With technology making things more convenient, Disney World has embraced digital tickets and MagicBands to make visiting their parks a seamless experience. But do you still need to have a printed ticket to enter Disney World, or can you rely solely on digital tickets on your phone or MagicBand?
The Short Answer
The short answer is no, you do not need a printed ticket to enter Disney World. Disney allows guests to use digital tickets on their phones through the My Disney Experience app as well as MagicBands to enter the parks.
Using Digital Tickets on My Disney Experience
If you purchase tickets for Disney World online or over the phone, you will be able to link them to your My Disney Experience account. You can access these digital tickets through the app and use them to enter any of the Disney World theme parks by going through the touchpoints and scanning the barcode from your phone screen. This provides the same access to the parks as a printed ticket.
Benefits of Digital Tickets
There are several benefits to using digital tickets on your phone compared to printed tickets:
- Convenience – You don’t have to worry about keeping track of a printed ticket and can access it easily through the app
- Harder to lose – Your phone is likely always with you while printed tickets can be misplaced
- Easier at park entrance – Just open your app and scan your screen instead of fishing out a ticket
- Can’t be counterfeited – The barcode is linked to your account and can’t be easily copied like a paper ticket could
Is There a Downside to Digital Tickets?
The only potential downside of using digital tickets is that you need to have your phone charged and accessible to enter the parks. However, you can easily go to Guest Services to get a replacement ticket if needed. So digital tickets offer mostly upsides over printed versions.
Do MagicBands Replace Tickets?
In addition to digital tickets in the My Disney Experience app, MagicBands can also provide park access in place of printed or digital tickets. MagicBands are wearable wristbands that you can link to your account.
Once you do this, your MagicBand will function just like a park ticket when scanned at the touchpoints. As soon as you enter your first park, your tickets will be automatically linked to your MagicBand if you have one.
MagicBand Benefits | Potential Downsides |
---|---|
Completely hands-free park entry by scanning your wrist | Have to purchase separately if you don’t get one complimentary |
Waterproof – don’t have to worry about damaging your phone or ticket | Have to remember to bring and wear it each day |
Fun colors and character designs to customize | Can only be used by the person it’s registered to |
As you can see, MagicBands provide a convenient alternative to printed and digital tickets as your park ticket can be directly attached to your MagicBand. Many guests enjoy the ease of use of simply scanning their wrist to enter parks and pay for food or merchandise. Just make sure not to take it off or lose it!
Can You Convert Already Purchased Tickets to Digital?
If you already have printed tickets that you purchased ahead of time, not to worry – you can still convert these to digital tickets. Just make sure your tickets are linked to your My Disney Experience account.
There are a couple ways to do this:
- Link printed tickets to your account online before your trip
- Stop by your Disney Resort front desk or Guest Services in the parks to have them link the tickets
- Call Disney Ticketing Services to link your printed tickets to your account over the phone
Once connected to your account, your printed tickets will become digital tickets and you can access them through the My Disney Experience app. The barcode there functions just the same as if you had the physical ticket with you.
Already At The Parks and Didn’t Link Printed Tickets?
If you’ve already arrived at Disney World and forgot to link your printed tickets ahead of time, you can still enter the theme parks! Just head straight to Guest Services once you arrive and they can quickly get your tickets linked to your account digitally. This will allow you to access the parks right away without needing the printed tickets.
Purchasing Tickets Directly Through the App
Beyond linking existing tickets to go digital, you can also purchase brand new Disney World tickets directly through the My Disney Experience app. Just connect your credit card and you can buy full price or discounted tickets right on your phone.
Any tickets bought this way are automatically stored in your account as digital tickets. So you don’t have to worry about printing anything out – just purchase your tickets on your phone and head straight to the parks!
Benefits of Buying Tickets Through the App
- Super convenient – no need to buy ahead of time
- Can take advantage of any last minute discounts
- Tickets immediately available and can be used upon activation
- Easy access on your phone once linked to your account
Purchasing tickets directly through the My Disney Experience app is one of the easiest ways to go completely digital for your Disney World tickets. Just access them on your phone at the park gates!
Do You Ever Need Printed Tickets?
While not required, there are a couple situations where having printed tickets could be useful or necessary:
- Spotty cell service – If you have issues accessing tickets on your phone inside the parks, printed tickets can serve as backup
- Last minute purchases – If buying tickets at the gate you’ll get printed tickets that then need linking
- Memory Maker photos – Photopass photographers will scan printed tickets to link photos
Aside from these fringe cases, you no longer need printed tickets for your Disney World vacation thanks to digital ticketing. Just make sure your phone stays charged!
Do Child Tickets Work The Same Way?
The digital and MagicBand ticketing process works exactly same for both child tickets and adult tickets at Disney World. Tickets for kids ages 3-9 can be linked to your My Disney Experience account and accessed through the app just like adult tickets.
For infants under age 3 no ticket is required at all. But for older kids, you can manage their tickets digitally under your account. Link the ticket to their profile, allow them access to enter parks, and monitor when they scan in.
Benefits of Managing Kids’ Tickets Digitally
- Keep track of when/where kids scan into parks
- Allow ticket sharing between kids with Park Hopper Plus option
- Easy access to tickets without having to hold printed versions
- Can link Memory Maker photos by scanning your own ticket
The digital ticket system allows you full control over your kids’ tickets from your own phone or MagicBand. No need to hang onto printed tickets!
Conclusion
In summary, Disney World has moved to a completely digital ticketing system accessed primarily through your My Disney Experience account. Printed tickets are no longer required or even provided in most cases.
By using digital tickets on your phone or MagicBands, you can enter Walt Disney World’s theme parks seamlessly while taking advantage of perks like easy ticket linking and sharing. So leave the paper tickets behind – all you need is your phone and MagicBand!