Disney World Vacation!

We hope you find this guide to the My Disney Experience app has been helpful.

Please review some additional pages on MagicGuides pages for more useful information. Our Best Time to Visit Disney World, Disney World for Adults, Stroller Rentals at Disney, Disney Dining Plan Calculator, How to Plan a Disney Vacation, and Disney World Weather articles may be what you are looking for.

And if you need help planning and booking your magical Disney vacation, then please contact our friends at The Vacationeer. Their services are always helpful and totally free of charge! Call 1-833-4MY-TRIP to get the ball rolling…or click HERE for a free, no-obligation price quote.